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FINEST KNOWN OFFERS SS CENTRAL AMERICA CATALOGWith the publicity surrounding the release from prison of Tommy Thompson, the leader of the 1980s expedition that recovered treasure from the wreck of the SS Central America, Adam Crum's Finest Known seized the day on Monday to promote its catalog along with a chance to win a free Seated Liberty dime from the famed ship. Here's their emailed offer. Alas, their Friday drawing deadline has already expired. But see my Numismatic Diary elsewhere in this issue for a different offer I took them up on recently to purchase one of these babies along with some free numismatic literature. -Editor 
With the recent news of the release from jail of controversial treasure hunter Tommy Thompson, the incredible story of the SS Central America is once again capturing national attention. Thompson, the leader of the 1980s expedition that discovered the wreck nearly 8,000 feet beneath the Atlantic, spent years in federal custody after refusing to disclose the location of certain treasure assets connected to the recovery. Much of the media coverage surrounding his imprisonment — and now his release — has focused on claims that hundreds of valuable gold coins remain hidden away. Some reports have suggested that as many as 500 coins are secretly stashed somewhere, with dramatic headlines estimating their value at $50 million. In Reality the story is far less sensational than many headline suggest. The coins in question are believed to be 2.5-ounce gold commemorative pieces struck using gold recovered from the SS Central America shipwreck to celebrate the extraordinary discovery. While certainly valuable and historically fascinating, even if such a group of coins truly exists in some hidden cache, their estimated market value would likely be closer to $7.5 million — still a remarkable sum, but far from the dramatic figures being circulated. Not exactly pocket change… but also not quite the buried $50 million treasure many reports have suggested. Of course, the full story may not yet be told. Perhaps someday the rumored coins will resurface — or perhaps the mystery will remain part of the enduring legend of the Ship of Gold. As sailors might say, the truth may still be resting somewhere in Davy Jones' locker. What is certain, however, is that the treasure of the SS Central America remains one of the most important discoveries in numismatic history. And interest in shipwreck treasure coins is stronger today than ever. Collectors and investors alike are drawn to these tangible pieces of history — coins that survived one of the most famous maritime disasters in American history. To celebrate the renewed attention surrounding this historic treasure, Finest Known is offering a FREE SS Central America Treasure Catalogue for a limited time.
Inside this beautifully produced catalogue you'll discover:
Anyone who requests their FREE catalogue by Friday, March 20, 2026 will automatically be entered to win a genuine pre-1857 Seated Liberty Dime recovered from the purser's safe aboard the SS Central America. These historic coins are tangible artifacts from one of the most important shipwrecks in American history. Request your FREE catalog today and secure your entry into the drawing.
To order the free catalog, see:
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE BOOK BAZARREWayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: Subscribe All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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