6/1: Confederate sub gold piece

Undertoad · 06-01-2001, 08:23 AM

This is the most valuable find on the excavation of the confederate sub H.L. Hunley, which I've written about here before.

From their web site:
--
The long-awaited treasure of the H. L. Hunley, Lt. George Dixon's gold coin was found inside the submarine. Dr. Robert Neyland, Project Director says, "The coin was found by Dixon's remains and in the middle of some textiles, possibly he kept it in his pants pocket." The coin is bent, true to the story that a bullet hit the coin and saved Lt. Dixon's leg and life. The story goes that his sweetheart, Queenie Bennett gave him a 20-dollar United States gold piece for luck, he kept it with him in his pants pocket. On April 6, 1862, in the Battle of Shiloh, Lt. Dixon was shot in the leg. Luckily when he was shot, the bullet hit the gold piece, in essence saving his life. It was told that Dixon always kept that lucky coin with him and it now appears that he truly did. "Some people may think this is a stroke of luck, but perhaps it's something else. They tell me that Lt. Dixon was a lady's man, perhaps he winked at us yesterday to remind us that he still is," said Maria Jacobsen, Senior Archaeologist. "The presence of the coin absolutely confirms the identity of Lt. George E. Dixon. It removes all doubt, and, also speaks of his character and faith," said Warren Lasch, Chairman of Friends of the Hunley. "Part of the Hunley?s excavation was to separate fact from fable. The discovery of the coin and its inscription is like discovering Cinderella's glass slipper," said Senator Glenn McConnell, Chairman of the Hunley Commission.

The coin was minted in 1860 and one side has lady liberty, it was the side the bullet hit. The other side has the Federal shield and eagle symbol. That side appears to be sanded and has an inscription in cursive script that reads in four lines:

Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life Preserver G. E. D. (Lt. Dixon's initials)

Dude111 · 11-21-2020, 06:02 PM

Very very nice UT.....

You have found some wonderful pics and it makes me happy you have decided to show them here buddy

I would love finding that coin!!!!

God bless ya UT!!!!!

anonymous · 11-22-2020, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

... I would love finding that coin!!!! ...

Are you worried that somebody might try to shoot you in the leg?

Diaphone Jim · 11-22-2020, 11:02 AM

Given that he "possibly he kept it in his pants pocket" makes it easy to misread "textiles."

Dude111 · 11-22-2020, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anonymous

Are you worried that somebody might try to shoot you in the leg?

Well I would hope not....It would just be nice to have

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06-01-2001, 08:23 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	This is the most valuable find on the excavation of the confederate sub H.L. Hunley, which I've written about here before. From their web site: -- The long-awaited treasure of the H. L. Hunley, Lt. George Dixon's gold coin was found inside the submarine. Dr. Robert Neyland, Project Director says, "The coin was found by Dixon's remains and in the middle of some textiles, possibly he kept it in his pants pocket." The coin is bent, true to the story that a bullet hit the coin and saved Lt. Dixon's leg and life. The story goes that his sweetheart, Queenie Bennett gave him a 20-dollar United States gold piece for luck, he kept it with him in his pants pocket. On April 6, 1862, in the Battle of Shiloh, Lt. Dixon was shot in the leg. Luckily when he was shot, the bullet hit the gold piece, in essence saving his life. It was told that Dixon always kept that lucky coin with him and it now appears that he truly did. "Some people may think this is a stroke of luck, but perhaps it's something else. They tell me that Lt. Dixon was a lady's man, perhaps he winked at us yesterday to remind us that he still is," said Maria Jacobsen, Senior Archaeologist. "The presence of the coin absolutely confirms the identity of Lt. George E. Dixon. It removes all doubt, and, also speaks of his character and faith," said Warren Lasch, Chairman of Friends of the Hunley. "Part of the Hunley?s excavation was to separate fact from fable. The discovery of the coin and its inscription is like discovering Cinderella's glass slipper," said Senator Glenn McConnell, Chairman of the Hunley Commission. The coin was minted in 1860 and one side has lady liberty, it was the side the bullet hit. The other side has the Federal shield and eagle symbol. That side appears to be sanded and has an inscription in cursive script that reads in four lines: Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life Preserver G. E. D. (Lt. Dixon's initials)

11-21-2020, 06:02 PM	#2
Dude111 An Awesome Dude Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 1,111	Very very nice UT..... You have found some wonderful pics and it makes me happy you have decided to show them here buddy I would love finding that coin!!!! God bless ya UT!!!!!

11-22-2020, 11:02 AM	#4
Diaphone Jim Junior Master Dwellar Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,122	Given that he "possibly he kept it in his pants pocket" makes it easy to misread "textiles."

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