I found this coin from 1808 in a coin shop a few months ago but I don't know its value
When I bought it the coin came in a packet and with a little note saying “recovered from the shipwreck of the Admiral Gardner off the Goodwin Sands”
It's in great condition considering it's age and how long it was underwater for and I think the black stuff on it could be water damage but I maybe wrong.
There had been an exorbitant amount of coins on the ship when it capsized and the way the coins were packaged as well as the composition of the sand allowed for them to be better preserved. Here is some info:
Her cargo on this sixth voyage included 46 tons of X and XX cash coins newly struck by Matthew Boulton of Birmingham’s Soho Mint and worth a reported £21,579, a considerable sum in those days. They had been packed in wax for the long journey to India where they were intended for use at the numerous EIC trading posts.
Given that potentially 1 million were recovered from this wreck in the 1980s, it's very unlikely that somebody has a non-wreck example.
“Some were recovered” does not imply potentially millions were recovered . You would think that from a modern salvage operation they would have recorded accurate records of the entire recovery and what was retrieved. This is required by the antiquites laws of most nations. Why not in this salvage operation?
Following a salvage agreement, operations began in 1984, recovering over one million coins. The site was designated in 1985 in response to concern about the apparent lack of archaeological standards applied during the salvage operation although salvage work continued under license. The site is now subject to a 300m radius restricted area prohibiting unlicensed activities within the boundary…From the ocean depths came a bounty of items from the Admiral Gardner. Approximately 100 cash copper coins, 10 white gun flints, and 20 gun flints in concretion. A cannon ball in concretion with 10-cash copper coins dated 1806 and a lump of 10-cash copper coins in concretion were recovered from this wreck during excavation of the seabed. Twenty-One cannonballs, a wooden treasure barrel, a copper ingot, 4 pieces of iron shot, and 2 large clusters of copper coins were recovered from the Admiral Gardner as well as various other items such as; shot, copper ingots, barrels, a hull rib, coins, fittings, a leather book cover, bowls, nails, pots and musket flints. Approximately over 1 million coins were raised which accounts for only half of the 54 tons on board when she sank.
Lots of coins found in a concretion state which would be the norm and expected. Irreparable damage. What happened to the wax that was supposed to be protecting all the coins? Too many gray areas, unethical behavior in salvage operations, poor record keeping, conflicting stories, and with an estimated half of the cargo unaccounted for. The allure of a lost Treasure ship implying value. You will forgive me for not taking at face value that every coin that comes with a note attesting to where it came from is true but it just doesn't hold water.
I have a question. As I checked the coins from ship wreck recovered of 10 Cash has weight of 4.7 grams.
I did got it graded by NGC but didn't mention it was from the ship wreck and got the result as environmental damage. But the weight mentioned is 6.5g.
Is this coin from ship wreck or not?
No, it is not or at least it was not proven to be directly attributed to a ship to NGC. Environmental damage does not imply ship wreck but simply that the coin was affected somehow by environmental factors. The description on the slab would likely say “Sea Salvaged” and if it could be directly attributed to a ship wreck it would also state the name of the ship. This one could not be directly attributed to one although some may imply that for profit. Some sea salvaged coins are not always attributed to a ship. For example, in WWII the Philippines Government dumped vast quatities of coins into Manila Bay to prevent the Japanese from seizing the coins. After the war, they were recovered and many in slabs and graded simply state “Sea Salvaged” but not a ship wreck.
