Items which have sold or are otherwise no longer available have been moved to the Sold Items Archive
Treasure
RFG-27. Wreck of the S.S. San Francisco Rescuer's Medal 1854
Photo Courtesy of Stack’s, Lot 3282 John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Part XX & XXI, October 2007 Sale.
By all accounts Seaman Miller was only one of the many crewmembers on board nearby passing ships that rendered aid and assistance to those on board the S.S. San Francisco. As a result Miller and a few other brave sailors were singled out for individual acts of heroism as the inscription on this medal notes - for his “courageous conduct” as the sinking San Francisco’s passengers and crew were experiencing “their perilous exposure on the ocean.”
As bad as the loss of life was, it could have been much worse for those on board the sinking ship. Given the weather conditions and the duration and intensity of the storm between the time it was encountered on December 24th and several days later when the last of the survivors were finally removed from the distressed ship, all 750 persons on board the S.S. San Francisco could easily have perished had Miller and men like him not put their own lives in jeopardy to render assistance.
One of the survivors gave the following eyewitness account of conditions: “The sea was a complete mess of foam – boiling and swelling like a cauldron.” He also recalled “the sky was black with clouds, the rain poured in torrents, and in all directions the vision was limited by roaring billows white with froth and foam, the wind blew a perfect hurricane.” [Ref: Daily Alta California, February 16, 1854] The same article paints an even gloomier image regarding those who lost their lives: “From all sides came the piercing cries of the drowning soldiers.” He went on to explain that the storm was so violent that “no efforts were made to rescue any, for all efforts to that end were useless.”
The storm quickly overpowered the San Francisco with deadly results. “Two days after leaving New York, the San Francisco’s lifeboats were washed away, her upper saloon and promenade decks were pounded into splinters by the crashing waves and her engines were drowned. Soon afterwards, she lost her masts and both funnels and was tossed about helpless amid high waves, her fate and the lives of her passengers and crew uncertain.” [Ref: Stack’s Catalog, John J. Ford Collection].
We believe the depiction on the obverse of the medal of rough seas, and specifically that of seamen in a lifeboat going to the aid of persons on board the sinking ship, is in itself sufficient testimony of their selfless acts of heroism. Exactly what specific heroic deed or deeds seaman Miller undertook that ultimately lead to his rescuer’s medal is an elusive mystery today - just 154 years after the fact. Was he one of the crewmen who manned the little rescue boat pictured on the medal? Surely additional research would confirm or disprove this theory. Regardless, Miller was at the very least partly responsible for saving the lives of many who otherwise would have been lost to the depths of the ocean.
The sinking occurred during the height of the California gold rush. It was a time when the exploits of brave men, some real and some contrived, often appeared in print. All of the passengers aboard the S.S. San Francisco were traveling to California, and some probably had dreams of becoming rich miners, but there were also nearly 500 military personal on board, 150 of who were lost as a giant wave swept them overboard in a single instant.
“On the 28th of December the Boston Bark Kilby, in spite of heavy weather took a hundred survivors on board, then was obliged to leave. On the 31st Three Bells out of Glasgow, came to help. Despite being short of provisions, leaking herself, and almost sinking, Three Bells laid by the doomed ship for four days. She was joined by the Antarctic, out of New York, and the two rescuing ships took off the remaining survivors. The Lucy Thompson met the Kilby twenty miles east of Fire Island, and brought 99 survivors from the Kilby to New York. They were in a starving condition, having subsisted for a long time on a half-parched corn, and the smallest pittance of water.” [Ref: New York Times, January 16, 1854].
News of the tragedy and exploits of the rescuers, as told by survivors, quickly appeared in newspapers across the nation and around the world. “The steam packet San Francisco sank in a storm off North Carolina. San Francisco was a large side-wheel steamer at 280’ long with a passenger capacity of 1600. At the time she was on her maiden voyage; which would take her from New York bound for California. When off the coast of North Carolina she ran into a violent storm. As the storm got worse attempts to save the ship became futile. A large wave swept across the ship carrying away about one hundred and fifty men who were clearing debris from the deck. Not long after that the ship went under taking an estimated three hundred people with her.” [Ref: MartimeQuset.com]
During our research regarding this medal we discovered that there were several different medals for bravery awarded to the rescuers, including medals from the City of Philadelphia, The Humane Society of Massachusetts, and Congressional Gold Medals LS.11, and LS. 12, as well as the medal offered in this lot to Seaman Robinson Miller by the Merchants and Citizens of New York.
The medal weighs 49.9 grams and measures 45.5 mm in diameter. The S.S. San Francisco is pictured floundering in the storm on the obverse with two rescue ships and a lifeboat going to her aid. The San Francisco’s flag, or ensign, is seen flying upside down indicating a ship in distress. The medal’s reverse contains the eloquent wording quoted in the first paragraph of this lot’s description above. The wording is surrounded by thirteen six pointed stars across the top half and a wreath that forms a semi-circle along the bottom half.
C.C. Wright, a New York engraver and die maker, designed the medal. Wright’s “C.C.” signature appears on the obverse, and according to the Stack’s cataloger the medal was made by the firm Ball, Black & Company. The medal is encircled by a heavy looking rope-type bezel with a wonderfully crafted small anchor as a bail or loupe. The medal’s color is a light silver-gray with some pleasing gold toning scattered across the obverse and an iridescence halo of rose toning almost evenly distributed around the rim edge on the reverse. Lifesaving medals for gold rush era shipwrecks are rare. The medal offered here, having been presented to a rescuer who risked life and limb saving passengers and crew of the S.S. San Francisco, should clearly be one of the most coveted and sought after by maritime and gold rush collectors alike. Ultra Rare. $32,500
RFG-29. S.S. Republic – Treasure Ship, Civil War Album, and Research Binder, New Orleans, LA – c1862-1865
This is a lot of two items; a small leather covered photo album with two brass clasps, which contains the only known view of the S.S. Republic when it was known as the Tennessee, and also an original photo of the Confederate Ironclad Tennessee, captured at Mobile Bay in 1863 by Captain Pierre Giraud, USN, who assembled this photo album. The album contains dozens of original photos of Naval officers. There are fifty photos compiled in a loose-leaf binder with a list of officers and copies of research materials on Giraud, USN ships, and more, putting all into historical perspective. The album measures 5” w. x 6 ¼” long x 2 ½” thick. Please see the story of the S.S. Republic with the General Hooker lithograph. This album was assembled in New Orleans, where the Republic was headed when she sank. The spine is detached from the back cover. The pages have gilt edges and the covers are black, brown and gilt. Unique. Fine condition. $19,500.
RFG-30. (S.S. Republic Rescue Ship) S.S. General Hooker Original Colored Lithograph - 1866
By J. H. Buford Lithographs Of Boston. Shows a full profile view of the side wheeler Hooker at sea with various dignitaries and soldiers on deck, United States flags mounted in several places and flying in the wind. Information noted on front of lithograph: Length 142 feet. Breadth 22 ft. 9.” Depth 9 ft. Tonage (sic) 270. Dimensions of Engine: 28 in. diam. of Cylinder, 7 ft. 6 in stroke. Engine built by McKay & Aldus Iron Works, East Boston. Joiner work by Wm. McKay.
Based at Fort Royal near Charleston, just after the Civil War, the General Hooker was an important rescue vessel for survivors of the doomed and sunk treasure ship, the S.S. Republic, which sank with a reported $400,000 in specie on board. The discovery of the ship and subsequent salvage operation has garnered significant newsworthy attention. The Republic left New York Harbor October 18, 1865 bound for New Orleans. It sank on October 25, 1865 in a tremendous strom that also sank or damaged 200 other ships, as reported in American newspapers.
The General Hooker was dispatched at the specific request of the Repbulic’s Captain Ed Young, once he had himself arrived in Charleston. Young asked the military at Fort Royal for immediate help. Quartermaster John Moore commanded the Hooker and intercepted the brig Horace Beals, which had picked up 14 survivors (in a small boat six days at sea) and was headed north. The survivors were off loaded onto the Hooker and taken to Fort Royal on October 31. Unfortunately, Captain Moore died November 13 from cholera, and no formal report of his rescue was ever filed.
This very rare lithograph was located just after the discovery of the Republic was made, in a thorough search for lithographs of the Republic and any related ships. While other lithographs were found for the Tennessee, Republic and Mobile, none were the correct ship, since the names were very common at that time.
Lithograph measures 16 x 25” on a 23 x 29.5” sheet, as originally printed. White matte covers the edges with acid free mylar covering the lithograph. Minor tear into lithograph at bottom left penetrates 3” of the ocean; colors are bright and vibrant. Condition Very Fine. $6,000.
RFG-31. The Wreck of the Golden Gate Treasure Archive, San Francisco, CA 1931-1932
This is a rare archive from a salvage attempt in 1931 to 1932 and provides details not known before.
The wreck of the Golden Gate in 1862 has long been one of the most sought after wrecks in history for the treasure she reportedly held. A whopping $1.4 million was reported lost, plus the personal fortunes held by private passengers. Through time, the rumors and stories have grown, so that today the treasure is reported as worth millions, which to this day remains lost to the sea.
Background
The Golden Gate sank 300 yards off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico in 1862. Many passengers and crew died in the horrible wreck. A detailed, well researched and written story of the sinking, salvage and loss was published by Andrew Czernek on the Internet. The archive was recently discovered consisting of about thirty letters, documents, photographs and treasure maps. It details a salvage attempt in 1931 that lasted until at least 1932. A series of letters and information from an investigation into past salvage efforts of the Golden Gate revealed that the majority of the gold treasure was salvaged by representatives of the insurance companies, and some by various local divers. Rumors remained however, for nearly a century that there were millions in gold still awaiting discovery on the bottom of the sea. These rumors persist to this day.
The Golden Gate Archive
Primarily Mining Engineer Charles Pouliot, who spearheaded efforts at the recovery, wrote this archive. At the same time, Pouliot was endeavoring to find another treasure on land known as the Pedro El Negro, which was a treasure placed deep in caves by bandits who had robbed Spanish bullion shipments. The archive is complete with at least two different treasure maps of the El Negro treasure and much on the Golden Gate. Pouliot raised money during the depth of the Depression a few dollars at a time for his treasure quests.
Pouliot was excited by the use of what today might be known as a “black box” scientific device that showed the location of treasure. Was this an early form of a geophysical device? Research by the company in January 1932 revealed that of the $1.4 million lost on sinking in 1862, $1.2 million was salvaged by early 1863. Later that year, another $333,000 was salvaged. Once this knowledge was learned, the treasure hunting effort fizzled, and efforts turned to other treasures. This is a very choice archive containing detailed information about real treasure searches with suspect results of efforts after August 1932. It includes a number of certificates reflecting subscription. None of this has been previously published to our knowledge. No photograph. $7,500.
RFG-32. Golden Fleece Wreck Genuine Silver Ingot, Northern Carribean Sea c 1550
This genuine silver ingot was recovered from an unidentified shipwreck sunk c 1550 in international waters in the northern Caribbean Sea. This is a round disc that has been clipped in half by large chisel cuts. It was poured in a crude mould typical of the 1500’s, and also typical of some of the gold and copper ingots from the same period. The fineness is 98.3% and the weight is 45.3 troy oz silver. It measures 5/8” thick in the center and has a radius of approximately 3 ½”. This ingot is marked “II U CCC LX” and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity dated October 30th, 2007 from Daniel Frank Sedwick, a specialist in shipwreck coins and artifacts. The certificate describes the ingot, as well as its history and the wreck from which it came. It reads: “ . . . This unidentified wreck is noteworthy for its yield of small round, flat silver patties, or “splashes”, as well as gold bars and pieces of bars that were probably used as early gold coins during the joint reign of Janna (the Insane) and her son Charles I of Spain (1516-55)” $3,500.
RFG-33. Gold Doubloon Cuba c 1630
Gold Doubloon. This is an original treasure find from an unnamed wreck found off Cuba. The piece dates from about 1630 from the reign of King Philipe IV, from the Sevilla Mint in Spain. It’s denomination is 8 Escudos. These coins were also known as dublooms. This piece comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Another great pirate treasure piece. $3,500.
RFG-34. (S.S. Central America) Put’s Golden Songster Pamphlet, San Francisco, CA – 1858
Put’s Golden Songster, containing the largest and most popular collection of California songs ever published. By the Author of “Put’s Original California Songster.” Light green paper covered pamphlet, 60 pages, measures 3 ¾” x 6.” Published by D.E. Appleton & Co. on Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA. The first song is “Loss of the ‘Central America,’ “ to the tune of “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.” Other selections are: “California Stage Company,” “California Bank Robbers,” “Sweet Betsy From Pike,” “The Miner’s Dream,” and others. Contains a list of mining localities peculiar to California, such as One Eye, Skinflint, Piety Hill, et. al. A few stains and a small tear on the back cover, still Extremely Fine. $950.
RFG-35. Potosi, Bolivia Engraving – 1702
Engraving by C. Allard c 1680 and published by Pieter Schenck, 1702. Shows steep mountain peak with castle at top in background; foreground shows large windmill at left, with native people and Europeans on horseback accompanying a large wagon into the valley below. Caption looks to be written in Dutch or perhaps German. The piece is 8 ½ x 11” attached to paper matting.
Potosi was founded in 1545 at the foot of Cerro Rico (Rich Hill) a year after ore was discovered by the Indian, Diego Huallpa. Shipments of ore to Spain began almost immediately following large-scale excavation. The establishment of a silver coining mint (1672), construction of water reservoirs and more than eighty-six churches to accommodate its expanding population of nearly 200,000 people, resulted in the city becoming one of the wealthiest in Latin America, if not the world. Eventually, however, much of the cities wealth was siphoned off to Europe, and by the time of Independence in 1825 the wealth of the Cerro Rico was nearly depleted. UNESCO declared the City of Potosi a World Heritage Site in 1987, recognizing its rich history and colonial architecture. [Potosi—Bolivia – City Guide website]. Extra Fine. $850.
RFG-36. Potosi, Bolivia Engraving, c 1650
Engraving by G.M.T. “Veduta della Cittae della Montagna del Potosi” 7” x 10” Fine engraving of Potosi and the town at its foot. Framed in a Victorian 12” x 14” frame, that has been repainted. This view of Potosi shows a castle at the top of the mountain and the town at its foot, with town’s people walking up the mountain.
Potosi was the source of great silver wealth to Bolivian Indians and later Spaniards. Hundred of silver ingots of Potosi silver have been discovered on the ocean floor from Spanish wrecks. This is a fine early depiction of the region. $750.
RFG-37. Shipwreck of the Santa Maria de la Consolacion Authentic Coin, Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador c 1661-1700
This silver coin is known as a “Cob” and its denomination is 4 Reales. “Cob” coins were produced in various mints in South America and this one purportedly comes from the Potosi Mint during the reign of Carlos II. The Assayer is Pedro de Villar. It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Carlos L. Saavedra, Director of ROBCAR, SA.
According to the certificate, the shipwreck where this piece was found is located near Santa Clara Island, which is also known as “el Muerto” by the locals, which some say is because the pirates beheaded the crew of the Consolacion on the island. The certificate goes on to describe the wreck of the Consolacion and the pieces found at the site. It states that, “These ‘cob’ coins are crudely made coins which were struck by hand. Thus, no two ‘cob’ coins are alike, which is part of the reason there are so many enthusiastic collectors.” This piece weighs 11.2 grams and is graded Very Good. $250.
State Alphabetical Listings by Location or Category