When it comes to shipwreck gold, it’s hard to find a story more interesting than the one of the S.S. Central America, also sometimes referred to as the “Ship of Gold.” The S.S. Central America wrecked in 1857--over 160 years ago--and was originally used to transport gold during the 1850s. What was a ship doing transporting gold at that period in time, you ask? That’s a great question.

The California gold rush began in the late 1840s and people from all across the country were making their way to The Golden State to seek their fortunes, bolstering the economy of the United States in the process. The gold would travel first by steamship, then by railroad, and finally make its way onto the S.S. Central America to reach its final destination in New York. Unfortunately, the S.S. Central America, piloted by Captain William Herndon, eventually wrecked in the Atlantic Ocean.

At Austin Rare Coins, we’re proud to be able to offer S.S. Central America shipwreck gold coins for sale at unbeatable prices. Keep reading to get more context on the story of the “Ship of Gold” and to see which of these rare coins we have available.

The Story of the S.S. Central America Shipwreck

The ship left Panama on September 3, 1857 and on September 11, the S.S. Central America faced the largest hurricane that the 1800s had seen and ended up crashing while carrying around ten tons of gold coins and bars. There were 477 passengers and 101 members of the crew on the S.S. Central America, and when all was said and done, the shipwreck claimed the lives of 425 people who were on board.

All of the gold that was on board also sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. It laid at the bottom of the ocean until it was discovered once again over twelve decades later in the 1980s. From large gold ingots to gold coins to bits and pieces of gold chunks and dust, a vast selection of treasure laid on the ocean floor and was gradually recovered. Many people are eager to own a piece of history and this tragic tale is no exception. Known as the worst ship disaster of its day, this wreck even caused a financial panic in its time because the cargo was of such vital importance to the financial market.

Coins from the Ship

A grand total of 3,154 coins were discovered when the S.S. Central America shipwreck was salvaged again in early 2014 thanks to the work of specially created underwater robots capable of diving to the 7,200 foot depths of the ocean, saving coins that many thought were lost to time. The great news is that because of this new technology, what once was considered unreachable is now available to the public.

We are proud to offer a number of S.S. Central America gold coins for sale right here at Austin Rare Coins. Each of these rare gold coins has been graded and certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (often referred to as PCGS). We’re also pleased to announce that when you buy S.S. Central America gold coins from us, they will arrive to you in a beautiful presentation case that comes with a pinch of gold directly from the shipwreck.

It’s not often that people get the opportunity to hold a piece of history like this in their hands and if it is your goal to buy S.S. Central America gold coins, you should know that they are in very high demand. At Austin Rare Coins, we are one of a select few dealers who was chosen to receive the second round of coins from the S.S. Central America shipwreck.

Buy S.S. Central America Gold Coins at Austin Rare Coins

Austin Rare Coins is proud to announce that we have a great selection of S.S. Central America gold coins for sale. These coins have just arrived from being conserved and graded in order to ensure that they are in the best condition possible.

If you’d like to own a piece of history, shipwreck coins are a great place to start and this is no exception. Allotments of coins are incredibly limited thanks to the high demand for these particular items, but we have acquired our inventory for the lowest possible prices. Let’s take a look at a few of the highlights from what we have to offer:

1857 Pinch Of Gold Dust From Ship of Gold

As we mentioned above, a large number of gold coins and bars were recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck of 1857. There were also hundreds of pounds of gold nuggets and dust that found their way to the ocean floor. Thanks to modern technology, there are a number of “pinches” of gold dust that have been recovered as well.

The team at Austin Rare Coins is proud to offer these slabbed and certified “pinches” to our customers. Each slab contains gold dust, pellets, and nuggets from the S.S. Central America, making these coins items that collectors won’t want to miss out on. We can’t guarantee how long we’ll have these coins in stock, so be sure to place an order as soon as you’re able to so you can avoid the disappointment of missing out on such a rare and unique piece of sunken treasure from an infamous voyage.

1857-S $20 Liberty PCGS AU-58 - Ship of Gold

Carefully curated to enhance the natural beauty of the coins, these particular coins are available in an extremely limited supply. This stunning 1857 San Francisco Double Eagle was recovered from the SS Central America shipwreck and then carefully curated to enhance its natural beauty. It has been certified and graded by PCGS to be in About-Uncirculated 58 condition.

The shipwreck coins from this exclusive release come sealed in a specially-designed PCGS holder to protect the intricate details of the coin and each holder contains a pinch of gold dust recovered from the shipwreck, making these coins a real treat for anyone who loves history and wants to add a unique piece to their collection.

Additionally, the Chief Scientist (and curator) of this round of shipwreck gold has taken the time to sign the PCGS grading certificate, certifying it as an authentic artifact from the latest recovery effort. When these coins were first struck in 1857, there were a total of 970,000 coins; as you can probably imagine, being at the bottom of the ocean has taken a toll on this number and them majority of those coins have been lost to time, destroyed by the elements, or taken out to deeper depths of the ocean. In other words, these are in incredibly limited supply and they’re sure to be sought after for many years to come, making these coins a highlight for any collector fortunate enough to have one for their own.

1857-S $20 Liberty PCGS MS-65 - Ship of Gold

If you’ve made the decision to buy S.S. Central America gold coins and you’re looking for the cream of the crop, this particular coin is the one to beat. Clicking on the link above will take you directly to this coin’s page and the coin pictured is the exact one that you will receive.

As you likely know at this point, these particular shipwreck coins are incredibly limited to begin with, but finding one in this condition--Gem Mint State 65 condition, to be exact--is pretty much an impossibility. The team at Austin Rare Coins is proud to be able to offer this coin which is sure to become one of your most prized possessions whether you’ve been collecting for years or your interest was piqued by the recent news about the uncovery of gold coins from the S.S. Central America shipwreck.

Why Choose Shipwreck Coins?

What is it that makes shipwreck coins so special? Part of it, no doubt, is the allure of being able to say that you own an actual piece of sunken treasure. As children, we all dreamed about what it would be like to discover a crate full of silver or gold while we were out and about on our daily adventures. Thanks to the invention of different pieces of technology over the years--and the skill and dedication of crews that restore the coins that were previously lost to time--we can now get our hands on the treasure we craved so many years ago.

Another piece of the puzzle is the fact that it’s not every day that we get to hold such a unique piece of history in our hands. The rare gold coins we highlighted above tell a story; when we see these coins, we are instantly transported back to a different time. Nowadays, getting an item from Point A to Point B is as simple as putting it on an airplane. Back in the 1800s, however, getting an item from the west coast to the east coast took a bit more determination.

We mentioned it previously, but these coins went on quite a journey from a steamship to a railroad and back to a ship. It’s a journey that would take several days and a large crew of people. In other words, getting any item from one place to another was quite the ordeal. You can see why it was such a big deal when the S.S. Central America was set asunder by the worst hurricane of the century.

The good news is that we now live in a day and age that makes exploration that was previously thought impossible much easier. That’s not to say that it’s an easy task to undertake, of course, when experts retrieve coins from the bottom of the ocean floor. It’s just that we are incredibly privileged to be able to enjoy the benefits of the modern era and recover items that were previously considered irretrievable, making them a great asset to coin collectors who appreciate the history of the items they collect.

Your Source for a Great Selection of S.S. Central America Gold Coins for Sale

At Austin Rare Coins, we are proud to offer these amazing S.S. Central America shipwreck coins. In addition to the coins we highlighted above, we have a number of other coins from the S.S. Central America to choose from, ensuring that no matter what you’re looking for or what your budget is, you can find something to suit your particular needs.

With over $1 billion in trusted transactions since we formed our business in 1989, the team at Austin Rare Coins is pleased to be able to offer our clients items like the gold coins from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. We also enjoy an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and we’ve worked with many clients who have been pleased with the way we do business.

With a focus on helping to construct balanced and diversified hard asset portfolios for our clients, our team of experts is here to help ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. Whether your interest is in one of the shipwreck coins mentioned above or something else entirely, you can rest assured that the team at Austin Rare Coins can help to get you what you need. We pride ourselves on having the best bullion prices anywhere as well as a reputation that is built on trust.

The combination of top-notch customer service, incredible prices, and an unbeatable selection means that you’re in good hands when you choose to work with us. You can visit our offices by appointment (we’re located on Research Boulevard in Austin, Texas), contact us online, or give us a call at 1-800-928-6468 if you have questions about any of our products or need a bit of advice to get started off on the right foot.

Whatever your reason for contacting us, you can rest assured knowing that it is our honor to lend a helping hand.