Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Half Reale from Panama Mint (circa 1580 -1583). |
Prior to the 1990, the mint in Panama had been pretty much forgotten, especially in the English speaking world... It was known that a small handful of cobs had the mint mark "AP", but the mint referred to was a mystery. Some thought the mark might refer to "Alto Peru" or "Upper Peru"...
Then in 1977, there appeared an article in a relatively obscure journal "Boletin Informativo del Archivo Nacional de Panama", Volume 7, June 1977 by Guillermo Diez Morales claiming that the "AP" mint mark belonged to a mint in Panama which operated starting in 1580...
In the 1570's in Spanish Colonial America there was a lack of coins with which to do business. The Spanish administration for the Spanish colonies in America (the Council of the Indies) was studying the problem, and planning the location of an additional mint, perhaps at Cartagena. Officials in Panama however got the ear of King Phillip II and asked that a mint be established in Panama. Panama had no source of silver (only gold), so the request did not make that much sense. But the king was convinced and the Council of the Indies deferred to the wishes of the king. In March of 1578 a royal decree directed that (Old) Panama City be proclaimed the site of a new mint. More decrees followed in 1578 and 1579 describing the positions of mint personnel that would be needed and indicating that the tools and dies were being sent to Panama. After a delay due to some broken equipment, the mint started operations in 1580...
Approximately 43 coins are known in total. Several varieties only have one known specimen. The most common specimens may sell for approximately $3000, and prices go up from there...
There are only a few coins in the author's catalog. He is trying to add to the catalog.
Here is the link.
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| Source: See LiveScience link below. |
Archaeologists in Berlin have uncovered the remains of 188 figurines that were used as reliquaries — objects that held the bones of people who were considered to be saints or worthy of veneration.
The reliquaries were found during excavations of the Molkenmarkt, meaning "whey market," which is the oldest square in Berlin. The figurines date to the mid-14th century, the Berlin State Office for Monument Preservation said in a translated statement.
Each of the figures depicts a female and stands 3.1 inches (8 centimeters) tall. Some, but not all, wear crowns. But the most intriguing features of these figurines are circular inlays, some of which still hold the remains of human bones, the statement reported...
Here is the link for more about that.
And here is another article on the figures with additional information and photos.
Hundreds of Tiny Saintly Statues Unearthed in Historic German Square
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I got word that dredging for beach renourishment in Palm Beach has begun.
According to the Town, approximately 750,000 cubic yards of sand will be dredged offshore and placed on the beach in Reach 7, and over 20,000 cubic yards of this sand will be trucked to Reaches 8 and 9 to rebuild dunes.
The Phipps project, part of the Coastal Management Plan, will take approximately ten weeks in 2025. For the project, Great Lake Dredge & Dock will collect sand from an offshore borrow area and pump it through pipes to the beach, where it is spread and shaped by heavy machinery.
During the project, a stockpile of sand will be generated from the dredging of the offshore borrow areas. This material will then be transported by trucks and used to rebuild dunes.
Here is the link.
Major coastal restoration project starting in Palm Beach - Dredging Today
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The surf will be three to four feet or maybe five.
The wind is from the west which could cause the waves to form nicely in some spots for surfing. I'm not expecting much erosion.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net