Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Repot.
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| Another Group of Metal Detector Finds. |
Recently I wrote about the difficulty of scoping up long gold chains in the water. Above are some more gold chains finds as well as a large medallion that was most likely once on a gold chain.
Thin gold chains can be fairly difficult to detect unless they have a medallion or something attached. Small gold chains can easily be missed but can occasionally found by sight. You can see that two of the gold chains on the left side of this photo have medallions that would be easier to detect. There are also some chunky rings in this group of finds as well as a couple medallions that probably came off a chain.
The shepherd with two sheep is one of the larger and more unusual gold medallions that I ever found. The round religious pendant beside it is more typical.
The shepherd medallion is unique, but oddly I don't recall where it was found for sure because I once found another odd medallion of similar size and uniqueness which confuses the matter for me. I don't remember where any of these finds came from for sure now. They are just not things that stick out to me other than the shepherd medallion. I can't tell if the ring in the bottom row is a signet or coin ring. If I could see that, I might know where it came from.
Although there are some pretty chunky gold items in this group, there are also some pretty small items. When looking at finds, it is good idea to see analyze what you are getting with your metal detector and what you might be missing. That can be useful feedback. That is a benefit of keeping some kind of records. Your records can help you assess your effectiveness.
I've told this numerous times, but there was a time what I thought men lost a lot more rings than women. That was because I was using some discrimination, and that was causing me to miss smaller gold items. When I changed my settings, I found out women lost as many rings as men, and the smaller women's rings can be some of the most valuable because of the gemstones. Occasionally compare your metal detector settings with any trends in your finds. It is important to frequently check your results. There are a variety of factors to consider but always be analyzing.
The find photos that I've were not picked for any particular reason, They just were on top of the stack that I found. Unfortunately, there are no time stamps or anything to indicate the date of the photos.
I might show a few more from time to time.
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I just looked at some of the upcoming Sedwick treasure auction lots and noticed some interesting lots. There are a large number of shipwreck cob and coin "clumps." Some were 1715 Fleet finds. For me, coin clumps are something like an unopened pack of old baseball cards. You want to see what is inside, but you don't want to break up the clump. That is too much of a dilemma, but they do make nice displays.
This auction also offers a lot of U.S. silver dollars. I saw mostly Peace dollars. They aren't terribly expensive, so easily available to many bidders.
There were also a lot of ingots of various types. There were gold finger ingots as well as tumbaga bars. Included were several silver splash ingots, like those common to the 16th century fleets. I've posted a few locally found silver Treasure Coast splash ingot finds in this blog.
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If you've been around the beach or intercoastal waterways recently, you probably saw white butterflies known as the Florida White or Great Southern White butterflies. They are very common this time of year around the beaches and saltwater marshes where their host plant is common. They lay their eggs on the Limber Caper vine or bush. They are currently breeding and laying eggs, and if you know how to identify the Limber Caper plant, you can probably find the eggs and caterpillars. You might see a group of white butterflies flying around Limber Caper plants. See
meadowbeautynursery.com/limber-caper/
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| Florida White Butterfly Eggs on Limber Caper Leaf. |
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| Florida White Caterpillars on Partly Eater Limber Caper Leaves. |
I took those photos this weekend. It takes just a few days for the eggs to hatch and something like a couple weeks for the caterpillars to grow from barely visible to a inch or two long before creating a chrysalis and then becoming a butterfly in several more days.
You might see the butterflies flying around your yard and never notice the eggs or caterpillars, which you can probably find too if you know what to look for. It is a good example of how learning a few key facts can take you from never in years seeing the eggs or caterpillars to being able to find them easily. It is the same with metal detecting. There are key discoveries that can quickly take you to the next level on your search for treasure. Without those facts, you will waste a lot of time searching in the wrong places. It has a lot to do with learning what to look for.
Where there are Florida Whites there will be limber capers or possibly another related host plant. where there are Giant Swallowtails there will be Wild Lime trees, and Monarch butterflies will be found where there are Milkweed plants, and Zebra Longwings with Corky Stems etc. etc. It is very much like metal detecting. You advance by figuring out what goes with what. The more you learn the more amazing and entertaining it becomes. One fact opens you up to a hundred more
People sometimes look at the world as being random, everything runs by laws. You might not know the entire chain of events, but nothing is by chance. You just have to figure out what is going on. Metal detecting is a complex puzzle with many factors and variables. There is no end to what you can learn from it.
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| Snippet From Sebastian Inlet Beach Cam. |
Nothing much new or exciting in the forecasts today. The surf is small and the tides moderate
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net
