A relic from a ship whose sinking contributed to one of the US's most serious economic downturns was auctioned online, last weekend (July 10-11).
The SS Central America was nicknamed the "Ship of Gold" because of its valuable haul, and claimed 400 passengers and 30,000 pounds of gold when it sank in a hurricane in September, 1857.
 The rescued 1857-S Double Eagle, sold for $10,800 |
So great was the disaster that it contributed to a financial crisis, today remembered as the Panic of 1857.
During that year, 5,000 American businesses went bust and the effects of the downturn didn't fully dissipate until after the American Civil War (1861-1865).
Among the Central America's haul when it sank were 2,300 newly-minted 1857 Gold Double Eagle coins - from which a salvaged example was sold by Affiliated Auctions of Tallahassee, Florida.
 The coin is graded a PCGS MS-65 - or "gem uncirculated" |
The spiked shield registry SSCA 4728 $20 gold piece went under the hammer billed as a "stunning example" and graded MS-65 (or "gem uncirculated") by the PCGS.
An important artefact from America's history as well as a numismatic collectible, the historic coin sold for a final price of $10,800.
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in rare coins
- Click here for all the latest Coins and Banknotes news
Join our readers in 182 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
