The “Ship of Gold” exhibit was on display at CHS from January 11 through February 11, 2001. The show consisted of historic gold coins and bars, as well as an assayer’s office, photographs and memorabilia from the period, from the $20 million in gold cargo that came from the 1857 shipwrecked SS Central America.

The exhibit was housed in a specially-built, 40-foot long replica of the ship’s hull. Visitors could peer through “portholes” to see the coins and assayer’s bars, including the world’s largest Gold Rush ingot.

“It’s the ship of gold. Every piece of the treasure is Wild West history you can hold in your hands,” said Dwight Manley, rare coin dealer and managing director of the California Gold Marketing Group of Newport Beach. Manley’s organization purchased more than $100 million worth of the fabled lost treasure.

Download the Ship of Gold print-friendly handout in PDF format.