Looted Coins Returned to the US Navy.
RBEGAHJB
Posts: 8 ✭✭
If you read the Numismatist you may have seen an article about a group of shipwreck coins that were recently returned to the US Navy. I won't post the full article, but here's a synopsis and my favorite coin from the group!
Running a busy coin shop in downtown Chicago means surprises are the norm, but last spring I got more than I expected. We purchased a massive lot from the Public Guardian’s Office—bags of U.S. and world coins, the kind of thing dealers dream of and interns love to dig through.
Among the piles, five flips stood out. Each handwritten: “From USS Yorktown 1850.” Inside were two U.S. halves (1830 Bust, 1840 Seated), a Mexican 8 Reales, Bolivian 8 Soles, and even a 1690 Brazilian 200 Reis. That sent me down a rabbit hole of naval history.
The USS Yorktown (launched 1839) served in the Pacific and later the African Squadron, hunting down slave ships. In 1850 she struck a reef off Cape Verde and sank. Miraculously, her entire crew survived.
Here’s the twist—NHHC (Naval History & Heritage Command) has long sought the return of Yorktown artifacts removed without permission. After confirming the story, we reached out, and I’m proud to say those coins are now being reunited with other Yorktown artifacts where they belong.
This was a good reminder: whether collector or dealer, we’re not just trading coins—we’re stewards of history. Sometimes, it really does belong in a museum.
Russ Bega
COO
Harlan J Berk Ltd.
Comments
Thank you.
Proud follower of Christ!
coins for sale at link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8FiWKGyewRfa5o1b7
Very cool!
Super cool CBH to boot. She looks like she was a pretty high grade (near/full Unc) before the ravages of a shipwreck and years in the sea.
Pretty sure this is a Overton 105, which is a scarce Die Marriage. The reverse die being shared with the 105, 110 and 112.
Also, thanks for doing the right thing on this. So good that the coins will be with the rest of the Yorktown collection.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
It was a very meaty coin! Most of the other coins were as well! The salt water damage was significant but they faced up very well.
We were thrilled to return them, I'm a vet myself so I feel a little duty bound to make sure these kinds of items get returned.
Russ Bega
COO
Harlan J Berk Ltd.
Great story. Informative and historical.
Thanks
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Nice story! Any photos of the 1840 seated half?
Ask and ye shall receive. I actually really wanted to buy this as I'
m a liberty seated specialist myself...
Russ Bega
COO
Harlan J Berk Ltd.
More on the Yorktown artifacts:
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/underwater-archaeology/sites-and-projects/ship-wrecksites/wanted-removed-debris-uss-yorktown.html
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Very interesting.
I find it slightly amusing that the U.S. Navy's otherwise excellent website on the wreck of "A" U.S.S. Yorktown in 1850 is illustrated by a painting of a different (and rather larger) U.S.S. Yorktown at the Battle of Midway in 1942!
Didn't they have aircraft carriers in the 1840s. I heard they had airports during the Revolutionary War.
Looted?
I thought when a ship sunk and wasn't actively salvaged by the owner, then it was fair game.
Not warships. Under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, sunken warships (and all artifacts associated with them) remain the property of the nation that launched them, unless that nation formally relinquishes ownership. For example, the Nazis handed over all their warships as part of the unconditional surrender, and this would have included sunken ships - so sunken Nazi warships don't belong to Germany, they belong to whichever of the Allied powers they were allocated to.
Sunken warships are also normally regarded as war graves, and accorded protection by the local authorities on that basis - though perhaps not in this specific instance, if the entire crew did indeed survive the wreck.
This is the main reason why there's always a hullabaloo whenever someone attempts to salvage treasure from off a Spanish shipwreck. Because Spain argues that every single ship that flew the Spanish flag was a part of their auxiliary navy at the time and therefore was a "warship" - even if it was functionally just a treasure barge.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.