Thomas G. Thompson, the deep-sea explorer who discovered the legendary “Ship of Gold,” was released from prison last week after serving a decade behind bars for contempt of court. He had refused to reveal the whereabouts of missing gold coins, leading to a lengthy legal battle that kept him incarcerated for years.
Thompson, now 73, made history in 1988 when he located the S.S. Central America off the coast of South Carolina. Per the New York Times, this steamship, known affectionately as the “Ship of Gold,” sank in 1857 during a hurricane, carrying 450 passengers and an incredible bounty of California gold coins, bars, and nuggets, collectively worth millions.
