Are Dark Tide Relics shipwreck coins authentic?

Every shipwreck coin and artifact sold by Dark Tide Relics is authenticated and accompanied by provenance documentation from recognized authorities such as the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, NGC, or PCGS, plus a permanent digital provenance record via TreasureCheck.ai.

Which shipwrecks does Dark Tide Relics specialize in?

Dark Tide Relics curates artifacts from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622), Santa Margarita, the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, El Cazador (1784), SS Central America (1857), Maravillas, Concepción, and other documented Spanish colonial and American Gold Rush wrecks.

How are orders shipped?

All orders ship via FedEx, fully insured and with adult signature required on delivery.

Does Dark Tide Relics buy shipwreck coins from collectors?

Yes. Dark Tide Relics actively acquires authenticated shipwreck coins and collections. Submissions can be made through the Sell Coins program at darktiderelics.com/sell-coins.

Akerendam

Lost: 1725
Location: Runde Island, Norway
Coordinates: 62.4000, 5.6200
Era: Dutch East India Company (VOC)
Coinage: milled
Discovered by: Norwegian divers
Recovery: 1972
Cargo: Dutch ducatons, Gold ducats, Silver bars

VOC East Indiaman lost at the entrance to Runde harbour on the coast of Norway on her maiden voyage — famous for the enormous quantity of gold and silver recovered.

History

The Akerendam was on her maiden voyage from Amsterdam to Batavia in early 1725 when she was driven far north by heavy weather and wrecked at the entrance to Runde harbour on the west coast of Norway. All 200 aboard perished.

Recovery

Norwegian divers located the wreck in 1972 and, in the operations that followed, recovered roughly 57,000 coins in total — about 6,600 gold ducats (many of them 1724 Utrecht) plus some 50,000 silver pieces. It remains one of Norway's largest coin finds. The material is held principally by the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo and the Bergen Maritime Museum.

Timeline

1724 — Launched at Amsterdam — Enters VOC service.
1725 — Maiden Voyage — Departs for Batavia.
1725 — Wrecked at Runde — Driven onto the Norwegian coast; all hands lost.
1972 — Located by Norwegian Divers — Wreck field found off Runde Island.
1973 — Major Gold and Silver Recovery — One of the richest 20th-century shipwreck seasons.

Notes

Yielded roughly 57,000 coins in total — about 6,600 gold ducats and 50,000 silver pieces
Wrecked on her maiden voyage
The coins are held mainly by the Museum of Cultural History (Oslo) and Bergen Maritime Museum