A gold coin adhered to a corroded iron bracket from the wreck of the passenger/liner Schiller (1873)

An American Double Eagle gold $20 coin adhered together onto a corroded iron bracket from the wreck of the German passenger liner Schiller (1873). Similar to G14260 but with the iron bracket on its side.

The first divers were on the wreck on 15 or 16 May 1875 to begin the salvage of the gold and other valuable cargo. The first coin was found on 11 August 1875 and retrieval continued until 6 May 1876 by which time divers had retrieved the majority of the coins.

The Schiller was on passage from New York to Hamburg with a cargo of mail, general cargo and 300,000 $20 gold pieces. On 7 May 1875 the ship struck Retarrier Ledge, Western Rocks, in dense fog having reduced to four knots and posted extra lookouts to see the light or hear the bell from Bishop Rock - including volunteers from the passengers. The ship pulled clear of the rocks but three large waves hit her beam-on, causing the ship to hit the reef broadside too and list rapidly. Despite firing rockets and sign-guns their distress call was mistaken for a vessel signalling her arrival off Scilly. Successive waves washed passengers and crew into the water. Of the eight lifeboats on board only two could be use, resulting in the loss of 311 passengers and crew. Only 42 men and one woman survived.

Object Details

ID: G14261
Collection: Historic Photographs
Type: Glass plate negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gibson & Sons of Scilly
Date made: After May 1875
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gibson's of Scilly Shipwreck Collection
Measurements: Overall: 6 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in
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