WRECK OF THE GELDERMALSEN:

THIS  SALVAGED GOLD SYCEE FROM THE SHIPWRECK OF THE DUTCH SHIP "GELDERMALSEN" IS PRECIOUS &

THE FINEST QUALITY EXAMPLE OF THE 10 TAEL GOLD SYCEE BAR (boat shaped) > KNOWN TODAY.

 THE FINENESS IS 20-22 CARAT PURITY, & AN ELITE EXAMPLE OF THE SMELTERS CRAFT OF THE TIME, IN CHINA.

  THIS GOLD SYCEE IS DOUBLE STAMPED "BAO" WITH A SINGLE STAMPED "GOURD" - "JI YUAN BAO" >>

"HAPPINESS & LUCK OF THE VALUED GOODS/TREASURES".  THESE BARS WERE TRANSPORTED FROM NANKING,

A THRIVING CENTER FOR CHINESE PRODUCED GOODS, TO CANTON (THE BUSTLING SEAPORT)

ALONG THE CHINA COAST & LOADED ABOARD THE GELDERMALSEN FOR TRANSPORT

TO THE NETHERLANDS WHICH WAS INDEED A RARE COMMODITY. 

THE WRECK TOOK PLACE ON THE 55 MINUTE LATITUDE UNDER A MISDIRECTED COURSE

& RAN AGROUND ON REEFS, SINKING ON JANUARY 3, 1752. 

EIGHTY MEN WERE LOST IN THE WRECK, THIRTY-TWO SURVIVED. 

THE SHIP BEING ONLY FOUR YEARS FROM HER "MAIDEN VOYAGE"!

The Geldermalsen, had more than 200,000 pieces of porcelain, and 147 gold bars.

The wreck was discovered in 1985, where 125 gold ingots were recovered.

The ingots proved to be Chinese gold of an hitherto unknown “boat” shape,

 auctioned by Christie's for over 50,000 British Pounds (about $80,000.00 USDs) each,

well in excess of their bullion value.  The romance of its discovery, and its unique shape,

make the Geldermalsen boat-shaped gold ingots of great interest to collectors as well as historians.

The “10 Tael” ingot offered contains 11.74 troy oz. of extremely pure (20-22kt) gold—

almost a full troy pound—plus authenticating stamps, including one inscribed “Luck,” as well as seals bearing

the character “Yuan” (money), “Gold Block” or “Valuable.” And it will indeed be good luck for the purchaser!

This gold ingot was made a quarter century before America won its independence from Great Britain.

IT MUST BE NOTED THAT IN CHINA (AFTER 1946), PRECIOUS METALS VIRTUALLY

DISAPPEARED FROM CIRCULATION DUE TO PEOPLES' REPUBLIC CONFISCATION &

COUPLED WITH THE RISE IN PRECIOUS METALS PRICES TO DATE >>

RESULTED IN MANY OF THESE GOLD & SILVER SYCEE BEING SOLD TO THE MELTING POT.

  IN A RESEARCH ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JOE CRIBB (NUMISMATIC CHRONICLES - 1979),

WITH A SINGLE EXCEPTION, THESE 125 GOLD SYCEE ARE THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLES

OTHER THEN THOSE NOW HELD BY MUSEUMS IN THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 

THE SHIP'S BILL OF LADEN REVEALED THAT THERE WERE 147 GOLD SYCEE ABOARD &

ONLY 125

WERE RECOVERED, QUITE AN ELITE & VERY, VERY RARE RECOVERY.

 IT ALSO MUST BE NOTED THAT OF ALL THE SHIPPING CONDUCTED BY THE EUROPEANS TO THE ORIENT,

ONLY TWO SHIPS (WITH CHINESE 10 TAEL GOLD SYCEE ABOARD),

WERE KNOWN TO HAVE "GONE DOWN" OVER THE MANY YEARS OF TRADE. 

ONLY THE GELDERMALSEN WAS EVER FOUND & SALVAGED MAKING

THESE GOLD SYCEE AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE TREASURE.

CHRISTIE'S "NANKING CARGO" AUCTION  HELD FROM >>

APRIL 28th THRU MAY 2nd, 1986.