The "Ship of Gold" Docks at the June 2023 Long Beach Expo

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

One of the most fascinating attractions dropping anchor at the Long Beach Expo in Long Beach, California, this year is the collection of treasures from the S.S. Central America or “Ship of Gold.” This popular exhibit, curated by Adam Crum of Finest Known, showcases millions of dollars in recovered gold coins, gold ingots, and other artifacts from the legendary S.S. Central America . The Ship of Gold will be available for viewing from June 22-24, 2023!

What’s the story behind the S.S. Central America and its gold treasure? The 280-foot-long sidewheel steamer ran routes between Central America and the eastern seaboard of the United States during the mid-1850s. On September 11, 1857, the famous ship transporting a hoard of gold that aimed to alleviate the brewing financial crisis of 1857 was ferrying 477 passengers, 101 crew, and 30,000 pounds of gold when it encountered a Category 2 hurricane off the Carolinas. The 105-mile-per-hour winds from the storm severely damaged the ship’s sails. The next day leaks in the ship led to the sinking of the S.S. Central America , claiming 425 lives. The famous ship transporting a hoard of gold that aimed to alleviate the brewing financial crisis of 1857.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the discovery of the S.S. Central America . Exactly 131 years passed by when the Columbus-America Discovery Group of Ohio deployed a remotely operated vehicle that discovered the wreckage of the S.S. Central America on September 11, 1988. Over the past 35 years, numerous recoveries of gold and other items from the shipwreck have been brought to the surface, conserved, and sold at auction and in other marketplace settings. Some of the most impressive of these Gold Rush-era pieces include huge ingots of gold worth millions of dollars apiece and thousands of 1850s-vintage United States gold coins.

The Ship of Gold and its legendary treasure have captivated the imaginations of countless individuals at the Long Beach Expo since 2010. After previously passing through in 2018, the Ship of Gold is docking once again at the Long Beach Expo, June 22-24, at the Long Beach Convention Center. Visitors can expect to see a 40-foot replica of the S.S. Central America , millions of dollars worth of gold coins and ingots, and many other incredible artifacts recovered from the Atlantic Ocean shipwreck.

“There are few stories that have captured the hearts and minds of coin collectors, treasure seekers, and Gold Rush historians as has the tragic tale of the Ship of Gold,” said PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “We are so fortunate that this incredible exhibit is returning to the Long Beach Expo, where show attendees will get to see these rare, recovered treasures right before their very eyes.” Sabin added, “It’s sobering to think of the tragic circumstances that brought these treasures to the floor of the Atlantic, yet amazing when you realize the long odds explorers beat to find and recover these pieces. Only imagine if these treasures could talk, the stories they would tell.”