If it has been on the RMS Titanic in 1912, then it will be in demand in 2024. The fascination, intrigue, and nostalgia of the ill-fated British passenger liner operated by the White Star Line, don’t cease to exist. In fact, with every passing year, the fixation only intensifies. The well-known Titanic museum in Orlando is now offering memorabilia that was essential in the smooth maneuvering of the ship (not that it helped save it). A huge piece of coal from the Titanic will be sold for $500,000. The Olympic-class ocean liner was powered by a combination of steam engines and steam turbines.
It was equipped with vessel boilers featuring multiple furnaces where coal was burned to heat water. In total, there were 159 coal-burning furnaces. The object going under the hammer for a whopping $500,000 isn’t a furnace but a 55-pound piece of coal recovered from the wreck site of the ship that struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. It is said to be one of the few authentic artifacts offered for purchase. The piece of coal is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and was recovered during the 1994 Titanic research and recovery expedition.
Two years ago, a Titanic postal clerk’s century-old pocket watch sold at auction for $116,000, and more recently, the gold pocket watch of the richest person on the Titanic was auctioned for $1.5 million. Some fans of the Titanic and its saga have upped the ante by offering to build a $1 billion replica of the doomed Titanic. Australian billionaire Clive Palmer wishes to create a Titanic II complete with grand ballrooms, a casino, Turkish baths, squash courts and even third class cabins. He is not alone in his awe as millions of people have registered interest to travel on the vessel.
Until that takes shape, the Titanic museum in Orlando will suffice by exhibiting more than 300 artifacts, feature costumed actors, and display full-scale room recreations. A real treat for a fan.
