HERITAGE: THE ODYSSEY COLLECTION

A rare navigation device once used to pinpoint a ship's location through analysis of the stars will be among the top treasures in The Odyssey Collection: Sunken Treasure Americana & Political Showcase Auction Oct. 2 at Heritage Auctions.

The "Dry Tortugas/Nuestra Señora del Rosario" Shipwreck Astrolabe ND, early 17th Century offered in this auction is among more than 200 lots from several shipwrecks, spanning from the early 1600s to World War II. The S.S. Republic, a Civil War paddlewheel steamship that sank in October 1865 carrying some $400,000 in gold and silver and supplies bound for post-war New Orleans, rested at 1,700 feet below the water's surface off the coast of Georgia for 138 years, until Odyssey Marine Exploration deployed underwater robotics to recover 51,000 coins and 14,000 artifacts.

"The Nuestra Señora del Rosario was part of the 1622 Tierra Firme fleet, of which the most famous galleon was the Atocha. These ships transported vast riches from the Americas back to Spain," says Thomas Ribeiro, numismatist at Heritage Auctions. "When the fleet ran into a hurricane in the Florida Keys, the Rosario struck a rock. Contemporary efforts to salvage the wreck were fruitful and recovered much of the ship's armament and cargo. It wasn't until 1971 that the wreck was rediscovered, near Dry Tortugas, producing many of the extraordinary lots in this auction."

Also in play is a "S.S. Gairsoppa" Shipwreck silver Ingot of 1156.7 troy oz ND (ca. 1940) that is the very first Gairsoppa bar recovered after more than 70 years under water. The Gairsoppa was loaded with iron, tea and silver ingots shipped from India to England, but it never made it to its final destination after encountering a German U-Boat that sunk the ship during WWII. Only a fraction of the more than 2,500 bars survived the smelting pot after recovery, and they all were of the same kind, different from this rare example of which Odyssey only located three pieces, this present offering the very first ingot to be recovered from the wreck site.

The auction features six lots with ingots, including but not limited to:

• An "S.S. Gairsoppa" Shipwreck silver Ingot of 1020.3 troy oz ND (ca. 1940)
• An "S.S. Gairsoppa" Shipwreck silver Ingot of 1094.8 troy oz ND (ca. 1940)
• An "S.S. Gairsoppa" Shipwreck refined silver ingot (10 oz)

"S.S. Republic" Shipwreck Multi-Coin 50 Cents Shipwreck Clump, 19th Century

A remarkable survivor from the Republic wreck is the "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck Multi-Coin 50 Cents Shipwreck Clump, 19th Century — a clump that includes nearly 30 half dollars. No conservation has been done to the pieces, and the piles of 30 or more coins are fused together by coral encrustation.

Also offered are a number of individual coins, including but not limited to:

An "R.M.S. Douro" Shipwreck Victoria gold Soveriegn 1872 AU (Shipwreck Effect).

An "R.M.S. Douro" Shipwreck Victoria gold Soveriegn 1872 AU (Shipwreck Effect). On April 1st, 1882, The R.M.S. Douro was hit by a Spanish vessel after a critical mistake. While the crew managed to flee the sinking ships, the Captains and a few other crew members sunk with the treasure. Thousands of coins and gold artifacts were finally recovered in the 1990's, mainly British Sovereigns.

An "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck 50 Cents 1858-O MS63 NGC.

An "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck 50 Cents 1858-O MS63 NGC. The SS Republic (also named the SS Tennessee, USS Mobile) was a sidewheel steamship that retains a very storied and historical background during its 12-year service for the United States. Built in Baltimore for the President of the Baltimore and Southern Steam Packet Company (James Hooper, veteran of the War of 1812) in 1853, the SS Republic began its service as a merchant ship upon the Baltimore - Charleston route. Not before long, it became the first trans-Atlantic Baltimore steamship, sailing from England to France. Afterwards, it was used to open the very first passenger steamship service between New York City and Central America.

In 1861, during the outbreak of the Civil War, the (renamed) CSS Tennessee was trapped in New Orleans and was seized for use as a Confederate blockade runner by the Confederate States. After capture, the Tennessee was utilized for the armed Union service, becoming the flagship of the United States Navy Admiral David G. Farragut during the Mississippi Campaign. In September of 1864, it was renamed the USS Mobile to allow another Confederate armored-ram ship to bear the name Tennessee after its capture. The USS Mobile was damaged in a hurricane near the mouth of the Rio Grande and was sent to New York for repairs. After inspection, the ship was judged too expensive to re-commission and was removed from the U.S Navy in December of 1864.

Finally, it was retitled the SS Republic after being sold at auction in 1865, returning to its roots as a cargo-passenger ship on the New York - New Orleans route. On her fifth civilian voyage after the Civil War, a hurricane off the coast of Georgia caused severe hull leaks and sunk on October 25th, 1865. The entire cargo of 5,000 barrels with $400,000 in coins, mostly in gold $10 and $20 pieces, was lost. In 2003, the wreck of the Republic was located, and a salvaging team recovered about one-third (51,000 coins) of the rare 19th-century gold and silver coins that were aboard (currently worth an estimated $75 million).

A Charles II Posthumous gold Cob 2 Escudos ND (1700-1714)-ARC UNC (Shipwreck Effect).

A Charles II Posthumous gold Cob 2 Escudos ND (1700-1714)-ARC UNC (Shipwreck Effect). Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino mint, KM14.2. 6.71gm. Struck during the reign of Philip V.

An "Odyssey Marine Exploration" Towed Sonar was utilized by Odyssey crew to scan the ocean floor to identify anomalies that could indicate sunken ships in its effort to track down possible wreck sites. Known as "Fish" sonar, this piece has been stripped of its interior parts, likely to make it lighter since it once hung from the ceiling at the SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure traveling exhibition, by Odyssey.

Other lots with coins that have undergone no conservation include, but are not limited to:

• "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck Multi-Coin 50 Cents Shipwreck Clump
• "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck Group of Five Uncertified 50 Cents XF (Shipwreck Effect), 19th Century

Other intriguing lots from the ocean floor that can be found in this auction include, but are not limited to:

• A "Site T1215" Roman Empire Olive Oil Amphora, (70-90 A.D.)
• A "Site T1203" Starboard Navigation Light with Wick and Wick Holder, 19th Century
• A "Dry Tortugas/Nuestra Señora del Rosario" Tortoise Shell Comb and Case, early 17th Century
• An "SS Republic" Shipwreck Group of Three Glazed Ceramic Ink Pots with Concretion, 19th Century
• An "S.S. Republic" Shipwreck Porthole, 19th Century
• A "Dry Tortugas/Nuestra Señora del Rosario" Shipwreck Group of Pearls, 17th Century
• A "Dry Tortugas/Nuestra Señora del Rosario" Shipwreck Group of Cannonballs and Musket Balls, 17th Century

Images and information about all lots can be found at HA.com/32176.

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