The SS Central America is the most famous ship of gold in American history. In the decade after the California Gold Rush started, steamer ships were contracted to move gold bullion ingots from refiners and assayers on the West Coast via the isthmus of Panama to the Gulf of Mexico for transport up the Eastern Seaboard to New York. The SS Central America was following this well-known route when tragedy struck in September 1857. In the 1980s, the ship was discovered on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and its long-lost treasures were eventually salvaged. Now, you can own one of those original gold bars with the 119 oz SS Central America Kellogg & Humbert Assayers Gold Bar courtesy of JM Bullion.
Bar Highlights:
- Bar arrives inside of a sealed plastic housing and a rugged Pelican case!
- Salvaged from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and the wreckage of the SS Central America!
- Serial number 466 from Kellogg & Humbert Assayers in San Francisco!
- Contains 109.004 Troy oz of .916 gold content.
- Total weight of 119 Troy oz.
- The obverse features the Kellogg & Humbert Assayers logo with the serial number, face value, overall weight, and gold purity.
- On the reverse is a blank field.
- Features toning and patina resulting from more than 160 years on the ocean floor!
The SS Central America was the second ship to move these gold bars on their journey from California to New York. The bars were originally shipped from San Francisco down the California coast to the isthmus of Panama aboard the SS Sonora. When the Senora reached Panama, the gold coins and bars inside were transported via rail across the isthmus to the port of Colon.
It was here that the SS Central America began a journey it had undertaken several times before. After more than 30,000 pounds of gold coins and bars were loaded aboard the Central America, it began steaming through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Atlantic Ocean. After a brief port call in Havana, Cuba, the Central America turned north for New York City. On September 9, 1857, the Central America ran into a storm that would eventually grow into a Category 2 hurricane. When the massive waves of the storm churned up damaged the ship and flooded its boiler rooms, the Central America was disabled and left at the mercy of the storm. On September 11, 1857, the ship went down with 425 souls and the hoard of gold bullion.
The obverse side of these historic 119 oz SS Central America Kellogg & Humbert Assayers Gold Bars features a number of inscriptions from the Kellogg & Humbert Assayers of San Francisco. The bars are stamped with an individual serial number of No. 466. You will also find the Kellogg & Humbert logo, the total weight of the bar, the gold content, and the face value of the bar in 1857 dollars. Kellogg & Humbert Assayers valued the gold weight of this bar at $2,253.31 in 1857. Reverse fields on these bars are blank. Both sides showcase patina, toning, and colorations resulting from more than a century-and-a-half on the ocean floor.
These 119 oz SS Central America Kellogg & Humbert Assayers Gold Bars are available to purchase with protective packaging. The bars are sealed inside of hard-plastic holders and secured inside of a Pelican case for transportation and storage.
JM Bullion is happy to field your questions about this impressive bar. You can call us at 800-276-6508, chat with us live online, or email us directly.
