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.....After a dozen years of waiting, coin collectors eagerly snapped up the first samples of Type I Liberty $20 gold pieces from the steamer S.S. Central America. "This is a very exciting time in the rare coin business," said Brett Bogus, president of Eagle Numismatics, who's been following the progress of the salvage operation for years. "We expect to see an explosion of interest in Type I and Type II Liberties, because of the tremendous historical interest in this find," said Bogus. "The marketing efforts to sell the treasure is sure to bring new collectirs and additional focus on Type I & II collecting."The ship went down in a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina in 1857 with the loss of more than 430 lives. The side-wheeler was delivering a cargo of gold coins and bullion from the California gold fields when she was lost, and became the object of treasure hunters for 140 years, before being located in 7200 feet of water, in 1988. The coins, which are being examined, graded, authenticated and placed in special leather booklets by PCGS of Newport Beach, Calif., will be delivered to customers about March 1. Each coin also will come with a certificate signed by salvor Tommy G. Thompson, who has been retained as full-time historical consultant by California Gold Group. "These coins will carry their own valuation," said Bogus, "simply because they will be known as part of the Central America discovery." "They will be welcomed by collectors who will see them as a once-in-a-lifetime buying opportunity." "These coins will join only about 7,000 known and graded coins in the Type I population." "The interest and excitement in these coins should put added lustre on the other Type I and Type II Liberties that are out there," said Bogus. "News of the sale has spiked interest in all $20 Liberties of that period. Quantities of the find have been a closely held secret. The dealers have long anticipated a larger number and have

previously discounted the market. "The treasure, includes 7,500 gold coins, dust and bars weighing as much as 80 pounds each, The Eureka Bar. Columbus America Discovery Group, representing 161 Ohio investors had aided the recovery effort with a $12 million dollar stake. After 18 months of negotiations the Columbus America Discovery group sold all their treasure for between $50 million and $100 million to California Gold Group. Several companies have been given rights to market the initial package of 525 1857 San Francisco mint $20 coins from the Central America, in the first hour of selling six were sold from $2,400-$26,000. Christie's will auction off the very finest of the 1857 Type I specimens later this year. "We expect to see knowledgable collectors move these coins into their rightful place in American numismatics," said Bogus. The Smithsonian and other museums will be given representative pieces for permanent public display. Some have said the new coins could be a glut on the market, a position that Bogus dismisses as "uninformed". "We will see a large quantity of 1857 San Francisco Type I Liberties coming to market," said Bogus. "It will enhance the value of the Philadelphia, Carson City mint and New Orleans mint coins, it in fact makes them more unique and rare." One of the reasons it has taken so long for the coins to enter the market and work their way into private collections, is the legal wrangling over ownership and salvage rights. Several insurance companies, descendants of the original Central America underwriter, have laid claim to the discovery. But after multiple rounds in federal courts, the insurance companies were awarded eight percent of the treasure, estimated by Sotheby¹s to be worth $7 million to $10 million. However, the insurance companies have been blocked from selling their share until after the owners of the bulk of the coins have gone to market. Salvor Tommy Thompson has argued that his own marketing efforts would have been blunted if he couldn¹t take his find to market first. Thompson claims that as much as 18 tons of gold may still be at the bottom, and is mounting a new recovery effort. The current round of marketing is being spearheaded by sports agent Dwight Manley, himself a former coin dealer. Parts of the collection will tour the country, along with a replica of the Central America., with stops planned for New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and in addition to the recient stop in Long Beach. While most of the gold is locked up in California, two wooden boxes, stacked full of $20 gold pieces still sit in a saltwater aquarium in a Brink's vault in Norfolk, Va. Contact Us at 1-888-273-8873 for details on the Central America collection an all other Type I & Type II Liberty coins.