5/31/21 Report - Memorial Day 2021.

 

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

Walter Morris and Buddy Leave Home

Firmly rooted in the green rolling hill of southwestern Pennsylvania like their parents and grandparents before them, the painted-on veneer of confidence fails to hide the nervousness as Walter and Buddy lock arms in a show of mutual support and prepare to courageously face the unknown on Dec. 1, 1921.  

It wasn't like today.  They hadn't seen much of the world.  Their preparation, if you can call it that, was playing cowboy and Indian, pitching hay and shooting squirrels.  They hadn't seen the world on TV; hadn't talked on a telephone, and the closest thing they had to remote communication was yelling across the holler or writing a letter.  But they were off to see the world.

Uncle Walter, or should I call him great-uncle Walter, was off to see the world and never returned. just like many others before and after him.

I didn't actually know Walter.  He was gone long before I arrived.  Mom relayed a sentence or two that grandma mentioned about him, but other than that he has faded into history.

This post card is what he sent home,

I can't read all the message now.  It has faded into history like Walter, Buddy, and so many more.

I don't really know where he went, but at the time Haiti was occupied and the Greco-Turkish war was on.

About all I really know today is that his ship arrived, and after all these years Buddy and Walter, like those who went before and those that shall someday sail, have become unknown soldiers in their own way.

Many things have changed in the last hundred years or so, but many others remain sadly the same.  I'm afraid we will always need our heroes to sacrifice their lives so that others might live.

What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again: there is nothing new under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 1:9.

5/30/21 Report - Spanish Colonial Coins and Artifact Finds From One Reader. Step Searching and Interpreting Finds.

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

Select Spanish Colonial Metal Detector Finds.
Finds and photo by Frank B.

Yesterday I posted some small denomination coins found by Frank.   Above and below are shown some more of his finds.  Here is what he said.

The cobs were found at the site of an old Native American village in Colombia that was abandoned in the late 1800s.  When the Spanish arrived, they constructed a church in this village (ruins are still there), converted all of the Natives, and the priests were the only Spanish who lived there besides the natives.  Out of the dozens of cobs found at the site between myself and friends the highest denomination was 1 real, so yes, I think these were the "loose change" of the time used to make simple purchases, tribute to the Church, etc. The dates of the cobs and milled coins (that could be identified) ranged from the early 1600s to the late 1800s. Attached are some photos of the other cobs I found at the site one day (also with some milled coins and other artifacts). It was an exciting field to detect and we were lucky to get permission to search it over the course of about a month.

More Spanish Colonial Coins Found by Frank B.
Photo by Frank B.

Thanks for sharing Frank.  Great finds!

---

One summer, actually two summers, I was teaching the majority of a graduate computer education program to a visiting class of educators from Columbia. Later I was invited to be the keynote speaker at a computer conference in Columbia, but I didn't go because there was a travel advisory due to the drug wars. I wish I had been able to go. One summer I had a class of educators from Norway as well as the Columbian students. That was a good summer, and one of my most enjoyable professional experiences.

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Speaking of smalls, some of the areas of my Indian River Ridge site have been pretty well cleaned up, and I am starting to get down to the smaller items in some of those areas.  Other areas still need a lot of cleaning.

Last night I went out for a little while before dusk, and one small area less than two square feet first produced these items.

Two New Dug Items.

And when they were removed, some small signals remained, and I removed some eyelets, speed hooks and rivets that appear to be what remains of a boot or shoe.

Eyelets, Speed Hooks and Rivets.

There is some of the boot, or whatever, material remaining on the hooks.  That material can be an important clue in the future.  

Interpretation of finds can be a part of reading a site.  Gather information from finds as well as other research.  Don't get carried away by first impressions, hopes or invalid information.  As they say, let the data speak.  A scientific attitude can prove very helpful.  That is one of the big things that is lacking on some of the TV shows.   

When you are digging a small area that has a lot of targets, you'll generally get the bigger ones out of the way first, and then be able to pick out the smaller ones.  That is true whether you are working a good coin hole on a beach or some inland site.  I call a search involving those steps or stages a progressive step search. When you really strain to get the smallest and deepest targets, you might want to switch metal detectors and/or detector settings.  When you do those things you'll often find more after you thought the spot was cleaned out.  

I'm not metal detecting that site because I expect to find the queen's jewels or the ark of the covenant or because there is some rumor or legend but because I thought it might be representative of any old site that doesn't look remarkable or promising at first glance.  I never guessed that so many hundreds of items were buried on the site.

When I started working this site, I had no idea that I'd find close hundreds of pieces of railroad related items.  So far I've dug a few hundred railroad spikes alone, not to mention the bolts, nuts, barrel hoops and so many other things, and a whole lot of junk, and a few scattered items having nothing to do with the railroad.

You will never know until you look.

---

Nothing in the weather of interest.  Small surf, moderating tides, and no tropical activity in the Atlantic.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/29/21 Report - Small Denomination Dug Spanish Colonial Reales. Real Florida History. Coca Cola Bottles.

 

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

One Half-Reale and Two Cuartillos.
Finds and photo by Frank B.

I received these photos and the message below from Frank B.

Hi there, TreasureGuide,

I continue to really enjoy your blog. Just wanted to comment on your 5/25/21 blog entry about the values of cobs. I lived in Panama and Colombia for a few years and was fortunate to find about 50 silver cobs. But the strange thing (at least I found it strange at the time) was that the majority of cobs I found were 1/4 reals (called "cuartillos"). They were so tiny and unassuming that I figured they weren't much sought after so I was always searching for the 4 and 8 reals that you find in shipwrecks.

However, I quickly learned that some of these cuartillos, especially ones minted in Colombia, can be worth a pretty penny to some collectors, because of their rarity. I've attached a couple of photos. One shows 3 cobs (2 cuartillos and a 1/2 real) I pulled from the same field one day that were all within a square foot of each other. The other is a photo of one of the cuartillos from the first photo after running some distilled water over it to knock off the dirt.  

Thanks again for publishing your blog. I learn something new every time I read it.

Frank

Super Nice Cleaned Cuartillo.
Photo by Frank B.

Super finds Frank!  Looks like those made during reigns of Phillip II, III, and IV.  

Thanks for sharing.

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Yesterday I posted a photo of an Avon Park Coca Cola Bottling Works bottle that I just found.   The Avon Park plant began in 1914.  The bottle was from a later date than that.  The hobble-skirt iconic bottle style that we associate with Coca Cola was invented in 1915.  Before that Coca Cola was sold in straight-side bottles and the Hutchinson style bottles.  I've found straight-side Coca Cola bottles, and I've found Hutchinson bottles, but no Coca Cola Hutch style bottles - yet.

Anyhow I did a little research and found a picture of the Avon Park Coca Cola bottling plant.

Avon Park Coca Cola Bottling Works.
Source: In the scenic highlands Florida's skyline Avon Park (ufl.edu)

Being such a small town, I wonder how rare bottles from the Avon Park plant might be.  I'll have to check that out.

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Yesterday I showed a 1000-year-old Native American canoe that was diplayed in the Lake Wales History Museum.  I then received the following message and photo from Alberto S.

After reading today's post I went looking for the Lake Wales History Museum to find out more information about the place and I think it will be a future field trip for a visit. You  have been writing about your RR spikes finds at the inland site and when I was looking at images of the Lake Wales museum, one image was of a collection of RR spikes donated to the museum, I grabbed a screenshot and they are attached to this email. 

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Here is a display of railroad spikes labeled by railroad that you can find at the Lake Wales museum.

Display in Lake Wales History Museum.

The museum is free to the public for self-guided tours.

Look it up.  Looks like it would make a nice day trip.  Check hours of operation before going.

---

On the Treasure Coast the surf is still in the two foot range.  The tides are decreasing but still good.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/28/21 Report - 1000-Year-Old Florida Canoe Found. Sight Hunting. All The Pieces Of the Puzzle. What Is The Treasure?

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

1000-Year-Old Canoe Found In Florida Lake.
Source: See baynews9 link below.

1,000-year-old Native American handmade canoe found at the bottom of a Polk County lake

A 1,000-year-old Native American canoe was found at the bottom of a Polk County lake.  Found by fishermen, the canoe now resides in the Lake Wales History Museum.

Here is the link for more about that.

N1,000-year-old Native American handmade canoe found at the bottom of a Polk County lake1,000-year-old Native American handmade canoe found at the bottom of a Polk County lakeative American handmade canoe found in a Polk County lake (baynews9.com)

---

Since the low tide was so far out yesterday, instead of going back to my Indian River Ridge site and digging more railroad stuff, I decided to look for some bottles.  The low tide allowed me to search farther out, so I took advantage of that while I had the opportunity.

The first thing I found was this vintage Avon Park Coca Cola bottle.    I don't know if I ever found one from Avon Park before.  I always like to find one I haven't found before.

Vintage Avon Park Coca Cola Bottle
Just Found.

  I'd like to find the history of the Avon Park bottling plant and maybe a photo of the building.  

My second find of the hunt was a surprise.  I found a broken 19th century stoneware master ink.  

Broken Stoneware Master Ink Bottle.

This is the same type and size bottle I found last month and posted in my 4/25 post.  I was surprised to find another bottle that old, even if it is badly broken.  

Here is the link for more about that bottle.

Treasure Beaches Report Part 2. 2020 and Beyond: 4/25/21 Report - Some Very Recent Finds That Reveal A Little About Treasure Coast and Fort Pierce History. (tbr2020.blogspot.com)

I haven't had to get into a car to drive anywhere just to hunt lately.  There has been plenty to keep me busy and interested within walking distance of my home.

It won't be long before we start getting some tropical activity, though there is none right now.

At least we are having some nice big tides, but that is about it.  

---

Concerning the large, medium and small spikes I found on my detecting site, William Y. provided the following information.

I see you have three spikes one spike would be used on modern rail.  The middle spike would be used on a smaller rail and the smallest and the most interesting is the small spike.  When I worked on the railroad and found these small spikes they were used on a narrow gauge rail for narrow box cars.  The narrow gauge was used in Florida before Flagler put in his railroad.  The narrow gauge is a small pound rail that is small enough a that person can pick up.  I know there was a narrow gauge railroad going through Jupiter, Fl.

Thanks William.  

---

I often talk about eye-balling.  Years ago I published a few articles on that topic in treasure hunting and metal detecting magazines and have long thought it to be an underappreciated skill.  I've found everything from million-year-old fossils, to Native American artifacts and Spanish colonial cobs by sight. 

I've said before that you can scan a lot more ground visually than you can cover with a metal detector coil in the same amount of time.  And I recently pointed out that a metal detector is only a tool.  The goal isn't using the metal detector - the goal is finding things, and sometimes it is about solving a puzzle.  You'll do better if you pay attention to all of the pieces.

Seeing what is hidden might be the ultimate goal, but seeing what is right in front of you will help get you there.

You want to see the lay of the lay of the land.  You want to see how the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.  You want to see what is not there.  You can take that a couple ways, but you won't see the entire picture if you ignore a lot of the pieces. 

I often talk about finding surface bottles.  In most cases you won't find bottles by using a metal detector.  You can find old dumps by using a metal detector, and you can find bottles with metal caps or parts, by using a metal detector, but you can find a lot of bottles simply by looking.  

You can find a lot simply by looking.  Hunting surface bottles provides an excellent illustration of what can be done without a metal detector and what a metal detector won't do for you. 

What is the real treasure anyhow?  Is it an object?  Is it something you can sell?   Or is it something else - maybe inspiration.  Maybe it is something that elevates you, educates you, increases your awareness and makes you somehow more alive.

Turning water into wine isn't such a big deal if all you end up with is a few more jugs of wine to be consumed.  That isn't the point of it.  Like pearls before swine, that isn't the magic of it.

Sometimes the best treasure is an idea that elevates you.  

If magic is brought to the table, it isn't in the object.  

It is up to you.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/27/21 Report - Clumps of 1715 Fleet Cobs Found by Royal Eight Company. Dug Nuts and Bolts. Mystery Item.

 

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

13 Pound Clump of Spanish Pieces of Eight.
Source: 1977 Bowers and Ruddy Auction Catalog.

Over the years there have been many truly remarkable finds.  How about this 13 pound clump of cobs.  In 1961 Real Eight Corporation found such clumps - some containing over 2000 coins, according to the 1977 Bower and Ruddy auction catalog in which some of those clumps were listed for auction.

Above is a 13 pound clump of cobs that was offered in that auction.  The lot description reads as follows:

Silver "lobster" of encrusted Spanish pieces of eight,  Resembling a Florida lobster in shape (no claws).  this piece weighs 13 pounds and shows several dozen coins protruding from the seashell and coral encrustation.  The coins are blacked but, in the main, identifiable.  A fitting lot, we thought, for the "tail" end of this sale.

So how much is such a clump worth?  The realized price of this clump in 1977 was $2000.  Although in these days of inflation it is difficult to figure out the exact number, my best estimate based up the change in the purchasing power of the dollar over the last 45 years, is about $9000.  That does not take into account the fluctuating value of silver or changing interest in cobs as collectibles.

Silver in 1977 varied between about 4.5 and 5 dollars an ounce.   Today it is about $27.75 per ounce, so today it is about 5.8 times higher, which is a bit more than the overall change in the value of the dollar.

So in 1977 dollars, that the clump brought in about $9.6 per oz.   In todays money, it would be more like $43 per oz.  That, of course, is a good bit more than the today's price of silver per oz., as you would expect.  Being such a rarity, to me such a clump would seem to be worth much more than its silver value.

It is a little like a sealed box of vintage baseball cards.  There could be some real rarities in the clump that would make the cleaned individual coins worth a lot more than a clump of unidentified coins, but on the other hand, a clump of that size is a real rarity.

That wasn't the only Real Eight clump offered in the 1977 auction.  There were also the following clumps.

Source: 1977 Bowers and Ruddy Auction Catalog.

Here is the lot description for that one.

Silver "crab" of encrusted Spanish cobs.  Some 7.5 inches long and weighing 3 lb., 12 oz., this "monster" from the deep is among the most interesting items in this sale for pure historical value.  Five clearly identifiable Spanish pieces of eight protrude from a mass of marine shells and coral.  Cracked down the center lengthwise but still very solid and intact.

That one sold for $475 in 1977, or about $2137 dollars in today's money.

And a third smaller clump, as described below, sold for $275 in 1977.

This small clump weighs 6.5 ounces.

Anyone who finds such a clump would probably be torn between wanting to find out what type of coins were inside and leaving the clump as found.

---

I always like to look at Treasure Coast shipwreck finds and how they are valued over time.  Now, though, I'll switch to some inland site hunting.

I'm still digging on the Indian River Ridge site that has produced a LOT of finds that I never suspected were buried on the site.

Last night, using the Equinox, in a short time just before dusk, dug these bolts and nut from a single hole.

Bolts and Nuts Dug From Single Hole.

The are a few different sizes, but they came from one hole.  I've now dug maybe eight holes with dense concentrations of similar hardware.  Some contained spikes, and others nuts and bolts.  They were obviously buried together for disposal.  These kinds of holes are between a foot and two feet deep.

Three of Many Similar Mystery Items.

I'm sure some of you know what these are, but I don't.  I've found a lot of these on the Indian River Ridge site.  They are about the size of a soda can.  There is a thick layer of some type of black material on the outside,  a more dense rod of  non-metallic material inside that, which surround a thin round metal rod that runs the length of the item.  You can see the tip of the metal rod on the middle one shown above.  On some there is a little remaining heavy blue paper or cardboard that evidently once surrounded the entire thing.  A rubberish irregular material was on the top of the item,  That has separated from some of them.

I'd like to know what they are.  I have some guesses what they might be used for, but really don't know.

Thanks in advance.

---

We are having some nice big tides now.  Too bad the surf is so small.

No tropical cyclone activity showing either.  That will pick up in the near future, I'm sure.

Happy hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

5/ 26/21 Report - 400-Year-Old Sunken Warships. A Little More Inland Detecting. Metal Detecting Side Benefit.

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

Three Spike Sizes from One Metal Detecting Site.
Approx. lengths: 6.75, 5.5, and 2.75 inches.

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400-year-old sunken warships aren’t the sisters of doomed Vasa after all.

Wood analysis shows the wrecks discovered in 2019 are the warships Apollo and Maria.

Here is the link for more about that.

400-year-old sunken warships aren’t the sisters of doomed Vasa after all | Ars Technica

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After having to deal with other things the last four or five days, I got to spend a little time metal detecting on my Indian River Ridge site, and using the Equinox again I found some more spikes, two of the middle sized ones and some other hardware.   The Equinox signal is not as loud as the Ace's on iron objects like that, but you have the conductivity numbers, which can be helpful.

At the top of this post are shown the three different size of spikes I have found on the site.  I've found hundreds of the larger ones and just a few of the middle and small ones.  I wonder if the middle sized ones came from when earlier and lighter track rails were used.  I have no idea what the small ones were used for.

I'm glad I have some place close by where I can detect anytime I get a few minutes.  It is very peaceful, and it has been interesting.  I never expected to find tons of items there.  And I keep learning more about my detectors.  The more you use them, the better you will understand them.  

The Equinox functions well, even with the electrical interference from power lines and whatever else.  In factory preset mode I hear a lot of noise, but it cuts right through the noise when there are good targets.  I'll explore using different frequencies some time and report on that.  I can't believe how some people write detector reports after just a few hours of detecting time.  There is no way you can actually know a lot about a detector in a short time like that.  And you will learn a lot by using a detector in different environments and in different modes or settings.   I always recommend doing different types of hunting because you'll learn things that you'll be able to apply to other situations.

Joe D. said, ... I'm getting some great information from your discoveries, and comparisons to beach detecting! Not a lot of relic hunting here in South Florida...

And concerning the mystery item I posted yesterday, here is what Joe D. said.

 Your rusty plate looks like some type of plate joiner, or rail joiner! Since the lugs don't appear threaded, I guess that after joining, the were heated, and hammered or pressed into permanent rivets with a special rivet head tool for a uniform hold! That's my theory anyhow!

Thanks Joe.

---

I mentioned the butterfly roost I ran into while metal detecting.   Those were Zebra Longwing butterflies y- Florida's state butterfly.  I had another nature siting while metal detecting.

I found Monarch butterfly caterpillars munching on Tropical Milkweed.  Since they weren't going anywhere fast, I was able to go back and get my microscope camera.

Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar
Munching on Tropical Milkweed.

Here is a video of a little tussle.

I thought that was pretty neat.

Then I found this.  You have to see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZk6nZGH9Xo&t=6s

Amazing!

---

I was watching the search pattern of a butterfly, and their pattern is a repetitive cycle to a certain extent, but there is considerable variation around the main cycle.  Not too different from the way a many detectorist search.

You might be surprised by how much you fall into a specific path without thinking about it.  Notice, for example, how often your return trip will be right on top of your first path without thinking about it.  

---

While varying off the beaten path, do you know how the inventor of the squeeze tube, as used for toothpaste, got the idea.  He noticed the working of the anal sphincter of a horse in operation.   Didn't mean to spoil your tooth care routine.

The creative engineering process often comes is often inspired by nature.

---

There is no tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic now, but it won't be long.

The high tides are big now, as are the low tides.  Unfortunately the surf is only a couple of feet.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/25/21 Report - Spanish Colonial Silver Cob Prices. Mystery Item. Some Notes On Metal Detecting.

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

People often wonder how much their finds are worth.  When it comes to Spanish Colonial cobs, it depends upon a lot of factors.  Sometimes it comes down to peraonal appeal.  Sometimes somebody just likes the look of a particular cob, or it might be the one special type they need to complete their collection.  Despite all the difficulties, here are a few generalities offered on the Coin Quest web site.

Price estimates for Spanish Colonial silver cob (1570 - 1780) prices.

Cobs With Date.

1/2 reale $80 - $250
1 reale $100 - $300.
2 reales $140 - $400.
4 REALES $220 - $650
8 REALES $200 - $650

Cobs Without Date.

1/2 real: $60
1 real: $40
2 reales: $100
4 reales: $160
8 reales: $120

The low number on the price ranges is for cobs described as crude, and the high price is for cobs described as well preserved.

Other things being equal, cobs showing a date are more valuable, as are cobs showing the mint mark and assayer mark, as well as other details of the design.

You might find it odd that half reales are often more highly valued that one reals and four reales more highly valued than eight reales..  According to Coin Quest that is because of relative rarity.  

Being so small, not too many half reales show a date.

Of course there are many factors involved in valuing a cob, and rarities such as galanos or heart shaped cobs.

Here is the source link.

Coin Value: Spain Spanish Colonial Silver Cob Coin 1570 to 1780 (coinquest.com)

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Here is a mystery item from my Indian River Ridge site.

One Side of Arched Retangular Item.

Other Side of Same Item.

The second side seems to have 14 heavy studs or rivets, which look like they were maybe bent over to connect something.

What do you think?

---

Metal detecting a beach is very much like metal detecting an inland site, but there are some big and important differences.  Perhaps the biggest differences is the amount a beach changes.  That is related to another difference - the amount of sifting and sorting, or classifying, that happens on a beach as result of the waves.

Since there is so much area on a beach, it is impossible to cover it all.  That means that reading the beach and spending your time on the right spots is a very important skill.

An inland site is not entirely different in that regard.  You can read an inland site too.  There high places and depressions, maybe caused by a tree being uprooted or human activity, and there may be other visible signs of human activity such as walls, paths etc.  You might see structures and surface artifacts for example.

When an inland site is confined to an area that you can thoroughly cover, there is little reason to sample and absolutely no reason to wander around in an unplanned or random pattern.  Cover every inch systematically and thoroughly.  Over a few years time I would expect EVERYTHING within metal detector range on a small area (a small island for example) to be removed, including nuts, bolts, nails, and rust, if you think there is something big to be discovered.  No reason to not cover every inch and recover every bit of metal.  

The trouble with being a detectorist is the emphasis being on a tool - the metal detector.  Have you ever heard of a hammerist.  No, because the hammer is just a tool, and using the hammer is not the goal.  For most, the goal is not simply to use a metal detector, although some people act that way.  The goal is usually to discover treasure - however you define that.  

Metal detecting is an enjoyable activity, but you can diminish what you discover by limiting yourself to one kind of tool.

That is a good place to stop today even though I didn't even get started on the main topic I wanted to address today.  I'll get into sampling more some other day.

---

We are now having some good high tides and some negative low tides.  That is good, but unfortunately the surf is now down again.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/24/21 Report - Sites: Worked-Out or Out-Worked? Thorough Search Strategy. Equinox Tip. Low Tide.

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

Peaceful Woods In West Virginia.

You've heard people describe beaches or other sites as worked out.  To some detectorists that description means that you can go there a few, maybe several times, and not find anything good.  I have a different idea about that.  There is usually something there, but it might not be easy to find.

The woods shown above is a pretty place.  You never see anybody there, and people told me that there was nothing there to be found.  Yet one of the first times I detected that woods I found a gold 1930s High School class ring.  Just off the top of my head, I can think of two other rings I found in that woods, not to mention silver coins, a large cent, some nice old bottles and other old items.

On the beach, you can work an area everyday and remove everything you hear, both good and bad, and still go back the next day and find something new.  Beaches changes everyday and people keep on losing things.  Some sites are hunted, but are they worked out?

Inland sites are a little different than beaches - but there are a lot of similarities too.  Some inland sites are on private property, have no visitors to speak of, and have not been detected before.  That is the type of site you can work in a long-term controlled fashion.  That is the type of site I am working now and finding tons of railroad related items.  There is no, or at least very little, current activity, and according to all accounts, there hasn't been much activity for at least the last fifty years, shortly after a house was built on part of the site. Part of the site, which is now the front and back yard had previously been detected heavily, but the part I am working now apparently has not detected before - at least not well.  Recently much of the trees and other vegetation was removed, which made it possible for me to detect.

When you say a site is worked out, there is usually more to be found, but not by using the same old strategies and techniques.  When a site appears worked out, that is a good time to change something.  Finds will diminish to almost nothing if you keep on doing the same thing.  Use a different detector, change your detector settings,  Get closer around fences, bushes, rocks and other vegetation.  And remove all the big surface stuff.  

Just because your detector detects one or two feet or whatever, doesn't mean that their are no good targets beyond that.  Then you might want to do something to get you deeper.  Move earth, for example.  

You should also be aware of the area of sensitivity under your coil.  It might not be as uniform as you think.  Take that to account for overlapping sweeps.

See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 6/10/17 Report - How and Why To Map The Cone of Sensitivity For a Metal Detector Coil.

A metal detecting strategy is determined by both the situation and the goals of the detectorist.  If you don't adjust your strategy to both of those, you won't be as effective as you could be.

In the past I've talked about the value of using multiple detectors with different operating characteristics to really clean out a site.  And I previously described what I call an intensive step search strategy.  See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: Search results for step search strategy

An ISS strategy can most effectively be used on a stable site that you can work over a fairly long period of time.  A common goal for such a site might be to learn the history of the site by collecting all the evidence practical and finding all significant items. 

Evidence can come in many forms, and it can come from surprising places.  Items that might be nothing more than junk can actually tell you a lot.

Yesterday I pointed out a flat piece of rusty metal that I picked up by using the Equinox to penetrate an area where a lot of tiny rusty iron pieces littered the surface making it difficult for some detectors to penetrate.  I used the Garrett Ace and dug many items in that small area.  Included were many spikes, bolts, nuts, barrel hoops and more.  Then I used the Equinox detector on the same area and could distinguish items that I missed before because of all the iron clutter and rust bits on the surface.  I had not yet removed all of the piles of small bits of rust that I think came from the bottoms of the kegs.  The Equinox saw through the rust piles that the Ace had problems with.

That particular rusty piece of metal ended up telling me nothing, but I want to retrieve pieces like that.  It could have had some markings or provided some clues.  Junk can provide valuable information even if it isn't valuable otherwise.  If you want to gain information about a site, don't pass up the junk.

One of the things I just recently found on the site is a railroad spike with a different marking on the head.  I previously found marked spikes, but this one showed a different mark.  The spikes I found before showed an A.  This one has something else.  See below.

Spike Head With Markings.

You can see some clear markings on this spike head even though some of it is missing.  I have not yet identified the manufacturer of the A spikes yet, and of I have not identified this one yet, but the marks might provide important clues about when they were made.  More research is needed.

During the early stages of an intensive step search, you are very interested in getting information about the site, and the most important clues can be found in the most surprising places.

One thing I've learned from my brief research on railroad spikes is that I've learned that marks on modern spikes can tell something about the metal the spike is made of.  HC for example, stands for High Carbon.

I  found the picture below on the internet.  It shows a variety of different spike head markings.

Railroad Heads With Various Markings.

You might find this web site interesting.

Railroad Spikes: History & Photos Age of Antique Nails Antique Nails (inspectapedia.com)

I also just learned that one vendor of railroad spikes ships them in 200 pound kegs.  So far I've found  two or three hundred railroad spikes in varying degrees of corrosion and also a good number of hoops and loops from kegs or barrels. The nails are still intact and unbent, though very rusted, in the hoops, so it looks to me like the wooden kegs deteriorated.

In the future I'll describe more fully the early stages of an intensive step search.   It is not a helter-skelter blind-hog strategy.  

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Here is a tip if you use a Minelab Equinox.   

The magnetic battery charger connection will corrode, making it difficult to charge the battery.  Make sure to keep the connection clean and free of corrosion.   If you get salt water on it, make sure to clean it very well.  Even if you don't submerge it, make sure to keep it clean.  

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The surf is decreasing and will be small the next few days, but the tides are increasing.  We're getting higher tides and and some negative low tides.

The low tides will open up some detecting area for you.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/23/21 Report - The Value of Using Multiple Metal Detectors On A Single Site - One Example. Storm Season Starting.

 

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

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

After today the surf will be decreasing again.  The higher surf didn't do us much good this time anyhow.

When the surf goes down you can get to some places you couldn't detect when the surf was higher.   I hope to get back to my unexplored shipwreck site.

There is now a named tropical storm in the Atlantic.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Ana won't do anything for us, but it is a sign that the tropical storm season has started.

13 to 20 named storms are predicted this year, with 3 to 5 major hurricanes.  That means there will be a lot of weather to watch.  Although some of the hurricanes of the past have produced some good beach metal detecting, I hope we don't get hit by a major hurricane.  I'd just like to see a long sustained storm sending us some good northeast wind and waves.  There is a lot of sand that needs to be moved.  

See NOAA predicts above-normal 2021 Atlantic hurricane season - CBS News

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Metal detecting a beach is very much like detecting an inland site but there are some big differences.  Most of what I'll talk about today applies to both beaches and inland sites.

I've talked before about using multiple metal detectors to more completely clean out a site.  Today I'll give an example.

I mostly used the Ace detector on my railroad site.  I cleaned out a lot of the big surface and junk targets.  I dug hundreds of railroad items and posted some of those.  I also dug hundreds of pieces of junk with the Ace.  I wanted to do two things.  I wanted to get an overall view of the site, and I wanted to remove a lot of the surface items and big items that could mask other smaller and deeper items.  I made a lot of progress on both of those goals.

After spending a lot of time on the site using the Ace, I took the Equinox out to the same site a little while last night.  You can expect to find things with one detector that you'll miss with another.  That was true yesterday.  I picked up several items that I missed with the Ace.  I also picked up several items that I previously detected with the Ace, but hadn't moved yet.  For example, I was digging some big square nuts at one location when it got dark and I quit even though I knew there were more.  I dug up some of those nuts yesterday, but I also dug up some items that were missed with the Ace.

Items Detected by Detector A and Detector B
and Both A and B.

The black circle indicates the items that would be detected by A (for example the Ace), and the red circle the items that would be detected by detector B (the Equinox, for example).  And the intersection is the overlap, or the items that would be detected by both A and B.  

In actual practice there may be fewer items that are detected by only one of the detectors, but that depends upon many things including the various settings you use.  If you use multiple modes and settings you can increase the number of  items you can find with a given detector, but there will probably still be items found only by one or the other detector, but not both.

Below are some of the items found last night with the Equinox that I know I would  have also found with the Ace.  That was the area where I detected more items but quit before recovering all of them.

Items Found by Both the Ace and Equinox.

And below are some items that I probably missed with the Ace or chose to pass over for some reason, perhaps because of a less distinct or confusing signal with the Ace, but picked up with the Equinox.

Items Picked Up Last Night With The Equinox.

First was the sheet of metal at the top of the photo.  It was picked up where I had dug many spikes and where there was piles of iron rust.  With the Ace I did not pick out the sheet of metal which was pretty deep.  It was lost to the Ace in a confusing mass of signal iron signals but was distinct to the Equinox, which did not seem to pay as much attention to all the surface rust.

Secondly, I noticed that I picked up three tubular items with the Equinox, that I didn't dig when using the Ace.  Those signals evidently were more distinct with the Equinox.  I had covered that area well with the Ace, but didn't dig those items.

I am not nearly done with this site.  I have not covered some areas at all yet.  Some are simply difficult to get to because of vegetation or obstacles.  Other areas have been more thoroughly detected, but some have not been cleaned out.  I am detecting this site in planned steps or stages and am less than half done.  I'll explain the steps and strategy some other time.

If I used a third detector selected for its unique operating characteristics, there would theoretically be a few additional items found that would not be found with the other two detectors.  I am sure that will prove to be more than theoretical, but I don't know if those additional items will be of any real significance.  That depends upon what is on the site.

Using detectors A, B and C, there will be finds that would be made by all three detectors, those that would be made by two detectors, and those that would be unique to each detector.

Many factors will affect how big the overlap is and how many items will be found only by a single detector.  The diagram exaggerates the areas exclusive to a single detector for most real life samples, but I needed some space for labeling.

After using the Ace on the site so much, I was really getting better at understanding the Ace.  The skill and experience factor will affect your results.  I was getting very good at identifying certain kinds of common items with the Ace - for example I was getting much better at identifying the wire barrel hoops. They can be tricky.  When I use any detector a lot, I get better at using it.  Unfortunately if I don't use a detector for a while, I lose a little and it takes me a while to get tuned into it again.  

When switching to the ATX from almost any detector, it takes me a while to get used to the louder larger signals of the ATX.  The ATX makes a quarter sound the size of an aluminum can.  It just makes things sound bigger, and it takes little time to adapt. 

Since I mentioned the ATX,  that detector would be going off continually on the current site.  The ATX detects the smallest iron and this site is covered with iron bits and rust.  I wouldn't try using the ATX on that site until the site has been really cleaned up.  Then I might use it to go after whatever little might remains.

The Ace is a good detector to use first on a site like the railroad site.  It did not require any adjustment for the power lines.  Both the Equinox and ATX are sensitive to electrical interference from the power lines.  They can be used on the site, but you will have to make some adjustments or get used to listening to some noise.  

Last night I used the factory preset multi-frequency mode with the Equinox.  I was hearing some noise, but was also able to easily pick out targets.  It is something like working in black sand.  You might hear some noise but still be able to pick out good targets.  I think some people are bothered more by that kind of detector noise, but you can learn to distinguish between the noise and good signals.  Of course, you can make adjustments.  You can reduce sensitivity or you switch frequencies.  That can help, but it can also cause loss of detection depth.  There are trade-offs.

My main point right now is that I went out with the Equinox after spending a lot of time with the Ace and detected some items I missed with the Ace.  I had the impression of looking at the site with a new set of eyes (or should I say ears).   There are all kinds of adjustments you can make with any detector, but changing detectors is one good way to get a different view of the same site.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

5/21/21 Report - Atlantic Heating Up. Detectorist Finds Ancient Seal. Mystery Object. Lost Bracelet.

 

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

Ancient Silver Seal Found by Detectorist.
Source: BBC News link below.

... More than 50 seal matrixes have been found nationwide, 30 of them silver, with this the fourth to be found in Norfolk.

The Gayton find, measuring 29mm (1in) by 18.5mm (0.72in), is the only seal matrix that has been burned. It was discovered by a metal detectorist.

"It's very peculiar - was it just an accident, was it lost in the countryside and then got in a heath or forest fire?" said Ms Geake...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.

Norfolk silver seal discovery unlocks Roman mystery - BBC News

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Source:  National Hurricane Center (noaa.gov)

The Atlantic is getting active already.  The center to the east of us has a 90% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours, but won't cause us any problems.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

We're going to get some more wind and waves, but the wind will be directly from the east almost all of that time, so I'm not expecting any significant improvement in beach conditions.

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Here is another mystery object from the Indian River Ridge site that has yielded a lot of railroad items. 

Mystery Object.

This item was found at the Indian River Ridge site.  The middle stake is not a railroad spike.  One end has four tapered sides to form a pyramic-like  point, unlike the spikes that have two tapered sides.  

It looks like the ring had two holes and two bolts or whatever through the holes to hold he spike in the middle.   I would guess it was adjustable for precise centering.  Even though one bolt is missing, the entire object is very stable with only the bolt on one side .  That is probably partly because it is so rusted. 

Any ideas on what it is or how it was used?

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Among the finds from the site have been a variety of shotgun shells and bullet casings.  Here is a 38 casing.

I recently found a shotgun shell marked C-I-L  and Canuck.   A little research indicates that the company is Canadian Industries LImited, which operated under that name from 1927 to 2000.  I have no evidence that the shell has anything to do with the railroad activities though.

Here is the link to more about CIL.

CIL: The story of a brand | Library and Archives Canada Blog (thediscoverblog.com)

Shells and casings can provide useful information, but it isn't much help in this case.   

Just last night I dug about 60 railroad spike from one hole.  They were tightly packed together and definitely buried that way.

I am still in the early stages of examining this site and have found probably close to 300 spikes, not to mention the many other items, some of which I've posted.

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I received this email from Dan B.

Well, this is a definite Longshot but here it goes. I came across a wonderful lady today and upon talking treasure she told me about a story where she lost a gold charm bracelet just north of Wabasso Beach. The charms were all given to her by family members and spent many years building a very sentimental piece of jewelry. The problem is it was lost over ten years ago.

It is yellow gold with many ornate animal charms. The bracelet has large loops. 

I can't imagine the possibility of someone still having this in their finds collection but I would have to assume that over the years someone may have found it. She can give a very detailed description of the items and the bracelet.

Just thought I would throw it out there. Can't imagine losing something so irreplaceable. 

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Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net