l'étoile blanche

Our RMS Republic (loss 1909) is an entirely different wreck than Odyssey's pissant SS Republic (reported $400,000 loss 1865). As to the RMS Republic's cargo, we have one confirmed shipment, an $800,000 US Navy coin monies shipment for the US Atlantic Battleship Fleet, then at Gibraltar. This has been professionally (and conservatively) appraised at $200,000,000. We believe there is also a $3,000,000 shipment of newly minted double-eagles aboard as well, proceeds of a 30 day loan made to the Tsarist Russian State Bank. That's seventy-five 144-pound boxes, and we believe the total consignment to the Russian State Bank, as a result of 4 1/2 % January 1909 Russian bond sales in New York, was $25,000,000, 45 tons of double eagles (new research). As to why all the "mystery," read my book The Tsar's Treasure (available on Amazon). In brief, had the amount of this loss been made public, it would have caused the immediate financial and consequent political collapse of the Tsarist regime - something Britain, France and the US could not allow in the pre-WWI environment. We are now owners of the ship and her cargoes, the US Government's claim for the loss of their cargo has been dismissed with prejudice, and all future claims have been barred. We have an injunction in place prohibiting any interference with our recovery. Here's a brief synopsis of the research, Now, all we have to do is recover our cargoes at a cost of about $8 million. We're looking for a $20 million investment, and will give you $100,000,000 on that investment. bayerle@lordsoffortune.com