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"Dmitrii Donskoi (Дмитрий Донской)" wreck located. Has a Russian "ship of gold" been found?

RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

Scuttled in 1905 after Russia's naval loss to Japan at the Battle of Tsushima, the cruiser was rumored to be carrying gold to pay the Russian Pacific fleet. But many are skeptical.

From the BBC:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44876968

Comments

  • SwampboySwampboy Posts: 13,104 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 18, 2018 2:46PM

    Interesting
    :)

    "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,817 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting, but a lot of "ifs" in that story.

  • CoinCrazyPACoinCrazyPA Posts: 2,899 ✭✭✭✭

    I wonder who gets the gold if found.

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  • HalfStrikeHalfStrike Posts: 2,202 ✭✭✭

    Since it's a warship then Putin gets the gold all for himself.

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Split between S Korea and the finder with a 10% deposit to Korea required in advance. Not sure of the split thereafter. Maybe someone here versed in admiralty law of finds in Korea might know.

    (Remember, Korea was part of the Japanese Empire in 1905.)

  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,680 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RogerB said:
    Split between S Korea and the finder with a 10% deposit to Korea required in advance. Not sure of the split thereafter. Maybe someone here versed in admiralty law of finds in Korea might know.

    (Remember, Korea was part of the Japanese Empire in 1905.)

    Actually, it was a "protectorate" of Japan from 1905 until it was officially made part of the Japanese Empire in 1910. At the time the ship was sunk it was probably not yet a "protectorate" as this status came about as a result of the Russo-Japanese war. (Correct me if I am wrong.) I'm not sure how that would affect the claim.

    All glory is fleeting.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 30,100 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Carrying gold to pay their sailors? Doesn't make sense to me.

    Wouldn't they just pay them in script or currency? Or not pay them at all until they returned back to Russia?

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,715 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @stevek said:
    Carrying gold to pay their sailors? Doesn't make sense to me.

    Wouldn't they just pay them in script or currency? Or not pay them at all until they returned back to Russia?

    Yeah, I doubt they made enough pay to justify shipping gold halfway around the world.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,817 ✭✭✭✭✭

    One story reported that part of the money would be used to build a railroad connecting Russia and South Korea through North Korea. I would NOT get on that train.

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Interesting story !!! :)

    Timbuk3
  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The only verifiable facts are: the ship was scuttled by its crew; and, the ship sank.

    Yes, 291fifth it correct on the Japanese annexation. I might have been thinking of Taiwan.

  • dengadenga Posts: 922 ✭✭✭

    @stevek said:
    Carrying gold to pay their sailors? Doesn't make sense to me.

    Correct. From 1897 to 1914 the paper money issued by the government
    of Nicholas II was 100 per cent redeemable in gold or silver. It would have
    been much easier to pay in paper.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I really like treasure stories, whether sunken or buried. This will be interesting...the report I read said that some metal boxes were spotted in the wreckage. The part I do not understand is why they would be carrying so much gold.. it was not usual to pay in gold at that time. Cheers, RickO

  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Was the Tsar going to pay sailors in gold when Rasputin had his own Gold Amex credit card? Revolutionary! Maybe we shall plant free "dubinushka" about the land.

  • mustangmanbobmustangmanbob Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @denga said:

    @stevek said:
    Carrying gold to pay their sailors? Doesn't make sense to me.

    Correct. From 1897 to 1914 the paper money issued by the government
    of Nicholas II was 100 per cent redeemable in gold or silver. It would have
    been much easier to pay in paper.

    Totally agree, but maybe not in the Far East. Remember, these were coal ships, required a lot of stops. Refueling in Singapore might not work if paying with paper.

    The number of $130 Billion, must have been well paid sailors and shore leave would have been, um, uh, memorable.

  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,738 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll take "under". LOL. Seriously, 130 billion - I just don't understand rationally how that number was reached.

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  • RogerBRogerB Posts: 8,852 ✭✭✭✭✭

    At present market rates that would be about 108.3 million troy ounces. This is approx. 3,713 tons. The ship displaced 5,683 tons at deep load. How the ship made it to Korea from a Russian western port without floundering is not explained. :)

    (Many tall tales outgrow their pants.)

  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,738 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I know that such specie was carefully guarded and doubt they wanted it as payroll for lowly sailors who as I understand were not much above serf status.

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • KkathylKkathyl Posts: 3,762 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I read Russia is to get 50% of/if anything is recovered.

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