6/10/26 Report - Old Whiskey Bottle. 18th Century Porcelain Shipwreck. Kohl Bottle. More Flat Surf.

 

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

Caspers Whiskey Bottle.

This is one of my favorite bottle finds. It is the kind of bottle that you can imagine seeing in a Western bar scene, but it was actually found on the Treasure Coast. In very nice condition, it is even more attractive because of the purpling.

If you look back at some of your older finds, you might be able to find more information than you were originally able to find.  That is the case with this bottle.

Like many purchases these days, this whiskey was actually sold mail order.

At about the time of the Civil War (1860s), a man named John L. Casper (in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was working hard to catch up with a man named Lewis Hayner of (Troy, Ohio) in a race to become the country’s biggest manufacturer, and mail order seller of whiskey...

Casper’s (John L. Casper, the founder's grandson) merchandising skills extended to the containers he used for his whiskey. Of particular note were attractive fluted-top cobalt and clear glass bottles, both types featured the famous slogan, “CASPER’S WHISKEY MADE IN NORTH CAROLINA BY HONEST NORTH CAROLINA PEOPLE.”... 

By 1913 the entire mail order whiskey business was finished. Over a Presidential veto Congress passed the Webb-Kenyon Act that forbid the transportation of alcoholic beverages into “Dry Areas.” The postman no longer could bring the booze. Although National Prohibition did not follow until seven years later, in 1920, John Casper’s high-flying career went into a tailspin...

Here is the link for much more about Casper's Whiskey.

CASPERS WHISKEY Final DRAFT.article

I had an older post on the bottle, which was published before I had all the information.  Here is that link.

TreasureGuide's Bottle Barn: Ornate Sun-Purpled Embossed Casper Whiskey Company Inc. Winston-Salem, New York, Chicago, St. Louis.

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A number of 18th-century wrecks have been found off the Norwegian coast, but most carried only a single type of cargo, such as timber, iron, or fish.

"The Porcelain Wreck is the first wreck we have found that demonstrates the breadth of interregional commercial activity in Northern Europe during the 18th century," says Kvalø. "We will gain an intimate insight into what trade systems were like in 18th-century Northern Europe."

When Kvalø first saw the footage from the seabed, it was the glass components of the chandeliers that stood out.

"They are extraordinary, truly high-status European craftsmanship,"...

Sensational shipwreck discovery off Norway: Intact Chinese porcelain and chandeliers at a depth of 600 metres

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... over 40 years ago, in 1983–4, an unassuming glass flask dated to the late 2nd century AD was excavated in York, England. The significance of the container would not be noted until decades later, when Dr. Hillary Cool, of the Barbican Research Associates, was tidying up her archive and noted that the glass flask had an uncanny resemblance to an Egyptian kohl bottle, making it the first and only kohl bottle found in Roman Britain to date...

Here is the link for more about that.

A kohl bottle from York may hint at an ancient Egyptian in Roman Britain

This is another example of how after holding onto a find for a long time you can finally discover something that transforms your understanding of what it is.

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Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

So look for more flat surf.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

6/9/26 Report - New Detector Finds and Using AI. Appraisal Types & Values: Formal and Otherwise. Diamond Ring Example.

 

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

Finds and Photo by Mark G. Last Week.

Mark G. sent the above photo and following email message about his hunt and what Copilot told him about his finds.

Before I get into Mark's email, it should be a good reminder of two important things that I've said multiple times.  First, there is always something to be found and somewhere to hunt.  If you give up and don't go out, you won't find much.  As you might recall, the biggest factor in my formula for metal detecting success is the time spent detecting.  And as I often say, when conditions aren't right for one type of hunting, adjust and shift to another.  You might have to wait for beach conditions to improve if you want to find shipwreck treasures on the beach, but you can adjust.  You can also hunt other types of things, such as modern jewelry, fossils, or bottles, but you have to hunt if you want to make finds.  For everything there is a time and a season.

Now, back to Mark's email.  

I had a really good week this week getting out Monday, Thursday, Friday, and the weekend and wanted to share what I found and what I found out. I see I was mentioned in the 6/8/26 posting which inspired me to write this email (I don't need much inspiration). This week the hot find was silver earrings in pairs. The square setting I found with the backings on about 2 feet apart the fancier bow tie setting I found without backings and about 20 feet apart and the single silver stud no backing, I did not find the other, but I am going back. Also found a 10.26-gram 14k Peruvian gold chain, the how and where I found that is a whole separate subject. The crux of this story though is not what I found but what I found out using AI. Here is a photo of my week's finds tell me which of these finds is worth the most money in scrap value? If you guessed the 10.26 grams of 14K Gold, you would be wrong. The single silver stud is actually a 5.5mm diameter round cut brilliant natural diamond. I've found diamonds mounted in silver rings before I had a vintage silver ring that has 3 fairly large diamonds, I will be taking another look at that. I usually test every stone with my cheap diamond tester even if it's mounted in an obvious junk setting but this one, I did not test until later to my surprise. 

This is where I bring in my CoPilot who has helped me with determining scrap silver and gold value before, but what about diamonds? Turns out there is a small market for diamonds. 

“Scrap Diamond Market” — Does it exist?

Yes — but it’s nothing like gold.

Diamonds do not have a melt value, so there is no universal scrap price. Instead, diamonds resell for a percentage of retail, and that percentage depends on size, quality, and certification.

Real resale numbers (2026 market):

• Natural diamonds typically resell for 30–60% of retail
• Lab‑grown diamonds resell for 10–25% of retail
• Moissanite has negligible resale value (usually $0–$50)

Example from current market data:

A 1‑carat natural diamond (H color, VS2) typically resells for: 👉 $1,800–$2,600

Small diamonds (like in earrings, pendants, rings you find detecting):

• Melee diamonds (0.005–0.03ct) usually sell in bulk to jewelers
• Typical payout: $0.50–$3 per stone, depending on clarity and size
• Jewelers buy them mainly for reuse, not “scrap”

So yes — there is a market, but it’s not melt‑based and not high‑paying unless the stones are large and certified.

Diamonds , like silver and like gold selling them on the scrap market you will only get a percentage of the value (metals 70% to 90%).

Here is what my CoPilot said about the diamond in the photo:

A 5.5 mm diamond is NOT small — that’s a serious stone

A round brilliant diamond with a 5.5 mm diameter typically weighs: 0.60 to 0.70 ct.

That’s over half a carat.

That is NOT melee. That is not scrap, that is a real, individually valuable stone.

Here are the estimated scrap values of the chain and Diamond:

Bottom line

You didn’t just find a silver earring with a “maybe” stone.

You found:

✔ A 14K chain worth $300–$400

✔ A 0.60–0.70 ct. diamond worth $400–$1,000 depending on grade

That’s a monster day for a beach hunter.

Thanks for sharing Mark. Great finds. Congrats!

It is often said that something is only worth what someone will pay you. So true.

A couple years ago I had an estate appraised which involved over a hundred pieces of jewelry. I had the lot appraised by three different appraisers and the appraised values varied a lot - for larger items sometimes 2 or 3 times and thousands of dollars.

First, you should understand that there are multiple types of appraisals, each of which is for a different situation or purpose and the appraised value you get can vary by several times and thousands of dollars for each type of appraisal and from different appraisers.

One type of appraisal is the insurance or retail replacement value appraisals. Those will be high.
The insurance or replacement value is typically higher than resale value because it accounts for labor, new metals, and gemstones required to replace or remake the piece. Insurance appraisals should be updated every 3 to 5 years to reflect market fluctuations and ensure adequate coverage.

If you watch the Antiques Roadshow you know that the insurance value they give is much higher than the value they put on the item.

Then there is the fair market value appraisal. A fair market value appraisal reflects the price a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree upon under normal market conditions, without pressure to buy or sell. This type of appraisal is based on the jewelry’s current condition and the secondary market rather than replacement cost. It is often used for selling, tax purposes, or legal matters.

An estate appraisal determines the value of jewelry as of a specific date, often the date of death, for purposes such as probate or estate planning. The valuation is based on fair market conditions at that time, which can significantly impact the final value. Estate appraisals are essential for tax reporting and asset distribution.

A liquidation appraisal is used in urgent situations, such as estate sales, divorce settlements, or financial emergencies. It provides a lower valuation than fair market value, reflecting the immediate resale potential of the jewelry.

Below is an example of a formal appraisal for one specific diamond ring. I removed the top of the appraisal that had the personal data and the name and signature of the certified professional appraiser.

This estate appraisal cost $90.  I had two other appraisals done, both were done for free even though there were a hundred or more individual gold items, including this ring.  One of those appraisals was done by a well-known pawn and jewelry store in St. Lucie and the other by a Jeweler in Vero.  

The other jeweler gave me the price that he would pay for the individual items but did not provide a printed form.  He just gave me the numbers, which I wrote down.  That was the first appraisal I got.  The appraiser explained what would be involved for him to buy and sell the ring.  It involved several steps.  Among other things the larger diamond was to be recut, then rest and then he would have to send it to be recertified for weight, etc. and some other steps.  It was a lot he would do before selling it.  I believe the number he would pay for that ring was $7,500, which is obviously much much less than the replacement value, which is what you would spend to replace the ring.  To buy a ring like that, you would probably pay more like $34000.00.  A big difference.  It is not uncommon jewelers to markup diamond rings 300 - 300 percent, so of course you are not going to get anything like what you would pay for the same ring. 

The jeweler also explained that he had an large oversupply of gold in the back that was going to be sold to be melted, and he didn't need any more. I've seen pawn shops online saying that they wouldn't bother buying a lot of silver that in the past they would have bought. 

The other appraisal, the one by the pawn and jewelry store, did not value the diamonds and stones at all. Their appraisal was basically gold melt value.  As I recall, what they would pay for the ring with a replacement value of around $34,000, was something like $800, as I recall.  That appraiser put the gold in bags and priced them per bag.  Lab diamonds were becoming a popular alternative to natural diamonds. 

Bottom line is that there is a big difference in appraised values. There are different kinds of appraisals, but also very significant differences between appraisers.   

To sell an item you can expect somebody purchasing to resell to pay anything near the market value.  They have overhead, expenses and have to be able to sell for a profit.  Furthermore, the markets change.

To get a good price for your items, you might have to shop for the best buyer.  Auctions can be good if they are well advertised and draw the right type of person to appreciate your item.

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Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

6/8/26 Report - AI Found Wanting. Ace Dies In Service. T.C. Rocket Recovery Base & World's Largest ??? Here Now.

 

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

Blue Origin Rocket Base.

Residents and business owners will have a chance Monday evening to weigh in on a new vision for the Port of Fort Pierce, including a proposal that could position the city as a support hub for offshore rocket recovery operations tied to Florida’s fast-growing space industry...

The Port of Fort Pierce is one of Florida’s deepwater ports and is managed by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. Its main tenant, Derecktor Shipyards, focuses on maintenance and refurbishing of large yachts. But the draft 2026 master plan looks beyond yachts, laying out how Fort Pierce could also support the vessels and waterfront infrastructure needed to recover reusable rockets launched from the Space Coast.

The plan identifies a proposed Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility as one of the port’s major long-term opportunities. The facility would be designed to support offshore launch recovery operations, including autonomous drone ships, fairing recovery vessels and other marine support craft — the types of vessels used by companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin as reusable rocket technology becomes a larger part of Florida’s launch economy...

Here is the link for more about that.

Fort Pierce could become SpaceX, Blue Origin rocket recovery hub under updated port plan

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The world's largest single-masted sailing yacht is making a three-week pit stop in the Fort Pierce port.

The $50 million M5, owned by Texas oil and natural gas mogul Rodney Lewis, is getting routine maintenance at Derecktor Shipyards. It arrived May 27 and will leave June 11 for New England, captain SD deKock told TCPalm.

The M5, originally called the Mirabella V (5), is a 255-foot-long composite-hull superyacht built by VT Shipbuilding in the United Kingdom in 2002 and launched in 2003. The colossal carbon-fiber mast stretches 290 feet high, the size of a mature redwood tree, and uses nearly 5,000 square feet of sail, which is bigger than an NBA basketball court...

Here is the link for more about that.

Fort Pierce port is pit stop for Rodney Lewis world-record M5 yacht

Not to late to see it.

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While up in WV for a few days, I found the 1917 cent that I posted but not much more because my poor little Ace 250 gave up the electronic ghost - maybe a coil problem.  Anyhow, it quit working and that was the only metal detector I had up there.  As I've documented, the poor little Ace did pretty well for what it is.  It produced some nice finds, including 1800s artifacts and coins.  But it is dead now.  

While using the Garrett Ace, although I found it good enough to make some finds, on this most recent trip, I very much missed the Manticore, which is a much more modern and advanced metal detector that provides great target ID information, which I've come to appreciate in the  year or so that I've had it.

The WV sites that I detect are challenging in multiple ways.  The ground is very tough.  In some places, the soil is very hard to dig, in others it is so rocky it is hard to stick a shovel into it and in other places the ground is so steep, that it is hard enough to stand on the hillside even when not trying to use metal detecting gear.  Add to that the fact that I'm getting older and can't detect with the same crazy vigor that I employed in the past.  I have to save my back or get put out of commission completely.

In the past I preferred to dig everything most of the time, but my situation has changed and I now regretfully have to compromise - a lot.  Not only are the ground conditions a factor, but so are the conditions of the detectorist and the strategy that best fits the circumstances.  There is a lot that goes into selecting the best detector and strategy for the situation.  On this trip, I would have preferred much more target ID capabilities in my detector.  The digging was so tough, that I wanted to avoid as much wasted effort as possible.  I'm sure there were still good old targets in the ground, but taking out everything was no longer practical.  I guess, I'll have to get something better to replace the poor old trusty Ace for my future hunts in WV.

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I've talked a lot in the recent past about the considerable and serious limitations of AI.  I should say that I've only used the versions that are available free online, which, of course, are not the most capable, so my criticisms should not be taken as an indictment of AI in general.  I'm sure the advanced and specialized versions are very helpful.  The cheap basic versions are helpful to, but they are not the greatest.  Too often Copilot is simply wrong or uninformed.  Still, it is helpful for many queries and often quicker than doing Google searches the old-fashioned way.  It will often save you some time, but for serious issues you might want to verify the answer you get.  Thankfully, it provides sources for its answers, which you can check.  It is a useful tool. 

I asked Copilot about Milkette, because when I did my post about the drink in my tgbottlebarn blog site I didn't have a lot of information on the drink.  My searches just didn't result in much information.  Well, Copilot knew nothing of the drink.  It told me I might being confusing it with Grapette.  I knew about Grapette and have sold Grapette bottles in the past.  Those bottles were very easy to sell.  But I was not confusing Grapette with Milkette.

Since Copilot seemed to know nothing of Milkette, I decided to educate Copilot and sent Copilot a picture of the Milkette bottle and told it to look at the TGBottlleBarn.blogspot.com site.  As a result Copilot said I was right and added the following comment. Referring to the Bottle Barn site, Copilot said, "The blog’s write‑up gives us the clearest historical context available for this very obscure bottle."

I've decided to help train Copilot on matter like this and you might too.  I don't know if I'll continue to do that, but I'll give it a brief try before deciding if it is something I want to continue.

I do recommend learning to use AI.  There is something of a skill to getting the most out of it.  You can learn how to use it more effectively.  You will also become aware of its limitations, which are important to realize.

Mark G. contributed to some posts in the past on how he, as a detectorist, uses AI.  One I posted as a case study.  Here is that link.  Treasure Beaches Report: Pt. 2. (2020 and Beyond). : 6/20/25 Report - Using AI to Prepare for a Metal Detecting Trip to a New Location: A Case Study.  

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Sunday View of the Stuart Rocks.
From the Stuart Rocks Beach Cam.

Surf Chart from Surfguru.com.

Nothing new or exciting here.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

Florida's 'Sunrise City' is a beach paradise with serene snorkeling, fun shops, and small-town vibes

6/6/26 Report - Nice Parker Ink Bottle. Marble and 1917 One Cent Finds.

 

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

Its not Saturn Or Jupiter, it is a marble find.  A few weeks ago when I was looking through some old find photos, a few stood out to me as just being interesting pictures.  I showed some of them in the past, but here is another.  Some of the other marble finds made good pictures too.

Copilot classified this one as a vintage handmade German single-ribbon swirl from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

I don't know if that is right yet.

Here is a marble collecting site.

An online reference guide for marble collectors

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Recently Dug 1917 U.S. Cent.

The 1917 Lincoln Wheat Cent is worth $0.25 to $135,000 depending on mint, grade, and variety.

Circulated (1917-P): $0.25 – $40

Uncirculated (1917-P): $30 – $38,813 (MS-68 RD)
1917-D condition rarity: $0.50 – $21,275 (MS-66 RD)
1917-S semi-key: $1.00 – $40,000+ (high grades)
1917 Doubled Die Obverse: $90 – $135,000 (trophy variety)

I was in West Virginia for a few days and detected the old wagon trail that I've detected once or twice a year for several years.  Every year there is some rain and erosion and a few coins or artifacts appear.  Other people detect the trail too, so you might be tempted to believe it is hunted out but usually something old can be found, even though I'm using the Garrett Ace 250, a low end but working metal detector.  I was really wishing I had the Manticore.  Some junky areas off trail were near impossible to work with the Ace - well, not impossible, but it really demands a lot of patience.

But what I want to talk about here is first, the large range of prices for a 1917 U.S. cent. Of course, it is the result of the usual factors, including rarity, condition, etc. etc. 

The second thing is the poor condition of the coin.  It was really hard to see the date, but I finally got it.  This area is tough on buried coins, particularly copper ones.

I ended the last hunt there when the Ace developed a problem.  I've been thinking I should get a better detector up there.  Next time I go, I'll have to get a better detector.  We'll see if that produces more finds.

The details of this old cent doesn't really matter.  The condition is just too bad.

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Parker Ink Co. Super Chrome Turquoise Blue Ink Bottle
with Paper Label. 

Superchrome was developed by Gaylen H. Sayler and patented in the early 1930s, but it was not widely marketed until Parker began producing the Parker 51 pen.

The label reads inn script  - writes dry with wet ink.

PARKER

Super chrome

... turquoise blue

permanent ink

The Parker Pen Co. Janesville, Wis??. U.S.A.

Here is the metal screw top.

The bottom reads as follows.

3 0Z                                  88CG

10                               A in circle underlined.

MADE IN U.S.A.

The makers mark is for the Armstrong Cork Co. which later got into glass.

The logo consisted of the Circle-A mark with a notable underline. As with the others, it was found on both amber and colorless glass, and it occurred on liquor containers but, these lacked the “MADE IN U.S.A.” found on the ones with the Circle-A “rmstrong” marks. 

Here is that link.

ArmstrongCork.pdf

However this bottle has the circled and underligned A along with the MADE IN U.S.A. mark.

I just added this Parker ink bottle to my tgbottlebarn.blogspot.com site. 

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Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/5/26 Report - Detectorist Finds Gold Coin Pendant. Clay Pot of Treasure. Funerary Cache Discovered.

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

1000-year-old coin pendant.

A gold coin minted more than 1,000 years ago as an imitation of a more famous coin may be a relic of the "Great Heathen Army" that invaded England in 865 — an invasion that led to the  Viking kingdom there known as the Danelaw...

a metal detectorist discovered the coin in 2024.

The coin had been converted into a pendant or medallion so that it could be worn on a cord around the neck...

The original solidi were awarded to high-ranking Carolingian nobles, but the later copies — probably made in Frisia, an area now covered by the northern Netherlands and the western edge of Germany — were used as "portable wealth" throughout Scandinavia...

It is likely this one was worn as an amulet by one of the Viking invaders...

Here is the link for more about that.

Gold coin discovered by a metal detectorist in the UK may have been dropped by a Viking invader from the Great Heathen Army | Live Science

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Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia have unearthed a clay pot full of gold, silver and gemstone-encrusted jewelry that may have been buried by an Islamic pilgrim en route to Mecca more than a millennium ago...

Located in the Al-Qassim region, Dhariyah was a key station on the Hajj route for Islamic pilgrims between Basra, Iraq, and Mecca, Saudi Arabia. According to archaeologists with the Saudi Heritage Commission who have been excavating Dhariyah for six years, radiocarbon analysis of organic remains puts the main settlement in the period of 743 to 753...

Experts do not yet know why the jewelry decorated with floral patterns and geometric motifs was buried at Dhariyah or whether it belonged to a pilgrim. But it is clear that skilled metalworkers crafted the pieces by shaping sheets of gold, embossing them, and inlaying semiprecious gems...

Here is the link for more about that.

1,200-year-old gold hoard discovered in Saudi Arabia may have been buried by a medieval pilgrim | Live Science

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A significant archaeological breakthrough has been uncovered in the historic district of 
Matariya, Ain Shams, where excavations at the tomb of “Panehsy” have revealed the first nearly complete funerary furniture set ever discovered in the area, alongside a trove of rare artefacts that shed new light on burial practices across centuries...

Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, stated that the cachette also included a collection of faience amulets in symbolic forms, including a duck-shaped amulet and another representing the Atef crown. The discovery further revealed four stones, two of which are believed to be carnelian, one pinkish-red and encased in a yellow metal frame likely made of gold, and another with a greenish-blue hue.

Archaeologists also recovered a notable collection of yellow-colored metal earrings, consisting of five pairs of varying sizes, believed to be made of gold, with diameters ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 centimetres...

Here is the link for the rest of the article, which includes a lot more pictures.

Complete funerary cachette uncovered at Panehsy tomb in Heliopolis necropolis - Ancient Egypt - Antiquities - Ahram Online

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There are hoards out there and many treasures waiting to be found.  Remember to scout around and explore different areas rather than keep hitting all the same old places.

Jensen Beach Friday Morning.

Evidence of an old wreck has been found in the Jensen area as well as other interesting treasures that I've talked about in the past.  I once mentioned the story of a treasure from the early days of Jensen when a cache of gold coins was found.  There was a novel inspired by that find.  I mentioned that one years ago.

This morning is overcast and the surf a little rougher.  

Here is the link for the Jensen Beach cam.

s1latest.jpg (5184×3456)

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Here is the surf chart.

I should point out something that I've taken for granted in the past.  The tides vary from location to location vary on the Treasure Coast.  For example, the low tide at Sebastian will be at a different time than the low tide at Fort Pierce, so you might want to check the appropriate tide chart if you are trying to hit the beach at  a certain tidal level.  I think most of you know to do that, but I don't worry a lot about the time of the tides, although I do time my visits to a general extent.  However, I think I usually time my visits a bit differently than most detectorists.  

If you are going to hit a number of different beaches on a day, you might start out on the beach where the low tide is first and then visit the beaches where the low is later second.  In other words, work along with the progression of the tides.  That seems to work well sometimes.  

But sometimes I might want to be at a beach at low tide and other times not.  My strategy changes with the beach, conditions and what has been happening at different beaches.  

The surf chart shows an possible increase in surf out around a week from now.

We are getting deeper into hurricane season.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

6/4/26 Report - Technical Analysis of Columbian Emeralds. When to Hold and When to Sell Finds.

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

Sourcc: See the Phys.org link below.

More than 1,000 years ago, Panama elites were buried together with translucent green stones long suspected to be emeralds. However, scientific analysis confirming the suspicion has never been conducted. Now, scientists have confirmed for the first time that these green gems were emeralds that traveled more than 700 km through complex trade networks linking Central and South American societies.

The researchers, who published their findings in Latin American Antiquity, used a variety of non-destructive techniques, including X-ray fluorescence, infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence, to analyze five green stones recovered from two archaeological sites located on Panama's Pacific coast, providing the first scientific confirmation of what these stones were and where they came from...

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

Green stones buried with Panama's ancient chiefs confirmed as Colombian emeralds

It is nice that finds can be analyzed to determine their nature and source.  It will be even nicer when the technology becomes cheaper and more available to hobbyists as well as academics.

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I had a discussion with a young detectorist who just graduated from high school and besides the expected discussion of finds - both his and mine - the young man mentioned that he might sell a few items but wants to hold on to some of the items that he likes even if he is offered a good price.  I have similar feelings, but it is something like with cards: you have to know when to hold em and know when to sell em. 

Here is a relevant fact: the French "se souvenir" in English means "to remember."  I don't know for sure if that is the derivation of the word for "souvenir" that we use to refer to the momentos vacationers buy but it could be.

Souvenirs are reminders.  They help us remember times and places. 

Metal detecting finds do the same thing.  Our finds are enduring reminders of our hunts.  And when you've been metal detecting for decades, reminders can be helpful.

Here is a list of considerations if you are thinking about selling or holding.

Factors in Favor of Holding.

1. With sufficient time, you won't have to be in a hurry so you can learn more about the item and the most appropriate and safe method for cleaning and conservation.

2. You can continue to research the item and learn more about its history and meaning.

3. The item will be a continuing reminder of the hunt and the experience.

4.  You might just continue to enjoy the aesthetics, historic or other qualities of the item.

5.  It might appreciate in economic value.

6.  It might become an important part of a increasingly meaningful collection.

7.  The object will provide a center point for social interaction and academic discussion.

Possible Benefits of Selling.

1. The item is simply not something that interests.

2. Freeing up needed storage space or funds for other needs.

3. Upgrading your collection or filling holes in your collection.

4. Finding a good long-term home.  You can add to museums, studies or serious collectors that will make better use of your item and give it greater visibility.

5. Fashions change and markets change.  Markets can crash or soar.  Personal preferences change to - sometimes along with the market or at different times in different directions..  If you have lost that loving feeling, you might want to consider the potential risk or reward of waiting.

In general, I tend towards but have sold some items.  It can take some time to unravel the full story of an artifact, and you can always sell later, however once you sell, if you have second thoughts, there may be no do-overs.

If you do sell, you might want to take good photos and keep records pertaining to the object to preserve the history and story of the find.

You can use the price that a potential buyer is willing to pay as a sign of how much he appreciates the item and the likelihood of providing a good home for the object.

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All That New Sand and Not even a Mouse To Get a Sunburn.

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Thursday the Treasure Coast surf should be four to five feet and decreasing.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

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