11/6/25 Report - 2025 Penny Low Mintage: Hoarding. Collecting. Acadian Expulsion. Old Check. Pennwood Motor Lodge.

 

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

1922 Check for Five Hundred Dollars.

A few days ago, I mentioned old checks as being a nice type of collectible.  Here is one example that I have.  It is dated 1922 and has some nice graphics.  It also shows nice handwriting, which is now seldom seen.

---

Scott R. pointed out that my pictures were not showing the true colors and said I might have my camera in sepia.  I checked and he was right.  I fixed that..  Thanks much to Scott.  

---

Warren D, had some thoughts on the Acadians and Oak Island.

An interesting story about the Expulsion of the Acadians gave me the idea that perhaps the Oak Island Money Pit was a booby trap built by the Acadians over time when they knew they would be ultimately occupied by the British. Starting a rumor about a buried treasure would entice the British officer corps to be front and center at 100 feet deep when the tunnel would be flooded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_the_Acadians

Here is a little about the expulsion of the Acadians.

The Expulsion of the Acadians occurred when Great Britain attempted an ethnic cleansing of French-speaking catholic inhabitants of an area of the eastern seaboard historically known as Acadia between 1755 and 1764. Acadia included the modern Canadian Maritime provenances of Nova Scotia, New Brunsweck, and Prince Edward Island along with part of the US state of Maine. The expulsion occurred during the French and Indian War the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War.

Of an estimated 14,100 Acadians, approximately 11,500 were deported, of whom 5,000 died of disease, starvation or shipwrecks. Their land was given to settlers loyal to Britain, mostly immigrants from New England and Scotland.  The event is largely regarded as crime against humanity, though the modern-day use of the term "genocide" is debated by scholars. According to a 1764 census, 2,600 Acadians remained in Nova Scotia at that time, having eluded capture...

The general point I would make about interpreting finds is that you should begin with a knowledge and consideration of local history. Other more dramatic stories can also be considered, but not before or to the exclusion of local events and history.

They always talk as if the area of Oak Island was extremely remote and devoid of activity in past centuries and every old find must have come from distant lands, but the Mi'kmaq were there long ago, and the Acadians and others were in the area centuries ago as well  I don't know that the construction of ramps, tunnels etc. would have gone unnoticed by the natives or other settlers.  

Warren also added the following on another topic.

Just heard that the Pennwood Motor Lodge in Wabasso was sold and a new location for the Treasure Hunter's annual picnic in April will have to be found.

---

I hate that they put indoor plumbing in the White House rather than keep its original form.   In 1882, the original water pipes were replaced, and septic fields were finally built, bringing indoor toilets to the White House.  Too bad.

---    

Burger Kings are among the many cash-heavy businesses around the US grappling with the phaseout of the penny — with one group of the fast-food joints reportedly hoarding the coins by the box since President Trump ordered the Treasury Department to stop minting them earlier this year.

Businessman Gary Andrzejewski told The Wall Street Journal that the Burger Kings he operates in Baltimore have stockpiled 30 boxes of pennies so far. the many cash-heavy businesses around the US grappling with the phaseout of the penny — with one group of the fast-food joints reportedly hoarding the coins by the box since President Trump ordered the Treasury Department to stop minting them earlier this year...

Here is that link.

Burger Kings hoarding pennies and other stores rounding up — as US phases out one-cent coins

---

Should you collect  2025 pennies?

It’s too early to be certain, but it appears 2025 may be a low-mintage year for the shield reverse Lincoln cent. No Lincoln cents were struck in August or September. This follows an anemic mintage of 400,000 cents minted in July, representing a mere 0.1% of circulation strike coinage produced that month.

Normally, the cent has accounted for more than half of monthly production at the U.S. Mint despite its negative seigniorage contribution. The president has made no secret of his displeasure with the mint losing money on this coin; however, Congress, rather than the president, has the constitutional power to “coin money” and “regulate the value” of that money. Of course, Congress can simply find a way not to approve of any 1-cent coin productions for 2026 and then extend that indefinitely...

Here is the link for more about that.

Should You Collect the 2025 Penny? - Numismatic News

---

Source: Surfguru.com.

Nothing very exciting with the surf chart.  The very small surf on Sunday and Monday is the most interesting thing.  Might not be a bad time to get low on the beach or into the water, where that is allowed.

The morning high tide will be up around 3.9 feet.  That is unusually big.  Goes along with the supermoon.  

With the supermoon and the Cape Kennedy space shots, there was a lot to see in the sky last night.

Good hunting,

Treasaureguide@comcast.net

11/5/25 Report - Gold Celtic Rainbow Cup Coin Find. Celtic Warrior Figure. Miscellaneous Musings. Beaver Supermoon.

 

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

A certified metal detectorist who was scanning in a field near Leipzig, Germany, discovered the oldest coin ever found in the state of Saxony. The 2,200-year-old gold coin, known as a "rainbow cup," is a rare example of imported Celtic currency.

"The gold coin is a tangible piece of our history and provides new insights into trade with the Celts," Saxony's state minister, Barbara Klepsch aid in a translated statement Oct. 27.

While numerous Celtic coins have been found in Bohemia in the northwest Czech Republic, Saxony is considered outside the Celtic settlement area. Only two Celtic coins had previously been discovered in Saxony. The newly discovered coin has been dubbed the Gundorf Rainbow Cup for its findspot in a neighborhood outside Leipzig.

Celtic rainbow cups — named after the German term "regenbogenschüsselchen," which translates to "tiny rainbow finger bowl" — were named for their curved shape and for the superstition that treasure could be found where a rainbow touched the ground, according to the statement. They were created by the ancient Celts, fierce warrior tribes who lived in mainland Europe and later sacked Rome....

Here is the link for the rests of that article.

2,200-year-old Celtic 'rainbow cup' in 'almost mint condition' found in Germany | Live Science

The Germans have a way of smashing a bunch of words together to make new words.

PS: Metal detecting in Germany requires a permit issued by local government offices. These permits are typically valid only within the jurisdiction where they are issued.

An embarrassingly officious people.  The WWII records they kept, while totally lacking in morals, is impressive in detail.

Olagola is an abbreviation used in coin descriptions meaning that the coin is of base metal or alloy, that is, not silver or gold; usually copper, brass or bronze.

---

Archaeologists have discovered a small, bronze charm depicting a Celtc warrior complete with a shield and a sword, while digging at an ancient settlement in Germany. The figurine, which dates to the third century B.C., is evidence of sophisticated metalworking in the Iron Age (800 to 50 B.C.)....

"We see a warrior in a very dynamic pose with a typical Celtic shield," along with a short sword, Pfeil said. "The equipment was as we know it from descriptions," which makes this Celtic warrior a unique find....

Here is the link for more about that.

2,200-year-old 'complex and delicate' Celtic warrior charm is evidence of sophisticated metalworking in the Iron Age | Live Science

----

You might remember that a few years ago, I was having a lot of trouble with my back and at one point that my treasure hunting days were over.  Well, through God's grace rather than medical treatments I managed to get better and went back to detecting, although I cut back on my more extreme activities as a precaution.  I was happy with that, but a few days ago I had an injury that has reactivated my problems but am once again hopeful that I'll recover before long.  

Sometimes I think another word for old age is humiliation.

---

I saw an ad for this Christmas ornament of a naughty old couple.  It reminded me of the nudists that were arrested near Little Mud Creek and made all the national news outlets.

I mentioned once before the nude detectorist I saw at Blind Creek when it was open.  Not a pretty sight.

===

I was laying on the couch trying to recuperate and while channel surfing saw a few minutes of the Oak Island Curse.  The detectorist worked the area where the archaeologists. had already painstakingly removed some inches of the topsoil.  Where the detector indicated one target, the archaeologists, using a trowel uncovered under what seemed to be another inch or so of soil a coin pf some sort.  I wasn't on the program long enough to hear the typical hoopla about it being old and probably part of the treasure of the possibly part of the vast treasure of the Templars or some such fanciful story, but I'll undoubtedly catch that at some point during one of the next hundred repeats proving that there is some great treasure on the Island, which there might or might not be there despite the years of effort already gone by.  The coin didn't seem all that deep to cause missing it over the past several years without the soil removal, but I've commented extensively before on how much can be missed by metal detecting.

The scenario It reminded me of the time many years ago when I took my sister and little nephew to the beach for their first metal detecting outing.  I found a good coin line along the water line and quickly dug a lot of coins and intentionally left a good number of them near the surface for my sister and nephew to find.  In the case of the TV show, it seemed that the archaeologists were close to uncovering the coin and would have with just a little more excavation but left the easy pick for the detectorist.

Have you ever heard the Acadians mentioned on the show?  I haven't, but then again, I haven't been paying a lot of attention in recent years.  I don't think it is part of the storyline.  

===

Source: Surfguru.com.

Nothing special with the surf chart, but did you see the Beaver Supermoon last night.  Beautiful!

November’s Full Beaver Moon orbits closer to Earth than any of the other Full Moons this year, making it one of the three Supermoons of 2025! At its nearest point, the Beaver Moon will be 221,817 miles (356,980 kilometers) from Earth… this is the closest Supermoon of the year! ...

Here is the link for more about that.

Beaver Moon: Full Supermoon in November 2025 | The Old Farmer's Almanac

The high tides are correspondingly high.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/3/25 Report - Odd Earring Find. Buck and Ball. Bronze Artifacts. Collecting Checks.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

 

Two Views of Unusual Earring Find.

This is an unusual earring.  I think it looks vintage South Asia or Middle East.  It looks silver but I haven't tested yet.  Clip on is kind of unusual for the style.  Maybe it is just made to look exotic.

---

Musket balls unearthed at Culloden Battlefield could be from a "valiant action" by a small number of troops that saved thousands of Jacobites' lives, say archaeologists.

The balls, which are made of lead, were among more than 100 projectiles uncovered at the 279-year-old battleground near Inverness earlier this month.

Here is the link for more about that.

Culloden Battlefield finds could be evidence of 'valiant action'

A lot of buck and ball shot has been found on the Treasure Coast beaches.  

Spanish ships historically used buck and ball ammunition, which consisted of a lead ball combined with multiple smaller lead pellets (buckshot). This combination was designed to enhance the effectiveness of the musket by increasing the spread of the shot, making it more lethal at close ranges.

---

The Scythian animal style is a distinct artistic tradition characterized by its stylized animals. It has been found in various forms across the Eurasian steppe, including in petroglyphs, tattoos, personal adornments, and horse gear.

It is believed to have a Central Asian origin, slowly spreading across the steppe together with early nomadic groups. However, due to the often imprecise or unknown dating of many Scythian animal style artifacts, there is still considerable ambiguity surrounding them....

Here is the link for more about  that.

Ancient Scythian animal-style art began with functional objects, study finds

---

This is something I never thought about much, although I have a few interesting examples myself - collecting checks.

Some checks are quite artistic in design, which allows you to tailor your collection. Do you like wildlife, farm scenes, or interesting buildings? The possibilities are endless. You also don’t have to hunt for a particular illustration. You simply determine what to select based on interest, price, and general condition.

While checks won’t be uncirculated, they’re usually in acceptable shape and generally don’t have a lot of wear. Though they can be hard to read, as some people’s handwriting can be quite sloppy!

You can also find great autographs. I once saw a check signed by Bob Hope! Checks signed by famous people don’t need to be fancy; the autograph alone is enough....

Fine Example from the Numismatic News Article.

Here is the link for more about that.

Collecting Checks - Numismatic News

---

Fort Pierce South Jetty Beach Cam South Zoom View.

The surf is calm Monday morning - even calmer than I'd expect from the surf chart.  There is a lazy swash.

The high tides are still big.  There is a north wind, but having very little effect.

Surf Chart for the Fort Pierce Jetty Area from Surfguru.com.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/2/25 Report - Part V of How Coins Move On Beaches. Waves: Breaking, Depth, Wavelength, Turbulence, Backwash, Rip Currents, Tides.

 

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

I'll do Part V of my How Coins Move on a Beach series today.   In Part IV I talked about the types of waves that build and erode beaches.  

There is a swash and a backwash.  When the backwash is greater than the swash, beaches erode.  That is what the above graphic refers to deconstructive waves.

When waves break that is where the bottom is stirred and a lot of sand and other things such as rocks, shells or coins are brought into suspension.  The first step for moving objects is suspension.

When the surface sand is moved, buried objects, such as coins, are uncovered so they can be moved, but they must be uncovered first. It is important to remember that as long as objects are buried under a protective layer, they won't be moved until the protective layer is moved.

The depth of the effect of a wave is one half the wave length.  See the illustration below.

In deep water, the effect of the wave on the bottom is virtually nonexistent. The depth of the wave's effect is one half the wavelength.  When you see the wave breaking, that means that the depth of the water is less than half the wavelength.  

The water has to be fairly shallow for a wave to move the sand or anything else on the bottom.

The following illustration shows how the wave changes shape and eventually breaks as the water becomes more shallow.

Waves are only going to move sand in fairly shallow water.  And since it requires more force to move other objects, such as coins, those will be moved only in rough shallow water.  Where the waves break is the point of most turbulence and force exerted on sand and objects on the bottom.  

In the above illustration, you can see that the first three waves (on the left) do not disturb the bottom.  Therefore any coins on the bottom will not be disturbed by the passing waves above.   Even though the waves are not disturbing the bottom, at the same time there can be currents that do, though they will seldom be sufficient to move things such as coins. Remember, relative to sand, it takes a lot more force to move rocks and coins than it takes to move the sand.

Often you'll see the waves break far from shore when there is a reef or a sandbar or something.  That will remove much of the wave energy before the wave gets to the beach.   

Rip currents are another situation.  Then you have a backwash channeled in an area that takes sand out and leaves things like rocks and coins.  Some really great coin holes can be found where there was a rip current, but you should stay out of rip currents unless you are an very good swimmer and know you can handle the situation.  It is not worth drowning for a little treasure.  The first time I got caught in a rip current I didn't understand what was happening and it was pretty scary.

So what about coin movement.  Once again, there has to be enough force to suspend and move them, and then they'll be deposited where the force decreases enough.  They won't be moved in deep waters unless there are strong currents.  The greatest natural force that will move them is where the waves are crashing and the swash or backwash is strong.  

Often when coins appear on a beach, it might seem like they just got washed up onto the beach, when what actually happened is that the sand washed away and uncovered the coins.  

It takes quite a bit to wash coins up onto the beach and it doesn't happen real often.  Before they are washed up, they first have to be exposed by any protective layers of sand being removed and then they must be suspended and moved by strong waves that haven't lost their energy before hitting very close to or on the beach.

I did some little informal experiments myself and was surprised by how much turbulence it takes to lift coins off the bottom.  Perhaps you've done some fanning and noticed how the sand moves away but other objects like coins remain unmoved.

More on this in the future.

---

Sorry I lost track of some of the sources for the illustrations.  Mostly they came from pinterest.

---

Surf Chart for the Fort Pierce South Jetty Area from SurfGuru.com.

The Treasure Coast high tides are very high today but the surf is small.

Happy November,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/1/25 Report - Gold Pendant Find. WV Silver Reale Find. History of the Acadians and the Dykelands. The Missing Mystery of TV.

 

Written by the Treasureguide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Nice Small 18K Gold Pendant Find
Reading DIO TI PROTEGGA.

This anchor cross pendant reads Dio Ti Protegga, which in Italian means, "May God Protect you."

Here is the other side of the pendant.

Other Side of the Anchor Cross Pendant.

---

Take a look at the following map.  It has to do with the Not So Mystery of Oak Island.  

For me, the only mystery of Oak Island is how so little can be found after so much effort in such an area.

That is a map of the Grand Pre dykelands, which is where the Acadians created rich agricultural fields by constructing dykes and sluices in the 17th century.  

Below is a picture of one of the Acadian's structures constructed to keep out the saltwater tides and use aboiteau (hinged wooden sluices) to drain the agricultural fields.

(Figure 2-27) View of a 19th century aboiteau, illustrating the elaborate structure required to withstand the pressure of the tides 

Quite a construction!

When the first Europeans arrived in the 17th century to the area that is now Nova Scotia, they found willing trading partners in the Mi’kmaq, who had developed sophisticated trading networks over the millennia. During the succeeding centuries, European settlements gradually encroached on Mi’kmaq territory, especially the rich coastline, and intense competition for the region’s resources ensued. Early on, though, the French authorities and the Mi’kmaq forged positive relationships that led to alliances. One such alliance resulted from the historic baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou in 1610, the first Aboriginal person to be baptized in what would later become Canada. There are no known treaties between the French and the Mi’kmaq...

I've talked about the Mi 'kmaq in this blog in relation to Oak Island before.

While the French claimed Acadie as their own, the British were competing with them for territorial claims over similar areas. Located strategically between New England to the south and New France to the west, Acadie from the early 1600s onward was often a battleground for control of key settlements and military positions. There were numerous violent incidents and, occasionally, outright wars...

In both 1696 and 1704, expeditions from New England, led by Benjamin Church, came to different parts of Acadie. In the latter expedition, the attackers devastated the community at Grand Pré. They burned houses, carried off prisoners, and broke the dykes to let in sea water, because they knew that the enclosed dykeland was crucial to the Acadians’ agricultural output. A contemporary account says that the soldiers dug “down the dams [dykes], and let the tide in, to destroy all their corn, and everything that was good.” Once the force left, the Acadians returned to the area, rebuilt their houses and repaired their dykes to begin anew.

..

If you want to learn more about the historical activities of the Acadians extending back to the 17th century on Nova Scotia.  

Look at the bottom right corner of the map at the beginning of this section.

It should be no surprise to find coins or a variety of types of 17th century European and earlier activity on and around Nova Scotia.  Nor should it be any surprise to find wooden constructions, dykes, sluices or drains or submerged wooden structures.  What surprises me us to find so little so close to an area where so much activity took place over the centuries.

Here is a link for more about the history related to fascinating story of the Acadians and Dykeland.

1680–1755 Acadian Arrival and Dykeland Creation - Landscape of Grand Pré En

---

Here is a 1791 reale found by a metal detecting friend of a friend in the hills of WV.  

As far as is known, the first cabin in the area was built by a settler around 1734.  Before that it was a campground for Mingo and Shawnee tribes.  It was not uncommon for Spanish coinage to be used at that time, but the find is pretty surprising to me, although it could have been lost in the area much later than the date the coin was minted.  Although we can see the mint date, it isn't known when the coin was lost.

Bethany College was started in the area around 1840.  

---

The nudists that were arrested around Little Mud Creek made the national news.  I couldn't believe they made the national news.  I don't think they deserve that.  They'll probably be on Gutfeld.  We'll see.

--- 

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Not much interesting in the weather now that Melissa has passed us.

Happy Howling Weenie.

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

10/31/25 - Happy Halloween. Blackbeard's Ship and Dog. 25 Most Valuable Coins. Gold Price Drop. Results of Blind Creek Closure.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Happy Howling Weenie.
From the TreasureGuide

Here is my favorite Halloween image.  It is a dog skeleton found on the site of the Queen Anne's Revenge, also know as Blackbeard's ship.

Skeleton Dog Recovered from Queen Anne's Revenge
Blackbeard's Ship.
Source: http://www.qaronline.org/

Looks like he is still guarding the treasure.

For information on the wreck, salvage efforts, archaeology, artifacts and conservation, here is the link. It is a good site with a lot of good information.

http://www.qaronline.org/

----

The coin shown below is described as the world's most expensive coin.  It is listed at the top of the list of the 25 most expensive coins (link provided below).  

The most expensive coin of all time is this 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle. The overwhelming majority of the Double Eagles struck that year were melted down following the Great Depression gold recall, and this is the only specimen in private hands, hence its outrageous value.

Formerly owned by coin collector extraordinaire King Farouk of Egypt and luxury shoe designer Stuart Weitzman, the revered coin sold at a Sotheby's auction in 2021 for a phenomenal $18.9 million ($22.3m/£16.7m today).

Each of the coins on the list is described and shown

Here is the link.

The 25 most valuable coins ever, ranked | lovemoney.com

---

Gold prices dropped sharply on Tuesday, snapping a record-setting rally as investors booked profits and the U.S. dollar regained strength. Spot gold fell nearly 5% in its steepest one-day slide since 2020, cooling off after months of surging gains that had pushed the metal to all-time highs above $4,300 an ounce, according to Reuters.

The selloff analysts say, reflects a mix of technical and sentiment-driven factors rather than a shift in gold's long-term outlook. After a stunning rally, the yellow metal is down nearly $90 per ounce, with the correction largely driven by profit-taking and overbought conditions in futures markets, according to analysts at FXStreet...

Here is the link for more about that.

Why is Gold Down? Prices Sharply Drop After Record Rally as Dollar Strengthens | IBTimes

The dip is almost nothing concerned to the rise.  That is how I see it.

---

As I've mentioned a couple times, the Blind Creek access has been closed for renovations.  As a result nudists have been going farther north and outside the area where nudism is allowed.

Six people were arrested for alleged indecent exposure after sunbathing naked on a beach in Port Lucie, Fla.

The clothing-optional beach they usually go to is currently closed for renovations

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has been working to let people know they can't disrobe wherever they want...

Here is that link. 

Six Nudists Arrested for Baring All on Wrong Florida Beach: Sheriff

---

Source: SurfGuru.com.

So the next week or so will have a smaller surf.

Good Halloween,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

10/30/25 Report - Treasure Coast Ring Find. Lima 2 Escudo as Found. 1715 Fleet Gold Coin Collection.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.

Ring Marked USO and 860
Found by John H. on a Treasure Coast Beach.

John H. recently found this cool Claddagh Ring on a Treasure Coast beach and sent the photo of the find along with the following email.

I found a ring on one of our local beaches today that is somewhat out of the ordinary, I thought at first it was platinum because it had a stamp of 960 on one side and USO on the other. I have not ever found a Plt. ring so I was pretty happy with myself... until I realized that it should have said 850 or 950. A quick google search gave me this -

A "960 platinum hallmark" is not a standard platinum marking, as pure platinum jewelry is typically marked 950 or higher. Instead, a 960 hallmark most often signifies Argentium Silver, a modern silver alloy that contains 96% pure silver

Argentium Silver is a newer type of silver alloy that contains a small amount of germanium. Typically available in two grades (935 and 960), Argentium has a higher silver content than traditional 925 Sterling Silver.

So I found a silver ring, LOL oh well it was good while it lasted. Maybe next time. I really thought it might be good because I was way off the beaten path, probably halfway between Normandy and Hermans Bay. It must be 1/2 mile from the access, not corroded at all, not much traffic and just a few houses. I did not clean it at all.

As always thank you for your time and effort on the Treasure Beaches Report I have benefited greatly from reading your posts.  Thanks John H.

Thanks for sharing John. Those long walks can pay off. That is a nice ring find, and it was good to learn about Argentium.

----

Here is a Treasure Coast 1715 Fleet Lima 2 escudo as it was found.

Submitted by DJ.

---

Sedwick & Associates is pleased to present the McGregor Collection of 1715 Fleet Gold Cobs, an exceptional group of coins carefully curated over many years.

This outstanding collection features gold cobs recovered from the 1715 Fleet, with multiple pedigrees, unique rarities, and remarkable examples from both Mexico and Lima. Each coin was selected for its superior quality and historical importance, representing the finest artistry of the Spanish colonial mints.

The McGregor Collection stands as a testament to dedication, scholarship, and passion for one of the most fascinating chapters in numismatic history.

---

Predicted Track of Melissa.
Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

As predicted days ago, Melissa is staying out to sea and well away from Florida.

Surf Chart from SurgGuru.com.

Looks like some north winds Friday night.

The King tides are not as big now.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net