Coins and Historical Medals

United States of America, Half-Dollar, 1861o, State of Louisiana Issue, SS Republic (W-04; KM A68). Salt water damage, otherwise good very fine, rare [Graded by NGC as SHIPWRECK EFFECT (C) UNC] £200-£300

The SS Republic (originally named the SS Tennessee) was a cargo steamship based in New Orleans for much of the 1850s. At the outbreak of the Civil War, she was seized by the Confederacy, though only saw a short service due to her recapture by the Union in April 1862. Used extensively thereafter as a gunboat, cargo ship, and troop carrier, she was returned to civilian service and renamed in March 1865. Not long after, however, the Republic was caught in a hurricane off the coast of Georgia. She sank with no loss of life, but was carrying over $400,000 worth of gold and silver coinage. Many of these coins were recovered in a 2003 excavation, including the example on offer.



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