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Story: Diving and snorkelling

Coins from the Elingamite

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Coins from the Elingamite

In 1967 a dive team, including well-known divers Kelly Tarlton and Wade Doak (pictured), discovered the wreck of the trans-Tasman steamer Elingamite that had sunk off the Three Kings Islands in 1902. On board was a cargo of gold and silver coins, much of which was recovered, to public excitement.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP-New Zealand Recreation-Scuba diving-01

by Kelly Tarlton

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Diving and snorkelling – Diving for a purpose, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9013/coins-from-the-elingamite (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.