Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era

• Authors: Priit J. Vesilind
• Edition: Shipwreck Heritage Press, 2005
• Subjects: Wreck, History
• Level: New collector, Collector

What it is

The story of the side-wheel steamer SS Republic — lost in a hurricane off Georgia in October 1865 on a run from New York to New Orleans — and of Greg Stemm and John Morris of Odyssey Marine Exploration, whose long search located the wreck in 2003. Written by former National Geographic editor Priit J. Vesilind.

Why it matters

It is the book-length account behind the Republic coin record: the ship's Civil War history, the reported specie cargo, and the deep-water search and recovery that brought tens of thousands of U.S. gold and silver coins back to the surface. For any Republic coin, this is the provenance story in narrative form.

Who it's for

Anyone holding or considering an SS Republic coin, and readers who want the deep-ocean, Civil War-era counterpart to the Spanish galleon books on this shelf.