ORANJEMUND, Namibia, May 5 (UPI) -- The DeBeers company found a different treasure in a diamond mining operation along the coast of Namibia -- the remains of a ship laden with gold coins.

Dieter Noli, the archaeologist who has been examining the wreck, told The Times of South Africa the site is the richest gold find on the continent since a major ancient Egyptian discovery in the Valley of the Kings.

"I told them sooner or later you'll find a wreck; and I've been waiting patiently for the last 20 years ... but now: jackpot," he said.

The 500-year-old ship was carrying at least 2,500 gold coins from Spain and 50 elephant tusks. The vessel was heavily armed, but some of the weapons were out of date.

Noli thinks the cargo suggests a European pirate or rogue captain may have been trying to sell arms to African rulers.

The ship's timbers have long since decayed, but a few human bones have turned up.

A DeBeers geologist spotted copper ingots April 1, suggesting that the mine 600 feet off a beach, contained more than diamonds.

Artist wants to embrace U.S. motto fully

ZION, Ill., May 5 (UPI) -- An artist in Zion, Ill., says he wants to change his name to "In God We Trust" because that's the only way he can be fully free to embrace his true personality.

Steve Kreuscher has a date next month in a Lake County court, at which he will ask the presiding judge for permission to change his name to the U.S. motto, the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald said Saturday.

The 57-year-old school bus driver said the motto perfectly symbolizes his life because his belief in God helped him survive depression, divorce and a home invasion.

"I've had to trust God through incredibly hard times," the father of four said.

Kreuscher told the Daily Herald that if he is successful at his June 13 court date, he will keep the motto alive even if activists eventually have the motto removed from all U.S. currency.

"Those words are an endangered species," Kreuscher told the newspaper. "You might take it off the money, but you can't take away my name."

Soldier collected autographed Iraq cards

PITTSBURGH, May 5 (UPI) -- Those interested in a playing card signed by the late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should try Mark Heinbaugh, a Pennsylvania soldier who collects such goods.

The 45-year-old Pennsylvania National Guardsman has an "Iraq's Most Wanted" playing card signed by the late Iraqi dictator in his collection of rare collectibles, the New York Post reported.

Heinbaugh said he obtained Hussein's autograph, along with the signatures of other Iraqi detainees, while serving as a prisoner guard in Iraq.

"A lot of the detainees were happy to sign the cards. They said it made them look like celebrities," Heinbaugh said of cards, which featured 55 of the most-wanted Iraqi officials.

"They were happy to be remembered. I think I'm the only soldier with practically a full set of signed cards. And I got a signature from Saddam himself."

The cards were issued by the U.S. government and have since become collectibles to some, with Hussein's ace of spades the top money-earner. The Post said second place on the value list belonged to the king of spades, also known as "Chemical Ali" or Hussein's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid al-Tikriti.

99-cent Vegas shrimp special is history

LAS VEGAS, May 5 (UPI) -- A raise has finally been called on the 99-cent shrimp special at the Golden Gate hotel and casino in Las Vegas, hotel officials say.

Golden Gate officials said after nearly five decades of selling shrimp cocktails for 99 cents, the price has doubled to a whopping $1.99, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

"It's certainly not a gasoline-type gouging we're going for here," said Scott DeAngelo, hotel vice president of gaming and marketing. "It remains a good value and it remains damn good."

Food and Beverage Director Michael Storm blamed the cost increase at Las Vegas' oldest hotel-casino on the rising cost of cold-water shrimp.

Since the 99-cent item was placed on the hotel's menu in 1959, the gambling site has sold more than 30 million shrimp cocktails, the newspaper said.

For 86-year-old retired welding inspector Ben Norgress, a regular at the casino, the price increase was indicative of social changes.

"Everything has gone up. What can you do?" Norgress said. "If I objected to any of it, I'd just stay home and die."