TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 16

 

The Ship of Gold Exhibit thrilled visitors at Numismatic conventions and museums wherever it appeared.

It was fascinating to watch reactions to the wonderful treasure on display. I was present at every venue, telling stories, answering questions. Most questions are softballs for me anymore. The stories and facts have been percolating in my mind for decades, ready to pour out. But every now and then, someone asks a question that seems simple but defies an easy answer. In this case, in 2010 at Long Beach, I was approached by a teenager, a young man almost as tall as me (5'4",) in glasses and a Los Angeles (Anaheim) Angels ballcap with blonde hair poking out. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt I remember as vaguely scientific, I forget why… probably space or math related. His parents stood nearby, watching as he walked up and posed a question beyond the usual lines of history or beauty or value.

"If you melted down all the gold, how big would it be?"

Initially, this made me laugh, but I congratulated him for a question I had never been asked. Of course, melting down this great treasure is an absurd hypothetical notion. And hearing such a proposition at a venue full of coin enthusiasts thrilled with seeing spectacular gem mint-state coins from the 19th century… well, it sounded like someone had proposed committing a capital offense. Then I started to discuss the unique nature of gold with my questioner, particularly how heavy it is. He excitedly interrupted my pedagogy, "It's 19 times heavier than water!"

"That's right." I replied, smiling and realizing that this kid had read a science book or two. Then I told him I didn't know the answer, but I took a stab at it, and I told him I thought it would fit inside a sphere two feet in diameter. I gave the young man my business card and told him to email me. I would find the correct answer. He thanked me and walked back to his smiling parents, happy that he had stumped the expert. (Unfortunately, he never wrote to me. If you are out there reading this, your answer is here.)

19.3 grams per cubic centimeter. That is how heavy pure gold is. Its density is legendary, and it's one of the factors that humans find so attractive.

To read the complete article, see:
Treasure Talk 16: Heavy Metal (https://finestknown.com/treasure-talk-17-heavy-metal/)

For the complete series, see:
Category Archives: Treasure Talk with Bob Evans (https://finestknown.com/treasure-talk-with-bob-evans/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 15 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n28a18.html)

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