Rare Coin 1701 Silver Rupee Arthur C. Clark Treasure Start Price USD 850.00 Current Price USD 850.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, October 10, 2008 End Time Friday, October 17, 2008 Location Golden, CO See more about 'Rare Coin 1701 Silver Rupee Arthur C. Clark Treasure' Description This is a very rare, certified, authenticated silver 1701 Surat rupee coin recovered from the Great Basses Reef off the southern tip of Sri Lanka.   This silver rupee was minted in Surat (near Bombay), during the Mugal Empire. It was issued by Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir,last of the Mongol emperors, who ruled from 1658-1707, and whose father, Shah Janan, had built the Taj Majal as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.   It was part of the Taj Mahal Sunken Treasure discovered on March 22, 1961 by famed science fiction author Sir Arthur C. Clark (2001: A Space Odyssey), his dive partner, and two boys from the American Consulate in Sri Lanka. Two years later, in 1963, a large haul, including this coin, was brought to the surface.   It is believed the ship carrying this treasure was bound for Sri Lanka to buy gems and spices that would later be used for trade for items that would be returned to India. These coins were packed in sacks with approximately 1000 coins each, with several sacks in a wooden chest. When the ship struck Great Basses Reef off the southern tip of Ceylon in 1702 and sunk, there were no survivors. Over time, salt water and corrosion caused the coins to become cemented together into 25 pound masses. However, the coins inside the lumps remained in perfect condition.   The ship and this treasure were lost to the world until Clarke and his group discovered it in 1961, and brought it up two years later.   Five coin masses were recovered. One resides in the Smithsonian Institute, and a second has been placed in the “Clarkives” in Minehead, England, commemorating Clarke’s underwater adventures. The remaining three coin masses represent the remainder of Arthur C. Clarke’s personal collection, less than 2300 coins.  They are still in the same mint, uncirculated condition as the day they left the counting house in Surat more than 300 years ago.   This is one of those coins.   Included with the coin is a certificate of authenticity.   Shipping and insurance will be provided via USPS Registered Mail. Place a Bid!