11/20/25 Report - Recent Treasure Coast Coin Find Getting Cleaned. Iron Age Ingot Found. Calm Surf on the Treasure Coast.

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

Find by Jame R.

You might remember this item found by James R.  I posted it before it was cleaned.  

James said he cleaned his find a bit more.  Now you can see what definitely looks like a Florenza cross.  And the coin looks like it is probably a Mexico half reale.

James said he now wishes he had stayed another day.  That is how it is when you realize you found something good.  You wish you had metal detected longer.  I've told those stories about my own experiences.  I always say make hay while the sun shines (figuratively).  Actually, it is more likely to be when the sun doesn't shine and the wind howls.   

I can still see some sand and shells adhering to the coin, which should come off easily with a little more cleaning.  A white vinegar solution would probably do it.

I showed one of my finds that needs better cleaning, but I think it is going to take electrolysis, which I haven't gotten around to doing yet.

Back in October I said I thought enough sand was moved that some cobs would be found.  I'm aware of at least a few half reales that were found back then.

Nice find James.  Congratulations.  

Most people will always remember their first Spanish shipwreck coin find.  I do even though it has been well over forty years ago.

James made this find up by Bonsteel, which as you probably know, has produced a lot of half reales.  In his earlier email James said the cut there was like eight feet high.

I just got another photo from James after some additional cleaning. You can see more of the design now, but I still cannot make out the other side. Here it is.

Same Coin After Additional Cleaning.

That is a very good photo and shows a strong strike.

  

The castle and lion is now showing nicely.

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A rare complete plano-convex ingot is composed of a copper-zinc-tin-lead alloy, typical of the Iron Age.
Credit: University of Gothenburg

The results show that unique, isolated finds, which are traditionally considered very difficult to interpret, can be given historical context and contribute to our understanding of the past when carefully analyzed through an interdisciplinary approach that includes both archaeological and natural science methods...

The study uses well-established analytical methods in archaeometallurgy (which is the branch of archaeology specialized in the study of ancient metals), such as lead isotope and trace element analyses of metal finds. Such methods have been used since the 1980s to investigate the composition and the origin of the metal (in the sense that they enable pointing out the minerary region from which the metal was extracted).

“What is new in this study is that we went a step further, and by combining the obtained data with known historical and archaeological information, we managed to propose a historical context, for both the unique Särdal plano-convex ingot and the rod ingots from the Iława Lakeland area in northeastern Poland. Given the astonishing similarity of the metal composition in all those artifacts, we also manage to strengthen earlier hypotheses about contacts and networking in the Baltic area during the Nordic pre-Roman Iron Age,” ...

Here is the link for more about that.

Archaeologists Stunned: “Bronze Age” Ingot Found in Sweden Is Not What It Seems

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Surf Chart from Surfguru.com.

The morning high tide was still pretty high, but the surf is very calm.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

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‘I own stamps so rare only King Charles has the same ones’

The 11 Most Controversial Stamps in U.S. History | HISTORY

-The 10 Most Valuable U.S. Stamps---

'Gold coins started appearing one after another': 1,400-year-old hoard with money and jewelry unearthed near Sea of Galilee

conditions will normally settle into the sand via episodic scour processes driven by storms and inlet migration, favoring preservation of heavier artifacts and hull parts. The

11/19/25 Report - Coin Market Makes Strong Showing. Auction Highlights. TreasureGuide Metal Detecting Music Awards.

 

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

Yesterday I was talking about collecting and investing in coins.  The recently closed Sedwick auction did quite well, hitting the 5-million-dollar mark.  Below are some of the highlights.

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I thought I'd do something whimsical today.  It is my first and last - ever - TreasureGuide Metal Detecting Music Awards.  

First goes to Connie Francis and Where the Boys Are.  Every time I hear that song it takes me back to Fort Lauderdale Beach and Spring Breaks of long ago.  Youth was busting out all over.  Fort Lauderdale was the first beach I spent much time on in any way and a beach I later spent a lot of time metal detecting.

The Top Group award goes to Rolling Stones.  Bonus points for longevity.  All of us as detectorists know You Can't Always Get What You Want.

Second top group award goes to the Beach Boys.  The name of the group says it all, but if you ever used a Vibra metal detector, you know the significance of digging all the good vibrations.  Vibra detectors were underwater detectors that vibrated instead of using sound.

Third group in this category is the Temptations.  If you love metal detecting, you know how it is to feel like you have sunshine on a cloudy day. 

Top performer goes to James Brown.  Everybody knows that when his goodie bag wears out, Papa got a brand new bag.  I've once told a funny story about a goodie bag with a hole in it.

Second top group award goes to Jerry Lee Lewis.  When you got a fresh scoop full of slightly wet sand, you know there's gonna be a whole lot of shakin going on.

Third in the top performer category goes to M. C. Hammer.   You know how it is when you are digging a hole and the wave fills it faster than you can dig it.  You know it's there, but you just can't touch it.

Top performer in the women's class is Tina Turner. Always reminds me of mudlarking bottles rolling down the river. 

Here is one from the Way-Back category for when your feeling real lucky - I'm looking over a four-leaf clover.  How Much is that Doggie in the Window, would have tied, but I couldn't come up with a MD connection.  

Top live concert goes to Pink Floyd at the Pittsburgh Civic Center arena.  First row stage left with.  

There are other honorable mentions, but I'll end it there.

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 Today's Treasure Coast surf chart is really flat.  Might be some nice water hunting,

I'll get back to my how coins move series when I get a chance.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/18/25 Report = Collecting and Investing in Coins and Bullion Including Spanish Colonial.

 

Here is an excerpt from an article about the best Spanish coins to buy.

Here are their top picks from 2024.

1. Eight-Real Cob Coins: These coins are highly sought after for their historical significance and unique appearance. Coins from famous shipwrecks, like the Atocha and 1715 Fleet are particularly valuable.
2. Potosí Mint Eight-Real Cob Coins: Known for their high silver content, these coins played a crucial role in global trade during the Spanish colonial period.
3. Pillar Dollar (Milled Coins): Featuring the iconic Pillars of Hercules, these coins are a symbol of Spain’s influence and are prized by collectors for their detailed designs.
4. Gold Escudos (Shields of Gold or Doubloons): These gold coins, minted in various denominations, are highly valued for their rarity and historical significance. They often feature intricate designs and are associated with Spanish colonial wealth.

Here is the link.

Expert Reviews: Which Spanish Coins Are the Best to Buy Now? | Commodore Coins & Collectibles, Ltd.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are suggesting the coins they have in inventory.

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Here is an excerpt from an article that gives a sample of Colonial Coin values from 2025 eBay listings.

Spanish Colonial Coin Values

Millions of coins were minted in the Spanish colonies, so heavily worn samples are not hard to find, nor are they necessarily expensive. Some can be had for just a few dollars. On the other hand, pristine coins can command very high prices.

Since such large numbers of Spanish colonial coins exist, and more are yet to be discovered from shipwrecks and treasure chests, comprehensive lists of the most valuable ones are hard to come by. Here’s a list of 10 recent top-quality coins for sale on eBay to give you a sense of the high end of the current market. Bear in mind that these are asking prices, so the final sale amount could be lower (or higher).

Description	Grade	Asking Price
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos 1714 “Date on Reverse”	NGC 63	$65,000.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Cob Doubloon	NGC 62	$50,000.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Cob "Full Date”	NGC 58	$48,500.00
1818 Small Planchet New Spain Fernando de Bexar Silver ½ Real	Not given	$39,500.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudo Dated Gold Doubloon	NGC 55	$34,950.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Dated Gold Doubloon	NGC 58	$32,500.00
1760 Mexico 8 Escudos Colonial Doubloon	Not given	$29,995.00
1715 Shipwreck 1714 8 Escudos Gold Cob	NGC 64	$29,500.00
1733 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Doubloon	NGC 55	$29,500.00
1714 8 Escudos 1715 Fleet Gold Cob	NGC 64	$27,500.00

Here is that link.

Collecting Spanish Colonial Coins

Of course there are many excellent quality coins available for considerably less.

I wouldn't put too much stock in eBay. The most recent Sedwick auction will be more telling.

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... Coins and other collectibles can add a level of diversification for the right client, Wennersten said.

"Like most speculative investments that produce no cash flow, appreciation potential depends on the specific investment, and we won't know how good the investment was until we have the benefit of time," he said. "Gains on rare coins can be significant."...

Many investors prefer to buy coins that have been independently certified by third parties as to authenticity and condition.

Jonathan Dane, founding partner and chief investment officer at Defiant Capital Group in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, works with clients who hold physical precious metals as a diversifier in the context of their overall investment strategy.

For purchases, Dane said he steers clients toward highly liquid coins with low markups — like American Gold Eagles, Krugerrands and American Silver Eagles — rather than bars or collectibles, which can have wide bid-ask spreads.

"Liquidity and pricing transparency matter far more than novelty," he said.

Because scams in the space are common, Dane said he only sends clients to vetted dealers his firm knows.

"I advise against online purchases where authenticity and pricing are harder to verify," he said....

McNinch et al. (2006), studying artifact deposition in a similar shallow, energetic

Here is the link for much more about that.

Should advisors let rare coins jingle in client portfolios? | Financial Planning

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The Treasure Coast surf will remain near flat for the next week.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/17/25 Report - Inter Caetera Papal Bull of 1493: Discovering New Lands. Returning Indigenous Artifacts. Miscellaneous Other Bits.

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

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 artifacts from its vast ethnographic collection to Indigenous peoples from Canada, as part of the Catholic Church’s reckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas...

For a century, the items were part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known today as the Anima Mundi museum. The collection has been a source of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debate over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods.

Here is the link for more about that.

The Papal Bull Inter Caetera of May 4, 1493Vatican returns 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples in Canada | AP News

As is often the case these days, I see no relation between the photo and the article.  The photo shows a headdress given to the Pope in 2022.  The article is about artifacts from the Vatican Museum's ethnographic collection.  Such is the state of journalism and the media these days.

Anyhow, the Papal Bull Inter Caetera, written in 1493 by Pope Alexander VI to grant Spain exclusive rights to newly “discovered” lands west of a demarcation line in the Atlantic, effectively dividing the non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal. It legitimized Spain’s claims following Columbus’s voyage, forbade other nations from interfering, and laid the foundation for the “Doctrine of Discovery,” which justified European colonization of the Americas.

The Papal Bull is interesting reading and history.  Below is one excerpt.

We have heard, of course, that though for some time you had intended to look for and find certain remote and unknown islands and mainlands, heretofore undiscovered by others, in order to return their local population and inhabitants to the worship of our Redeemer and to the profession of the Catholic faith, you were not able to reach the intended goal of this your sacred and commendable plan, as you were until now most occupied with the conquest and recovery of the Kingdom of Granada; but when the aforementioned kingdom was finally regained, as it pleased the Lord, and wishing to follow your desire, you designated [our] beloved son Christopher Columbus, a man certainly worthy and most highly recommendable and suited for a task of this magnitude, together with ships and men equipped for such an undertaking under the greatest hardships, dangers and expenses, to carefully search for remote and unknown continents and islands of this kind across the sea, where no one had ever sailed before;...

I highly recommend that you read the entire document, which is just a few pages.

Here is a link to a document which also includes an introduction and comments as well as a the translation.

The Papal Bull Inter Caetera of May 4, 1493

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The American penny is history. The nickel might be next.

The last pennies were pressed at the US Mint in Philadelphia on Wednesday, a victim of production costs higher than their worth coupled with limited usefulness. While the penny remains legal tender, banks and merchants are already reporting shortages.

But the factors that prompted the government to stop making pennies are even truer for the nickel. Pennies cost nearly 5 cents to make – 4 cents more than they’re worth. The nickel’s net loss is nearly 9 cents per coin....

Here is the link for more about that.

With the end of the penny, is the clock ticking for the nickel?

I was wondering if we couldn't simply accept the Canadian pennies be accepted.  We didn't spend a penny to produce them and I suspect there are quite a few in drawers or boxes in this country.  It would be something like when the Spanish real was widely accepted.  Of course, that was largely because of the silver content.

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Small Gold Bracelet Find.

2.7 grams of 14K gold isn't insignificant anymore.  As often is the case with found necklaces or bracelets, it has a broken link.

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Here are a couple other types of finds from nature.

Swallowtail Butterfy Caterpillar on Wild Lemon Tree Leaf.

You can see all kinds of neat things in nature.  The above is an example.  Swallowtails lay their eggs on the wild lemon trees.  The caterpillar above is on the third leaf up from the bottom on the right.  It is only about 1/8 inch long.  Another was found on another wild lemon tree.  It was less than the size of the head on a pin.  The "cats" will eat a few weeks and then form a chrysalis, and in the summer become a butterfly in about a week or two after that, but with winter coming, it probably won't emerge as a butterfly until spring.  Then it will breed and lay eggs, only a small number of which will survive in the wild to become butterflies.  Finding the eggs and small cats is challenging.  Like metal detecting, it helps immensely to know where to look. They lay on the tender new shoots of the host plant. 

Here are a couple more Florida nature finds from the same morning.

Passion Fruit Plants from Two 
Different Species of Passiflora incarnata.

Passion fruit are used in Hawaiian punch drink.  If you open these you'll get that familiar smell and be able to eat the contents.  They can be found growing in wild Florida.  

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I recently added a Fall's City beer bottle and a Horlick's Malted Milk bottle to tgbottlebarn.blogspot.com.

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I almost forgot about my How Coins Move on a Beach series.  I'll have to see where I left on an pick up on it again.  I know I was getting close to the climax.

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Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Looks like a small surf for the next week or so.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/16/25 Report - Artifact Reexamined: New Find on an Old Find. Who Own's The Beach and Common Question Partly Addressed.

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

Pewter Fork or Knife Handle from Treasure Coast Beach.

With time you accumulate more knowledge and often better tools.  As a result, it can be worth going back and reinspecting metal detector finds that you long ago put away.  The added knowledge combined with better tools can lead to new discoveries.  

Above is shown is old Treasure Coast shipwreck beach find.  It has been identified as an early pewter fork or knife handle.  The pewter handle is hollow and would have been over plaster or wood.  

Forks Photographed at the Queen's Jewels LLC Conservation Lab Several Years Ago.
See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 10/18/16 Report - BIG SURF Coming. Ferdinand VII Reale Find. Silver Sea Salvaged Forks. Pewter Fork Handle.

While numerous fork parts have been found on Treasure Coast wrecks, I have not been able to find a picture of a pewter handle cover anything like the one at the top of the post.  Two are listed in the PAS database, but, unfortunately, neither is accompanied by a photo. It seems this artifact is a rarity, and I'd love to see any photos of anything like it.  

The following excerpts are from Nishimura and Quieroz in Material culture and food: The evolution of tableware and the consolidation of behaviors during the mealtime.

The forks shown remains shown in the above photo are badly deteriorated.  They seem to have slim handles - perhaps too slim for easy handling with anything other than condiments.

Only in the 17th century, the dominant classes introduced the practice of eating with their own

cutlery and individual plates, and fork began to be used together with knife, which continues to

be the main utensil, handled with the right hand. Individualism than began to be marked by a

set of utensils arranged at an absolutely regular distance from the table neighbors.13

In the late 17th century, cutlery cases with spoons, forks and knives appeared. Large scale

production of cutlery in England after 1650 played a key role in improving the table manners.17

But only in the early 18th century, multiple cutlery sets began to be produced and, according to

Goldsmith,14 silver cutlery began to become popular in Europe for those who could afford it...

Even today, the table setting, i.e. the place of the utensils on the table, reflects symbologies

inherited over the centuries. Knife blades facing the plate comes from the Middle Age. The

intention of the host is to show that he is unarmed, in a sign of trust and peace to the guests.

Another aspect that reminds the times of violence at the table is the rest position of the cutlery.

Not gesturing with the fork or knife at the hand and lowering the knife when not using it was

associated with good manners.

The fact that the fork is hold with the left hand and the knife with the right hand comes from

the times of King Louis XIV of France. The order remains to this day because all etiquette rules

were designed for right-handed people due to discrimination against the left-handers.23 Cutlery

should always rest and left on the plate – not on the table - because the introduction of individual

forks and napkins raised hygiene and cleanness standards at the mealtime, and any stain outside

the food area or even on the tablecloth would no longer be admissible...

So I decided to put the proposed fork handle under my microscope to see what I could find.  I thought I could see a faint design and after obtaining the right lighting, I was able to get a decent photo of the design on the handle.  Here it is.

Design Found on Pewter Handle.(Magnified).

Too bad it isn't a shield or something more specific.  I'll have to look again.

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Someone recently asked a question that I often receive.   They asked about the laws applicable to finds.  Despite my reluctance to address the subject, I have commented on the subject in the past several times to some extent.

The first step is to determine what laws apply is to first determine who owns the land where the find was made.  Unfortunately, that may not always be easy.

Consider the following excerpts from an article that was published earlier this year.

Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are?

The fight over beach access is unlikely to end in Florida, where growing populations and eroding beaches create arguments over invisible lines in the sand...

Walton County isn’t the only place where people are arguing even about where a visitor can stand. That’s because it’s not clear on the beaches or in state law where the public is or is not allowed.

The Florida Constitution says beaches below the mean high water line are public land. That’s a relatively narrow strip of land on most beaches.

The Florida Supreme Court in 1974 expanded public access to the beach — in theory.

The state’s high court said access exists under the “customary use” doctrine from English common law. The court said access to dry sandy beaches must be based on recreational use that has been “ancient, reasonable, without interruption and free from dispute.”...

This a long article that is well worth reading.  Here is the link.

Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are. - POLITICO

As you can see, the answer isn't simple and clear.  There are controversies, contradictions and complications.

People often talk about the wet sand versus dry sand division as being important.  As I've said before, it doesn't matter if the sand is wet or dry.  The boundary for state property along the navigable waterways doesn't change with the tides or wetness of the sand.  The boundary is defined by the Mean High Water Line, which, as I've also explained before, is determined by survey and up-dated every 19 years to reflect changes due to erosion or accretion.

A waterfront property owner may gain or lose property by erosion or accretion.

Although the state lands boundary is defined by the MHWL, no person you encounter on the beach is likely to know where that line is without reference to the survey markers.

While the state lands along oceans, rivers, and other waterways often abuts private property, it also at times borders public lands controlled by municipalities or even the state itself where there is a state park.

Conversely, the “dry sand” area, which is the portion of the beach landward of the MHWL up to the vegetation line or a permanent structure, is private property. The ownership of this upland area belongs to the adjacent property owner. This creates a dual-ownership system where the public has a right to be on one part of the sand while the other is privately controlled.

In areas where significant beach restoration or nourishment projects have occurred, the boundary may be different. In these cases, a permanently fixed Erosion Control Line (ECL) can replace the fluctuating MHWL as the legal demarcation between state-owned sovereign lands and private upland property. This fixed line provides a more stable and predictable boundary for property owners and the public....

See Who Owns the Beach in Florida? Public vs. Private Rights - LegalClarity for more about that. 

The St. Lucie Erosion Control District (See Ch_2004-409.pdf) is responsible for the beach added below the Fort Pierce jetty, for example.   Erosion control districts are cooperative efforts between local municipalities and federal agencies including the Army Corps or Engineers.  They manage erosion control efforts and handle the funding.

It only seems right that areas created for erosion control are public property since they are paid for by Erosion Control District's and funded by a combination of federal and local funds and benefit the waterfront property owners extensively.

As an example of that, I was once metal detecting in front of a private beach club and the lifeguard employed by the club told me I couldn't metal detect there.  He was wrong.  I called the county offices and was told that it was public property back to the erosion control markers and had no right to restrict public access and use in front of the club.

There are other things that can affect your rights, including, for example, the "common use doctrine" or public safety laws, which I wrote about not long ago.

When there is a question, ask authorities.  Don't be afraid to call.  Get an answer.  It might be incomplete or even wrong, but if you did your best, what more can you do.

In conclusion, it is my feeling that the laws are complex and confusing, but you can stay out of trouble by simply being reasonable, respecting private and public property, being kind, courteous and cooperative with authorities, and doing your best to follow the laws to the best of your understanding.  A little wisdom and good judgement goes a long way.  As Jesus told his disciples, "Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves."  

You don't need to create conflict or trouble when there is no need.  In my opinion, fading in and maintaining a low profile can be a good strategy.

I might follow up on this in the future.

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Beautiful Day on the Treasure Coast.

Nice day to be out on the Treasure Coast.

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Nice small surf for the next few days.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net