1852 S.S. Central America $50 2.5 oz Gold NGC GEM Proof Commemorative Coin

1852 S.S. Central America $50 2.5 oz Gold NGC GEM Proof Commemorative Coin

Buy this coin today! Listed in Jeff Garrett's "The 100 Greatest United States Coins"!

This impressive commemorative gold coin is graded by NGC as Gem Proof - coin shows an attractive high quality of luster and strike for the date and originating mint. This coin has an extremely low mintage of just 375, and is the 363rd strike out of 375. It comes in its casing from NGC as well as a showcase box with a glass front.

This extremely special coin, also known as a "slug", was restruck in 2008 from gold ingots numbered 830 and 555, which were recovered from the wreckage of S.S. Central America. These coins follow the design of the original 1852 coins, of which only 13 were recovered from the shipwreck, and only 400-600 remain in general. It is also in an octagonal shape, creating this odd coin that has become very desirable in the numismatic marketplace. Each $50 Coin contains 2.50 oz of gold.

This coin was struck the old-fashioned way, as it would have been in 1852. Ron Landis was chosen to hand-engrave this coin, and used the finest known original 1852 Humbert $50 coin as his model. He engraved the master dies over a period of three months, and worked day at night. Every part of the process in the production of this coin has been created by hand, making this coin a true work of art.

SS Central America, known as the Ship of Gold, was a 280-foot (85 m) side wheel steamer that operated between Central America and the eastern coast of the United States during the 1850s. She was originally named the SS George Law, after Mr. George Law of New York. The ship sank in a hurricane in September 1857, along with more than 550 passengers and crew and 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) of gold, valued at approximately $2 million USD. The loss shook public confidence in the economy, and contributed to the Panic of 1857. In the 1980's, after years of research and pursuit, the "Ship of Gold" was finally located and gold ingots assayed by Kellogg & Humbert were among the treasures recovered from her. 

On the obverse of the coin is an eagle, with the inscriptions "887 THOUS", "FIFTY DOLLS." and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" inside of a ring. Outside of the ring, on the outer edge of the coin, is the inscription "AUGUSTUS HUMBERT UNITED STATES ASSAYER OF GOLD CALIFORNIA", and the year (1852).

On the reverse is a design of concentric circles, surrounded by another patterned design of concentric circles. Unlike the original coins, there is a box covering some of the design on this coin, with the inscription "S.S CENTRAL AMERICA 1857 CAL. GOLD FROM HUMBERT INGOTS 330/555 SEPT. 12, 2008". 

Like all of our other gold coins, this one is guaranteed to be 100% authentic. Item will be wrapped and packaged safe for delivery.