1854-So CHILE Aluminum PESO PCGS MS-60 Ex.SS Central America

Ex. S.S. Central America. Chile Republic One Peso, 1854-So, PCGS, Santiago Mint, KM-129. Recovered from the S.S. Central America, which sank off North Carolina in 1857, this coin is a rare artifact from the “Ship of Gold.” On September 3, 1857, the S.S. Central America departed for New York City carrying over nine tons of California Gold Rush treasure, valued at approximately $8 million (about $765 million in 2021). Struck by a Category 2 hurricane off the Carolinas, the ship sank, claiming most of its passengers and crew in a maritime disaster described as unparalleled in American history.

The coin, struck at the Santiago Mint, bears witness to this tragic event. Salvage operations began in the 1980s, recovering coins and large gold bars, though legal disputes have complicated the process. Insurance companies, citing 19th-century payouts, claimed portions of the treasure, but courts largely awarded it to the finders. Ongoing legal battles, involving the discovery team’s leader and investors, persist, with estimates suggesting only 5% of the ship’s cargo has been recovered, hinting at substantial undiscovered treasure. This 1854-So peso, certified by PCGS, remains a tangible link to the S.S. Central America’s storied legacy and the Gold Rush era.  

Product ID	555865
Year	1854
Mint Mark	So
Strike	MS
Grade	MS-60
Variety	Ex.SS Central America
Grading Agency	PCGS
Specification properties	No
Serial	1854SO
Status	Active
Designation	-
Additional Info	-