I overheard something about the hunley coin, the guy getting shot and save by a coin. Can anyone fill out the details of this story for me?
I read the story in Coin World a short time ago.A coin was found in the wreckage of the Hunley.It's a $20.00 Double Eagle with the reverse ground off and said something like "My Life Preserver" with the details of how it deflected a bullet in some earlier Civil War battle.Unfortunately,nobody explained that a solid Gold life preserver doesn't work well at sea.The Lt. died when the Hunley sank. It was the third time that the submarine sank with all on board.The last mission was a success however when the Hunley rammed and sank a Union ship.The resulting explosion also unfortunately sank the Hunley.Check this site and scroll down to see the story on this coin... www.thehunley.com/
http://www.hunley.org/main_index.asp?CONTENT=GOLDCOIN Another link. I just gave away 4 replicas of this coin on the PCGS forums. It sure took a whallop at Shiloh. Originally 1/16" thick it is saddle-shaped and deformed to 1/4".
