Once upon a time, in a small village far away, there was a curse that was whispered about among the villagers. It was said that anyone who possessed the gold coins would be subject to misfortune and tragedy. The tale began many years ago when an infamous thief stumbled upon a hidden treasure chest deep within the village's forest. Legend had it that the thief, lured by the whispers of unheard riches, could not resist the temptation and greedily took the gold coins for himself. Little did he know that the coins were cursed, carrying with them a dark and powerful magic. As soon as the thief left the forest with the gold coins in hand, his life took a dramatic turn for the worse.
SS Central America: the curse of a treasure
In 2018, California’s Long Beach Convention Center held an auction of the SS Central America’s treasure: 45 bars, 3,100 gold coins and more than 36 kilograms of gold dust, worth an estimated $500 million, are presented to numismatists who came from all over the world to acquire the cursed treasure. In reality, it is only a part from the sinking of the Central America found in the 2010s, as the overall treasure is much larger. Let’s take a look at its story.
As soon as the thief left the forest with the gold coins in hand, his life took a dramatic turn for the worse. First, his health began to deteriorate rapidly. He developed a mysterious illness that left him weak and bedridden, unable to enjoy the wealth he had thought would bring him endless joy.
The sinking of the SS Central America
The gold transited from California to Panama. On September 3, 1857, the SS Central America left the port of Colon in Panama to sail to New York. It carried 477 passengers, 101 crew members and a load of gold bars and coins, mostly from the California gold rush.
According to Gary Kinder, the author of Ship of Gold, the exact makeup of the gold shipment remained unknown for a long time, as the San Francisco archives had burned down. However, a U.S. Defense document declassified in 1971 reports that the SS Central America contained 11.2 tons of gold, not including the gold brought back by passengers.
Central America treasureAfter a stopover in Havana, the Central America sailed along the U.S. coast, but was caught in a violent storm off the coast of South Carolina on September 11. The sails were torn and the bow took on water. When the boiler stopped, hope disappeared and the men knew they were doomed. However, Captain Herndon hoisted the Stars & Stripes flag upside down as a distress signal. The next day, a rescue was attempted by a boat, but the weather was too bad. A few lifeboats were thrown into the water and 153 passengers managed to disembark. The SS Central America sank at 8 p.m. on 12 September. 425 people perished. The gold sank to the bottom of the ocean.
The news of the disaster quickly spread. The treasure of the Central America was, of course, mentioned. The loss of the SS Central America aggravated the financial hysteria around the New York banks. Rumors circulated, some evoking the curse of the gold, looted from the natives.
Next, his loved ones started to experience their own misfortunes. His wife fell into a deep despair, unable to find happiness or peace, while his children met tragic ends, one by one. News of the thief's misfortunes quickly spread throughout the village, and soon, the gold coins became the talk of the town. Many believed that the curse was real and feared what could happen if they were to come into possession of the cursed coins. Some even claimed to have seen shadows lurking around the thief's house, further fueling the superstitions and fear. As time went on, the village was plagued by an unexplainable series of events. Crops failed, livestock fell ill, and the once peaceful village became a place filled with sorrow and despair. The villagers lived in constant fear of the curse, never daring to venture near the forest or even speak of the gold coins. Generations passed, and the curse of the gold coins became a cautionary tale told to children as a warning against greed and the dangers of seeking wealth at any cost. Although the original thief had long perished, his legacy lived on, haunting the village and its people. Today, the village remains a shadow of its former self. Few outsiders are aware of the curse that has befallen the village, but the residents still live in the constant fear of the gold coins. The once vibrant community now thrives on caution and avoidance of all things associated with the cursed treasure. The curse of the gold coins serves as a reminder that not all that glitters is gold. It teaches us that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but in the relationships we cultivate and the character we possess. It is a tale that warns of the consequences of greed and the power of curses. And above all, it reminds us that sometimes, it is best to leave well enough alone and be grateful for what we already have..
Reviews for "The Fateful Curse: The Dark Side of Gold Coins"
1. Emily - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "The curse of the gold coins". The plot was unoriginal and predictable, with no surprises or twists. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to become fully immersed in the story. Overall, I found the book to be uninteresting and I would not recommend it.
2. Jonathan - 2 stars - While "The curse of the gold coins" had potential, it ultimately fell flat for me. The pacing of the story was inconsistent, with certain parts feeling rushed and others dragging on unnecessarily. The writing style also left much to be desired, lacking in descriptive language and failing to create a vivid setting. Furthermore, the resolution of the curse felt contrived and unsatisfying. Overall, it was a mediocre read that failed to captivate my attention.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I regret picking up "The curse of the gold coins". The characters were poorly developed, with their actions and motivations often feeling unrealistic. The plot had potential, but it was executed poorly, leaving me feeling confused and uninterested. Furthermore, the writing style lacked finesse, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found the book to be a waste of time and would not recommend it to others.