1852 $10 Augustus Humbert SS Central America PCGS VF30

An early Augustus Humbert $10 Assay coin from the S.S. Central America shipwreck.  Humbert was an early assay office based out of California from 1851 to 1853.  Out of the 105 territorial gold coins pulled from the ship, only 13 were $10 value.  This is the only $10 Humbert recovered from the S.S. Central America. 

On October 3rd, 1857, the S.S. Central America was lost to the sea, along with 435 passengers and three tons of gold. The majority of the gold on board were gold coins. Lost to time, the ship became infamous, commonly referred to as the "Ship of Gold." 

The S.S. Central America sailed during the California Gold Rush era. It was built to serve as a passenger and cargo vessel, transporting people and supplies between the eastern coast of the United States. The ship played a vital role in the era's booming economy, ferrying large amounts of gold and other valuable cargo.

In September 1857, the S.S. Central America encountered a powerful hurricane while traveling from Panama to New York City. The storm caused catastrophic damage and eventually sank the ship off the coast of South Carolina. The vessel and its precious cargo sank over 7,000 feet to the ocean floor.

The S.S. Central America was carrying an estimated three tons of California gold, worth around $2 million at the time. Additionally, the ship held a variety of valuable items, including passenger luggage, personal belongings, and gold coins. The ship's sinking resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and dealt a severe blow to the U.S. economy, as the gold onboard represented a significant portion of the country's financial reserves.