The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 2, January 12, 2003, Article 16

ARTHUR C. CLARKE COIN CACHE

  While we're on the subject of shipwreck coins, at
  a local club meeting this week, Kavan Ratnatunga
  brought along a copy of a nonfiction book written by
  science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, with Mike
  Wilson.  "The Treasure of the Great Reef" was
  published by Harper & Row, New York in 1964.

  The book describes a March 1961 discovery by the
  authors of a shipwreck at the Great Basses reef off the
  south east coast of Lanka, where Clarke has lived since
  1956.   The numismatic connection is a fabulous hoard
  of silver rupees dated 1701-1702 found in the wreck,
  which are pictured in the book.  Kavan illustrates one
  of the hoard coins on his web site.  See
  http://serendib.org/coins/indian/1701_surat_1r_ag.html

  From Kavan's web page: "The coins appeared to have
  been packed in coir sacks with about 1000 coins each
  and perhaps packed several sacks to a wood chest. The
  coir bags held together long enough for the silver coins
  to have been concreted solidly together, so that when
  the sacks rotted away, the coins remained in twenty five
  pound lumps in the shape of the sack.  The coins in the
  middle of the lumps were in perfect mint condition. The
  inner side of the outer coins were similarly protected as
  was the reverse of the coin shown above.

  The Smithsonian institute was donated a 1,000 rupee
  lump soon after the discovery of the unrecorded wreck
  on the Great Basses Reef - off the south east coast of
  Lanka.  Accession record 239761 dated December 7,
  1961 describes a gift made to the Smithsonian by Arthur C.
  Clarke. as 1 cluster of approx. 1000 silver rupees dated
  1702, found off Great Basses Reef, Ceylon by Mr. Mike
  Wilson."

  Kavan's book was signed by Clarke, whom Kavan has
  known since the 1960's, and visits on his trips home.

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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