1834 Classic Half Eagle - 1834 $5.00 SS New York, Classic Head, Plain 4, NGC AU55. Despite a small obverse scratch, this shipwrecked 1834 Classic Head half eagle has significant eye-appeal. The surfaces are clean for the grade. The light and dark greenish-gold color adds to the original look of the piece. The coin has an almost cameo appearance because of it light, still lustrous devices that are set against darker fields. The strike is strong with full details on the centers of the stars, the higher areas of the hair curls, and the reverse rims. The dentils are strong on both sides.
 
The SS New York was a luxurious 160 foot side-wheel steamship with a wooden hull that was built in New York City in 1837. During most of its career it traveled between New Orleans and Galveston, Texas. It transported merchandise, provisions, and passengers. Now and then it carried troops to south Texas in support of the war against Mexico.

On September 5, 1846, while on route from Galveston, the ship found itself in the middle of a huge hurricane. After battling the high winds and giant waves, the ship sank. Of the 53 passengers, only 36 survived. In addition to the 17 people lost at sea were thirty to forty thousand dollars in United States gold and silver coins.

In 1990 a Louisiana oil field worker and an amateur diver found the wreckage. They used the oil workers electronic fish finder and information from shrimpers in the area. There was a snag at the bottom of the ocean that was dangerous to dragging nets. It was the remains of the SS New York. At first few coins were found near the wreck. The site was again searched in 1997 and 1998 but to no avail. It was in the summer of 2005 the group knew it was close to finally finding all that was left in the wreckage. However, salvage plans were on hold for a year when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana's coast in August and September 2005. Later, in 2006, the sight was explored again and the coins were found. While still out in the Gulf, the group of explorers took steps to form a limited liability company, Gentlemen of Fortune, for the purpose of securing legal rights to the treasure claim.

William Kneass designed the Classic Head half eagle, which was minted from 1834 to 1838. He chose to use Reichs Classic Head motif that was used on large cents of 1808 to 1814. Kneass also adapted Reichs eagle from the five dollar piece of 1807. The design of the coin shows a profile of Liberty facing left. Her curly hair is held with a band that is inscribed LIBERTY. She is surrounded by thirteen six-pointed stars, with the date below. Around the periphery are dentils on both sides. The coin has a reeded edge. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle whose head is turned to the left. In its talons it holds the olive branch and arrows, symbols peace and preparedness. The legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA appears in an interrupted arc around the coin with the denomination, written as 5 D. below. Missing is the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM, which was removed from the reverse to signify the change in weight from 135 grains to 129.

Kneass was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was the second Chief Engraver of the United States Mint and served from 1824 until his death in 1840. Kneass was a field engineer in the War of 1812 and helped fortify the city of Philadelphia. He was an engraver of plates for books and had his business on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, which was a popular meeting place for people of culture.  In addition to line engraving he also made intaglio prints. He worked in two firms, Kneass & Delaker and Young & Kneass & Co. At the Mint, Kneass was known as a popular and useful Engraver, who worked well and quickly to furnish all the dies that were needed for coinage during his time of office. He was remembered as, a warm gentleman of the old-school, who had the rare quality of engaging and winning the esteem and affection of children and youth. Kneass designed the Classic Head motif for the quarter eagle and half eagle. He also was responsible for modifying John Reichs Capped Bust design for the dime through half dollar for 1829 to 1837. In addition he modified the Capped Bust design for use on the half-dime of 1829. Kneass suffered a stroke in August, 1835 that left him paralyzed on his right side. From then until his death, Assistant Engraver Christian Gobrecht did the pattern and die work at the Mint. He was succeeded by Gobrecht as Chief Engraver on December 21, 1840.