Lot 751
A DOURO TREASURE SOVEREIGN.
A Younghead Victorian Sovereign dated 1848. Sold in Spink's Auction of the 20/21 November 1996.
On the 31st March the R M S Douro a well known and efficient ship, left Lisbon for Southampton, over 1.30 hrs behind schedule. Steaming at full speed ahead she and a Spanish Vessel Yrurac Bat, collided with fatal results. While only six passengers lives and seven crew members were lost on the Douro, a total of 59 lives were lost in total. Most were lost in the other vessel, including her Captain and senior officers.
Discovered after some 40 years of attempting to locate the wreck, crockery and latterly Gold Sovereigns were brought to the surface. This was spectacular as it lay 1,500 ft down, no other iron ship had given up its treasures, at such a depth at that time. Almost 93% of the Bullion Bars and Sovereigns were recovered.
This and the next three lots are in their original numbered lot form, from that Auction.
