By: Jason Shen
S. S. Central America set off the coast of Panama headed for New York when it was caught in a hurricane on September 9, 1857. The storm shut down the ship’s engine, which ultimately led to its demise. On September 12, the ship sank 160 miles off the coast of South Carolina. Only 153 of the 578 people on board survived.
The ship hid 7,200 feet below the surface for over a century until an expedition in 1988 by an exploration group led by treasure hunter Tommy Thompsons stumbled upon the sunken vessel. Recovery missions were conducted over the next three years and in 2014. Divers uncovered tons of gold coins, ingots, gold dust, and bullion from the California Gold Rush.
Most of the gold from the Ship of gold has been sold. The lid to the oldest-known Wells Fargo treasure shipment box sold for $99,600, while the keys belonging to the ship's purser fetched an impressive $103,200. However, one of the most sought-after items was a pair of miner's work pants. Believed to be the oldest of its kind, they fetched an astounding $114,000. This is the highest amount ever paid for a pair of jeans.
The bids may seem high to some. But Dwight Manley, Managing Partner of the California Gold Marketing Group, which owns the goods, says the items were one-of-a-kind. "These are all first-time offerings," he said, "unreserved and surely never to be duplicated as there are no missing Gold Rush ships out there."