Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| 13 Pound Clump of Spanish Pieces of Eight. Source: 1977 Bowers and Ruddy Auction Catalog. |
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.
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| 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.
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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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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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