the SS Central America case

The SS Central America was a 19th-century steamer ship carrying passengers and gold, which sank in a hurricane off the U.S. Southeast coast in 1857. Its sinking resulted in the loss of many lives and a significant amount of gold, valued at over $2 million then (equivalent to around $70 million today). For decades afterward, treasure hunters searched for the ship’s wreck, and in 1988, a major salvage operation recovered thousands of gold coins and bars. The event remains notable for its historical significance, the value of the recovered treasure, and ongoing legal disputes over ownership rights.