Scientists- Hunley coin legend true

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The legend that a $20 gold coin stopped a Minie ball at the Battle of Shiloh saving the life of the man who later commanded the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley appears to be true.

Scientists at the Hunley lab conducted forensic tests on the left thighbone of Lt. George Dixon and say the bone shows signs of being hit by a Minie ball.

"It directly corresponds to the gold coin injury theory," said Maria Jacobsen, the senior archaeologist on the Hunley project.

Dixon was wounded at Shiloh in 1862, but his life was spared because the bullet hit the coin in his pocket.

Dixon had it with him in February 1864 when the Hunley sank shortly after sinking the Union blockade ship Housatonic. The coin was recovered last year from the Hunley, the first submarine in history to sink an enemy warship.

It was minted in 1860 and one side shows Lady Liberty, the same side the bullet hit. The other side with the federal shield and eagle symbol appeared to have been sanded and had a four-line inscription.

"Shiloh April 6, 1862, My life Preserver," the coin read, the last line bearing Dixon's initials.

Recent X-rays and other tests have revealed particles imbedded in Dixon's bone that could be pieces of the Minie ball.

"We originally thought the coin took most of the impact. Dixon was fortunate he didn't sever an artery," Jacobsen said.

The Hunley was raised off the coast from Charleston two years ago and brought to a lab at the old Charleston Navy base, where it is being cleaned and conserved.

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Friends of the Hunley: www.hunley.org