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Nine Rare 1856-S/s Quarters Discovered In SS Central America Treasure

1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

Nine Rare 1856-S/s Quarters Discovered In SS Central America Treasure
by COINNEWS.NET on DECEMBER 3, 2019

SS Central America Treasure Includes Nine Rare 1856-S/s Quarters The fabled SS Central America, the famous "Ship of Gold" that sank in 1857 carrying tons of California Gold Rush treasure, continues to surprise and delight the numismatic world.

This 1856 large S over small s mint mark quarter dollar, now graded PCGS XF45, is one of nine examples of the elusive variety recently discovered in the treasure recovered from the fabled “Ship of Gold,” the S.S. Central America. (Image courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service www.PCGS.com.)

"This is a major numismatic finding! The ‘Ship of Gold’ has brought us over a half dozen 1856 S/s large mint mark over small mint mark silver quarters. The S over s is the most pronounced I have ever seen with two overlapping mint marks clear even to the naked eye. We’ve nick-named this latest SS Central America discovery as the S over s Central America," said Dwight Manley, CGMG Managing Partner.

"Considering the preponderance of Philadelphia and New Orleans Mint coins found in the recovered treasure, it would appear these came from a batch of coins brought aboard by a miner, and ended up in the safe as did the miners’ pokes (packets containing gold and/or coins). What a numismatic miracle to have such a treasure trove aboard the SS Central America," Manley stated.

more here from coinnews.net http://www.coinnews.net/2019/12/03/nine-rare-1856-s-s-quarters-discovered-in-ss-central-america-treasure/

PS if this is already posted here, let me know and I will remove it. :)

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Comments

  • JasonGamingJasonGaming Posts: 928 ✭✭✭✭

    I really hope this lot of quarters is released to the public. It might be the first affordable lot for this shipwreck.

    Always buying nice toned coins! Searching for a low grade 1873 Arrows DDO Dime and 1842-O Small Date Quarter.

  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,718 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool article and find, but surprised it straight graded.
    The seawater etching (I assume this is what happened) gives it a whizzed appearance.
    But I guess when it's a rarity, and associated with a major shipwreck, it gets a pass.

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  • BillDugan1959BillDugan1959 Posts: 3,821 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 5, 2019 10:50AM

    Well, I do like the coin shown, not a problem for me (however, probably not in my budget).

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,549 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:
    Cool article and find, but surprised it straight graded.
    The seawater etching (I assume this is what happened) gives it a whizzed appearance.
    But I guess when it's a rarity, and associated with a major shipwreck, it gets a pass.

    It gets a pass because it was the ocean that degraded the coins, and not a person.

    Pete

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,705 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Straight graded ...

    All glory is fleeting.
  • Walkerguy21DWalkerguy21D Posts: 11,718 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @BuffaloIronTail said:

    It gets a pass because it was the ocean that degraded the coins, and not a person.

    Pete

    Ah, so this isn't considered 'environmental damage'?
    so dug up coins should also get a pass - or is soil not also exempt ;)

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  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 14,911 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Walkerguy21D said:

    @BuffaloIronTail said:

    It gets a pass because it was the ocean that degraded the coins, and not a person.

    Pete

    Ah, so this isn't considered 'environmental damage'?
    so dug up coins should also get a pass - or is soil not also exempt ;)

    Without commenting specifically on the coin in question...Many gold and silver coins have received details grades, due to "Saltwater Damage".

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,610 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Really cool variety, but I would question the straight gradeability of these recovered coins as well. And wonder about the coin "turning" while it is encapsulated.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,956 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great article! That is a spectacular find. Thanks to the OP for sharing.

    I've read the inventory list (as of a year or two ago) and there's a bit of silver on it but I never see it offered. There were even half dimes, but I can never find any offered.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • OldhoopsterOldhoopster Posts: 2,930 ✭✭✭✭✭

    If you look closely, you can see light scratches in the area above the D and around the left side of the arrow tip. It looks like the could have been from the conservation process when somebody tried to remove some encrustation or adhered material. It certainly doesn’t look like it was “as struck” and I can’t see that being caused by seawater corrosion.

    Does this make sense, or are there other thoughts on how these lines got there?

    Member of the ANA since 1982
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have an unusual pin-back, the obverse is inscribed with a letter "W" and design. the reverse has the soldered pin and is an XF+ 1856-S/s. it's unusual in two ways: the reverse is almost always used for the design and what are the odds of this Variety being the choice as the host coin??

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not good news if you already own one of these.

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 5, 2019 11:44AM

    Perhaps the safe on the ship :* [or the container within the safe] was watertight ? :)

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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That is an interesting variety ...and easy to see...Though I imagine there will be a huge premium due to the provenance...Cheers, RickO

  • jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 36,752 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think the Mint needs to melt these to preserve the value of the previous coins.

  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,956 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Aotearoa said:
    Not good news if you already own one of these.

    I don't know..... They might trade independently on two different levels given the significant added history.

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

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