Done
Reno, NV, United States
Auction Details
SS Central America Artifacts Auction
Holabird Western Americana Collections
The SS Central America Artifacts Auction catalog has 268 pages of detailed treasure stories about the people, jewelry, gold and goods onboard the famous "Ship of Gold" that sank off the North Carolina coast in 1857 with tons of gold on board. While the coins and nuggets have already been sold and are in thousands of collections around the world, the artifacts are only just now released, available for the first time, as part of a two part sale in December and February. Online auction platforms do not carry the wealth of information found in the catalog, inclusive of three-dimensional photographs of the items on the seafloor, and a map where many were discovered. Get your limited edition printed catalogs today and enjoy the fascinating world of the SS Central America treasure.
Part A of this December auction includes artifacts recovered from the actual shipwreck of the SS Central America.
Part B, starting with lot 2000, offered on the same day presents some of the best California & Alaska Gold Rush material ever assembled for auction.
Fred Holabird
Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC
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SOLD
1038: Herndon's Octant - The Key Navigational Tool of the S.S. Central America [158843]Est. $5,000-$100,000
TOP
![Men's "Miner's" Pants, Five-Button Style, Dement Trunk, Possibly by Levi Strauss [159097]](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373459_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1668551029)
![San Francisco Vigilance Committee Medal, #1472 [159486]](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373710_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![S.S. Islander Treasure Box Contents: 3 Gold pokes, 588 Troy OZ Gold [159106]](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373619_1_x.jpg?height=300&quality=70&version=1668551602)
![Brass Bell, Small, S.S. Central America [159089]: Small brass bell recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. It is 5-1/2 inches tall, 5-7/8 inches in diameter, and it weighs 2.8 pounds. The clapper is missing, perhaps because it was iron](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373312_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Brass Handle with Wood Knob, S.S. Central America [156842]: Brass handle with wooden knob recovered in 1991 from the stern debris field of the S.S. Central America shipwreck where dining salon goods were found. It is 5.5" long, 2.25" high. Wood not badly](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373313_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Chamber Pot, Ironstone, S.S. Central America [159477]: Ironstone white chamber pot with handle recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. // Maddock's / Patent / Ironstone / China //. John Maddock and Sons Ltd. have made ironstone and earthenware](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373314_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Child's or Chocolate Cup [156852]: Child's or chocolate cup recovered in 1990 from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Small ceramic cup, white with blue stripe around top & bottom. 1.6" tall, 1.5" diameter. The difference between a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373315_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Clear Glass Ashtray, S.S. Central America [156844]: Clear glass ashtray recovered in 2014 from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. It is 4" diameter, 2" high, 2.25" opening. Six scallop design on top and bottom, though the base is 2.8" diameter. Two](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373316_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Coal (2) from the S.S. Central America [159478]: Two large chunks of coal recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. The larger is 5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches, about 1.4 lbs. The other is 5 x 4 x 2.5 inches and about 1.2 lbs. The coal bed of the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373317_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Coal (2) from the S.S. Central America [159104]: Two small chunks of coal recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. The larger is 3 x 2.75 x 1.5 inches, about 1/4 lb. The other is 3.5 x 2 x 1.5 inches and about 1/4 lb. The coal bed of the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373318_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Copper Hull Plate & Chandlery Billhead, S.S. Central America [159100]: A sheet of copper recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. The entire hull below the ship's waterline was covered in copper sheathing to prevent fouling by marine plant and animal growth](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373319_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Cup/Mug, 12-sided, S.S. Central America [159088]: Twelve-sided white ironstone cup or mug or bowl recovered in 1991 from the cabin area of the S.S. Central America shipwreck. It is 3.6 inches wide, 3.25 inches tall, and the round base is 2.5 inches](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373320_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Cutlery Group, S.S. Central America Treasure [150880]: A partial knife, fork, and spoon recovered from one of the S.S. Central America shipwreck debris piles. Lot also includes a billhead for a cutlery store in New York for H. D. Ward, June 1856. This](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373321_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Double-Spouted Pitcher, S.S. Central America [159084]: Double-spouted, white ceramic pitcher recovered from the S.S. Central America. It is 11 inches tall, 5.25 inches in diameter at the base, and 6 inches in diameter at the widest. Spout-to-spout](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373322_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![First Cabin Large Brass Numeral, Room 8 or 18 [158830]: First Cabin large brass numeral, 8 or 18, recovered in 2014 from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. 6" tall, 4.25" x 1/8" thick. Great white-green (or marbled turquoise- white) oxidized patina.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373323_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Glass Candle Holder (?), S.S. Central America [156845]: Clear glass candle holder (?) recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck in 2014. The base is 3.25 inches in diameter, 1-5/8 inches tall. Seven protruding, narrow scallops. The inner bowl is 1](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373324_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Glass Medical (?) Stirring Stick, S.S. Central America [156854]: Clear glass medical (?) stirring stick recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck in 2014. It is 5.25" long, broken on one end with two flat glass disks molded into the unbroken end. The shaft](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373325_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Herndon's Octant - The Key Navigational Tool of the S.S. Central America [158843]: This is quite simply the most important artifact on the S.S. Central America. Without it, no one ever would have found the ship. Without it, Capt. Herndon would not have been able to holler the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373326_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Janus Bowl, White Ironstone, S.S. Central America [159091]: A white ironstone rectangular bowl, marked // Ironstone China / Barrow & Co. // on the bottom (1853- 1856). Called a "Janus" bowl because of the two human faces on opposite sides. Janus, the Roman](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373327_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Janus Bowl, White Ironstone, S.S. Central America [159092]: A white ironstone rectangular bowl, marked // Ironstone China / Barrow & Co. // on the bottom (1853- 1856). Called a "Janus" bowl because of the two human faces on opposite sides. Janus, the Roman](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373328_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Oriental Human Figurine, S.S. Central America [156853]: Oriental human figurine recovered in 2014 from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. Oxidized ivory, classic ivory texture visible on the base, 4" tall on a 1.5" oval base. Ivory degrading, some chips,](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373329_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Rigging Eye with Chaffing Gear, Ship's Deck Sail Hardware [156843]: Rigging eye with chaffing gear by Ship's Deck Sail Hardware recovered in 1991 from the stern area of the S.S. Central America shipwreck. 2" (rope) diameter, 7.5" across x 6". This is a multi-rope](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373330_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Serving Tray Remnant, S.S. Central America [156841]: Silver-plated, ornate serving tray remnant recovered in 1991 from mid-stern cabin area of the S.S. Central America shipwreck. This location is consistent with the dining salon debris. It is 8.5](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373331_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Ship Timbers with Brass Spikes and Bolts [156858]: Two spectacular artifacts from the S.S. Central America ship's hull. 13 x 9" degraded wood timber showing splintering, surface erosion from direct exposure to the ocean bottom/water interface, with](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373332_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Ship's Timber, Cut by Modern Underwater Chain Saw [156847]: Ship's timber from the S.S. Central America shipwreck, cut by a modern underwater chain saw. It is 7" x 5.5" x 3" thick. Worm-eaten with remnants of ship worm burrow linings. This timber was part of](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373333_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Small Deadeye, S.S. Central America [156856]: Small deadeye recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. It is d 3.5" diameter, 2.5" thick. Center portion shows severe damage from deep-ocean ship worms. Center trough competent and fully](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373334_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
![Wash Basin, Ironstone, Cracked, S.S. Central America [159103]: Ivory-colored, ironstone ceramic wash basin recovered in 1990 from the S.S. Central America shipwreck. It is 13.5 inches in diameter, point-to-point across the 12-sided rim, and 4-5/8 inches tall.](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/2699/268635/140373335_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1668449660)
