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.

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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.

HMS Colossus

Lost: 1798
Location: Off Samson, Isles of Scilly, England
Coordinates: 49.9320, -6.3450
Era: British Royal Navy Losses
Coinage: milled
Discovered by: Modern divers; stern site identified in 2001
Recovery: 2001
Cargo: Greek antiquities, Naval stores, Grapeshot and ordnance, Wounded personnel returning to Britain

A 74-gun Royal Navy third-rate, veteran of the French Revolutionary Wars, wrecked off Samson in the Isles of Scilly while carrying wounded sailors and part of Sir William Hamilton’s collection of classical antiquities.

History

HMS Colossus was a 74-gun Courageux-class third-rate ship of the line, launched at Gravesend in 1787. She served during the French Revolutionary Wars and fought at the Battle of Groix in 1795 and the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. In December 1798 Colossus was returning from the Mediterranean with wounded sailors and a remarkable cargo that included part of diplomat and antiquarian Sir William Hamilton’s collection. While sheltering in the Isles of Scilly, severe weather drove the ship aground off Samson on 10 December. The ship broke up, but all but one of those aboard survived.

Recovery

The wreck lies in separate bow and stern areas more than 300 metres apart. Material was salvaged soon after the loss, and the bow area received early legal protection in 1975. The stern site was identified in 2001 and is now protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act. Licensed archaeological work has recorded surviving timbers, ordnance, personal objects, and fragments from the classical antiquities cargo. The site remains an active subject of conservation and survey by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Maritime Archaeology Society with Historic England oversight.

Timeline

1787 — Launched at Gravesend — Entered Royal Navy service as a 74-gun third-rate.
1795 — Battle of Groix — Served in the British fleet during the French Revolutionary Wars.
1797 — Cape St Vincent — Fought in the British victory off Portugal.
1798 — Wrecked off Samson — Driven aground in severe weather on 10 December; all but one aboard survived.
2001 — Stern Site Identified — Divers identified the second major wreck area, later legally protected.

Notes

Fought at Groix in 1795 and Cape St Vincent in 1797
Carried part of Sir William Hamilton’s collection of classical antiquities
The protected wreck survives as separate bow and stern sites