5/4/22 Report - Thoughts on Finding 1715 Artifacts and Rings. On A Posted Ring. Sargassum Problems.

 

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

Sargassum Problem.

The sargassum issue is one that is going nowhere anytime soon. Over forty thousand tons are expected to wash up on the shores of the Mexican Caribbean in the next week, with a further ten thousand in the days after. The problem has grown year on year in conjunction with the world’s rising sea temperatures. The macroalgae thrive in warmer water and are only expected to grow in severity in the coming years. The government has invested hundreds of thousands into sargassum prevention, enlisting the Navy to send twenty-six ships out along the Caribbean coast...

Here is the link for more about that.

Sargassum And Safety Protocols In Cancun Causing Higher Hotel Rates For Tourists - Cancun Sun (thecancunsun.com)

Thanks to Rick B. for that link.

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On 5/2/22 I posted a photo of a ring that had an inscribed with a dat  dare of 1709.  I wasn't sure if it was a local find or what, but Mitch King found the source for that one.  It was originally published in an article on mudlarking finds in BeachCombing Magazine.

Below is what the article said about that ring.

Another exquisite mourning ring was found by Nick Stevens. Inside the band of the gold ring, the words “TW obt (died) 31 O’cto’ 1701 aeta (aged) 80.” Although we don’t know what name “TW” stands for, we do know that the person died on October 31, 1701, and was 80 years old. That is a ripe old age for this time period. A highly detailed memento mori ring was also found by mudlark Malcolm Duff. It is decorated with a full skeleton around the circumference of the ring.

Although Londoners endured war, death, and destruction in the 17th century, there are stories of love which mudlarks have uncovered that still resonate today. Posy and fede rings were given as gifts and worn as a symbol of love for another person. A posy ring was engraved with a short, personalized poem around the inside of the band. Mudlark Mark Beverlo found an incredible gold fede ring (third image left). The circular band has a bezel formed in the shape of two clasped hands with a projecting heart between them. Dated to 1640–1680, the words “no heart more true than myne” are inscribed on the inside of the band. This gold ring could have been deliberately thrown into the river in despair after the relationship ended.

For more mudlarking jewelry finds of age, here is the link.

Mudlarking: Lost Jewelry from the 17th through 20th Centuries – Beachcombing Magazine

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In response to the post about rings, Warren D. sent in the following interesting thoughts.

Finding 1715 fleet artifacts of any kind is a thrilling and relatively rare experience.

Even the Beyond Oak Island boys were ecstatic about finding a spike and maybe a piece of iron?

Finding a ring is a dream, probably a rarer find than a cob maybe even an escudo?

Men's rings or women's rings which would you rather find?

Men's rings are bigger, bulkier probably higher karat because even though it's softer gold it's still strong enough to hold a larger stone, perhaps emeralds.

Women's rings are smaller, more delicate, if they are fancy and contain many finely cut stones it probably is lower carat to be strong enough to hold many small stones. Such a more delicate ring is probably Oriental workmanship, Orientals? Research makes it more interesting.

What if you find a fancy women's ring and experts say it's 1715 period?

Contact every expert you can find for their opinions. These expert's backgrounds should be from: Treasure salvage, Historical, Jewelry making, Museum curators and Academia.

Interesting reading see: "Rings of the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet" by Bob "Frogfoot" Weller

and Plus Ultra Newsletter Vol. 32 No. 1, 1st Qtr 2014 "The Queen's Jewels and the 1715 Fleet: Sifting Fact from Myth" by Jorge A. Proctor & Phil Flemming.

I was at the Treasure Hunter's picnic in Wabasso this Saturday and had some good discussions I even saw Jorge Proctor there.

Good luck everybody.

Warren D.

Thanks Warren!

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Source:MagicSeaWeed,com.

Interesting, but still a long way off and could change.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net