A breathtaking moment unfolded on the latest episode of Antiques Roadshow that left both experts and viewers in awe, as a remarkable Titanic artifact revealed its astonishing true worth.
The emotional scene featured a guest presenting a single shilling coin with an extraordinary provenance - it was carried by his great-grandmother, Alice Elizabeth Phillips, as she escaped the doomed RMS Titanic on that fateful April night in 1912.
The Survivor's Story
Alice Elizabeth Phillips, then just 22 years old, served as a stewardess aboard the ill-fated vessel. Miraculously, she found herself aboard Lifeboat 11 as the ship met its tragic end in the North Atlantic. The humble shilling in her possession represented her first week's wages from the White Star Line.
What makes this coin particularly significant is that it represents one of the few physical items that survived both the sinking and the subsequent recovery efforts. As expert Justin Croft explained to host Fiona Bruce, personal belongings from Titanic survivors are exceptionally rare in today's collectors' market.
A Valuation That Stunned Everyone
The atmosphere grew tense as Croft delivered his professional assessment. While ordinary shillings from the era might fetch around £5, this coin's incredible history transformed it into something truly priceless.
The expert revealed that at auction, this Titanic survivor's shilling could command between £2,000 and £3,000 - a figure that left the owner visibly emotional and host Fiona Bruce describing it as 'extraordinary'.
More Than Just Monetary Value
Beyond the staggering financial valuation, the shilling represents a tangible connection to one of history's most famous maritime disasters. The owner shared how this small coin had been passed down through generations as a family heirloom, keeping Alice's incredible survival story alive.
The emotional weight of holding an object that was physically present during those final, terrifying hours aboard Titanic added a profound depth to the Antiques Roadshow appraisal that resonated with viewers and experts alike.
This remarkable valuation episode serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes, the true value of an antique lies not in its material worth, but in the incredible human stories it carries through history.
