J. Childs, The Sinking of the Central America,1857
Wikimedia Commons, National Maritime Museum, London

Shipwrecks and the gold and silver coins they often contain have long been the objects of fascination and adventurous quests. This lecture by Dr. Peter van Alfen explores the development of search and excavation techniques that have led to the discovery of important wrecks and amazing finds, but also the legal, archaeological, and ethical problems that bringing coins and other artifacts to the surface entails. Among the wrecks that will be discussed is the S.S. Central America, the famed “ship of gold” that sank in 1857 on its way to New York City, a vessel that also had Staten Island connections.

Peter van Alfen is Chief Curator at the American Numismatic Society and is a graduate of the Nautical Archaeology Program at Texas A&M University. He has participated in shipwreck surveys and excavations with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology.