On November 23, 1942, the S.S. Tilawa was sunk in the Indian Ocean after being struck by two Japanese torpedoes. Known to some as the “Indian Titanic,” the sinking of the ship claimed 280 lives and sent its valuable cargo to the ocean floor, nearly 9,200 feet below the surface. Onboard were 2,364 silver bars—long forgotten until they were recovered in 2017. Today, you can own a piece of this lost treasure with the 1/4 oz S.S. Tilawa Shipwreck Silver Grain, certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), now available from BullionMax.

Product Highlights:

• Arrives in a protective plastic slab!
• Certified silver salvaged from the wreck of the S.S. Tilawa!
• Limited offering of only 1,942 PCGS-certified products!
• Contains 1/4 Troy oz of .999 pure silver.
• Stunning piece of World War II history.

Each 1/4 oz S.S. Tilawa Shipwreck Silver Grain is enclosed in a sealed plastic slab provided by the PCGS. These slabs confirm the silver’s origin as part of the recovered Tilawa shipwreck cargo. On the front of each label, you’ll see the weight and the designation of the silver as “grain.” The reverse side includes further certification details, specifications, and a small emblem referencing the S.S. Tilawa. Only 1,942 of these slabs were certified—an intentional nod to the year the ship went down.

At the time it sank, the S.S. Tilawa was carrying silver bullion bars headed to South Africa, where they would have been turned into coins. The wreck wasn’t located until 2014, and it wasn’t until 2017 that the silver was brought to the surface. Ownership of the recovered silver was disputed until the UK Supreme Court ruled in favor of South Africa in 2024.

Much of this salvaged silver has now been refined into modern bullion bars and rounds made with .999 fine silver. These 1/4 oz silver grains offer a direct link to a lesser-known event from World War II, giving collectors and history enthusiasts a small but meaningful piece of the past.

If you have any questions, BullionMax customer service is ready to help. You can reach us at 800-729-3202, through our web chat, or by email.