The $20 Gold Coin that Saved a Life 1 1

[Mike Meenderink]

By M. Meenderink

The $20 Gold Coin that Saved a Life

The story that a sweetheart gave Confederate soldier George Dixon a $20 gold coin dated 1860 as a good luck charm has been validated. The story was that George kept the coin with him always, in his pocket, as a good luck charm. During the Battle of Shiloh, George was shot point blank in the chest. The bullet struck in his pocket miraculously hitting the center of the gold coin. The impact was said to have left the gold piece bent, with the bullet embedded in it which likely saved his life. This story was well known among George's peers and most local residents of his time.

George’s luck, however, did not last forever as he was assigned a dangerous and new duty to complete. Here is what happened next to now Lt. George Dixon CSA                                                                       Nearly 150 years ago, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley   the first submarine ever in history, failed to return to port after its successful maiden mission. 

The propulsion was simply men turning a crank. A pole on the front was designed to hold and ram explosives into enemy ships. Therefore, the sub had to actually make contact. On February 17th,1864 the Hunley successfully placed a powder charge into the Union warship Housatonic and sunk her. Unfortunately, most likely due to being in close proximity of the explosion of the Housatonic the Hunley also went down hours later on February 17th,1864 with its eight-man crew on board. There were no survivors, and the sub was never seen again until it was found by chance in 1995 off the coast of South Carolina. 

The legend of the coin was proven true when archaeologists found inside the submarine one bent gold coin dated 1860 that was carried by none other than the sub’s new captain, Lieutenant George Dixon, given to him by his sweetheart for good luck years earlier. The $20 gold coin had saved his life one time but sadly could not this time.  The Hunley was excavated then raised in 2000 and is currently being restored and conserved by- The Hunley Project: A partnership among the South Carolina Hunley Commission, Clemson University Restoration Institute, The Naval Historical Center, The US Navy and the nonprofit Friends of the Hunley.

Edited June 9 by Mike Meenderink

[GoldFinger1969]

Wow....who has the coin ?  Where is it ? 

[Henri Charriere]

On 6/9/2024 at 11:29 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Wow....who has the coin ?  Where is it ? 

Only uncle z knows and he says he is "under no obligation to report the whereabouts..."        

(Posted at the discretion of Moderation.)

[Mike Meenderink]

On 6/9/2024 at 8:29 AM, GoldFinger1969 said:

Wow....who has the coin ?  Where is it ? 

Where abouts of this coin are not known. Last told the family of Lt. Dixon was notified of the personal effects found on the wreck upon which a representative for the family collected them and they have not been publicly exhibited since.

[EGH49]

On 6/9/2024 at 10:15 PM, Mike Meenderink said:

Where abouts of this coin are not known. Last told the family of Lt. Dixon was notified of the personal effects found on the wreck upon which a representative for the family collected them and they have not been publicly exhibited since.

Great story.  Like trees,  coins are witnesses to history.  I love that the family is holding this privately and didn’t rush to social media with it.

[CIII]

Interesting story.  I would love to see the coin now.