Background and Connections:
Many people know General William T. Sherman (also known as ) for his towards the end of the Civil War, but few know that he was a gold speculator and a banker before the War broke out. Fewer still know that Sherman's finance career included dealings with the San Francisco Mint in the 1850s. He also dealt with the private assayers in California who produced the phenomenal gold ingots that were routinely shipped east on paddle-wheelers such as the S.S. Central America.

To tell that tale - of how Sherman's pre-War life was impacted by the Gold Rush and the sinking of the so-called - the Civil War Showcase is proud to host a special program exploring Sherman's early life in finance with a program based on the new publication:

Two key figures will be featured in this Program: General William T. Sherman (as portrayed by Kris Gunvalsen) and Bob Evans, the principal researcher and curator of the that was recovered from the SS Central America deep in the Atlantic Ocean. The discussion will be moderated by Rick Lank, author of

At left is a photo of some of the gold double-eagle coins andthe massive array of gold ingots from California that wentdown off the North Carolina coast with the S.S. CentralAmerica in September 1857. Intended as a reserve for WallStreet Banks (which were already shaky), this loss -amounting to more than of dollars, inSherman's own words - created the andresulted in Sherman losing his second banking job in justtwo years. (The equivalent dollar amount today would bein the neighborhood of $50 million.) Sherman also had thechance to meet the captain of the Bark from Scandinavia that saved 60 lives from the CentralAmerica, shortly after the disaster.

At right is the living history characterization ofGeneral William T. Sherman, as portrayed by KrisGunvalsen of Ohio. As a youthful Army man inCalifornia, Sherman was in the very midst of theCalifornia Gold Rush and was posted in the tinysettlement that became the city of San Francisconearly overnight once was discoveredin the Sierra Nevada mountains. As a banker in SanFrancisco, Sherman once carried $40,000 in golddouble-eagles from the newly opened Branch Mint insaddle bags through the town to keep his bankafloat - by calling in loans during 1855.

While in California, Sherman also had regular business dealings with the private assayers - such as Kellogg & Humbert - who produced the huge and varied gold ingots for the USA.

Bob Evans was there on the spot where the sank off of the Carolina coast - as a matter of fact, he hadpinpointed the location where the doomed ship wentdown. Back in Sherman's time, it was generally believedthat this ship sank fairly close to Savannah, GA. Instead, itwas finally found under 7,200 feet of water a couple ofhundred miles off the coast of North Carolina 40+ yearsago. Bob Evans was an integral part of that astoundingdiscovery, recovery and interpretation.

At left, Bob Evans smiles over a portionof the gold recovered from the SSCentral America in his coin curation lab.In September of 2021, Bob (along withDwight Manley, Managing Partner ofthe California Gold Marketing Group)unveiled the last major fromthe ship - a fragile wooden box withsome $3,000 worth of San Francisco-minted double-eagles... some inastonishing condition (MS-67).

Other non-numismatic treasures have also been recovered, including the ship's bell.

At right is an artist's depiction of theS.S. Central America at sea. On her lastjourney, she sailed from Panama toHavana, Cuba and then proceededtowards New York City. She sank inheavy weather 200 miles off the coastof North Carolina; at least 425 peoplelost their lives in this maritime disaster.

Author and Program Organizer Rick Lank will be joining Bob Evans and Sherman for a lively three-way discussion at the Civil War Showcase at 1pm on Saturday at the PAN Coin Show, located in the Monroeville Convention Center. Admission to the Coin Show and the Civil War Showcase is free, as well as the Parking. The Showcase's educational non-profit organization- called - welcomes both Sponsors and Contributions.

The Civil War Money & Memorabilia Showcase is launched to honor the 160th Anniversary of the Civil War including how money changed the war...and how the Civil War changed our money, including lasting legacies we see today.

The Inaugural Showcase is produced for educational purposes as a collaboration between No Small Change Programs (Maryland) and , Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists Foundation (both 501c3 non- profit organizations). The Showcase will include exhibits, talks, and -type presentations suitable for all ages. Topics and exhibits include minting, printing and counterfeiting matters of the Civil War.

For more information on the show, see:
https://pancoins.org/

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
WOMEN'S RELIEF CORPS AT CIVIL WAR SHOWCASE(https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n15a17.html)
PAN CIVIL WAR MONEY & MEMORABILIA SHOWCASE(https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n17a16.html)