The California Gold Rush was a major contributor to the development of the American West in the mid-19th century. With limited options for land transit, the gold was largely transported to the East Coast by sea. The SS Central America was one of the ships that transported the gold, shuttling between the East Cost and Panama.

This nugget weighs between 1.11 g and 1.20 g.
This nugget contains gold that was prospected during the California Gold Rush.
The nugget was recovered from the wreckage of the SS Central America.
That ship sank in September of 1857.
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) certified that this nugget is authentic.
Tragedy at Sea
The sidewheel steamship was traveling from Colon, Panama to New York City on September 9, 1857, when it got caught in a Category 2 hurricane. Although the ship survived the initial blow of the storm, it was severely damaged and left without power. By September 12, those aboard the severely damaged vessel were left praying for rescue. Two ships were sighted, but inclement weather and seas made rescue difficult. Ultimately, just 153 passengers made it to the rescue ships in lifeboats. 50 more were rescued from the water, while three more survived on a lifeboat for more than a week before they were finally rescued. 425 people lost their lives, and the ship's 10 short tons of gold went down with the ship. The wreckage was finally located on September 11, 1988, and an estimated $100-$150 million in gold was recovered.