5/3/24 Report - The Enigma of Shipwreck and Beach-Recovered Half Reales. Flying with Metal Detectors. Noah's Ark.

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

I just went through the last (sixth) session of the current Sedwick treasure auction (no. 35).  There are a lot of less expensive lots in that session. There are lot of silver cobs in that session, most unremarkable, but also some gold coins, medals and even a very few inexpensive Atocha artifacts at the end.

It seems half reales are scarce in this auction but above is a photo of one of the few in the auction and below is the lot description.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 1/2 real, Philip V, assayer not visible, style of 1714-1733. Cal-Type 52. 1.48 grams. Rare denomination to be recovered from any shipwreck. Bold center detail with full monogram and strong cross, XF overall with very minor saltwater effect around the edge. From the Coffins Patch site, with original tag and certificate 105 from the salvor, and pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 1, with original lot-tag 177. Recovered from: Spanish 1733 Fleet, Florida Keys.

The statement that I want to address is the following: Rare denomination to be recovered from any shipwreck.  The key word is "any."  Half reales are rarely recovered from any shipwreck.

Long ago I noticed that half reales were fairly common finds on 1715 Fleet beaches even though they weren't often salvaged from the wrecks.

I did a post on that ten years ago, but I did not realize it was so generally true or that it applied well beyond the 1715 Fleet and to so many other periods, ships, countries and locations. 

Here is a link to a  post I did on the subject back in 2014.

The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 4/22/14 Report - Denominations Of Silver Treasure Cobs Found On Treasure Coast Beaches And Why

Here are some possibilities that might help explain the relatively large number of half reales found on the beaches compared to the small number salvaged from the wrecks.

1. Smaller cobs are washed up onto the beach more easily and frequently than larger cobs which tend to remain out in deeper water.
2. Smaller denomination cobs might for some reason be salvaged first by the Spanish salvors. For example, maybe they were personal property and so the owners traveling with them made sure to get them out.
3. Maybe they weren't carried in the depths of the cargo areas.
4. Maybe they were used for commerce during salvage operations.
5. Once salvaged, maybe they were more easily lost or left behind in the surf and sand of the beach.
6. Maybe they were not cared for quite as carefully.     

Some beaches are known for the high percentage of half reales they produce. Bonsteel is a prime example.  The half reales found there are often very corroded. 

 It is not uncommon for half reales found on the beach to have lost a third of their weight or more.  Perhaps they washed around in the surf before being washed up onto the beach.

 There are, however, some that are found in great condition.  Those in great condition appear to have washed out of the dunes where they remained protected from most of the turmoil of the surf for a good portion of their time at the location.

Of the reasons listed above, number five refers to how easily half reales could be lost in the sand even after being salvaged.  And number six suggests that, like pennies in more recent times, half reales were not as valued and therefore treated more carelessly.  

It is thought possible that either a separate part of a wreck washed ashore at Bonsteel or that the reales found there were being transported north to St. Augustine when they were once again lost when a smaller ship was sunk after the cobs were salvaged.

I often think of salvage operations and what occurred on the beaches after the wrecking.  The smaller half reales could have been brought to the site to fund salvage efforts and lost then rather than being part of the cargo of the wrecked galleons.  Just an idea.

What do you think?

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Another reader, Russ P., offered his comments on taking a metal detector on an airline.  Here is what he said.

I would like to contribute to the discussion regarding airplane travel with a detector. I've done it a bunch of times, packing the detector in both checked and carried luggage. Many modern detectors, as we all know, have lithium batteries in coils or control units that are not easily accessed or removed. My understanding, both from my own research and word-of-mouth, is that the batteries are small enough to not pose a risk in checked luggage and are not prohibited. However, a counter agent has tremendous discretion and there is some gray area. I have heard of folks that have had trouble at the counter with a checked detector due to the lithium battery.

My preference is to have all lithium components in carryon luggage. I usually travel with the Deus II, and the entire detector will fit in carryon luggage. I have never even had a question from airline representatives or security regarding the detector in carryon, which is still a little surprising to me. Clearly, there is no problem with doing it that way...

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The site some think could be Noah's ark is being investigated again. It was originally discovered in 1948.

For those unfamiliar with the region, the site is less than 2 miles from the Iran-Turkey border in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı. There lies the Durupinar formation, an impressive 538-foot geographical feature composed of limonite. Some believe it to be the petrified remains of Noah's Ark due to its shape and size.

In an exciting turn of events, scientists collected nearly 30 samples from this formation and sent them to Istanbul Technical University for analysis....
Here is the link for more about that.

Historic Revelation: Scientists may have just located Noah's Ark (thebrighterside.news)

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The Treasure Coast will have a very small surf for the next few days.  The tides will be moderate.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net