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1935 (AH 1354) Saudi Arabia Silver Riyal SS John Barry Shipwreck NGC Genuine (Struck in Philadelphia)
For every $2 spend, you will earn 1 Bullionaire Buck which is equivalent to $0.001 a future purchase.
76 BB = $0.08
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1935 (AH 1354) Saudi Arabia Silver Riyal SS John Barry Shipwreck NGC Genuine (Struck in Philadelphia)
Please note, these coins are in various states of preservation and eye appeal.
Bullion Exchanges is excited to offer the 1935 (AH 1354) Saudi Arabia Silver Riyal SS John Barry Shipwreck NGC Genuine (Struck in Philadelphia)! This treasure from the deep contains .917 fine silver and weighs around 11.6 grams. Certified by NGC as genuine, this Saudi Arabian Riyal from the sunken SS John Barry will add priceless collector value to your growing portfolio. Purchase your sunken Certified Saudi Arabia Silver Riyal today!
What Was The SS John Barry?
The SS John Barry was a 7,200-ton American Liberty ship used during World War II. It received international attention after being torpedoed and sunk 115 miles off the coast of Oman by a German submarine in 1944. Although it was estimated to have sunk around 8,500 feet below the sea surface, Sheik Ahmed Farid al Aulaqi was determined to obtain salvage rights forty-five years later. Why? Because of the precious cargo that was reportedly on board.
A Cargo Of Coins
To solve a Saudi currency shortage during the early 1940s, Saudi Arabia arranged to buy silver in the United States that was to be minted into riyals at the Philadelphia Mint facility. The first of these American-minted riyal silver coins arrived in Saudi Arabia in the fall of 1943. By the end of WWII, a total of 49 million riyals had been successfully shipped from the United States to Saudi Arabia. There was, however, one exception: The sinking of the SS John Barry. This American Liberty ship was reported to have a cargo of three million silver Saudi one-riyal coins, contracted to arrive at the oil port of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. After it was sunk, the ship remained at the bottom of the sea for forty-five years before Sheik Ahmed Farid al Aulaqi and his team brought its cargo up to the surface. In November 1994, a five-day mission brought up 1.3 million Saudi riyals weighing 17 tons. One mighty lift alone brought up 60,000 coins!
The Mystery of The Missing Bullion
Besides the three-million-riyals (valued around $540,000 at the time), there was another secret silver stash supposedly on board the SS John Barry when it sank.
According to published accounts of the sinking, Gerald Richards (one of the ship’s survivors) of the sinking) and Joseph Ellerwald (SS John Barry’s captain) both stated that the ship was carrying $26 million worth of silver bullion. This would mean that the vessel's cargo had included more than 1857 US tons of silver. While Sheik Ahmed Farid al Aulaqi and his team failed to salvage this mystery bullion from the wreckage in 1994, he claims there is a "distinct possibility" that he might return to the site in the future.
Bullion Exchanges provides an enticing selection of Silver Coins, including this 1935 (AH 1354) Saudi Arabia Silver Riyal SS John Barry Shipwreck Coin. Make sure to explore our selection of Commemorative US Coins before you check out! Once your order is placed, we will carefully package and ship your items to your door. Please contact our customer service team with any questions.