Struck at the famed Soho Mint in Birmingham and bound for the markets of colonial India, this copper X (Ten) Cash coin was part of a vast shipment aboard the Admiral Gardner, a British East India Company vessel lost to the treacherous sands of the English Channel in 1809. For nearly two centuries, her cargo lay buried beneath the waves at Goodwin Sands—until divers recovered a trove of coins remarkably preserved by the seabed’s embrace.
Issued in 1808, this coin bears the proud insignia of the East India Company on its obverse: a regal shield flanked by two lions, encircled by the name of the trading giant that once ruled over half the world’s commerce. The date is clearly visible, a tangible echo of the Age of Empire.
The reverse features a flowing Persian inscription—reflecting the multicultural nature of trade in India—and the denomination X Cash, once used by merchants and markets from Bombay to Madras. Its script and style speak to the Company’s adaptation to the customs and coinage systems of the lands it sought to influence.
Now set in a handcrafted gold-filled wire wrap, this coin offers a rare union of history and artistry. It is more than a relic; it is a fragment of global trade, colonial ambition, and the enduring mystery of shipwrecked treasure.
Product Description:
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Coin Type: Hand Milled
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Denomination: X (ten) Cash
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Mint: Soho
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Empire: England
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Date: 1808
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Metal: Copper
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Weight: grams
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Obverse: Visible date of 1808 with two lions and shield. Legend reads East India Company.
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Reverse: Persian inscription and the coin denomination of (X Cash).
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Setting: Handcrafted with gold filled wire
Certificate of Authenticity with photo specific images included. BONUS - A newspaper article featuring two sailors that describe what happened.
Inv# T32165
