Republic "Pascual Esquerra Hoard" 50 Centavos 1855-So Shipwreck Effect NGC, Santiago mint, KM128. The S.S. Central America sank in a hurricane on September 12, 1857, carrying several South American passengers. Among them was Pascual Esquerra, a businessman from Chile and Spain. The steamship was part of a crucial route established during the California Gold Rush, facilitating the transport of U.S. Mail, passengers, and commercial shipments of gold between the northeastern United States and California via Panama. It is likely that Pascual Esquerra brought these coins as part of his luggage, possibly transporting his wealth from Chile to Spain. The exact location of the coins at the time of the sinking remains unclear due to the degradation of the ship's structure over the 131 years it lay underwater. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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