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Type I $20 Liberty Gold
Coins
from the S.S. Republic
 The
Ship
This paddlewheel ship was originally christened the S.S.
Tennessee in 1853 in Baltimore. She embarked upon voyages
to such foreign countries as France and Nicaragua and saw
action in the Civil War - in both the Confederate and Union
navies! After suffering damage in the war, she was retired
and acquired by a New York shipping magnate who renamed
her the S.S. Republic.
The Voyage
On October 18th, 1865, she left the Empire State on what
would be her final voyage. Within a week, a hurricane claimed
her and over a dozen of her passengers died on lifeboats
awaiting rescue. Many thought the ship and its cargo, which
included freshly minted gold would remain lost forever.
Not until recently was some of its treasure recovered. Most
dates are extremely scarce, especially in Mint State (MS)
63 Condition and higher.
The Coins
$20 Gold Coins were created to utilize the nation’s
large quantity of newly discovered gold during the California
Gold Rush. The first $20 gold pieces, Type I Liberty coins,
were minted from 1849 to 1866.
Type I $20 Liberty, or Coronet, gold coins differ from
later Types because they do not contain the motto, “In
God We Trust”. This motto was added to the reverse
of the coins beginning in 1866 due in large part to a campaign
led by Reverend M.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, PA to place
the motto on our nation’s most valuable coin. Additionally,
the shape of the shield on the reverse was modified to reflect
the ornate rococo style of the day
How to Acquire These Coins
Goldline is pleased to announce being named the exclusive
distributor of 1865 and 1865-S Type I $20 Liberty gold coins
from the S.S. Republic in MS-63 and higher grades.
The chart above demonstrates the scarcity of these coins
which had been minted (freshly) shortly before this ship
left port. The figures above include all known coins graded
MS-63 or higher as certified by the nation’s two premier
grading services, Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS)
and Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) prior to the discovery
of the S.S. Republic. We have also included figures for
another fairly scarce coin the 1857-S for reference purposes.
The public has been captivated by these coins and miraculous
recovery from the depths of the Atlantic. With a permanently
limited supply and increased demand created by media coverage,
we do not expect these coins to last long.
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