1857-S $20 Double Eagle S.S. Central America, PCGS MS65 CAC. Ex-SS Central America, gold tag & box. The 1857-S double eagle is a very interesting coin with a fascinating history. Prior to the discovery of the wreckage of the S.S. Central America in, September of 1987, it was a very scarce to rare issue in higher circulated and uncirculated grades, despite the mintage of 970,500 pieces. The mintage is a common number for San Francisco double eagles of the 1850’s.

The S.S. Central America was a 280 feet steamer which had been in use since 1853, mostly along the Atlantic coast. It was owned and operated by the U.S. Mail Steamship company, who had recently renamed the ship from S.S. George Law to S.S. Central America. Aboard, along with a very valuable cargo, were approximately 600 passengers travelling from San Francisco to the east coast. The ship, passengers and cargo, however, would never make it to the destination, New York City. On September 9, 1857, six days into the voyage, the ship was hit by a devastating hurricane. A few days later, ship, cargo and many passengers perished in the waves near the coast of the Carolinas.

When the wreckage was discovered in the 1980’s, its contents had been left undisturbed on the seabed for over 130 years. Discovered was a very valuable cargo, soon nicknaming the S.S. Central America the “ship of gold”. Included were an amazing number of over 5,400 pristine 1857-S double eagles, freshly minted and never circulated. The example we offer here, is one of the pieces which were aboard the ship on those September days.

Stickered by CAC for exceptional quality, we can not argue at all. This is a premium quality coin for the grade that NGC awarded to it, blazing with luster and relatively mark-free for the grade. The reverse is of much higher quality, virtually flawless at first, although some marks from handling are revealed under magnification, as can be expected. Darker yellow-gold color shows on both sides, giving the con a fresh look. A very popular issue with a historic background, this coin sure is to move fast!