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Monday, October 31, 2022

10/31;22 Report - Beaches Now Pretty Mushy. Mystery Cross Looks Like Celtic Cross. Bigger Surf Might Arrive Later This Week.

 

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

John Brooks Beach Monday Morning.

I took a look at John Brooks this morning.  As expected, the waves were hitting the beach straight on.  


John Brooks Beach Monday Morning.


The beach was building, and the sand was soft.


John Brooks Beach Monday Morning.

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Yesterday I posted a cross found by Chris N. (shon again below0. Chris was looking for help identifying the cross. I did a little research and it appears the cross is Celtic cross. One example is shown above. One of the distinctive features of a Celtic cross is the nimbus, which is the ring or circle.


Cross Found by Chris N.


Below is an illustration showing the parts of a Celtic cross.



It was not unusual for early Celtic crosses to have a shaft or capstone. Some were put flat ono the ground rather than standing high.  

Notice that the shape on the ends of the arms of the Celtic cross shown at the top of this post matches very well the ends of the arms on the one found by Chris.  The carved designs  on the find mirror the shape of the end of the arms.

Here is a link for more information on the Celtic cross.


If you have any other information that might help identify Chris' cross, let me know.

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Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

A tropical cyclone could develop, but won't be coming our way


Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Looks like we could have a bigger surf at the end of the week.

We'll see.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

Saturday, October 29, 2022

10/29/22 Report - Cross Find. Rare Coins Doing Well During Inflation. Inflation Calculator.

 

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


Cross Find From Chris N.


I received the above photo and following request for ID help from Chris N.

This was found central florida after Hurricane Ian mid beach
Can anyone identify
Thanks ChrisN


Chris also said it is bronze.  Anyone who can provide any info or thoughts on this item, Chris and I would appreciate it.

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Rare coins continue to shine as their performance outpaces equities, real estate, precious metals and most other asset classes. The Walton specimen of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel was recently sold to Great Collections for $4.2 million. (The same coin sold in an auction in 2013 for more than $3.17 million.) Great Collections in turn has already resold the coin. This may be an outstanding example, but it is far from being alone. Truly rare coins, be they because of either their condition or they are date rarities, continue to move forward as equities, real estate and just about anything else...

Here is the link for more about that.



===

$1 in 1977 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $4.90 today, an increase of $3.90 over 45 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.59% per year between 1977 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 389.78%.

This means that today's prices are 4.90 times higher than average prices since 1977, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. A dollar today only buys 20.408% of what it could buy back then.

$1 in 1977 → 2022 | Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov


A tittle action in the Atlantic, but nothing very significant.


Source: MagicSeaweed.com

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net




Friday, October 28, 2022

10/28/22 Report - More 1715 300-Year Anniversary Finds. Shipwreck Sheds LIght on Trade Routes. Metal Detecting Leaded Fish.

 

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

Found by Schmitts in 2015.

Not long ago I mentioned the famous 1715-Fleet Anniversary find made by Jonah and the crew of the Capitana in August of 2015.  It just before that find that they were finding tons of musket balls.  In my experience, lead often comes before gold, so I was thinking they were getting close.  But the Anniversary find wasn't the only big find made in 2015.  There were plenty, including a great bunch of gold coins, including a fantastic Royal found by the Schmitts.  Above is the picture from the gold coins found just about a month earlier than the Anniversary find.  And below is the link to that post.

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 7/28/2015 Report - New Photos Of The Amazing Royal Found By Schmitt Family On Treasure Coast Wreck Site. Also Other Coins And Bottom Where Found.

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In 2003, the Skaftö wreck was found at the bottom of the sea off Lysekil, north of Gothenburg. But it is only now that researchers have been able to carry out analyses of its cargo using new, modern methods.

An international research team, headed by maritime archaeologist Staffan von Arbin at the University of Gothenburg, has succeeded in mapping the origins of its cargo and the probable route of the ship. The study contributes new knowledge about the goods traded in the Middle Ages and the trade routes in that period.

The cargo included copper, oak timber, quicklime, tar, and bricks and roof tiles. Samples of the cargo have been taken up from the wreck during previous underwater archaeological investigations carried out by the Bohusläns museum. But it’s only now that analyses of its cargo have been possible using modern analysis methods....

Here is that link.

Skaftö wreck’s cargo tells a tale of 15th cen | EurekAlert!

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Metal detectors will be standard in Lake Erie fishing tournaments after cheating scandal...

The investigation started after the local tournament director discovered that the two fishermen considered the team to beat inflated the weight of their catch by stuffing the fish with lead sinkers and then padding the inside of the walleye with fillets, preventing judges from discovering the added weight.,,.

Here is the link for more of that story.

Cheating Lake Erie walleye fishermen: Changes to Lake Erie fishing tournaments after scandal (fox8.com)

Thanks to Rick B. for that link.

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov

The red area is going to move west and might develop in a few days.

We will be getting a flow of northeast winds.  



As you can see, the surf is supposed to get up around four or five feet.  

I plan to discuss this in more detail some time, but one of the sources of error for predicting erosion is the error in predictors, such as surf predictions.  The predictions are better, of course, when they are a day or two in advance rather than a week.  At this time the MagicSeaWeed predictions are not showing any north wind - just ne and ene. 

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net



There are a number of factors to be considered for predicting beach erosion.  They include the size of the surf, the direction of the swells, direction of the wind, and tides but in addition to the movement of water, it is also necessary to consider the amount of the sand and the lay of the beach and submerged land nearshore.

Theoretically, you could develop a regression equation to predict erosion, but first you would have to define erosion in soe quantifiable way, which would be difficult, for reasons I've explained in the past.  Putting that difficulty aside, there are other difficulties.  

One big difficulty is the variables you might use to make your predictions are not perfect.  For example, if you use the predicted size of the surf, which I would use, the surf predictions are not perfect, and the further out you try to predict, the more error you will find in the surf predictions.  They are good a day or so in advance, but not so good a week in advance.  I've talked about that before.

One difficulty in predicting erosion, is that erosion can occur at some areas, and at the same time, not at other locations.  So that gets to the problem of a qualifiable definition of erosion, which is a solvable problem.  

It is fortunate that one variable helps a lot.  There is not going to be erosion as long as the surf is small, and that happens a lot.  Just checking the surf size will help you save a lot of wasted trips to the beach.

After surf size comes swell direction.  

There is going to be little erosion when the water hits the beach straight on, however there may be some at certain locations, even if it is scant and scattered.

.

I consider a four to six feet surf to be sort of borderline.  Much of the time (perhaps something like 60% of the time) you will have such a small surf  that you will not have significant erosion.  With a one or two foot surf, noting else matters much, but when you get a higher surf, then the tides can make a difference, as will the angles.  If you woudl create an equation, I'd guess that the largest percent of the variance would be contributed by the surf size factor.

But how do you measure erosion.  You'd have to decide how to do that.  It is not as simple as it would seem.  Of course, you could sijmplify that by coming up with your own rating scale.


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Ancient Maya stela discovered in Uxmal, Yucatán (mexiconewsdaily.com)


Thursday, October 27, 2022

10/27/22 Report - 17th Century Shipwreck Identified. Copper Ingots Found On Atocha Site. Gold Escudo Might Look Cast, But Not.

 

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

Sister Ship To the Vasa Found.
Source: See the Guardian link below.

Swedish maritime archaeologists have discovered the long-lost sister ship of the 17th-century warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage, the Swedish Museum of Wrecks has said.

Launched in 1629, Äpplet (the Apple) was built by the same shipbuilder as the famed 69-metre Vasa, which was carrying 64 cannons when it sank on its maiden voyage outside Beckholmen, in the capital, Stockholm.

“Our pulses raced when we saw how similar the wreck was to Vasa,” said Jim Hansson, a maritime archaeologist at the museum...


Here is the link for moe about that.

Swedish archaeologists find 17th-century warship | Sweden | The Guardian

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The Atocha carried more than silver and gold. It also carried copper ingots. The Fisher organization recently reported that the copper was stored near the stern, immediately behind the mainmast. The silver bars and coin chests were just forward of the mainmast.

According to archeologist Corey Malcolm, the copper ingots were being shipped in the Atocha’s lower hold, in a distinct cluster beside the silver bars.

Several years ago, a 60-pound copper ingot was found, which was only a small portion of the 30,000 pounds that were loaded on the Atocha in Havana.

The copper, mined in Cuba, was being taken to Sapin for the manufacture or bronze cannons.


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This one-escudo is lot 1368 in the ongoing Sedwick auction.  Notice the rounded details.  At first glance, looking at the photo, you could take the coin as a poor casting.  The lot description, however, tells a different story.



Here is the lot descrioption..

Mexico City, Mexico, gold cob 1 escudo, Philip V, assayer not visible (style of 1711-13 J), ex-1715 Fleet. S-M30; KM-51.1. 3.36 grams. Well-detailed Mint State cob with light sandwashed surfaces still giving off plenty of luster, strong partial shield and choice full cross. From the 1715 Fleet.


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It might seem like there are many failing policies these days, but that is not accidental. It is the intent of those who want to radically transform America to see it fail.  If there is chaos, crime, poverty and general disorder, the people will support radical changes. If the banking system fails, the federal government will take it over.  If local police fail, the criminal justice system will be federalized. If the health care system is not working, it can be federalized too. In short, everything that is failing, is an easy candidate for transformation.  The worse America looks and the more it fails, the quicker it can be taken over - or transformed.  Behind the stupid pawns are evil people who have their own agenda. The failing is intentional, and the stupidity used to obscure the intent.


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Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

There is a little activity out there that can send us a little bigger surf, and we are still getting some pretty high tides.

Here are the magicseaweed.com surf predictions.


Unfortunately, it is down a foot or two from the recent predictions.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net




Wednesday, October 26, 2022

10/26/22 Report - Different Kinds Nautical Finds Near Sebastian. Found Art. High Tides Today and Bigger Surf Coming.

 

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

Interesting Piece Recently Picked Up by Jim F.

I just received these photos and the following email message from Jim F.

Hello, 
Thanks for all the work you put into this wonderful blog. I just wanted to share a different kind of find, but treasure nonetheless.

Out detecting a while ago near Sebastian inlet and came across these shipwreck pieces washing up. There were several more but I saved a couple of the bigger ones. Oh what a story they could tell…. look to be about 80 years old judging by the layers of solid teak, copper nails, 5 layers of paint, etc... Definitely from one of the islands, was it some families’ livelihood, the village fishing boat, did it save someone's life, or did someone parish its final voyage? What great pieces for a man cave , or coastal themed beach house, or a seafood restaurant, yet so many people just passed them by!

Below are some of Jim's other pieces.








Thanks Jim.  You found some cool pieces.  They could certainly be used, as you suggest or used to create "found art."  In fact, unaltered they look better than most of the found art I've ever seen.

Treasure is where you see it.  

There is always something to be found if you are open to seeing it.

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So there is a little activity out there, and although t probably won't develop into a big storm, it could send us some surf.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.


The tides are unusually high now.


 
Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.


Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net





Monday, October 24, 2022

10/25/22 Report - Bigger Surf Predicted To Be On Its Way. More On Wind, Surf, Angles and Erosion.

 

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

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.


Expect a 3 - 4 foot surf tomorrow with the possibility of a bigger surf next weekend.  While the surf is not very big, it will be supplemented by a pretty big high tide.


Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

As you can see, there are a couple areas out there to watch.  While they aren't expected to become hutticanes, they could affect our surf.

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On  9/17 I did an introductory post on predicting beach erosion.  I talked in general terms, even though there are many variables to consider.  When you talk about beach erosion, you have to remember that every beach will not be the same and erosion can be scattered.  Some places will be eroded while others are not.   

Add to that the fact that not all erosion is not the same.  Some will not be deep enough or in a location that will be productive.  Erosion in replenishment sand, as we recently saw, is not the kind of erosion that people hunting old shipwreck coins are looking for. So erosion varies in its amount, consistency, and how well it is placed.  

Yesterday I gave some generalities, and perhaps should have been more precise, but I did what I could in a short post, so today I'll try to clear up some possible questions.

Above you'll see an illustration showing a curved beach and three different directions that the waves might come from.  I'll ignore for the present that you can have a secondary as well as a primary swell.  And I'll also simply mention that the wind direction and direction of the swells are related to some extent, but not perfectly.

For present purposed I'll discuss two factors - the shoreline and the direction of the swells.

Maybe you noticed times in the last couple of years when Treasure Coast beaches eroded before the big surf arrived.  I've seen multiple occasions in the last couple of years when a front came through, as they often do from the northwest, and the beaches eroded the day before the higher surf began.  

So why would a northwest wind cause erosion?  As I said, for now I'll ignore the imperfect relationship between the wind and wave directions.  Look at the illustration above.

The Treasure Coast beaches do not run, for the most part, exactly north to south.  It mostly slants from a bit from northwest to the southeast.  Therefore, when the water hits from the northwest (NNW), it would slice into the beach at an angle that would cause erosion where the beach is angled as shown at that point of the illustration.  The same wind/water direction would not cause erosion below the bulge or curve of the shoreline though.  Similarly, the N direction could cause erosion where that arrow points to the illustrated shoreline, but the wind/waves coming from the NE direction would hit the beach, as shown, at a 90-degree angle, and would not cause erosion at that point.  It is very much about the direction of the flow of water and the angle at which it hits the beach, even there are many other factors, some of which I'll talk more about in the future..


Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net 









M

Sunday, October 23, 2022

10/23/22 Report - How Coins Are Classified On The Beach When The Beach Is Being Cut. Example From Yesterday.

 

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



Yesterday, I think it was, I mentioned that modern coins were being found southeast of the scattered small cuts, and I mentioned that I might follow up on that post with additional explanation.  I'll try to do that today.

(ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION ADDED LATER: This illustration assumes a shoreline that runs north to south, however most of our beaches are not precisely north to south and the shoreline is curved rather than straight.  It is necessary to take into account the actual angle of the shoreline as well as the direction of the swells.)

The above illustration shows a cut beach caused by northeast swells.  The swells are hitting the beach at an angle.  When the water creates cut, sand and other objects are moved down the slope.  The blue line shows the direction of the water as it comes up onto the beach and returns, and the big black arrow shows the general direction of the sand and other materials washed out as the beach erodes.

When the water comes from a good angle, and slices along the beach, the water maintains a more continuous flow, unlike when the water comes directly up the beach and then washes back down, colliding with the incoming waves.

A lot of sand is processed when a cut occurs.  For example, a three-foot-high cut that runs for fifty yards and the erosion extends towards the water twenty yards, would sift something close to 500 cubic yards of sand and spread it out over the slope and perhaps drag it down into the water.  When you get a six-foot cut, something near twice the amount of beach sand would be spread and sifted.

The magic occurs because sand is moved at a different rate than the coins and other objects.  As a result, there is sifting or classification.  As the sand is being dragged down the slope and into the water or being spread out on the beach, the coins move much more slowly and are deposited where the force of water decreases enough to drop them.  The coins move a distance with each wave or flow of sufficient force.

I've done the experiment quite a few times myself.  When a beach is being cut, I would stand in front of the cut, and throw a coin into the rushing water and track it with my metal detector.   That is how I know.   A coin will move in the direction of the outflowing water in a step-by-step fashion, pausing between waves.  That is what I am attempted to show with the big black arrow in the illustration.

Of course the tide will go down, and the water will quit hitting the top of the dune.  The longer the water is moving with enough force the coins will be moved, finally reaching a resting point.

When there are strong northeast swells, the coins will be deposited southeast of where they came out of the dunes.  That is what was going on yesterday.  There were scattered small cuts and the coins were found near the water line to the southeast of the cuts.  

When there are strong southeast swells that cut the beach, they will end up northeast of where they came out of the dunes.  

When the water is hitting the cut straight on, and causing the face of the cut to collapse, the coins will fall down not far from the cut until the wind and swells change.  The incoming and outgoing waves will hit and cancel each other on the slope, so there will not be the same type of flow on the beach as when there is a northeaster.

Coins that were washed out earlier will have a greater chance of being washed farther down the slope.

Here is a related post with another illustration.

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 1/3/14 Report - TC Wind Increased and A Few Cuts Appeared, Looking For a Hot Spots & Today's Gold Find .

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Hurricane Roslyn is a major hurricane hitting the west coast of Mexico.  

The surf is supposed to be 3 - 5 feet tomorrow.  That is some increase.


Source: MagicSeaweed.com

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

Saturday, October 22, 2022

10/22/22 Report - Metal Detecting At John Brooks This Morning.



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

John Brooks Beach Saturday Morning.

I did a little metal detecting this morning at John Brooks beach.  It was just before low tide.  There were some small cuts scattered along the top of the slope.  The biggest was near two feet, but mostly much smaller than that.

There were modern coins down by the water line.  They were in predictable spots - souteast of the cut peaks.  The north winds the last two days washed sand and objects south anddown the slope.  Since there was not a lot of sand washed away the objects left on the slopes were recently deposited, and therefore mmodern and not too badly corroded.  I might get into cut dynamics in a more systematic way in another post some time soon.

The past two days we had some decent north winds, but a relatively small surf, and that showed in the shape and look of the beach. 



John Brooks Beach Saturday Morning Near Low Tide.


Notice the very little dip at the transition between the slope and sand bar in front of the beach.  


John Brooks Beach Near Low Tide Saturday Morning.

There was more erosion north of the access and up towards the bend.

The top of the slope was pretty mushy.

On the other beaches of the Treasure Coast, there was probably similar sand movement from the northish wind and swells of the past two days.


Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

We still aren't having any good low tides.

The surf will be decrasing too.

The best chance will be where beaches have been low and where an additional inch or two might make a difference.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net




Friday, October 21, 2022

10/21/22 Report - Recent Photos and Conditions of a Number of Treasure Coast Beaches. One Ring Find. Slightly Higher Surf For Weekend.

 

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



Here is a survey of the condition of the Sebastian/Vero area beaches.  Joe D.  took the photos Wednesday.  Seagrape and Turtle Trails were both open. 

Thanks Joe.















Joe said he didn't find much other than the following ring, which he thought was probably copper alloy.  Evidently it had been out there a while.


Ring Found by Joe D.




Yesterday (Thursdau) the wind was from the north for a while, and the surf a little rougher. but as you can see from the photos above, the beaches weren't in great condition prior to that.


Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

As you can see, Saturday we'll have a little higher surf.  Once you get in the four - six foot area there could be some erosion.  That is sort of the borderline area when it is possible to get some decent erosion, depending upon other factors.  A good ripping wind at a good angle can produce some erosion with that size surf, but there are a number of additional factors that will help determine if there will be any significant erosion.

Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net






Thursday, October 20, 2022

10/20/22 Report - Sedwick Auction Goes Live Nov. 3 and 4. Mystery Item. Another Maya Resource.

 

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





So the Sedwick treasure auction is going live on Nov. 3.  Get registered if you want to bid.

Live Online Auctions - Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC (sedwickcoins.com)

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Here is an old metal detector find that took me a long time to figure out.  My confidence level is still low.




Some people thought it was for a bolo tie, and that might be correct.  

The closest thing I even found to it was a device shown at the middle of the harness shown below.


Horse Tack Showing Item Similar
to the Above Mystery Item.

That is by far the closest thing I have found to the mystery item.  You can see that chains are passed through it.   I still don't know what it would be called if anyone can help me with that.

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A great book on the Maya is World of the Maya by Victor W. Von Hagen.  Very early in the book he tells how the long canoes of the Maya would travel thousands of miles.  I recently mentioned the controversy about the Maya being in Florida and traveling to the Bahamas.  Alan Craig, according to Vernon Lamm, claimed their canoes could not travel that far.  

To me it is interesting how every book I pick up to read, gives information related to the other books I've recently read.  

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I saw where Stacey Abrams was selling abortion as a way to be able to deal with higher gas and food prices.  Her children-for-food program is a new one to me and seems to represent an odd set of values, especially coming from someone who evidently is not in any danger of starving.

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There is nothing much in the predictions.  There is no tropical activity right now, but there is a low just to the south of us.  The tides are high with very little low tides.  The surf on the Treasure Coast will be around two or three feet, according to MagicSeaWeed.com.  The wind is coming from the northeast, and I wouldn't be surprised if the surf was a little bigger than that.

Remember the civilians in war torn areas and the hurricane victims.  I'm sure they still need help.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net



Wednesday, October 19, 2022

10/19/22 Report - Treasure Hunting on TV. Anclote and Pirate DeAury. Suggestions for Probes. Local Beaches.

 

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

John Brooks Beach Wednesday Morning.

It was a cloudy and a little cooler this morning, but the surf wasn't very big.  As you can see above, there was mushy and shelly sand on the front beach.


John Brooks Beach Wednesday Morning

There was a little scalloping.  The front of the beach was steepening.


Fort Pierce Jetty South Beach Wednesday Morning.


Not much surf is expected this week.

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As is often the case, I received an email on Sept. 1 of this year asking me to help identify an item.  I was asked to call the sender. 

I receive emails all the time that I am asked to not share, and I always keep those private.  The most noteworthy of those was the famous 300th anniversary 1715 Fleet find made by Captain Jonah and the Capitana crew back in 2015.  Captain Jonah asked me to not post that until they were ready to unveil the big find to the public, so I sat on it until they had the press conference for the media in Sebastian.  After that I shared the finds on my blog.  (See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 8/19/15 Report - YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS! New Treasure Finds From The Treasure Coast - Just Released.)

So it isn't unusual for me to keep information private when it is requested, but I prefer to proceed by email and get as much information as I can before I'd ever consider making a phone call.  I just don't do phone calls, although I guess I might if I had first gathered enough information to make sure a phone call would be worthwhile. 

Although the recent initial email was only one sentence long, it did mention Anclote, so there was a good chance that the undisclosed treasure might have something to do with pirate Henry DeAury.   I did a post in this blog on 9/8 that included a fantasy map of Anclote, which I didn't explain in the post, but it was not coincidence.  Then on 9/16 I did a post.on pirate Aury's treasure.  I also had been posting some of Frank Hudson's leads on the Florida West Coast, which included the area of interest.  

So last night while channel surfing, I caught part of an episode of Beyond Oak Island, which happened to be about pirate Aury's treasure, and the person that sent me the email was involved.  Maybe you saw it.

Here web site for some additional history on Anclote.

Rediscovering Anclote's Hidden Treasure - NatureCoaster.com

And here is an excerpt from that web site.

In the 1500’s, the great Spanish explorers, Vasco Da Gama and Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, with their conquistadors, began to survey the Anclote area.

They used a kedge anchoring system to navigate the shallow, winding, channels in order to make land. This anchoring system uses two anchors: one in front and one in back. The forward anchor would be pulled for momentum to reach their destination.

In Spanish, these anchors translate to the word “Anclote”, hence the name Anclote River, Anclote Key, and the Anclote community...


Back to TV program - they located the likely site for the buried pirate treasures, which was in a park.  They got an archaeologist and a permit to investigate and got some metal detector hits and a identified a target that appeared to be below water level and below a palm tree, so they couldn't recover it.  I missed the very end of the program, so I don't know how it ended, but am sure I'll have a chance to see it again.

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All of that reminds me of something I intended to post sometime, but I kept putting it off and almost forgot about it.  In Frank Hudson's book, Lost Treasures of Florida's West Coast, Hudson covers the topic of probing rods.  Probing rods can be very useful in different situations.  Suppose you are seeking a non-metallic item, hunting an item too deep to detect with a metal detector, or hunting where you can not use a metal detector.  A probing rod can be used in those situations.  Some people use a probe for finding bottles.  I do that in a slightly different way. that I'll have to explain some other time.

In his book, Hudson points out that where one treasure chest was already removed. the spot still gave a metal detector signal.  There are probably a couple reasons for that.  I can certainly detect an area where there was once a barrel.  In that case, there was a lot of very small rust left in the ground, which could be picked up with a magnet but was not evident.  In cases like those, a probe could be used to see if an recoverable object is present.

Hudson suggests a probe with a pointed for ease of use for many situations, but a probe with a wood auger on the end to detect wood items, such as chests.

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Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net