Ten million dollars in gold recovered from the SS Central America, and on loan from Monaco Financial, will be on display from now through May 2003 in a spectacular traveling exhibit hosted by the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. The historical gold coins and bars in the exhibit were all a part of what LIFE magazine called “The Greatest Treasure Ever Found.”
“This is an extremely unique opportunity to see and touch history,” said Isle of Capri president John M. Galloway. “It is a fun way for people to learn about a long-forgotten maritime incident that ended up playing a key part in our country’s heritage.”
I attended the opening of the event on August 14th and was overwhelmed with the number of the Isle’s key customers who came from all over the country just to touch a piece of history. Bob Evans, Chief Scientist for the Columbus-America Discovery Group that found and salvaged the SS Central America wreck, was also there and was delighted to see the magic that his work has brought so many. I watched hundreds of people stand in line just to reach inside a modified bank vault and touch a $2 million, sixty-pound Justh & Hunter gold ingot. They then stood in line again just to hold a 40-pound, $1.5 million Kellogg & Humbert ingot to have a picture taken for Bob Evans to autograph.
Watching all these excited people, I was again reminded that the coins and other numismatic artifacts from the SS Central America transcend the more routine rare coin market and represent something so much more. These numismatic masterpieces are not only beautiful works of art, but also significant artifacts of our nation’s rich history.
I encourage you, if it’s at all possible, to take a trip to the Isle of Capri casino in Biloxi, MS and discover the feeling of “History in Your Hands” for yourself. The $10 million treasure and Bob Evans will open on October 20th and continue through mid-November. Monaco Financial has VIP arrangements available for its clients. If you would like information on how to visit the Isle of Capri and view the treasure, call your Monaco Account Representative today.