Ancient 1809 shipwreck coin with certification. This coin was recovered in 1985 from the remains of the Honorable East India company ship ADMIRAL GARDNER wrecked in the Goodwin Sands in January, 1809. The vessel was en route to Bengal India with a cargo of copper ingots and coins specially minted for the company. The Goodwin Sands, a treacherous bank of sandbars just off the English coast, was well deserving of its nickname, "The Shipswallower." In 1809 the Admiral Gardner and her sister ship, Britannia, met their match and ended up at the bottom of this nautical graveyard. The Admiral Gardner was loaded with a cargo of anchors, cannonballs, copper ingots, iron bars, and a shipment of new copper coins minted by the East India company. This is one of those coins - as it was found after being in the sea for 176 years. The coins were struck by the Soho Mint and were the first coins to be struck on a steam driven coin press. The press was designed by Soho owner, Matthew Boulton and his former business partner, James Watt - among the earliest pioneers in the development of the steam engine. Admiral Gardner's treasure lay at the bottom of the Goodwin Sands from January 25, 1809 until it was discovered by a group of English adventeruros in 1985. This coin is one from that wreck. The coin is beautifully mounted in a 5" x 7" walnut frame and the backing has a history of the ship and coin. The coin is in a plastic pocket so both sides can be viewed or the coin can be removed. Under the clear plastic pocket is a picture of what the Admiral Gardner might have looked like. Note that after over 190 years the coin is in excellent near mint condition. I have not cleaned the coin, but do include instructions on how to do so if you wish. It comes with a history of the incident.
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