INTERESTING COIN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 883, 7 February 1907, Page 20

INTERESTING COIN.

The coins recovered from the wreck of the steamer Elingamite by the late Mr E. J. Harper, show very marked evidence of their having been lying under twenty odd fathoms of water for over four years. Some twelve hundred odd pounds in halfsovereigns have been recovered, all of which are not much the worse beyond being somewhat tarnished. The silver has turned quite black, and in many instances is quite encrusted with sand. An interesting find was also made in the shape of a large piece of iron, evidently part of the ship’s strong room, this is thickly covered with rust, in which can be plainly seen, embedded many coins, inc’uding half-sovereigns. Many of the coins are seemingly welded together, no doubt the pressure of water having had this effect. Curious to relate that out of some two thousand odd pounds recovered, there has only so far been one penny brought to light.