6/3/26 Report - Things That Go Boom in the Night (or Day). Space Debris, Meterorites, UFOs, Volcano.

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

A massive rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space company exploded during a test at a Florida launch pad on Thursday night.

At roughly 9 p.m. E.T. at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Blue Origin said its New Glenn rocket — named after John Glenn, who was the first American astronaut to orbit earth — exploded during its engine-firing test.

In videos captured of the explosion, the rocket erupted into a massive fireball, engulfing the night sky in clouds of fire, smoke, and “potentially hazardous” debris. Homes nearby reported being rattled from the explosion, as the sky lit up in an orange glow...

Here is the link for more about that.

Hazardous debris from Blue Origin explosion could wash up on Florida beaches for weeks

We all saw the pictures of the fireball on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy when a Blue Origen Rocket exploded. Officials issued a public advisory warning that “Debris from the 28 May 2026 anomaly could wash ashore along publicly accessible areas over the coming days or weeks, report debris to 911.”

As you know, beach detectorists can find space debris. I've written about space debris being found on Treasure Coast beaches before and even posted some tests that could be used to tell the difference between melted aluminum or other common beach junk and titanium space debris.  Here are a couple links.

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 4/28/19 Report - Melted Beer Can or Space Debris? Some Answers and Tests You Can Perform

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 5/10/18 Report - Answering a Very Common Question. Titanium and Space Debris.

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It seems there have been a lot of sonic booms and other interesting phenomena in the skies lately.  Some of the booms are thought to be from meteorites.  Here are a few that have been reported.

March 22: A bright green fireball over Oregon and Northern California, captured on dashcam.

March 21: A strong daytime bolide seen from Houston to Rockport, TX

March 17: A 7-ton meteor over Ohio, 6 feet in diameter, that broke up over Lake Erie, causing home shaking and roof damage in Houston

March 21: Another bolide seen from DFW to Rockport, TX

 

There have also been sightings that some have called UFOs.  At least one report identified the item seemingly coming from the volcano shown below as a UFO, but at least one other scientist said it was nothing more than a reflection from an orbiting satellite.  Other publications, like the one cited below, provided other explanations.

Erupting Volcano along with Strange Light.

In a post on X, PHIVOLCS wrote: 'Our review of seismic, infrasound and additional camera footages around the volcano indicate that the meteor disintegrated while in the atmosphere and did not strike the slopes of Mayon, contrary to our initial post.'

If the fireball had collided with the volcano, it would have almost certainly left a fairly obvious impression.

Although this might seem like an incredibly rare coincidence, the chances of a meteor arriving over Mount Mayon's eruption are actually relatively high.

Mount Mayon, located on the island of Luzon, is the most active volcano in the Philippines and one of the most violent anywhere in the world.

By the time the meteor appeared, the volcano was on its 140th consecutive day of effusive eruption – meaning lava is escaping onto the surface – which has been filmed continuously by multiple cameras.

Here is that article.

Harvard professor gives verdict on UFO seen rising from behind volc… | iNthacity

There are detectorists that target meteorites, including some who read this blog.  Many meteorites end up in the water.  One recent meteor landed in Lake Erie and another in Cape Cod Bay.  I read of another suspected of landing somewhere in the South Carolina area

I think some of those might actually be falling space debris.  But whatever the case, there seems to be a lot of sonic booms and other kinds of aerial phenomena being reported lately.  It is hard to tell if there is really more going on or if I and others are just paying more attention to things like that.

Detectorists can find space debris and should remain remain alert to possible space debris on the beaches.  Some pieces could work south to the Treasure Coast with the longshore currents.

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Can you identify this creature?

It's not an alien.  It is a Swallowtail butterfly caterpillar on a wild lime tree, which is the Swallowtail's host plant.  It will be forming a chrysalis in a day or two and then will emerge as a butterfly something like seven or ten days later.  Quite a miracle.

If you are metal detecting in an area with wild lime trees and are alert, you just might see one of these little miracles.

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Wabasso Beach Tuesday Afternoon from the Wabasso Beach Cam.

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Expect the Treasure Coast surf to increase Wednesday night.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

6/2/26 Report - Gold from the Bottom of a River. Being Open to Find Truth. FBI's Search for Gold.

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

Fort Pierce South Beach Surfguru.com Beach Cam Clip from Monday Afternoon.

I thought that was a nice picture.

It appears something way out in the water to the right of the beach chairs?  I wish I would have noticed that originally.

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

On Thursday it looks like we'll get a somewhat bigger surf.  If that happens, that would be getting almost big enough to do some good.

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Zhang was running out of food to feed his soldiers, and he decided to abandon his capital city of Chengdu in the summer of 1646. Before he evacuated his forces from the city by way of the Jin River, Zhang ordered his men to load boats with gold, silver, and other treasure he had accumulated after years of plundering his enemies’ lands.

According to folklore, on a scorching day in July, Zhang’s fleet, carrying 100,000 troops, reached the town of Jiangkou, where the Jin and Min Rivers meet... Suddenly, arrows and cannonballs rained down on Zhang’s armada... The rest of his armada tried to escape, but the river was too densely packed with ships belonging to both sides...  Most of his soldiers died in the battle—and his wealth sank to the bottom of the Min River.

Zhang’s fortune, which allegedly added up to the mythical amount of one hundred million silver taels—allegedly more than the value of the entire Ming royal treasury at the time—was not forgotten. From Qing officials to local fishers, generations of treasure-seekers hunted for Zhang’s lost riches at various points along the Min River, but their exact location remained unknown. A popular local riddle went “Where the stone dragon faces the stone tiger, there are millions of silver pieces. If someone could break into it, they could buy Chengdu.” Historical accounts suggest at least six possible locations for the treasure...

The researchers commissioned a series of dams, which allowed them to drain water from carefully selected areas of the river during the dry season. After removing sand and pebbles, they examined around 250 acres of riverbed. The team paid careful attention to deep grooves known as bedrock chutes, where they discovered that many objects lost during the battle had been trapped. By May 2023, they had retrieved more than 76,000 artifacts, most of which were fashioned from precious metals...

For much more about that, here is the link.

Features - China's River of Gold - Archaeology Magazine - November/December 2023

During this period there was trade with the Spanish.  Some of the Chinese trade goods became cargo on the 1715 Fleet.

This article also provides a good reminder of what can lay at the bottom of rivers.  The article also reminds how things get trapped in crevices.  Diamonds are found in the gaps in the sidewalks of the New York diamond district and gold is found in the crevices at the bottom of gold bearing streams in California.  Remember to check any such traps under the beaches or in the shallow water.

Coffer dams are also another method used by treasure hunters.  We even saw that one on Oak Island.

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Speaking of Oak Island, a week or so ago, I saw an episode that ended the season.  It seemed that some of the searchers were near tears when the bottom of the money pit yielded nothing.  Among the many lessons you can learn from that show is the importance of keeping an open mind.  On that show, they focus so much ono a single theory that virtually every find or observation was interpreted as confirmation.  That often led to misinterpretations and neglect of much more likely theories that were never even considered.  

Once you take the fork in the road, you don't have to put blinders on and follow that path to the end.  Premature conclusions can be fatal if you are overcommitted and refuse to keep an open mind and consider new data.  Regard mistakes as learning opportunities rather than dead ends.  

Group think was very evident on the TV show too.  People could get airtime by feeding the preferred narrative.

 If you are really interested in solving the problem, seek people that can provide serious alternatives rather than simply confirming your biases.  

The most valuable things you'll ever learn will change how you view yourself and the world. Too often people want to confirm what they already believe rather than being open to changing their mind and learning something.

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PENFIELD, Pa. (AP) — In the heart of Pennsylvania elk country, Eric McCarthy and his client, Don Reichel, got up before sunrise to scour the forest floor for so-called “brown gold” — a rack of freshly shed antlers to add to Reichel’s collection back home.

One hill over, a team of FBI agents was also hunting for gold. The metallic yellow kind.

The FBI’s highly unusual search for buried Civil War-era treasure more than five years ago set in motion a dispute over what, if anything, the agency unearthed and an ongoing legal battle over key records. There’s so much intrigue that even a federal judge felt compelled to note in a ruling last week: “The FBI may have found the gold — or maybe not.”

Now, two witnesses have come forward to share with The Associated Press what they heard and saw in the woods that late-winter morning, raising questions about the FBI’s timeline and adding plot twists to a saga that blends elements of legend, fact and science – and a heavy dose of government secrecy...

Here is the link for more about that.

Witnesses to FBI hunt for Civil War gold in Pennsylvania woods saw armored truck and signs of a night dig | AP News

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Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/1/26 Report - Toned Coins. Enhancement or Damage. Storage..

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

Illustration of Toned Coins
Source: See link below.

Toning occurs naturally over time. It is primarily the result of oxygen and/or sulfur reacting with the coin's metal. However, the toning process can be accelerated by heat, moisture, and various chemicals in the environment. Some of the most harmful chemicals to coins can be found in cheap coin holders and coin folders.

Silver coins tend to tone in the most vivid colors. Colors can range in various hues from brilliant blue to deep magenta, from vivid red to deep orange, and a variety of shades of olive, green, and gold. Additionally, toning can also turn ugly and occur in shades of black and brown. In the most severe cases, the toning can turn into corrosion and cause permanent damage to the coin's surface. In the worst cases, corrosion can render the surface of the coin porous such that it looks like it was sandblasted.

Naturally toned coins are the result of a long and slow process in which chemicals in the environment affect the surface of the coin. Morgan dollars are one of the most popular series of United States coins to collect with vivid toned colors. Naturally toned coins can bring a premium several times more than an untoned coin...

Some coin collectors will pay a premium for toned cons with eye-appeal, but other consider toning to be damage.

Here is the link for more about toned coins.

Coin Toning Definition, Discussion and Effect on Value

Eye appeal has become a very important element for pricing rare coins, and toning is just one of the many important factors that must be considered. It is actually quite refreshing to see coins that sell more as pieces of art, rather than in relation to a Greysheet bid or retail price guide.

One final piece of advice: Buy certified coins to ensure they have not been artificially toned or enhanced. Recent auction prices have already spurred deceptive individuals to create pieces with rainbow toning to cash in on the craze for beautifully toned coins...

Here is a link for more about toning.

Jeff Garrett: Toned Coins - A Matter of Taste

When it comes to silver beach coins, they are different from most other collectible coins.  

Treasure coins are not always viewed the same way.  Many buyers of treasure coins prefer them to be shined up some and some auction houses will even suggest that kind of "toning" for some of those coins.  Of course, valuable collectible coins in high grades are viewed differently, and it is often said, by the collecting community that you should never clean your coins

Here is an article about toning on US cents

What is a Red/Brown Cent? - APMEX

Here is another old coin find.  This one has an unusual coloring.  Some coin collectors like the coloring while others view it as damage.

It was in a flip holder for some time and one day I notice the toning.  I think som coin holders didn't have the good archival mylar.

Can you identify the coin?

This one is a standing liberty quarter, but with a heavy patina and a lot of wear.  Some collectors consider the coloring to be damage, while others like the patina.  In either case, it is very heavily worn and would grade well no matter if it was or was not "toned."

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Here is a link to some site for coin holders.  

Best Coin Storage Methods | BCW Coin Holders, Flips & TubesBCW Supplies – Blog

The Ten Best Coin Protection Products | Wizard Coin Supply

Coin Holders and Coin Capsules to preserve your Coin Collection

Bottom line: take care in storing your coin finds and carefully select holders or storage containers.

Don't leave coins in contract with other metals or other types of coins.  More on that some other time.

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Surf Chart from Surfguru.com.

The Treasure Coast is still having some slightly negative afternoon low tides.

The surf will be increasing a little.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/30/26 Report - $40 Million Dollars of Gold Bars. Coin Find Identification. Blue Micromoon This Weekend.

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

Gray Indian River Morning.

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A former CIA official was arrested last week after FBI agents allegedly found $40 million worth of gold bars at his home...

Rush allegedly made several requests to the government to obtain large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses, the complaint says. Rush's employer at the time, which sources confirmed was the CIA, was not able to later locate the gold bars or determine their intended use.

When FBI agents searched his home on May 18, they found approximately 303 gold bars, in a value estimated to exceed $40 million, the complaint says. They also recovered $2 million in U.S. currency and 35 luxury watches...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.

Ex-CIA official arrested after $40M in gold bars allegedly found at his home

Rush worked for the CIA’s Directorate of Science and Technology, which develops high-tech tools for espionage missions, according to the Washington Post...

Here is that link

FBI arrests CIA official who snatched over $40 million in gold bars

DS&T’s expertise is not monolithic; it is a vast tapestry woven from threads of numerous scientific and engineering disciplines...

The article then goes on to list a long list of types of projects, the first of which is Advanced Sensors and Reconnaissance. I'll give you that one just to give the idea and then jump down to the end of the list.

Advanced Sensors and Reconnaissance

The ability to “see” and “hear” where traditional methods are impossible or too risky is paramount. DS&T has been a driving force behind the development of sophisticated sensor technologies, ranging from advanced imagery systems capable of penetrating darkness and camouflage to acoustic and electronic monitoring systems that can detect and decipher hidden signals...

I'll skip the long list, but here is the link if you are interested.

Exploring the CIA’s Science and Technology Directorate | Pillars of Expertise

We've talked about the remote viewing research and those were popular posts.

I look at metal detecting as being a matter of sensory extension and optimizing human performance, so the work of the agency shares a lot of interests beyond the remote viewing experiments.

Mr. Rush either was able to fool the agency to giving him millions of dollars of gold bars, but I'm sure there is a lot to that story we'll never hear.  

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The Treasure Beaches Report blogs are booming.  For some reason all the Pigeon Island posts have been receiving a lot of attention recently.  Maybe just because it is vacation time.  

Yesterday I posted some coin finds I thought were interesting.  Here is another.

See if you can ID this one.

Look at that little o over M at under the bottom of the wreath.  That is a familiar mint mark.

Here is the obverse of the same coin.

This coin is a bronze 1929 one centavo from the Mexico City Mint.  Nice condition for an older coin.

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Get set for a rare blue micro moon this weekend — a blue moon that’s also the most distant and smallest-looking full moon of the year.

A bonus: The brilliant star Antares will photobomb Sunday’s spectacle for a celestial three-for-one.

A blue moon occurs every two to three years when a second full moon squeezes into a single month. May 1 saw this month’s first full moon.

Since the moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, the upcoming full moon will be farther from Earth than usual at a distance of 252,360 miles (406,135 kilometers), making it seem a bit smaller and dimmer. It’s the opposite of  when a full moon comes closer to us than normal. The most recent supermoon, for instance, was just 225,130 miles (362,312 kilometers) away...

Here is that link.

Blue micromoon: How to catch this rare celestial sight | AP News

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The Treasure Coast surf will be pretty flat until it picks up some Monday.

We've been having a slightly negative low tide in the afternoon.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/29/26 Report - The Coin Find Identification Game. One Reader's Very Small Find.

 

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

1832 Half Disme
Find and Photo by Al C.

Yesterday I mentioned that I liked small finds because it means you probably aren't missing much.   Al C. sent this find he made in Virginia this year.  That is a very small coin.  I don't think you can find a smaller U.S. coin.  It is only 15.5 mm. in diameter.  Below is the reverse of the same half disme (pronounced half deem). 

Reverse of Same Half Disme.

Even in just very good condition a Capped Bust Half Disme would probably be worth over $100. and in higher grades, of course much more.

Below is more information on 1832 half dismes.

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I was going to do something else today, but with Al's great find, decided to stay with coin finds.

Here is one.  Do you know what it is?

How about this one?

Here is the reverse of the first one.

Ok.  So it obvious now.  That one is a 1899 dime.

Here is the reverse of the other one.

So it is a 1938 French 50 centimes coin.  

And here is one more.

Let's see.  King George VI.  So what is it?

Here is the reverse.

Surprised?

It is a 1949 Hong Kong five cent piece.  Hong Kong has a complex monetary history and the story behind this one is quite complex too.

Issuer	Hong Kong (China)
King	George VI (1936-1952)
Type	Standard circulation coins
Years	1949-1950
Value	5 Cents (0.05 HKD)
Currency	Dollar (1863-date)
Composition	Nickel brass (79% copper, 20% zinc, 1% nickel)
Weight	2.5920 g
Diameter	16.5 mm
Thickness	1.5 mm
Shape	Round
Technique	Milled
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	31 December 1988

In the early 19th century, the British Empire sought to expand its trade with China particularly in tea.  However, the British faced a trade imbalance, leading to the illegal opium trade which sparked the First Opium war.  Following the war, the Treaty of Nanjing was signed in 1842, ceding Hong Kong Island to Britain.  The Second Opium War resulted in further territorial gains including the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, which were leased to Britain for 99 years starting in 1898.

During World War II, Hone Kong was occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945.  After the war, it returned to British control and saw a significant influx of refugees from mainland China, particularly during the Korean war and the Great Leap Forward.  This period marked Hong Kong's transformation from a trade-based economy to one focused on manufactureing and industry.

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Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

half
We'll have another dayy of calm surf. Good time for some shallow water hunting.

For the most part, I'd call those UFO siting unidentified dots. That's about it for me.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/28/26 - Report - Tune the Detectorist as Well as the Detector. Fossils and Fossilization of Shells.

 

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

 Small Partial Mammal Jaw Fossil Find.

You can find a lot of things on the beach.  You might be surprised by what can be found on our beaches. 

I've seen big sections of mammoth tusks on Treasure Coast beaches.  One weighed over 45 pounds.  Who would have thought?

Besides the tusks, one of the most surprising to me was a rhinoceros skull cap.  

Rhinoceros Skull Cap Fossil.

I just never thought of Florida as having rhinos.  I guess, the mammoths should have tipped me off.

Of course, not all Florida fossils are from big animals.  There are microfossils, which are hard to find.    Microfossils is too tedious for me. You have to dissolve fossil bearing clumps to find them, but you can pick them up if you recognize the right kind of material.

The fossil shown at the top of this post is a partial jaw with teeth from a small mammal.  I picked that picture out when I was looking through old find photos.  I thought the photo was a really nice.  The background could have been arranged more effectively, but the picture of the fossils itself is very nice. I especially like the coloring and detail.  The jaw is only about 3 cm. or 1.2 inches in length.  People from the University of Florida said it was kind of unusual for a beach find.  

I always like small finds.  Whether it is with a metal detector or not, I'm always glad to get the small finds because they present a little more of a challenge.  If you find the smalls, you probably aren't missing much.  The big finds are often easier.

Look at this conglomerated with all those embedded shells.  I really like it.  You can see a hundred or more individual shells on the surface.  The whole piece has been smoothed down.

If you spot fossils, you know that you are into some pretty old material.  Below you can see how silica is replacing the calcium.  It is very clear how the calcium is dissolving and being replaced by silica.

Seashell Showing Silicification.

Here is a smaller example.

Embedded Fossil Shell.

Turning over the same piece, you see a completely different picture.  Here is the other side.

Silica Crystals on Other Side of Same Shell

You'll often see that kind of silification often referred to as druzy.

You might remember Ruck's Pit — the original quarry site in Okeechobee, Florida, famous for its calcite crystal-lined fossil clams.  Ruck's Pit is no longer open for general commercial mining. The quarry closed permanently over a decade ago, and the property remains closed to the public, however, Pacific Geo Lab holds exclusive fossil and mineral rights to the site and offers limited, scheduled public digging events called the Ruck’s Pit Crystal Clam Festival. There are special, by-appointment digs that take place once or twice a year (typically in spring and fall).  I think the next one is scheduled for March of 2027.  You can find details at PacificGeoLab.com.

I started out today with a find photo that I especially liked and was going to talk about small fossils, but the discussion became more diverse.  I do have several general points I want to make before closing.

1.  There are a wide variety of types of treasure, and you can find many different types of treasure on the Treasure Coast.

2.  If you are metal detecting, you should still be alert for other types of treasure you might happen to see along the way.

3. Some of those other types of treasure, such as these fossils, might tell you something important that you should take notice of while detecting.  If you are seeing fossils, you know that some very old material has been somehow exposed.  

4. By reading and studying, you will be more aware of the other kinds of treasure and be prepared to spot them when you are on the beach.  I never liked the idea of passing up a type of treasure simply because I was not informed or prepared to recognize it.

5. You can "tune" yourself to different types of treasure. When you go out looking for coins, shells, bottles, or anything in particular, that kind of treasure will be on your mind. and you will be more alert and attuned to those types of items.  

6. There are times when you do not want to be focused on any one type of treasure, but there will be other times when you do want to focus in on one type of target.  

7. The tuning process takes place at different levels: sensory, perceptual and cognitive.  

When scouting a beach, you might want to be into an wide open sensory mode - open to everything in the environment, including the wind, surf, feel of the sand, etc.  When you are focused in on a specific target, it is a different state of mind and feeling.  During a hunt you might make adjustments and change from one mode to another.

Detectorists tend to pay a lot of attention to tuning their detector.  They pay a lot of attention to how well it works and how to best use it, but the detectorist is an also an instrument and, in my opinion, the more important part of the system.  The operator should be similarly aware of how he operates and any preparations and adjustments that should be made there.  I've always said that for success with detecting, the operator is the most important part of the system.  How the detector is used is as important or more important than the capabilities that are built into it.

Monitor your success and how you go about things and see if you can identify any adjustments that you should make.  Buying a new detector or trying new settings isn't all there is to treasure hunting and won't necessarily be the answer.

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Psalm 8:4 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

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Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

The surf is kind of lazy this morning.  Nothing special in the forecast.

Hurricane season will be here soon.

There will be a negative low tide early this afternoon.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/27/26 Report - Gold: Why It Doesn't Tarnish. Bullion & Coins. Art, Technology and Currency.

Written by the Treasure Guide for the Exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report

Mounted Gold Coin Metal Detector Find.

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The performance of gold, and of course gold coins, has been spectacular in recent times. Gold is now settling back into a slightly more modest post-crisis trading range; however, the demand for collectible and rare gold coins continues to hold its own...

Bullion and intrinsic value-impacted coins took a recent hit based on good news regarding the potential end of the U.S. war with Iran, but gold as well as silver have once more stabilized. This has created a modestly lower trading range for coins that are not being appreciated due to their potential scarcity. Relatively available coins that have been certified in unusually high grades remain prized, their prices remaining strong...

Here is the link for the entire article.

Gold Cools, Rare Coins Don’t - Numismatic News

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Is it possible some states are seeing something the federal government is ignoring? Alaska has just joined a growing list of states where gold and silver currency is legal tender, as well as being exempt from sales tax.

In numismatic terms, what this means is that specie is once more acceptable as currency, running alongside our fiat money national system of base metal coins and paper money. Retail stores have the option but are not required to accept specie. Individual municipalities are prohibited from levying a sales tax on gold or silver specie purchases or from taxing it when specie is used as a currency.

Coin collectors and those individuals buying bullion coins need to be aware that a gold coin, as a collectible with a value above the intrinsic cost of the gold, will still be liable for taxes on any additional “collectible” value...

Here is that link.

More States Are Turning to Gold and Silver Currency - Numismatic News

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For a long time, gold’s ability to remain perfect – making it the most “noble” of all known metals – was put down to its unique chemical composition, but a new study suggests that its very atoms rearrange themselves to protect it from oxidation.

Beyond being a valuable, aesthetically pleasing resource, gold is playing an increasingly important role as a catalyst for engineering and nanoparticles, where it helps speed up chemical reactions. But gold’s ability to resist oxidation – the process by which metal becomes tarnished or rusts – also limits its usefulness in chemical manufacturing and energy applications.

This is because many industrial and energy-relevant reactions depend on metals that can temporarily oxidize and reduce again. Gold's exceptional resistance to oxidation means that it is reluctant to activate molecules such as oxygen that are essential for large-scale chemical transformations...

Here is the link for more about that.

Why Doesn't Gold Tarnish? The Answer May Be In The Way Its Atoms Are Arranged | IFLScience

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From Sedwick...

Only days away from this special event, Sedwick & Associates is delighted to invite you to the Latin American Coin & Art Expo 2026, taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, from June 3 to 6, 2026.

This international gathering will bring together collectors, dealers, museums, scholars, auction houses, and art specialists for four days of numismatics, culture, and exclusive experiences across some of Bogotá’s most prestigious venues, including the Bogotá Gun Club, Museo Botero, Casa de Moneda, and Lefebre Subastas.

The Expo is organized with the participation of Sedwick & Associates, Lefebre Subastas, Río de la Plata Compañía Numismática, Andrés Cortázar, and leading figures from the numismatic community in Latin America (see below).

Featured speakers include:

• Felipe Botero, Felipe Botero is the grandson of renowned Colombian master Fernando Botero, one of Latin America’s most influential artists. He has been involved in projects related to art, cultural heritage, and cultural outreach connected to his family’s legacy.

• Andrés Langebaek Rueda, is an economist and numismatist. He served as Vice President of ANIF and the Colombian Banking Association, and also gained international experience working with CAF in Venezuela.

• María Cecilia Ruiseco Gutiérrez, is a collector of Latin American art, cultural promoter, and founder of the AMCA Museum (Arte y Museo Casco Antiguo de Panamá) in Panama.

• Sigrid Castañeda, is a historian with a master’s degree in Art History. She currently serves as Head of Education and Public Services for the Art and Numismatic Collections of the Banco de la República.

• Daniel Sedwick, is a leading authority in Spanish colonial and shipwreck coinage, researcher, and author with 35+ years of experience, presenting Arce’s Doubloons, the first comprehensive die study of Bogotá gold cob doubloons of assayer Arce.

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Surf Chart from Surfguru.com.

Looks like an increased surf next week.

Fewer people on the beach this morning.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net