1859 O 50C SS Republic Shipwreck 9 In Denticles – Shipwreck Effect

Description

1859 O 50C SS Republic Shipwreck 9 In Denticles – Shipwreck Effect
 
This Liberty Seated silver half dollar coin comes from the SS Republic, a Civil War-era sidewheel steamship that sank during a hurricane in October 1865 while en route from New York to New Orleans with a cargo meant to help rebuild the city after the Civil War.
 
 
Condition
 
This coin was recovered from 1,700 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean where it lay undisturbed for 138 years, creating a fascinating chemical reaction of the ocean’s saltwater on the silver in the coins that NGC designates as the Shipwreck Effect. To earn this designation from NGC, several conditions must be met. The coins must be recovered in an archaeologically sound manner, in accordance with tested and proven procedures, to preserve the history of the wreck. Furthermore, the coins must be conserved by the least invasive means possible to ensure the stability of the artifact surface and long-term preservation.