How I Identified and Returned Looted USS Yorktown Coins: A Step-by-Step Guide for Collectors

My Unexpected Journey Solving a Naval History Puzzle

Let me take you back to that spring afternoon when five small coins turned my quiet Chicago coin shop upside down. As both a Navy veteran and longtime coin dealer, I’ve handled rare finds before – but nothing prepared me for discovering looted USS Yorktown artifacts in a routine estate purchase. What followed became a masterclass in historical detective work. Stick with me, and I’ll show you exactly how I verified and returned these stolen naval treasures.

The Coin That Started It All

Picture this: bags of mixed world coins spilling across my sorting table, the familiar routine of separating wheat from chaff. Then – five handwritten coin flips stopped me cold. Each label read: “From USS Yorktown 1850.” My hands actually shook holding that 1840 Seated Liberty half dollar. The coins themselves told a story:

• Two U.S. halves (1830 Bust, 1840 Seated Liberty)
• Mexican 8 Reales (1840s) with crusty surfaces
• Bolivian 8 Soles covered in pitting
• 1690 Brazilian 200 Reis looking like it fought Poseidon himself

That moment changed everything. These weren’t just old coins – they were time travelers from one of the Navy’s most dramatic shipwrecks.

What Made Me Suspicious

Three details screamed “investigate now”:

1. Handwritten labels claiming specific warship provenance
2. Coins spanning 160 years of history in one group
3. Distinct crust patterns only saltwater creates

Step 1: Playing Historical Matchmaker

Before calling the Navy, I needed ironclad proof. Here’s how I connected these coins to the Yorktown’s tragic final voyage:

Nights With Navy Records

Coffee-fueled research sessions revealed this timeline:

• 1839: USS Yorktown launched as a 16-gun sailing ship
• 1840s: Patrolled the Pacific hunting slave ships
• September 6, 1850: Wrecked off Cape Verde during storm

The dates matched perfectly – these coins likely sailed aboard during her anti-slavery missions.

Reading the Coins’ Battle Scars

Under my microscope, the truth emerged:

• Chloride pitting on silver surfaces
• Sand abrasion grooves
• That distinctive “crystallized” look shipwreck silver gets

The Brazilian coin even had tiny shell fragments cemented to its edge – undeniable proof of ocean burial.

Step 2: Navigating Legal Minefields

Here’s where many collectors get tripped up. Military shipwrecks aren’t your typical salvage operation. Key facts I uncovered:

The Warship Rule

Sunken Navy vessels remain U.S. property forever. One Navy attorney told me:

“Imagine if another country salvaged the Arizona at Pearl Harbor. That’s how seriously we take these cases.”

This meant:

• My coins were stolen government property
• Keeping them = federal offense
• Zero legal claim for current holders

Respecting Sacred Sites

While Yorktown had no casualties, most wrecks are protected as:

1. Military graves
2. Underwater memorials
3. Protected historical sites

Step 3: The Delicate Art of Returning History

Contacting the Navy required careful preparation. My exact process:

Building the Evidence File

Before hitting send, I gathered:

• Macro photos of every corrosion detail
• Side-by-side coin and service record comparisons
• Signed affidavits from previous owners

Finding the Right Navy Contacts

The Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) runs a tight ship:

1. Emailed underwater archaeology team with subject line: “URGENT: Possible Yorktown Artifacts”
2. Followed up with certified mail package
3. Provided full chain of custody documentation

To their credit, the NHHC team responded within three days – faster than my local DMV!

When the Road Got Bumpy

No repatriation goes perfectly. Two major hurdles I faced:

Issue: Sketchy Ownership History

My Fix: Became a paperwork detective:

• Tracked auction records to 1990s Cape Verde
• Found customs forms with suspicious “gift” declarations
• Interviewed heirs (with legal counsel present)

Issue: Profit vs. Ethics Debate

My Approach: When consignors complained about losing value, I:

1. Printed relevant federal statutes
2. Shared NHHC’s museum display plans
3. Suggested tax deduction angles

The Moment That Made It All Worthwhile

Handing those coins to the NHHC curator brought unexpected tears. As a former sailor, I imagined the young powder monkeys who might’ve touched these same coins. The Navy confirmed they’ll use them to:

• Rebuild Yorktown’s exhibit with new artifacts
• Study long-term ocean corrosion patterns
• Teach about anti-slavery patrols in schools

Your Turn: What To Do With Suspect Artifacts

If you find potential historical items:

1. Don’t Clean Anything: Patina is evidence
2. Photograph Like a Crime Scene: Include rulers for scale
3. Call Before Selling: NHHC’s hotline is 202-433-7883
4. Document Conversations: Who/when you called
5. Think Legacy Over Cash: What story do you want attached to your name?

Three Truths That Changed My Perspective

This experience taught me:

1. Trust But Verify: Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof
2. Laws Have Teeth: Maritime theft prosecutions are real
3. History Isn’t Ours to Keep: Some artifacts belong to everyone

More Than Just Metal

Those five coins weren’t relics – they were teachers. They reminded me that ethical collecting protects our shared history. Now when dealers ask why I bothered returning valuable coins, I smile and say: “Because they were never mine to keep.” The Navy’s gratitude letter hangs behind my counter – the best authentication paperwork I’ve ever received.

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