Product Details

The SS Republic was shipwrecked off the coast of Georgia during a hurricane in October of 1865. The SS Republic was carrying much needed gold and silver coins along with other necessary supplies to help rebuild the economy of the South after the Civil War. The coins recovered from the SS Republic in 2003, especially the gold and silver pieces, are considered extremely rare and valuable by collectors due to their historic provenance and excellent preservation. The coins recovered from the shipwreck were at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for 138 years! Most coins recovered will have a shipwreck effect due to minor salt erosion over the many years underwater. Describes physical and chemical changes to a coin submerged in saltwater, including corrosion and metal loss, which can alter its appearance from a normal luster to a matte, grainy, or encrusted surface.