5/6/24 Report - Metal Detecting Cobs Experiences. Enjoying Finds After the Hunt and Detecting the History Behind Them.

 

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

Yesterday I was talking about small denomination treasure coins, including maravedis and half reales.  As I was saying, it seems that half reales are much more common beach finds than maravedis.  The things you find are not always a perfect representation of the things that are there.  Some things are more difficult to find.  Some things may not be found as often for other reasons.  That is something I was reminded of yesterday as I wrote the post.

When people start metal detecting for treasure coins, they might have some unrealistic expectations.  Some might expect the shiny perfect eight-reales or eight-escudos like the examples you see in the media.  Before I found my first reale, I remember Dave, who had been working Jupiter beach many years before I ever stopped there, told me they sound like aluminum cans.  I don't know if he was trying to mislead me or not, but not all of them sound big.  Some are big and some are small.

Years later I was at John Brooks beach.  It was one of those days.  I was finding them and knew there would be more.  At Brooks there have been times when smaller reales could be found in the shells above the berm, at other times in the high tide line, and at other times on the slope at various distances from the water.  But while I was detecting the beach and finding cobs, a couple younger fellows showed up with Garrett metal detectors.  They asked me some questions, and said they wanted to find treasure coins.  They hadn't found any before, and it seemed to me like they hadn't done much metal detecting at all.

In those days it seemed that most people were using Garrett metal detectors.  I had used Garrett detectors, but I was using some really hot modified Nautilus detectors at the time, which I felt were much better than the off-the-shelf Garretts back then.  

Anyhow I was finding cobs, and I talked to those fellows and told them where to look.  In a short time they found their first.  It was small.  They stood there and held it in their hand looking at it. When I told them they found a treasure coin (I don't remember the exact conversation or what term I used), they looked very confused, if not doubtful.  It was clear that they were expecting to see something different.  I can understand that.  You mostly see nice big shiny reales in the media instead of little black lumps that might not be recognized the first time you see one.

At the top of this post is shown two half reales.  The one on the right shows very little evidence of what it is.  The markings are not clear and might not be recognized unless you have some experience and know what you are looking for.  The one on the left, however, shows clear markings that would not be mistaken by anyone with even a little knowledge.

Over the  past forty years or so detectorists have become much more informed due to all the online information.  Back then you might not get many tips unless you had an experienced friend to guide you or attended club meetings.  In general, people weren't as eager to share.  Not only were there fewer sources of information, but the metal detecting culture was different.  Even if you did find your first, it would be easy to fail to recognize a blacked encrusted lump as a treasure coin, esepcially if it was your first.

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I just received he following email from Mark G.

I think the best part of any treasure hunt is laying out the finds to look through the treasure. I don’t know about you but after a morning hunt there’s not much more I want to do like washing the car, so I procrastinate by laying out, sorting, photographing and cleaning if necessary all my junk. Not a bad morning, I dry sanded a beach I have been wanting to get to, no public access have to hike, and waited for low tide. Found a junk ring in the sand and a bunch of coins. The swash is so sanded in you only get a shot at dead low tide for a few minutes where you can actually reach the edge of where the sand is coming from and dig in the shell bead. I found this Hot Wheels body (photo attached) in just that area and nothing else. After looking at the photo I took of my finds, I take a photographic record of all my hunts good or bad, I noticed the car was Stamped on the roof  “20^th Hot Wheels Anniversary”.  Instead of washing the car I immediately took to the computer to try and find this exact car as it was new and what it would be worth today. Matching the body style with stamping (20^th Hot Wheels) I found this 1988 20th Anniversary Gold Funny Car - Hot Wheels – photos. They came in silver too in 1988 and it was a 2 piece car, the shell lifted up off the frame like a funny car which explains why I only found half of the car.

I got a little lost researching Hot Wheels and watching Hot Wheels Collectors U-tube videos and used almost the whole afternoon but I’ve procrastinated enough, that car is not going to wash itself.

 

Thank You

Mark G.

Hot Wheels Car Found by Mark G.

Thanks Mark.

I agree.   A lot of the fun of metal detecting comes after the find.

It turns out that I just had an experience that shows the same thing.

Wade England Beaver.

Above is a little find from a bottle hunt that has been sitting around for a while.  My wife discovered it and brought it to my attention just yesterday.   Often she asks if she can throw some little obejct away,  but she liked this little figure for some reason.  I had hardly noticed it, and didn't notice anything interesting about it before she brought it to my attention.  She pointed out that it was marked WADE ENGLAND.  The mark was small and I hadn't paid enough attention before to notice.

So, of course, I did my research and found out that Wade is an old pottery company that began in the 1800s, but sometime in the mid 1900s made a deal with Red Rose tea to produce animal figurines that were included in boxes of tea.

Here is a link to information about the Wade potteries and the figurines they produced.

Wade Family Potteries - Guide to Value, Marks, History | WorthPoint Dictionary

Red Rose Tea invented the tea bag.

Here is more about that.  Before that loose tea was kept in tea chests.

Red Rose is proud to have contributed a beneficial chapter in the story of tea. Amazingly enough, before Theodore Harding Estabrooks founded Red Rose Tea, local merchants were only able to sell loose leaf tea out of chests, and because of this, the quality of each cup of tea varied greatly. The ingenious Mr. Estabrooks saw the need to produce and pack a quality blended tea that was consistent from cup to cup, and thanks to his efforts the tea bag as we know it today was born. Mr. Estabrooks' innovation allowed tea lovers everywhere to enjoy the same quality of tea in every package - a Red Rose tradition that continues to this day.

Red Rose Tea was initially sold in the Atlantic provinces of Canada and a few cities in the United States near the Canadian border in the 1920's. The brand flourished in England through the 1930's under the representation of Brooke Bond and Company and PG Tips, which ultimately led to the global expansion of Red Rose Tea.

Metal detecting and treasure hunting more generally is a great way to get students interested in history.  It makes it personal as they personally handle objects that tell the stories of history.

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Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

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I warned was you of this immediately after the FBI raid and seeing all the documents posed and laid out for photos, which was suspicious by itself, but when they required the security cameras to be turned off, that was a huge and very telling red flag.

Jack Smith, in Startling Filing in Trump Mar-a-Lago Case, Admits To Misleading Judge and Altering Order of Secret Documents | The New York Sun (nysun.com), 

I warned was you of this immediately after the FBI raid and seeing all the documents posed and laid out for photos, which was suspicious by itself, but when they required the security cameras to be turned off, that was a huge and very telling red flag.  

 

5/4/24 Report - Maravedis and Half Reales of the Treasure Coast: Some Thoughts and Context.

 

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

Copper Maravedi Found by Bill P.
See: The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 1//6/2011 Report - Maravedi & More Wet Sand Hunting

Doing this blog for about a decade and a half, I've received a lot of reports from a lot of people - beach detectorists and treasure salvors alike.  Over that time, I've seen a pretty good sample of what has been found on the Treasure Coast.  It is certainly not a systematically collected sample, but a relatively large sample nonetheless.   Of course, I can't guarantee that it is a representative sample.  In fact, I suspect it is biased to some extent but still has some validity within certain acknowledged limitations.  I've reported on finds including everything to junk and zinc pennies, to some of the largest and most famous treasure finds such as the 1715 Fleet Anniversary gold finds made by Captain Jonah and the crew of the Capitana.  One type of coin that hasn't received a lot of attention, even though they have been found in small numbers on the Treasure Coast, is the maravedi.  I know of a few that came from the dunes.

In the 16th century, the maravedí was reborn as a billon coin of little value, the lowest denomination in the Castilian system. While gold and silver currency circled the globe, the only coins that most ordinary people saw in their lifetime were made of billon; as a result, this humble currency reflects the real social climate far better than precious metals.

In fact, maravedís were at the heart of the severe crises of the late 16th and 17th century. The state shifted the burden of Habsburg Castile's economic and financial problems onto their users, depreciating the coins’ purity and forcing citizens to take them to the mints to be marked with a higher face value after paying a fee. And even though a piece of four could become a piece of eight, the cost of products rose at the same pace, so these manoeuvres only succeeded in creating tremendous social unrest that did not disappear until the 18th century.

In 1716, the Bourbon reforms introduced monetary unification. The Castilian system was imposed on all the monarchy’s territories, and the old coins of the medieval Spanish kingdoms disappeared. From that point until the mid-19th century, the maravedí was the currency of small everyday living expenses and people with limited means.

Source: The Maravedí: Coins for the People - | Ministerio de Cultura (man.es)

 

Maravedi Found by Crew of Capitana
 in the 2019 Season.

 I think I remember Jonah asking me about this one when it was found, and if I correctly recall I dated it incorrectly at first and then had to correct what I told him.

I just received the following email this morning.

I just read your post about half reales on the beach. Great thoughts... Ive always wondered why and how the beaches, and the ocean, produce what they do. Another question is, why aren't there many maravides found?? Surely if they were paying low wage salvors and what not, the copper coins would have been much more prevalent and found more often. I've only ever found one!! A lot of halfers still get found every year during the dive season. I'm not sure of the exact number but a call to Queens Jewels or the state archeologist in charge of the fleet, could reveal the numbers reported. I have heard of maravides being found, I've seen a few of them dug, but why aren't there more? 🤔  Great discussion, fun food for thought. Cheers! 

Thanks much for the email and questions.  This email is what inspired today's post.  I probably won't get to everything on the subject today but can add to it some other time.

As the article above says, the maravedi was the coin of daily transactions, but they were scarce in the New World and so were imported from Spain.

The lot description of a copper maravedi lot listed in the current Sedwick auction states, "SPAIN (special issue for New World use), Seville, copper denomination set of 1-2-4 maravedís, Ferdinand-Isabel, rare. Cal-62, 110, and Type 29. 9.51 grams total. Matched set of the copper denominations for this generally rare and desirable first series of coins designed specifically for importation to and use in the New World,"

Here is that link.  SPAIN (special issue for New World use), Seville, copper denomination set of 1-2-4 maravedís, Ferdin - Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC (sedwickcoins.com).

It is not surprising that the primary purpose of the New World mints was to pump out treasure to send back to the king, and most of our Treasure Coast treasure finds come mostly from ships transporting treasure back to Spain.

It would seem that maravedis would be the choice for daily transactions, but there were times and places where small denomination reales would have been more readily available.  That is why we see reales being cut in pieces to produce smaller denominations.

Here is an interesting story that provides some context.

Source: https://www.jstor.org/page-scan-delivery/get-page-scan/43580634/0

There can be many factors, including cultural, that affect the availability of circulating currencies.

So it says both "two and four maravedi copper and low-denomination silver coins" were dumped into the lake.

While copper coinage might have been more appropriate to personal transactions than silver, The New World mints were creating some low-denomination silver for local needs.  

Alan Craig's book Spanish Colonial Silver Coins in the Florida Collection gives yearly production numbers for some New World mints.  Table 8.3 shows that in 1713, for example, 1,101,731 eight reales were produced by the Potosi mint while only 313,158 half reales were produced by the same mint.  Just a quick scan of the sane table suggests that in later years, well after 1715, the mint was producing a lot more half reales, possibly as a result of the increasing population and local needs.

I don't know why but a good number of the maravedis offered for sale on eBay are described as "pirate" treasure.  I suspect that is mostly a marketing strategy.  If there was shipwreck provenance, I suspect it would be mentioned.

It seems to me that maravedis are much more scarce on the 1715 Fleet beaches than half reales, which, as I've stated before, seem to be relatively common, especially on some beaches.

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The weather is heating up and we are gettinng into summer beach conditions.

Only small surf this week.

Good huting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/3/24 Report - The Enigma of Shipwreck and Beach-Recovered Half Reales. Flying with Metal Detectors. Noah's Ark.

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

I just went through the last (sixth) session of the current Sedwick treasure auction (no. 35).  There are a lot of less expensive lots in that session. There are lot of silver cobs in that session, most unremarkable, but also some gold coins, medals and even a very few inexpensive Atocha artifacts at the end.

It seems half reales are scarce in this auction but above is a photo of one of the few in the auction and below is the lot description.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 1/2 real, Philip V, assayer not visible, style of 1714-1733. Cal-Type 52. 1.48 grams. Rare denomination to be recovered from any shipwreck. Bold center detail with full monogram and strong cross, XF overall with very minor saltwater effect around the edge. From the Coffins Patch site, with original tag and certificate 105 from the salvor, and pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 1, with original lot-tag 177. Recovered from: Spanish 1733 Fleet, Florida Keys.

The statement that I want to address is the following: Rare denomination to be recovered from any shipwreck.  The key word is "any."  Half reales are rarely recovered from any shipwreck.

Long ago I noticed that half reales were fairly common finds on 1715 Fleet beaches even though they weren't often salvaged from the wrecks.

I did a post on that ten years ago, but I did not realize it was so generally true or that it applied well beyond the 1715 Fleet and to so many other periods, ships, countries and locations. 

Here is a link to a  post I did on the subject back in 2014.

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 4/22/14 Report - Denominations Of Silver Treasure Cobs Found On Treasure Coast Beaches And Why

Here are some possibilities that might help explain the relatively large number of half reales found on the beaches compared to the small number salvaged from the wrecks.

1. Smaller cobs are washed up onto the beach more easily and frequently than larger cobs which tend to remain out in deeper water.
2. Smaller denomination cobs might for some reason be salvaged first by the Spanish salvors. For example, maybe they were personal property and so the owners traveling with them made sure to get them out.
3. Maybe they weren't carried in the depths of the cargo areas.
4. Maybe they were used for commerce during salvage operations.
5. Once salvaged, maybe they were more easily lost or left behind in the surf and sand of the beach.
6. Maybe they were not cared for quite as carefully.     

Some beaches are known for the high percentage of half reales they produce. Bonsteel is a prime example.  The half reales found there are often very corroded. 

 It is not uncommon for half reales found on the beach to have lost a third of their weight or more.  Perhaps they washed around in the surf before being washed up onto the beach.

 There are, however, some that are found in great condition.  Those in great condition appear to have washed out of the dunes where they remained protected from most of the turmoil of the surf for a good portion of their time at the location.

Of the reasons listed above, number five refers to how easily half reales could be lost in the sand even after being salvaged.  And number six suggests that, like pennies in more recent times, half reales were not as valued and therefore treated more carelessly.  

It is thought possible that either a separate part of a wreck washed ashore at Bonsteel or that the reales found there were being transported north to St. Augustine when they were once again lost when a smaller ship was sunk after the cobs were salvaged.

I often think of salvage operations and what occurred on the beaches after the wrecking.  The smaller half reales could have been brought to the site to fund salvage efforts and lost then rather than being part of the cargo of the wrecked galleons.  Just an idea.

What do you think?

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Another reader, Russ P., offered his comments on taking a metal detector on an airline.  Here is what he said.

I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding airplane travel with a detector. I've done it a bunch of times, packing the detector in both checked and carried luggage. Many modern detectors, as we all know, have lithium batteries in coils or control units that are not easily accessed or removed. My understanding, both from my own research and word-of-mouth, is that the batteries are small enough to not pose a risk in checked luggage and are not prohibited. However, a counter agent has tremendous discretion and there is some gray area. I have heard of folks that have had trouble at the counter with a checked detector due to the lithium battery.

My preference is to have all lithium components in carryon luggage. I usually travel with the Deus II, and the entire detector will fit in carryon luggage. I have never even had a question from airline representatives or security regarding the detector in carryon, which is still a little surprising to me. Clearly, there is no problem with doing it that way...

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The site some think could be Noah's ark is being investigated again. It was originally discovered in 1948.

For those unfamiliar with the region, the site is less than 2 miles from the Iran-Turkey border in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı. There lies the Durupinar formation, an impressive 538-foot geographical feature composed of limonite. Some believe it to be the petrified remains of Noah's Ark due to its shape and size.

In an exciting turn of events, scientists collected nearly 30 samples from this formation and sent them to Istanbul Technical University for analysis....
Here is the link for more about that.

Historic Revelation: Scientists may have just located Noah's Ark (thebrighterside.news)

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The Treasure Coast will have a very small surf for the next few days.  The tides will be moderate.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/2/24 Report - Silver and Coin Spoons. Antique Ephemera. Tequesta History Journal. Portable Power Recharging.

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

California Missions Spoons.

I showed some spoon finds in previous posts.  I remember showing a Chicago World's Fair spoon and some others.  I also talked about sterling silver flatware finds and the price of silver,.  I'm sure that many detectorists have found old spoons.  They can be good finds, so I was happy to find a very extensive seb site on spoons.    It is very extensive.

Above you see California mission spoons, which is one of the many categories displayed in this virtual spoon museum.

I was researching a Chicago World's Fair spoon when I found this site.  I saw more Chicago World's Fair spoons than I knew about previously.  I was wondering how many varieties there were.

US Coin spoons.

There are coin spoons from many countries.  Here are some making use of US coins.

Spanish Trade Dollar Spoon.

Here is the link for many many more.

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Old Check or Promisary Note.

Yesterday I ended up talking a little about checks.  I don't know if this is a check or no.  Maybe the correct term is promissory note or something else.  Let me know.

I presume it is my grandfather's but I'm not sure of that either, but he did go to a business school sometime in the 1920s, and this is dated Sept. 9, 1922 and made out to my grandfather and one other fellow. 

I thought it was neat and put it aside to be kept after I found it some time ago.

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The scholarly journal Tequesta has been published annually since 1941. It contains articles about the history of South Florida, especially of the Miami area, the Florida Keys and the Everglades. Time periods for topics range from pre-Columbian history to the late twentieth century. While most articles are scholarly studies, many first-person accounts also appear in the journal. The breadth and depth of the articles make Tequesta one of the best sources for the study of South Florida history.

Tequesta - UF Digital Collections (ufl.edu)

You might like the article on Bradish Johnson, Master Wrecker, or the Caloosa or any of the other articles.

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Imagine harnessing the power of the wind while embracing the freedom of the great outdoors. A portable wind turbine offers just that—an opportunity to bring renewable energy to your adventures. Whether you’re camping with friends, trekking through nature’s wonders or soaking up the sun at the beach, these compact energy champions offer a sustainable edge.

The idea of renewable energy is no longer confined to stationary spaces. Indeed, charging your small electronics—phones, tablets, cameras, laptops, speakers, and other beloved gadgets—becomes not just a convenience but a testament to your commitment to sustainability even when on the move...

This looks cool.  I'll have to look into it some more.  It could be used to charge devices in remote locations.  I don't know the limitations yet.

Here is the link.

The 3 Best Portable Wind Turbine Generators For Adventurers - Greenrhub

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Nothing bigger than a three-foot surf is expected for the next week.  The tides are moderate too.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/1/24 Report - History and Demise of Checks. Finding Paper Money. You Can't Take It With You.

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

Old Check From TigerTrader on CoinTalk.net
See Old Check Collectors Share Your Checks! | Coin Talk

I can't believe I overlooked this. People collect old checks. And I recently found some from the 1930s and thought they were pretty neat, but even at that, I never thought of checks as being collectibles, which is strange since I look at so many things that way.  I must have gone batty from all the work.

Check collecting is generally accepted to be a branch of bank note collecting. Many checks are collected because of the name of the bank on which they are drawn, vignettes that appear on the checks, or because of the signature that appears on the check.

Source: The Demise of Checks is at Hand - Numismatic News

In the same article...

Checks appear to have originated as ancient Roman praescriptiones. Checks gained popularity among Muslim merchants during the ninth century. These traders invented the sakk, a paper document instructing a merchant’s bank to make a payment from that merchant’s account. The sakk was safer than carrying large amounts of physical coins. Checks came into use in Europe during the 15th century and during the late 17th century in the United States...

At the same time, the Reserve Bank of Australia said, “The share of bank notes used for transactional purposes is estimated to have fallen by five percentage points since early 2020, while cash use in the shadow economy has increased slightly and the proportion of bank notes that are lost has remained unchanged. Overall, the majority of bank notes on issue are currently used for non-transactional purposes, consistent with pre-pandemic trends.”...

I've done a few posts on finding bills. I've found bills floating by in the water while metal detecting as well as in seaweed lines. If you metal detect carnival grounds just after the carnival pulls up and leaves, check any fence lines on the downwind side of the grounds. Also check between the pages of any old books. You never know what you might find there. I've found some nice things hidden in the pages of old books.

See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 6/11/15 Report - Small Finds and Recovery Techniques. Book Treasures. A Little More On The Seminoles Wars. for example.

Of course some old books can be very valuable too.\

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A few days ago I started a post on the stages of a metal detecting hobby.  I talked a little about how my metal detecting changed over the years.  When I began, I tried to find as many coins as I could, but eventually I changed my primary target and focused on gold jewelry.  Later my primary focus became old shipwreck coins and artifacts.  

Although my primary focus changed from time to time, I was always open to whatever was available.  If I found a spot that was producing one kind of thing I'd work it, but I would quickly switch if a better opportunity opened up.

The diversity of my finds was more varied after I moved to the Treasure Coast.  I discovered places that produced fossils in great numbers at times.  And then I got into bottle hunting after the 2004 hurricanes.  I was doing so much repair work on both my house and helping others, that I had very little time for metal detecting, but I discovered that without even taking time to drive to the beach I could find a lot of old bottles as a result of erosion caused by the hurricanes.  I would have preferred to spend the same time hunting the treasure beaches, but I had other things to do, and hunting buttles helped ease my urge to hunt.  In recent years, due to other responsibilities, once again I couldn't find much time to get out and hunt the beaches, so bottle hunting provided some convenient relaxation and enjoyment.

After recently spending a few weeks emptying my mother's house to get it ready to sell, I couldn't help being impressed by how all the objects accumulated over a lifetime suddenly became orphaned.  I had to get rid of many things, some of which had been held in the family for generations.  It wasn't easy for someone like me.  

Objects carry history, and many of these objects carried a very personal history.  There were things I grew up with, things my parent's had in their younger years, and in some instances, things from my grandparents that were passed down.  Some were no longer in good condition, but they still held a place in my family history.  

One thing I discovered that now means nothing to any other person alive was my mother's master's thesis.  She started college when I went to high school.  Going to college and getting degrees so she could help send her children to college was important to her.  And her masters was an important milestone in her life.  I looked at the bound thesis and knew there was no one else alive that would think it was anything important now that she was gone, but I knew what it meant to her and had trouble getting rid of it.  It was a struggle.  I picked it up and decided to keep it several times before finally getting rid of it.  My master's thesis will probably be next.  It sits in a box in the garage.  I kept it without knowing why.  It had trouble throwing it away, but think I am now ready.

I remember walking to Marchbanks Business Service in downtown Louisville to get my thesis professionally typed.  I had been typing it on messy onionskin paper.  (There is a good chance you don't know what onionskin paper is.)

 It was in an area of Louisville in the nineteen sixties where there had been race riots.  

I wondered if I remembered the name of the business correctly and looked it up.  I was correct.  I found the obituary of the owner, Lena Marchbanks who died at age 80 in 2010.  

Funny how objects hold memories and serve as important landmarks in lives.  The business service wasn't far from the draft board where I caught the bus to go to Fort Knox to take my physical when student deferments were removed when they needed more recruits for the Viet Name war.  I'm getting a Forrest Gump feel here.

(As a side note, another thing some odd person might find interesting is how the charts and graphs for the thesis were made in the days before such things were created with a computer.  You actually got black vinyl lines, asterisks, circles, triangles, etc. and carefully placed them on the page.  Of course, you could do it like a draftsman if you had a steady hand, but the tape worked well and photocopied well.  I think that is something that is probably lost in the ash heap of history, not being significant enough to be recorded anywhere.)

So I started out talking about old objects and that is what many of our finds are.  Some are older than others.  And some have more meaning and personal significance than others.  And some might even have considerable economic value.  And those that are treated well and treasured will possibly be passed on to another owner.  Its been said that we are only temporary caretakers for our treasures.

As important as it is to document and conserve good finds, if you are successful, they will outlast you.  You study and enjoy them for a while, but knowing you will not have them forever, you might start thinking about a distribution plan.  Think about where you would want your treasures to go.  Distribute some of them early - especially if you find a good home or someone that will really appreciate them.  If you have a lot of finds, you don't want to leave the job to your spouse or kids unless they take an unusual interest and really appreciate your finds as much as you do.  And that isn't likely, although it is possible.

One of the things that makes your finds special to you is the experience of hunting and finding them.  There is a story behind your finds that only you know.  They probably mean more to you than most other people.  

Be on the search for the right place for your finds.  If you are lucky, some might go to a museum or a top-notch collector. I was always happy when I could send a find to a museum or to become a part of a high-end collection.  

Maybe I told this story before - I'm not sure - but I was getting rid of some bookshelves my dad made out of the leftover knotty pine wood he used to panel some of the rooms in the house he built.  An older couple saw the shelves and remarked how they were made of real wood, unlike most of the stuff you see these days.  The fellow asked me who made the shelves, and I told him the story.  I was really glad that someone appreciated the shelves the way I did and I was able to tell the story behind them.  That made it easier to let them go.

I've recently been forced to deal with the issue of what the things that are left over after a lifetime.  And I had to face the reality.  At this age or stage of my metal detecting, I look at finds from that perspective, knowing that I can't take them with me.  I think it is good to think about that and manage your collection of finds accordingly.

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Looks like a week of small surf coming up.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

T

4/30/24 Report - Recent Treasure Coast Metal Detecting Finds and Lessons. Angles and Finds. Don't Do This When You Fly.

 

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

Hutchinson Island Beach
Hunted Sunday by Mark G.

Mark G. sent the following report and accompanying photos.

I got all my chores done and managed to get out Saturday for a short time, weather was gorgeous. I hunted a small public beach on Hutchinson Island about a 100 yards of surf at low tide around 2:00 to 4:00 PM. You can see the cuts are all well sanded in and the low flat areas were pretty soft indicating fresh sand, the winds from the SE were doing their job. My first hit was a dime hunting north to south following the tide out. A few more passes and I picked up a nickel. As the tide went out and I could get further down the slope is when I hit the quarters. I hit a quarter with almost every pass 6 quarters in total however they did not sound like quarters they were a little low and a full scoop deep, all of them. As the tide came back in pushing me back up the slope I hit the penny making the cycle and calling it a day. Believe it or not that shiny new penny is a 1988 but I gave up trying to guess when coins are dropped by patina, there’s too many variables. Very little junk, one fishing weight, an iron slug and a nail, the nail I dug because it was giving me a hit every pass so after 3 passes I just dug it out of the way, the aluminum and metal strip came from the dry sand beach to and from the wash.

Purpose of the story:

I believe the SE winds or Easterly winds are washing the coins back in. I will cite your blog from 3/23/2024 https://tbr2020.blogspot.com/2024/03/32324-report-beach-dynamics-and.html in which you said coins can be classified as they wash up or wash out from the beach.

Quote:

“When things are getting washed up onto the beach, you'll often find quarters low on the beach, then dimes, and then pennies higher up.  Things do often get classified and that is a common pattern when coins are being washed up.   

When coins are getting washed out from the beach, the pattern will often be reversed.  Quarters can be at the top and pennies at the bottom.” 

To prove this theory I went back Sunday same time but tide was an hour later and I couldn’t stay but, to reinforce the theory I did find a dime and a very lite aluminum trinket high on the beach while the tide was going out.

 

Thank You

Mark G.

Finds Made by Mark G. Sunday.

Thanks much Mark.   

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I've made a lot of wind and swell direction, and it is important, but it must be taken relative to the shoreline.  On the East Coast, for example, northeasters are most recognized as being most impactful on a large scale, but on the West Coast of Florida, it is a northwest wind that is most impactful.  That is not to say other directions never have a positive effect, as Mark just explained and illustrated.  South winds and surf will erode certain areas, depending upon a variety of factors.  We've had some very good erosion from north/northwest winds on the East Coast too.  A north wind will scrape much of the East Coast, which runs a little west to east along much of the coast.

It is necessary to remember that the shoreline is not straight.  There are many curves and bends and there are other obstacles such as jetties, rocks and other obstructions, all of which must be taken into account. Mostly it runs a little west to east, but there are many variations in the angle.  A jetty, for example, can shelter the beach from northeast wind and make it vulnerable to swells from other directions.  So obstructions are important too  So are reefs and sandbars.

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On the topic of air travel with a metal detector, Bill H. submitted his unenviable experience.  

 I was returning to Michigan when I read your soliciting stories about traveling with a detector. I have one that "Takes the cake"!

Flying to California from Michigan with my family I opted to fly with my detector in a clearly marked detector vinyl carry bag along with other luggage.  No problem going, however returning we stopped over in Atlanta to switch flights with a 90 minute delay. All baggage is checked and moved to another plane. While waiting for our gate call we ate and toured the airport. I kept thinking I heard my name over the speakers but I thought I would wait til we returned to the gate to find out why. When we returned to the departure gate I checked in. The employee demanded to know "Where were You? We have been paging your name."!  I enquired as to what the problem was and she responded, "There is something on one of  your suitcases that is vibrating!" and she pointed out to the concourse where she advised me that the jet had been towed out away from the ramp for safety purposes. Yep, our plane was 100 yards out from the building with security police surrounding it. A police officer approached us and took my wife, two sons and I out in a police car to the baggage compartment of the plane. Once there I was ordered to open the detector bag.  Turns out my Garrett turned on in transit and beeped every time it moved. It did not vibrate. I turned it off and took the batteries out- problem solved. No one could explain why someone couldn't have unzipped the bag on a clearly marked carry bag to see what the problem was.  

We were returned to the gate and an angry crowd, and wife.  The crowd was mad because we were 45 minutes late for departure and my wife was angry because everyone on the plane was aware that we were traveling with something that was vibrating in her suitcase. I paid dearly for that one for a long time.  TAKE the BATTERIES OUT when traveling.

Bill H.

Thanks Bill.  I'll bet you don't forget to take the batteries out the nest time.  And your wife will help remind you.

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The surf will be decreasing the next few days.  Nothing special with the tides.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

4/29/24 Report - 1715 Fleet, Atocha and Other Silver and Gold Shipwreck Artifacts Compared Over Time.

 

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

Gold chain, 30 grams, 30-1/2 inches, ex-1715 Fleet. A very tight braid in bent-wire links of high-grade gold (XRF tested at 21-1/2K), great length for a necklace but with ends unfinished as used for a "money chain" to avoid high taxes in its time, fully intact with just a few kinks, highly desirable as an original and officially certified gold object from the 1715 Fleet. From the Douglass Beach site of the 1715 Fleet, with Queens Jewels photo-certificate 75906.

Above is a gold chain and the lot description for a chain offered in the current Sedwick Treasure auction.  The auction estimate is $7500 - $15,000.  

Below is a smaller 1715 Fleet gold chain sold in the 1977 Bowers and Ruddy auction.

Since this chain is only 2/3 as large as the one in the current Sedwick auction, minimum auction estimate (being adjusted for the size difference) if this one were offered today would be around $5000 - all other things being equal.  But of course, all other things are not equal.  This smaller chain is complete and can be worn as a chain "as is" unlike the "money chain" in the current auction.

The chain sold in the 1977 Bowers and Ruddy auction sold for $2200.  In today's money that would be over $10,000, which would put it within the current auction estimate range of $7300 - $15,000 for the chain that is being offered in the current auction.  

Adjusting for size the values seem very comparable.  Of course, we do not yet know what the final prices will be for the chain in the current auction.  I'd expect it to go for the higher end or more than the auction estimate.

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Yesterday I showed a gold bar in the current Sedwick auction that is from the Atocha. It weighs just over five pounds.  The auction estimate is $200,000 to $400,000.  You can see that one in yesterday's post.

Forty-seven years ago a 1715 Fleet gold bar of very similar weight (barely over five pounds) was auctioned by Bowers and Ruddy.  The realized price for that lot back then was $10.700.   Below is how the bar was described in the Bowers and Ruddy catalog. 

Tje bars are pretty similar but not exactly alike.  One is from the 1715 Fleet while the other is ex- Atocha.  

The Atocha bar already has a bid of $180,000, so it would seem that purchasing similar gold bar in 1977 was a great investment.

"Today's prices are 5.15 times as high as average prices since 1977, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. A dollar today only buys 19.402% of what it could buy back then."

If we adjust for inflation and multiply $10,700 times 5.15 we get just over $55,000.  It seems like purchasing a similar gold bar 47 years ago was a good investment.

Gold, of course, is very high now, which undoubtedly increases to some considerable extent the value of gold artifacts.

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Here is another lot from the current Sedwick auction. This silver "cupcake" ingot that weighs real close to 1.5 pounds has an auction estimate of $2000 to $3000.

There were two similar but larger muffin ingots (each about a half pound heavier) from the Atocha auctioned in the 1977 Bowers and Ruddy auction. They brought winning bids of $160 and $170 in 1977 dollars.

Although I tried to look at some factors affecting the value of shipwreck artifacts over time, that is a difficult thing to do for such unique items. People sometimes talk about such things in terms of investments, but it is very difficult to get a precise return on investment. I suspect that such items should be purchased because you like them, but from my crude analysis they do seem to hold good value over time.

One good thing about metal detecting as a hobby is the cost of finds is not too important although your investment in time and equipment can be substantial.  If you enjoy what you are doing and get good entertainment value out of the activity, any economic value of finds is all to the good.

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Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net