SALVAGED FROM THE FABLED "SHIP OF GOLD" S.S. CENTRAL AMERICA TREASURE SHIP
TWENTY DOLLAR GOLD DOUBLE EAGLE LIBERTY "CORONET HEAD" - SAN FRANCISCO MINT TERRITORIAL CALIFORNIA GOLD
CERTIFIED BY PCGS MINT STATE 64
OBV: LIBERTY HEAD LEFT WITH CORONET HEAD BAND INSCRIBED WITH WORD "LIBERTY", ENCIRCLED BY 13 SIX-POINTED SEGMENTED STARS; DATE BELOW.
REV: AMERICAN BALD EAGLE ARMS WITH FLANKING ORNATE MOTTO SCROLL, RADIANT ABOVE WITH A HALO OF 13 SIX-POINTED STARS; DENOMINATION BELOW.
KM # 74.1
IN 1857, THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC MAIL THREE-MASTED SIDE-WHEEL STEAMSHIP SS. CENTRAL AMERICA SET SAIL FROM HAVANA TO NEW YORK. OFF THE CAROLINAS, THE SHIP, WHICH WAS HEAVILY LADEN WITH OVER THREE TONS OF CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH GOLD, ENCOUNTERED A HURRICANE, FOUNDERED AND SANK IN DEEP WATER. OVER 400 PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE LOST AS WELL AS THE CARGO THAT EARNED THE SHIP THE NAME, "SHIP OF GOLD". IT WAS CALLED "AMERICA'S LOST TREASURE" AND ITS LOSS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PANIC OF 1857.
THE PANIC WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF MANY NEW YORK BANKS DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO MEET PAYROLL AND PAY CREDITORS DIRECTLY DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA'S GOLD SHIPMENT. STORES AND FACTORIES BEGAN TO CLOSE AND THE PANIC AND ENSUING CRASH SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AND TO EUROPE. THE FINANCIAL CRISES SHOOK PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMY AND SHARPLY CONTRASTED THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NORTHERN STATES AND SLAVE-OWNING SOUTHERN STATES, HASTENING THE STEPS TOWARDS THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
THE CENTRAL AMERICA HAD CARRIED OVER ONE-THIRD OF ALL THE GOLD FOUND IN THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH (OVER 150 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH), INCLUDING GOLD INGOTS, AND GOLD DOUBLE EAGLES THAT HAD BEEN MINTED AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MINT.
THE SHIP WAS LOCATED AND RECOVERED IN 1987, IN 8,500 FEET OF WATER, BY THE COLUMBUS-AMERICA DISCOVERY GROUP OF OHIO, AND AFTER A DECADE LONG LEGAL BATTLE WITH 39 INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT HAD LAID CLAIM TO THE GOLD, 92% WAS AWARDED TO THE SALVAGE TEAM.
LIFE MAGAZINE HAS CALLED THE FIND, "THE GREATEST TREASURE EVER FOUND" AND "ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMISMATIC TREASURE FINDS IN HISTORY".
CONTAINS 33.4360 GRAMS OF .900 FINE GOLD (.9675 OZ AGW)
34 MM IN DIAMETER
DESIGNED BY JAMES B. LONGACRE
