9/28/26 Report - Beach Developments and Recent Finds from Readers.

 

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

Fort Pierce South Beach Monday Morning.
From Surfguru.com.

As you know the surf is decreasing now.  You can see that above.  You can also see the fluffy slope.

Wabasso Beach Cam - Far South View Monday Morning.

Wabasso and Fort Pierce beaches look pretty similar this morning.  Good number of people were out on the beach by the Disney Resort this morning.  Looks like any new drops on that slope could easily get dragged down into the swash by a receding wave.

With the recent high tides and surf, there was some beach movement.  Al C. found one of the spots the benefited.  He said "nothing for the collection" but he was glad to see some greenies after all the summer fill.

Greenies Recently Found by Al C.

Mark G. also did some metal detecting.  He was out Saturday.   Here is a picture of his finds, followed by some observations.  

Gold Ring and Other Finds by Mark G.

Mark said...

 I had to check out the beaches to look for cuts this morning (Saturday). Big surf crashing and rolling all the way up the beach almost like last Friday. Trash and seaweed pushed all the way up along with a lot of turtle eggs. While the berm over can bring in sand with high tides, last night's rough surf took a lot of it away. I broke out the detector, note: I have not found one piece of jewelry on JB the entire month of September, it was just after high tide and I worked down to the slope which I could tell that the slope was pushed back. Why am I telling you all this because it was exactly like you stated at the very end of today's Saturday 9/26 post you had to find the firmer parts of the slope or the sand was mush sometimes sinking to my ankles like quicksand. I found some nice shells, a plastic "ring?" (surface find), a quarter and a gold ring. A lot of sand has moved around on all the beaches. Hunting should get interesting.

Thanks to Al C. and Mark G. for sharing their finds and comments. I really appreciate it and know that other readers will too.

The greenies are a good sign, and it is always good to find a piece of gold no matter what age it is.

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Copper prices have been going up and ended last week at about $6.70 per pound.

Ten Year Copper Price Chart.
Ending About $6.70 per Pound.

The past couple of posts I did is the type of thing I started this blog to do.  It was so good to finally see some beach action after such a long boring summer.  

When I started this blog the primary purpose was to give readers some idea of Treasure Coast beach developments and hunting conditions.  It grew into a lot more and included a lot of different kinds of information besides beach developments.  

As I've said before, October has been a pretty good for beach metal detecting in recent years.  This years October will have a more good high tides and hopefully some more good nor'easters and fronts coming through to continue moving some of the sand.

I'll have some good new information about hoards in the near future along with whatever else comes up in the meantime.  I didn't get it done for today.  

Hopefully, I'll receive more beach and find reports. 

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/26/26 Report - Following Developments Along the Treasure Coast. How Nor'easters & Tropical Storms Differ.

 

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

Windyty.com

In the above illustration you can see the current Nor'easter and the rest of the Atlantic.  The Nor'easter looks on the illustration very much like a hurricane but there are differences.

You might wonder why the storm isn't shown on the National Hurricane Center map.  The NHC map only shows tropical weather.  I'll explain more of that below.

National Hurricane Center Map Showing Remnants of Fay and Tropical Storm Gonzalo.
Source: NHC.noaa.gov

Nor’easters form from mid-latitude frontal systems, with cold and warm air masses interacting. Their energy source is baroclinic instability (cold and warm air masses interacting), not warm ocean water.

Tropical systems must have a warm core, organized convection, and a closed low‑level circulation. Nor’easters typically have a cold core and asymmetric structure.

The strongest winds of a hurricane are near the center, while the strongest winds of a northeaster are out in bands.  Hurricane winds can get much stronger, but northeasters can hang around longer.

So, Nor'easters and hurricanes or tropical storms are different, but both can cause a lot wind, erosion and damage.  Nor'easters can hang around and cause damage over a long period of time, like the legendary Thanksgiving Storm of 1984 that I've written about several times.

Fort Pierce South Beach Cam - South View Zoom.
From Surfguru.com.

Along the Treasure Coast this morning, it looks pretty much like yesterday.  It seemed like there were some bigger swells coming in occasionally, but the water was still hitting the back dunes in places.

Wabasso Beach Cam - South Zoom View Saturday Morning.

There were some very little cuts there, but they are gone now.  They got washed over.

Jensen Beach Cam Friday Morning.

I didn't see any cuts on the beach cams this morning.  Nothing at Jensen.

Bathtub Beach Web Cam Friday Morning.

Bathtub Beach was washed over this morning.  You can see the water all the way back to the dunes.

Along with the high surf, the day's tides were well over three feet.

Surf Chart from Surfguru.com.

As you can see the surf will be decreasing now, getting back down to one or two feet by Tuesday.

I'd say there are definitely some beaches worth checking this morning.  Check along the foot of dunes that got washed and also some of the firmer slopes that might have moved back.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

9/25/26 Report - Higher Surf on the Treasure Coast. Checking Out Some Beaches to See How Things are Developing.

 

Here is a look at the beach cam at 8 AM Friday.  Look how high the water is.  It is hitting the face of the dunes despite all the renourishment sand out front.  Look at the waves breaking.  We haven't seen anything like that for quite a while.  Notice that rough spot about half way up.  I was always noticing that even before the renourishment.  Still there.  Don't know what causes that.

At that time the wind was WNW while the surf was ENE.  And the high tides today are running about 3.3 feet.  That is pretty good.

On a front moving through, at the beginning, you'll often see a little west tilt to the winds.  Since the beach here actually does not run straight north to south, but has an angle, a bit of a westerly component to a north wind works pretty well on our beaches.

Looking at Wabasso about ten minutes later, here is what we see.

Compare that with yesterday's view.  Very different.

Definite bit of an angle to the waves as they hit the beach, resulting in the swash running north to south.

So I went out a little later to see some of the beaches.

Rough Water Friday.

Looks like shoulder high around noon.  I was surprised there were no surfers there.  They must have gone somewhere else.  Maybe Pepper Park.

John Brooks Beach Friday Before Noon.

The water had been towards the back of the beach but the water was receding by now.

No cuts, but it looked like the beach had moved back some.  It was fluffy near the top though.

John Brooks A Bit Before Noon Friday.

Looks the same to the south.

Walton Rocks Friday.

Walton Rocks looked similar, although the beach was firm here and there were some creases at the top of the slope, which was not the case at John Brooks.

Walton Rocks Friday.

 You can see a very small six-inch-high crease in front of the trees in the distance.

Way up around the bend to the north, the dune face was eroding.  Although it looked like the erosion was in renourishment sand.  I didn't walk all the way up there to check it but somebody should.

The most discouraging thing I saw was hundreds of turtle eggs washed out along Walton Rocks.

Fort Pierce South Beach Friday.

Nothing looked very good along this stretch of Fort Pierce South Beach.  The dune foots were washed out a little in places.  

Fort Pierce South Beach Friday.

---

Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

There are a couple things out there, but nothing very significant.

Windyty.com Showing the Nor'easter.

New Jersey and North Carolina are both taking a lot of damage and erosion from the nor'easter. 

"During winter, the polar jet stream transports cold Arctic air southward across the plains of Canada and the United States, then eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean where warm air from the Gulf…. And the Atlantic tries to move northward," noted the NOAA Website. "The warm waters of the Gulf Stream help keep the coastal waters relatively mild during the winter, which in turn helps warm the cold winter air over the water," The website continued. That difference in temperatures is a critical factor in powering the Nor'easter.

Here is a link to learn more about the erosion and damage up north.

Powerful Nor’easter To Hit I-95 Northeast Corridor With A Twist

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Back to the Treasure Coast...

Source: Surfguru.com.

As you can see, tomorrow will be a similarly high surf.  I'll watch to see what happens tomorrow.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/24/26 Report - Watching the Beginning Transition from Summer to Fall Beach Conditions. Plus Afternoon Update.

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

Wabasso Beach Cam - Far South View Thursday 3 PM.

As you can see above, there are little cuts at Wabasso.  Not much, but a start.  This was the only stretch where I saw cuts so far.

Here is the link for the beach cam.

Indian River County FL.

Below is what I posted this morning.

Fort Pierce South Beach Thursday Morning.
Source: Surfguru.com

As you can see from the chart below, the surf is supposed to increase today, peaking tomorrow (Friday).

The wind will be increasing through the day as well.  The wind direction now is more northish, but the surf direction is still pretty much from the east.  Today's high tides will be over three feet, which is pretty good.

Surf Chart for the Fort Pierce Area
From Surfguru.com.

I'll keep watching things develop throughout the day, but don't expect to see much effect on the Treasure Coast beaches until tomorrow.  

Hopefully will get a little erosion on some beaches before next week, but it won't be huge.  It should be the very beginning of improving beach metal detecting conditions as we move from Summer to Fall.  The last few years we've had some good beach conditions and finds in October and November.

For example, see Treasure Beaches Report: Pt. 2. (2020 and Beyond). : 11/10/22 Report (Part II.) - Finds Coming In. More Beach Photos and Info After Nicole..

I might add an update to this post later in the day.

You might want to check your equipment and make sure everything is charged an in good condition.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

9/23/26 Report - Bigger Surf Expected to Begin Thursday. Sedimentation Rates and Stratification of Old Items. Florida Museum Study.

 

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

Wind Map from Windyty.com Wednesday Morning.

Above you can see the weather that will be bringing our increased surf in a couple days.  Not the circulation centering to the north of us.  As of Wednesday morning, you can see that the north winds haven't reached us yet.  At the time of the snipping shown above, the wind just offshore of us is going back out to sea and offshore.  When this circulation moves farther south, the north winds will be hitting us, and that is when our surf will be increasing.

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It is generally believed that if a target is deep, it is old.  I hear that said all the time, and it is true at times, but not always.  There are many exceptions - too many for me to take the generalization very seriously.  People easily throw around over-simplifications like that.  

On the beach, you'll find very old things laying on the surface.  There are various ways that can happen.  An old item can wash out of the dunes, or it can wash up, or the surface layers of cover can be eroded away exposing things that have been buried a long time.  

I've pointed out several times how you can often see the some of the layers as you dig into a beach.  The color of sand might change, or you might see a layers of sand and shells.  You'll find layers of shells containing aluminum and things like that down a good distance.  That material got deposited and then other material was deposited on top of it.

 But the layers on land sites are often out of chronological order too.  

That isn't animal droppings.  It was created by a burrowing animal - either a vole or mole.  My yard is constantly being aerated by burrowing animals.  If you walk around with a stick and probe, you might be surprised by how often you hit a hollow.  That is one way the soil gets disturbed, but where there has been construction, plowing, gardening or any form of earth moving, the chronological order of the soil can move old things higher, but also newer things deeper.  You just can't assume deeper means older, even though it might occasionally be true.

The Florida Museum reported an interesting study.  Here is a summary of that study.

Over the course of 20 years, an international team of scientists collected and carbon-dated more than 7,500 marine fossils from ocean beds around the world.

Scientists used the dataset to determine which of several environmental factors contributes most to time averaging, a phenomenon in which organisms that lived in different time periods are mixed and preserved together in the same fossil bed.

The results indicate that sedimentation is more important than other factors, such as the number of burrowing animals in a given area or the durability of fossils..

.

“Our results demonstrate that if we know how quickly sediment accumulates — which can be deduced from the environmental context — we can determine how much time is captured by a given fossil assemblage: The faster individual shells or bones are buried below the sediment surface, the less likely it is that remains from multiple generations of organisms will accumulate and be preserved together,” Nawrot wrote.

So they found the rate of sedimentation to be the most important factor, but that would hold best when the rater of sedimentation is fairly constant.  In shallow waters other forces will completely destroy the regular stratification.  If you get a big storm, for example, that can destroy stratification that occurred by sedimentation over many years.  That would be more true in shallower waters.

The nearshore and low beach areas are being disturbed all the time.  Sedimentation in those area are far from a constant.

The study also ignores differences in fossil characteristics as a factor that separates fossils into different areas.  Just like coins or anything the objects characteristics and the forces acting upon them will determine where they are deposited.  If they are quickly buried they will remain relatively stationary until some event disrupts the stratification.

You might have seen ancient fossils laying on the surface along the Treasure Coast.   They were very  numerous after one big storm.

Here is the link for the Florida Museum study.

Paleontologists spent 20 years carbon-dating thousands of marine fossils, then used them to decode a process fundamental to Earth’s history – Research News

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

So we should expect to see an increasing surf tomorrow.  And the high tides are good and high.

That is the best chance for improved beach conditions that I've seen for a while.  There is a heck of a lot of sand to be moved though, so even if we get some nice new cuts, they will be worth checking, but it is not what I'd hope to see later this Fall.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/22/26 Report - Higher Surf Coming as Seasons Change. No-FG Error Coin to Find in Circulation. Popularity of Metal Detecting?

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

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

Hooray!  I hear the train a comin, its comin round the bend...

It has been a very long summer with nothing but flat seas.  I'm so glad to see the beginning of the seasonal transition.

In the 2020s, October has been one of our better detecting months.  I'd be happy to see that again.

A six-foot surf isn't really bunker busting, but it is a welcome change from what we've had for months now.

Up north...  

Coastal flood and wind threats begin to escalate ahead of first fall nor'easter

The first nor'easter of the fall is developing, bringing gusty winds and rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic as winds and coastal flooding increase through Wednesday. The storm is expected to emerge off the coast toward the end of the week and is expected to bring pounding surf, strong winds and severe beach erosion as the weekend progresses...  

For more about that see  Coastal flood and wind threats begin to escalate ahead of first fall nor'easter | Fox Weat

The Atlantic NHC map is only showing tropical storm Fay and one other area over by 
Africa at this time.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

At the same time the Pacific NHC map is showing a lot of activity.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

One headline announces: Pacific Ablaze as Hurricane Polo grows into a monster storm.

Here is the link for more about that.

Hurricane Polo intensifies into monster Category 5 storm, fueling Southwest flood threat | Fox Weather

This year that has been the trend - a lot going on in the Pacific while almost nothing in the Atlantic.

The bottom line is that I'm glad to see us moving into Fall weather and hope to see some nice northeasters moving into Florida before long.  2020 and 2022 Octobers produced a lot of good Treasure Coast finds.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Coinweek said the no-FG is a variety you can still find.  If you look under the left leg of the eagle on te reverse of a Kennedy half, you can check for the letters.  It is the eagle's left leg, but the one on the right as you look at it.  

You've probably found some Kennedy half dollar coins.  I've found quite a few although I seldom see them in circulation anymore.  One local store gives them in change anytime you have change coming for 50 cents or more.  Other stores look at them strangely.  One clerk refused to take one in payment.  You can still get rolls if you ask your bank.  

Of course, the first thing I always check is to see if they have any silver.  Some are 90 percent silver (1964) and some 40% silver (1965 - 1970).  The 40% silver coins are worth somewhere around $15.

I checked through a good stack of Kennedy halves but didn't find any no-FG examples.

Here are a couple links.

Kennedy Half Dollar Value: Key Dates & Rare Errors - Coins Value

No FG Kennedy Half Dollars: The Missing Initials Every Collector Should Know

Here are some general price ideas for no-FG Kennedy halves.

• Circulated condition (average wear): Around $10–$35 
  

• Uncirculated (AU50–AU58): About $40–$150

• Mint State (MS63–MS65): Roughly $200–$800

• Superb Gem (MS66+): $1,500–$3,500+

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It seems to me there are a lot more detectorists these days, but that impression might be wrong.  That impression is undoubtedly heavily influenced by social media, which seems to distort or magnify everything.  It makes it difficult to get a good measure.

These days there seems to be as many metal detecting web sites as detectorists, but that is probably because from the comfort of my armchair, I can see virtually every metal detecting YouTube video, Facebook page and forum that exists, but when I go to the beach, I only see the few detectorists that are there at the same time as me, so while it seems to me there must be many more detectorists today than there were a few decades ago, I'm not really sure how true that is.    

The international range and scope of the media provides a lot of information for anyone that is interested. Back in the day, I was aware of some of the locals and what the metal detecting magazines showed and what I read in a few books obtained from the library, but many of the top Florida detectorists in those days were very secretive.  They were there but you seldom saw or even heard about them.  They avoided being seen and didn't share their hard-earned information. They didn't want others to know their success and didn't want to encourage or assist the competition, but now it seems that what many people seek is attention and fame, and social media has made it possible for many to have a national and even international forum.  

It is difficult to compare or tell the true difference between the popularity of metal detecting now and in the past.  Things change.  Many detector companies went out of business while others seem to be thriving. You see things come and go.  You accumulate a catalog of memories and look back over them fondly.  It is good.  I guess that is one thing I like about doing these posts.  It helps me think through things so I can express them somewhat clearly as I record my experiences and observations and learn from them, and by putting them out there, hopefully others will benefit from them too.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/21/26 Report - Treasures, Pirates, Gangsters, Bandits and Other Stories. Bigger Surf Coming. Gnarly Charleys at Pepper Park.

 

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

Besides shipwreck treasures salvaged from the sea there are buried treasures that inspire the detectorists of America.  The story is a big part of any great treasure.  Great treasures are the kind of things that books and movies portray.  The are dramatic characterizations of an era.  It might be something like a buried sack of Civil War valuables, or a stagecoach shipment taken by bandits, or buried pirate loot, gangster riches.  The story accounts for the existence of the treasure in a dramatic or romantic way and give it meaning.  The story excites the imagination and motivates searchers, whether it is entirely true or embellished by imagination or error.  The hunt is for truth as well as valuables, but the whole truth can remains hidden until long after the treasure has been found.

Below are a few of those types of famous treasures that as far as we know remain hidden.  

In 1863, Mosby and his raiders captured Union soldiers, horses, and, according to the story, a large stash of valuables. As Mosby moved back toward Confederate lines, scouts warned him that Union troops had entered the area. So Mosby buried the valuables in a burlap sack between two trees. Then he marked the spot with his knife.

Here is another.  

On July 26, 1865, the Picket Corral Gang attacked a stagecoach carrying two large strongboxes. Inside sat gold, including 15 heavy gold bars, along with pouches of gold dust and nuggets.
One passenger survived the attack and identified the gang. They bandits were caught and killed but the dead men carried only about $50. So the treasure might still be out three.

And another.

Another stagecoach-gold legend says that robbers got away with about 15 gold bars and more than two pounds of gold dust. Some believe that one is buried in Portneuf Canyon, Idaho, while others believe it is farther away.

And then there is the pirate treasure buried by 16-th century Captain Thomas Cavendish thought to be buried at Palemanō Point, Hawaii. 

And of course there is John Dillinger's suitcase containing $200,000 in cash said to be buried in the Wisconsin woods before his death.

And Jesse James' loot thought to be buried in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma.  

Those are just a few to illustrate how story adds to the aura of lost treasure whether it is fact, myth, legend or any combination in various proportions.

When you make a find that is not a part of a storied treasure, it is just a find until you develop the story.  You might go on a hunt because of a story.  Your story might involve a treasure wreck on a nearby beach, various reports of finds made in the area, wind and surf action, etc. etc.  

As an individual your self-concept develops from a combination of stories.  Being a treasure hunter is one part of that. Your parents, family, friends and acquaintances provide parts of that story and validate or invalidate your own ideas of your role or the part you play in your story.  Your story continues to develop through life experiences.  

Being a treasure hunter probably means you believe the stories of treasure you hear and that it is more than fiction and that you can find treasure.  It involves your view of the world and your place in it. Of all the things you could do at any moment, you make a decision to spend a part of some part of your life seeking treasure.  The reasons for that can be various.  You think it is easy money, or it is fun, it is a challenge, or you like history.  All of that reveals a part of your story and how you see your role in the world.  A treasure hunter might see himself one way while an archaeologist might have a different view of himself.  He might have a view of himself that makes him look down upon treasure hunters as looters.  Perhaps he prefers to portray himself with a more altruistic, aloof, academic intellectual image.

I've used the word story a lot.  By story I mean the way we find meaning in the bits and pieces of our lives and the things we experience. 

Stories are constructed. They are neither complete fantasy nor complete fact.  

There are methods for testing reality.  Science prescribes methods for testing reality, but there are different approaches to science too, as well as outright fraud.  But to some extent; it results in some level of agreement.  It is interesting to note that our view of atoms as being orbiting particles, something like the solar system, has been replaced by a story of fields or waves rather than particles. Science develops new stories as new methods are used and information obtained.

As a treasure hunter, you start with some ideas and go out and test them.  If you are flexible and adaptable, you will benefit from your experiences and modify your ideas when they don't prove out.  I highly recommend doing a lot testing.  Test your ideas.  Test your detector.  Test your techniques. If they are no proving out, change.

As much as I've written in this blog, I put it all out there for your consideration.  Test it and prove it for yourself.  

Some ways of interpreting reality are useful and effective while others are not.  Some people see themselves as lucky, and others do not.  It makes a difference.  

But my main point today is that a big part of the value of a treasure is the story.  You can see that in auction results.  Items that have a proven provenance go for more.  Proven links to a famous shipwreck or fleet, adds to the value of a coin.  But the story itself is valuable.  You know that if you set out to find something like a shipwreck coin or any other storied treasure.

When you make an isolated find that you can't identify or date, you want to know its story.  Then you do more research.  Something is missing.  You want to learn it's story.

 Besides the story of the treasure, you are creating your own story.  Maybe it is a story you share online or maybe it is a story you will tell your friends or children.  In any case, it is part of your story.  It is part of who you are.  Keep becoming.

---

surfgur

---

Source:nhc.noaa.gov.

Tropical storm Fay is out there, but won't affect us.

But look at this.

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

I love that.  It is the first good sign of us finally breaking out of the boring summer beach conditions.  I hope it is at least that good.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net