My Fascination with the Rust Image Artifact from the SS Central America Double Eagle

There’s something about shipwreck coins that always pulls me in, and the story of the SS Central America never gets old. I’ve been looking into how a layer of rust formed this amazing mirror image of an 1857-S double eagle, and I just had to share what I found with you all.

The History and Rust Formation

You know, when I dug into the history, I found out the SS Central America went down off South Carolina in 1857. It was loaded with California gold, including double eagles fresh from the San Francisco mint. Over the years, iron from the ship left a special kind of rust, called goethite, on almost every gold coin. What blows my mind is how this natural coating saved even the tiniest details and the original shine. It’s like a fossil imprint of the coin, capturing everything perfectly.

Restoration Techniques and Success

I was really impressed by Bob Evans’ work as the chief restorer. He came up with a gentle way to take off the goethite without scratching the gold underneath. Because of that, a lot of the coins got MS grades after cleaning. It just goes to show how careful you have to be with these treasures. If you ever come across something like this, skip the harsh cleaners like Verdi-Care. Trust me, it’s worth going to a pro who uses non-invasive methods to keep the coin intact.

The Goethite Flakes as Collectible Artifacts

Here’s the coolest part: sometimes big flakes of goethite popped off, making perfect mirror images of the coins. Bob saved a few, and David Heinrich’s photo of an 1857-S double eagle flake really shows it off. I mean, it’s incredible how it copied every detail of the coin — though I’ll be honest, it took me a minute to see the negative relief clearly! For us collectors, these flakes are rare and totally unique. I’d give anything to have one with the original double eagle, but they’re so delicate that handling them is tricky.

Practical Preservation and Handling Tips

If you’re lucky enough to have one of these flakes, keeping it safe is a must. Here’s what I’d do:

• Encasing in Lucite: Pop the flake into a clear block. It shields it from bumps and the elements — the best protection I can think of.
• Watch the environment: Keep it somewhere cool and dry, like you would with a good bottle of wine or other sensitive metals. Humidity is the enemy.
• Hands off cleaning: Don’t even think about cleaning it. Just leave it as you found it to keep its history alive.

Honestly, controlling where and how you store it is the biggest factor in keeping it around for the long haul. If you’re not sure, get some advice from the pros — they might have custom ideas for your piece.

Collecting Insights and Grading Considerations

As a collector, I think these goethite flakes are about as desirable as it gets. They’re one-of-a-kind and tied directly to the SS Central America. If you can preserve them well and prove where they came from, they could be worth a pretty penny. Grading is a tough one, though. My guess is they’d get a details grade for corrosion if you sent them in. That’s why it’s smart to get a specialist to look at them. If you’re thinking about buying, focus on authenticity and getting the condition well-documented. It’ll pay off in the long run.

In the end, artifacts like this are why I love coin collecting — it’s history, science, and art all in one. If you want to learn more, take a look at the E-Sylum article. And if you’ve got any shipwreck stories of your own, I’d love to hear them!