WWII silver treasure recovered

The cargo was salvaged from the wreck of the British ship SS Gairsoppa, sunk by a German torpedo 300 miles off the west coast of Ireland in 1941. The recovery mission was conducted by US salvage firm Odyssey Marine Exploration, which was contracted by the British government. Under the contract, Odyssey will keep 80 percent of the silver.

The rest will go mainly to Britain’s Treasury, with a small amount going to the intended receiver – the Royal Mint, which will issue commemorative coins from the ship’s silver.