Republic "S.S. Republic" 50 Cents 1861-O Shipwreck Effect NGC, W-08. Louisiana Issue. Salvaged from the "S.S. Republic" (Sunk in 1865 off the coast of Georgia). The SS Republic (also named the SS Tennessee, USS Mobile) was a sidewheel steamship that retains a very storied and historical background during its 12-year service for the United States. Built in Baltimore for the President of the Baltimore and Southern Steam Packet Company (James Hooper, veteran of the War of 1812) in 1853, the SS Republic began its service as a merchant ship upon the Baltimore – Charleston route. Not before long, it became the first trans-Atlantic Baltimore steamship, sailing from England to France. Afterwards, it was used to open the very first passenger steamship service between New York City and Central America. In 1861, during the outbreak of the Civil War, the (renamed) CSS Tennessee was trapped in New Orleans and was seized for use as a Confederate blockade runner by the Confederate States. After capture, the Tennessee was utilized for the armed Union service, becoming the flagship of the United States Navy Admiral David G. Farragut during the Mississippi Campaign. In September of 1864, it was renamed the USS Mobile to allow another Confederate armored-ram ship to bear the name Tennessee after its capture. The USS Mobile was damaged in a hurricane near the mouth of the Rio Grande and was sent to New York for repairs. After inspection, the ship was judged too expensive to re-commission and was removed from the U.S Navy in December of 1864. Finally, it was retitled the SS Republic after being sold at auction in 1865, returning to its roots as a cargo-passenger ship on the New York – New Orleans route. On her fifth civilian voyage after the Civil War, a hurricane off the coast of Georgia caused severe hull leaks and sunk on October 25th, 1865. The entire cargo of 5,000 barrels with $400,000 in coins, mostly in gold $10 and $20 pieces, was lost. In 2003, the wreck of the Republic was located, and a salvaging team recovered about one-third (51,000 coins) of the rare 19th-century gold and silver coins that were aboard (currently worth an estimated $75 million). HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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