Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
A "pilgrim badge" from the Middle Ages featuring the design of a basilisk — a fearsome mythological creature akin to a dragon — has been discovered in southeast Poland. Such finds are rare and can help archaeologists chart the routes taken by Christian pilgrims hundreds of years ago.
Independent archaeologist Tomasz Murzyński, who's based in the Polish city of Wrocław, told Live Science in an email that a metal detectorist found the badge in January in the village of Wólka Nieliska, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Warsaw. The detectorist then gave it to Murzyński...
Here is the link.
Winged 'basilisk' on medieval pilgrim's badge discovered in Poland (msn.com)
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A metal detectorist in England found what might be the biggest gold nugget ever found in the country, worth an estimated £30,000 or around $38,000.
Richard Brock unearthed the gold nugget, which weighs 64.8 grams, in England's Shropshire Hills — despite turning up to the search late and using faulty equipment...
Brock, who had traveled three and a half hours from his home to join the organized expedition last May, resorted to using an older faulty machine after his detecting kit failed to work properly.
However, within minutes of setting up his equipment, he uncovered the large golden nugget, which has been nicknamed "Hiro's Nugget."...
Here is the link for more about that.
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| Treasure Coast Mystery Find. Submitted by Nick. |
Nick sent in some photos of this mystery object and asked if it might be a gold nugget. Based upon the patina, I'd say probably not, but I told him to take it to a pawn shop where he could get it tested.
I've seen depletion gilded artifacts get a black patina like that, but never a gold nugget. I have seen gold alloys, including rings get encrusted, but again, not just like that.
I asked nick to send a picture with an object for size comparison. Here is a photo with a coin and a couple closeup photos.
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| Same Object with Coin for Size. |
That photo makes it look like it might be a mangled key. The surface of the object appears to be very irregular though.
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| Two Closeup Views of Same Mystery Object. |
The metal is either soft or has really been through some rough treatment.
What do you think?
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Today we still had a five or six foot surf. The wind was southeast.
Tomorrow the surf is expected to be smaller.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net