Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era [Hardcover]

Priit J. Vesilind (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2005

This book traces the dramatic history of the SS Republic, a paddlewheel steamship that sank in 1865 in a hurricane off the coast of Georgia with a reported $400,000 in gold and silver coins on board. Lost to history for 138 years, in 2003 the ship was located in deep water by Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Florida. The find has led to the recovery of more than 50,000 precious coins, worth an estimated $75 million to collectors today, plus thousands of fascinating artifacts reflecting the reunited nation just after the end of the Civil War. The story of the ship and its colorful past is mirrored by the story of the arduous search for the lost ship and the development of Odyssey, a shipwreck recovery company pioneering a new model for deep-sea archaeology.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A seasoned National Geographic journalist gives us an excellent history of a notable piece of deep-water archaeology and treasure salvage. The Republic went down in 1,700 feet of water off the Carolina coast in fall 1865, overwhelmed by a hurricane while carrying a treasure in gold and silver coins that was intended to revive commerce in New Orleans. Vesilind covers the history of the ship, which served under both flags during the Civil War, and its crew, as well as the painstaking and expensive search for it by partners Greg Stemin and John Morris. The pair had to make new charts of the Gulf Stream to locate the wreck, resolve the conflicts between the archaeological and treasure-hunting aspects of the expedition, and bring up a third of the treasure from a third of a mile down with a converted cable-repair drone. If not as thrilling as Gary Kinder's Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea (1998), Vesilind's book worthily chronicles a notable achievement by persistent explorers. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A "must-read" for underwater archaeologists, maritime historians, Civil War buffs, numismatists, and all lovers of adventure. -- Robert F. Marx, author of In the Wake of Galleons and other books on underwater archaeology

A remarkable gumbo – history, adventure, and science combined with an unrelentingly good yarn. -- John Bredar, Executive Producer, National Geographic Film & TV

In many ways, the incredible story of Odyssey's discovery and excavation of the Republic is the history of America. -- Dr. Sean Kingsley, Editor, Minerva: The International Review of Ancient Art & Archaeology

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shipwreck Heritage Press (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933034068
• ISBN-13: 978-1933034065
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dive into history and adventure, October 6, 2005

By 

Bruce Kasanoff (Westport, CT United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era (Hardcover)

I've had the good fortune to visit the explorers chronicled in this engaging book - Greg Stemm, John Morris and the Odyssey crew - and have held in my hands some of the artifacts they are so carefully preserving. It's like an out-of-body experience to touch objects that have spent the past 150 years on the bottom of the ocean.

We live in an era in which insurance companies shy away from risk and warning labels are on everything from toys to car visors. It's inspiring that some people still pursue ventures simply because their heart and soul push them to act. That's what this book is all about.

It's also about the tenacity to search for 11 years without success, and to keep going another year - when you succeed beyond your wildest expectations.

It's not an overstatement to say that Stemm was born to search for shipwrecks. It's in his blood. But the Odyssey crew are not typical "treasure hunters"; far from it. They are obsessed with history as they are with the financial returns of their searches. In fact, it's likely that over the coming years Odyssey will reveal more about our nautical past than any other single entity.

This book chronicles the ties that bind these modern adventurers with those hardy souls who had the courage and initiative to board the ill-fated SS Republic as it steamed towards New Orleans just after the Civil War. It's a great read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I hate to be the lone naysayer but..., April 25, 2006

By 

Charles G. Hawley "Chuck Hawley" (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era (Hardcover)

This book must be compared to Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea. In fact, it's hard to avoid the comparison: two ships in deep water, expensive and litigious salvage attempts, new technologies, etc. However, Ship of Gold is a far better book, with a more compelling protagonist, and far greater technological problems to overcome. I have recommended Ship of Gold to my management team so that they can see how one individual was able to harness the brains and money of a many to accomplish his goals. While the Republic is well-written, it seems to be a puff piece by comparison, with idolizing statements about the two main characters. I cannot recommend it, at least in the company of Ship of Gold.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing..., September 15, 2005

By 

A - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Gold of the Republic: The Remarkable Quest for the Greatest Shipwreck Treasure of the Civil War Era (Hardcover)

This book brilliantly describes the diligence and tenacity exerted by Odyssey Marine's co-founders in locating and excavating the Republic. I've always been intrigued by the concept of finding hidden treasure and artifacts, but this book describes how Odyssey deployed new methods and technology to convert this concept into a lucrative industry. Although the history underlying the Republic and the means by which it was found are interesting, the most fascinating aspect of the book is the detailed account of the struggle associated with developing and successfully implementing a blue ocean strategy in an uncharted industry.