S.S. Central America Gold Nugget – .27 Grains

This 0.27 grain gold nugget was recovered from one of the most historic shipwrecks ever discovered, the S.S. Central America. Known as the “Ship of Gold,” the vessel sank in 1857 while carrying an enormous cargo of California gold and passengers returning from the western frontier. What went down with her was not only a fortune in gold but also a dramatic chapter in early American history.

The Central America disaster played a key role in the financial Panic of 1857, a crisis that shook the U.S. economy at a time when the young nation was rapidly expanding. On board the ship were natural placer gold nuggets, mined by hand from California’s rich goldfields. This nugget, weighing 0.27 grains, is one of those genuine fragments of history, untouched by refining and naturally shaped by the forces of nature.

Over a century later, state-of-the-art deep-sea recovery missions brought this lost treasure back into the light. Each nugget was carefully documented and preserved, ensuring its origin could be traced directly to the wreck. This particular piece comes with full certification of authenticity and makes for a distinctive addition to any collection.

While small in size, this gold nugget carries immense historical weight. It offers a rare opportunity to hold a piece of the Gold Rush era and the high-risk journeys that helped shape the destiny of the United States. The nugget’s irregular texture and organic form serve as a direct connection to the natural world and the miners who once sifted through rivers in search of gold.