TITANIC VICTIM JOHN GILL'S SILVER DOLLAR

 

R.M.S. TITANIC/NUMISMATICS- RARE SILVER DOLLAR COIN RECOVERED FROM TITANIC VICTIM JOHN GILL'S POCKET: John William Gill was a Second-Class Titanic passenger travelling to America to seek his fortune as well as a new home for himself and his newlywed wife who remained in England. Gill died in the sinking. His body was the 155th to be recovered by the cable laying ship Mackay-Bennett. Though there was some initial confusion regarding its disposition, Gill's body was buried at sea.

Numerous objects were recovered from his body and catalogued before they were returned to his widow. One of the items returned was this 1889 U.S. silver dollar coin which Gill had acquired to spend in America. Gill's widow could not spend it in England and retained it along with Gill's other effects which remained in the family for some time. The coin was included in the list of recovered body effects prepared by the provincial coroner of Nova Scotia. The items returned to Gill's widow, along with various correspondence and related items, constituted the most complete archive of personal items relating to any Titanic victim known to exist.

Henry Aldridge and Son was pleased to be able to offer the entire archive for sale in its April 2002 Titanic and White Star Line auction. It tells a very real story not only of the Gills but of the hopes and dreams shattered by the tragedy that befell so many on the ship that night. That a coin belonging to Gill survived the disaster while Gill, himself, did not is poignant. This may be the last opportunity to acquire this important piece of Titanic's story.

Provenance Lot 288 Henry Aldridge and Son April 2002.

 

 

To read the complete Encyclopedia Titanica entry, see:
John Gill (https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/john-william-gill.html)

To read the complete lot description, see:
R.M.S. TITANIC/NUMISMATICS- RARE SILVER DOLLAR COIN RECOVERED FROM TITANIC VICTIM JOHN GILL'S (https://bid.henryaldridge.com/past-auctions/henry-10046/lot-details/9f3607a5-3f29-4ab3-93e3-b09900b1e563)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
A GLIMPSE OF PAPER MONEY FROM THE TITANIC (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n33a20.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: OCTOBER 29, 2023 : Query: The Astor Cash Stash (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n44a09.html) (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n33a20.html)
WHAT WAS IN ASTOR'S POCKET? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n45a14.html)

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