1857 Double Eagle (1857 $20) SS Republic NGC AU55. Blue tag. From 1861-1865, the United States was locked in a heated battle against its toughest adversary ever; itself. Fighting between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America occurred over the course of 50 major battles and 5000 minor skirmishes and resulted in the deaths of 620,000 Americans. The S.S Republic , originally called the Tennessee , was built for War of 1812 veteran James Hooper. The Tennessee was used for various civilian duties, including the transportation of 49s during the California Gold Rush. During the Civil War, the Tennessee was used as a blockade runner by the Confederacy in New Orleans s harbor.

After the Union captured New Orleans , the Tennessee was put into military service as the U.S.S Tennessee. The U.S.S Tennessee proved to be an admirable blockade ship as well as a powerful gunship. In 1864, the U.S.S Tennessee was renamed to the U.S.S Mobile. The U.S.S Mobile was decommissioned from service after it was damaged by a hurricane off the mouth of the Rio Grande . The ship was sold at auction and renamed the S.S Republic and returned to sailing passengers from New York to New Orleans .

On October 25, 1865 , the S.S Republic sank off the coast of Georgia carrying a cargo of $400,000 in gold $10 and $20 coins that were intended to be used as hard currency in Louisiana , after the Civil War left the states with miniscule amounts of tangible money.

In 2003, the wreck of the S.S Republic was rediscovered, in its hull; over 50,000 coins, including the incredible example being offered for sale.

Graded AU-55 by NGC and denoted with the blue S.S Republic shipwreck tag, this truly amazing coin is being offered to any collector looking for a splendid piece of history. The gleaming surfaces of this example have been preserved by the high salinity of the ocean, while the surfaces remain unscathed from the shipwreck, aside from the minor scratch on the obverse. Just thinking about the history behind this coin conjures up images of the S.S Republic resting on the oceans bottom off the coast of Georgia.