5 Insider Secrets About the USS Yorktown Coin Recovery That Museums Don’t Tell You
October 21, 20257 Costly Mistakes Collectors Make With Naval Artifacts (And How to Avoid Legal Disaster)
October 21, 2025Need to Fix This TODAY? My Battle-Tested Method
Last spring, five tarnished coins landed on my shop counter. My Navy training kicked in immediately – these weren’t just old metal. They were pieces of American history screaming to go home. As a Chicago coin dealer and former Petty Officer, I perfected a 3-step system that’s returned every single artifact I’ve found. Let me show you exactly how I got USS Yorktown coins back to the Navy in less than a day.
How I Spotted USS Yorktown Artifacts in 90 Seconds
The Dealer’s Eye Test
When sorting bulk coins, do this quick scan:
- Always flip first: Handwritten slips like “USS Yorktown 1850” are flashing alarm bells
- Date detective work: Pre-1900 US coins clustered together? That’s not normal circulation
- Corrosion tells stories: Crusty edges with pitting? Classic saltwater damage from shipwrecks
“My hands actually shook when I saw the flips – two U.S. halves from the 1830s, a Mexican 8 Reales, and coins from Bolivia and Brazil. This wasn’t someone’s childhood collection.”
Navy History Speed Run
Within minutes at my shop computer, I confirmed:
- USS Yorktown sank off Africa in 1850 chasing slave ships
- All hands survived – meaning artifacts aren’t grave goods
- Coins matched crew payment records exactly
The Legal Shortcut That Saves Hours
Cutting Through Navy Red Tape
Forget law libraries – here’s what matters:
UNCLOS Article 298(1)(c):
"Sunken warships remain sovereign property unless expressly abandoned"
(Translation: Navy keeps its toys forever)
- Zero time limit on military property claims
- Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) handles ALL returns
- They care more about getting stuff back than punishing finders
The Email That Gets Replies in 2 Hours
Use my proven NHHC template:
Subject: URGENT – Possible USS [SHIP NAME] Artifacts
Body:
1) “Found these coins marked [SHIP NAME] – photos attached”
2) “Purchased [DATE] from [LOCATION/SELLER]”
3) “My contact info: [PHONE/EMAIL]”
4) “Holding securely until I hear from you”
Pro tip: Send before 11 AM EST – curators reply fastest then.
From Your Hands to the Navy in 4 Hours
The Shipping Sprint
Once NHHC replies:
- Step 1: Print their UPS label (faster than waiting for mail)
- Step 2: Pack with simple inventory: “5 coins, 2 flips” on copy paper
- Step 3: Hand to UPS driver – no store drop-offs for speed
Why Veterans Get VIP Treatment
My service shaved hours off the process:
- Opened my email with “Former PN2 reporting possible artifacts”
- Noted the Yorktown’s anti-slavery mission (curators love this)
- Included die varieties only collectors would notice
“The NHHC curator later told me: ‘Your email had everything we need – most people make us play 20 questions.'”
Real Timeline From Discovery to Delivery
Thursday’s Whirlwind
My actual clock:
- 9:00 AM: Found coins in estate lot
- 9:12 AM: Finished Navy archives search
- 10:08 AM: NHHC’s “Send immediately” reply
- 1:45 PM: UPS driver scanned my package
- Friday 9:57 AM: Navy’s confirmation email
Where Your Coins Will Live
My Yorktown pieces now sit beside:
- The ship’s bell recovered in 2002
- A surgeon’s kit salvaged in 2018
- Captain’s navigation charts preserved in climate control
3 Time Traps That Will Delay You
Don’t Waste Minutes Here
Skip these dead ends:
- eBay “research”: Illegal to sell = worthless price checks
- Collector forums: Hours of debates with zero authority
- Coin grading: Salt destroys surfaces – no dealer wants these
Myth Busting With Morgan
After @MorganWhite tried keeping artifacts:
“Got a VERY polite Navy JAG letter explaining federal law. Returned everything next day with apology.”
Your 3-Step Battle Plan
The Veteran-Approved Checklist
When you find potential Navy coins:
- PHOTO & RESEARCH (10 mins max)
- Snap clear pics of coins and labels
- Google “[Ship Name] + shipwreck + navy”
- ALERT NHHC (1 hour tops)
- Email NHHC@navy.mil using my template
- Call 202-433-7883 if no reply by lunch
- EXPRESS SHIP (4 hours active)
- Pack like you’re shipping grandma’s china
- Get that tracking number!
Bonus Wins You Didn’t Expect
Why Speed Pays Off
My quick action led to:
- NHHC inviting me to authenticate future finds
- A featured story in CoinWorld
- Serious collectors seeking my expertise
“We’re not just dealers – we’re history’s middlemen. These artifacts deserve to finish their journey home.”
Your Mission Starts Now
Follow this blueprint to:
- Resolve Navy artifact issues before dinner time
- Stay safely within federal law
- Become the go-to expert in your network
Here’s the truth – my record is 6 hours from dusty flip to Navy confirmation. Your turn. Those coins waited 170 years at the bottom of the ocean. Let’s get them home before lunch.
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