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Saturday, January 4, 2025

1/4/24 Report - 1715 Salvage Finds. Cross Found by Kid. Few Comments on the Math, Sociology and Demographics of Metal Detecting.

 

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



Among the latest finds over the summer: 200 silver coins, a flintlock, an unusual tan vase and a mysterious set of bronze keys, according to a news release from 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC.

 Even more startling, Capt. Mike Perna and shipmates Milan Kalelkar and Levin Shavers found “the remains of a wooden box that has been submerged in the ocean for over 300 years.” 

The artifacts were recovered along a mile-long “trail of shipwreck scatter” created when as many as a dozen treasure ships spilled their cargo...

Here is the link for more about that.

Coins, flintlock found on 1715 shipwreck, Florida team says | Miami Herald

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A rare cross was discovered by a ten-year-old while exploring on school field trip in Jerusalem.

Nehorai Nir was picking edible plants with his class and believed he saw a red pomegranate on the ground.

"I ran to pick it up and discovered a worm inside, so I reluctantly put it down — but on the way back up the hilll I suddenly saw a colorful object shining in the dirt," Nir said.., 

Here is that link for more about that.

Rare religious cross discovered by child while exploring on school field trip in Jerusalem

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The first three days of this new year, I showed what some people found in 2024.  The record keeping done by those detectorists is commendable.  You can learn a lot that will help you by keeping records of your finds.  I've mentioned that before and gave some examples from my own records.  See, for example, The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 5/11/13 Report - Metal Detecting Records & 10 Gold Finds in 1 Day.

Besides what you find, it is helpful to keep records on where things were found so that you can better estimate what a beach might produce..  The longer and more thoroughly you keep records, the better you will be at evaluating different beaches.

You saw a good sample of the types of things that were found in 2024.  There were a lot of jewelry items and a couple reales.  The jewelry items varied in quality.  There were cheaper items, silver items, and gold items.  But even the gold varied in quality.  If you evaluate different sites for both quantity and quality of finds, you'll notice that some sites produce on average higher quality items.  To some extent that is determined by demographics or sociology.

Without good records, you'll develop a feeling about where you can find valuable things and how many but won't be able to be as specific.  You can develop a predictive model and make beach decisions based upon the average predicted value of finds.

For some observations on some of the factors that determine where you'll make the most finds, see.The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 3/20/11 Report - Selecting a Beach & Nugget Find

I've written before about the math of metal detecting, which depends upon keeping good records and the development of predictive models.

It isn't always the busiest beaches or the beaches that get the most activity that produce the most finds.  Busy beaches will tend to produce more finds, but not necessarily of the highest quality.  And, as I've said before, one quality item can be worth more than hundreds of lower quality items, but you can determine from experience and your records which areas will predict the highest total value finds.  Will a beach that produces lower quality finds be better or a beach that produces fewer but higher value finds?  For me, those are interesting questions, but with good records, you can make decisions based upon data.

The sociology or demographics are interesting to me.  People who wear more jewelry won't necessarily lose more.  If they are older or sedentary, tey won't lose much.  If they are  playing volleyball, running, jumping and turning cartwheels in the water, they will lose more.  But the quality might not be as good - or it might.  

If people live in a condo on the beach, they won't lose as much as if they are tourists staying at a hotel.  Tourists may not feel as comfortable leaving valuables in a hotel room.  Tourists will not be as aware of how easily things can be lost in the sand or water.  They might not even think about it.  

And there are the cultural issues.  Some cultures simply wear more gold, and they might wear a higher quality gold.  You won't see too many Canadians wearing 22k gold.  In fact, northerners generally wear much less jewelry than others.  You won't be wearing big gemstone rings under warm mittens or gloves.  

When I metal detected in the lakes of Minnesota, for example, I found a good number of silver religious medallions but big gold rings.  You didn't see the people up there wearing a lot of gold like the people in Miami, for example.  Maybe they would wear a simple band.

These are the kinds of things I like about metal detecting.  Metal detecting can be approached iin scientific or data driven way.  I've done a post or two on the math of metal detecting, which focuses on those kinds of issues.  Use you experience and records to guide your decisions and evalate the results.  Your records will provide the data you need to make those kinds of decisions.

I could go on and on, and I really should go back and put this all in a more clear concise form, but I probably never will.  

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Source: SurfGuru.com.

We are getting some north winds as a cold front moves in.  It is easier to work on a beach when it is not 100 degrees.  

The surf will be a little higher, but not huge.

There will be some wind shifts, that you might want to watch.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

Friday, January 3, 2025

1/3/25 Report - Another Treasure Coast Detectorists' Finds of 2024. Silver, Gold and Coins. Chinese Submarine Drone Found Floating at Sea.

 

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


Silver Rings Found by Dan K. in 2024.
Photo 1 of 7.  See more of Dan K's 2035 finds below.

I started 2025 by doing a series of posts showing what readers found in 2024.  In this post, my third of the series, you will see Dan K's favorite finds of 2024.  

Below is Dan's email and more find photos.


Happy new year! Wanted to share my best finds of 2024.


Photo 1: Eight silver rings.
Photo 2: Two silver chains.
Photo 3: Four nicer silver rings and a silver sword pendant. The ring to the far right is Tiffany and Co.
Photo 4: Four pendants. From left to right: silver DY pendant with pave diamonds and 18k gold inlay. 10k tiger pendant with pave diamonds and lab ruby eyes. 14k Jewish mezuzah pendant. 14k Saint Christoper pendant.
Photo 5: Six gold rings. Best being the 18k white gold with 8 chip diamonds. 4.5 grams.
Photo 6: 10k rope chain.
Photo 7: Two buffalo nickels and a Swedish 50 ore coin made into a pendant.

My favorite finds would have to be the two buffalo nickels and the two religious gold pendants. The 14k mezuzah pendant is especially interesting and beautiful. Thank you for all the great reading in your blog. Regards,
Dan

2024 Finds by Dan K.
Two Silver chains.

(Photo 2 of 7)



More 2024 Finds by Dan K.
(Photo 3 of 7)



Silver and Gold 2024 Finds by Dan K.
(Photo 4of 7)


2024 Gold Ring Finds by Dan K.
(Photo5 of 7)


10K Rope Chan Found by Dan K. in 2024
(Photo 6 of 7)


Buffalo Nickles and Pendant Found by Dan K. in 2024
(Photo 7 of 7)

Thanks for sharing Dan.  And congratulations on the great finds!

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A submarine drone suspected to be from China was recovered in waters off the central Philippines, police said on Thursday, warning of "potential national security implications."

Three fishermen found the drone on Monday around six miles off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province, a police report said...

Here is that link.


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This could explain a lot.


The NY Post presents it in a more negative light.


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Source: SurfGuru.com.

So another cool front came through and we had some more north wind and will be getting a little higher surf.

Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net


Thursday, January 2, 2025

1/2/2025 Report - Many Finds From 2024. Another Show and Tell. Assayers on Atcho Coins Listed.

 

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


Some Favoite 2024 Finds by Mark G (More below)

Mark G. sent these find photos along with the following email and find summary.

I was hoping we could have a show and tell. I did pretty well in 2024 picked up a little towards the end of the year as I put in more time. Mostly South Hutchinson Island with a few forays north of Ft Pierce and south of Stuart. I’ve had both my scopes weld repaired at least once, upgraded my Legend software 4 times and replaced a coil.

 

I separate the silver and gold from the Fakies. Here’s my haul for 2024, photos have a little from August to December 2023 but count is 2024.

 

Fakies:

14 Rings

13 Ear Rings

9 Pendants

6 Bracelets

2 Tokens

1 Belly Button Ring

And a Giraffe (Stand Tall Token)  

 

Golde and Silver:

8 Silver Rings (1 10K gold inlay)

1 Tungsten Carbide

5 Silver Earrings

1 Silver and Gold Pendant with a Pearl and Diamonds

1 Gold Bracelet (10K 11grams)

1 8 Reale (Piece of Eight) Authenticated

 

Add to that 1 returned cell phone, $80 in cleaned spendable coins, enough fishing weights to re-smelt into about 12 pounds of new sinkers, and my other categories trinkets, fishing equipment, Hot Wheels, vapes, occasional sunglasses and of course buckets of junk.

 

To kick off 2025 I put in a few hours on a crowded beach Jan 1, and dug a fakie diamond earring and a Pando 14K plated Family Forever Heart Charm.

 

Thank You

Mark G.



Below are more of Mark's find photos.











Thanks for sharing Mark.

And congratulations on all the great finds, especially on your first reale.

How about some more finds from 2025.  

Make sure to tell about your favorite finds.

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My habit was to take monthly find photos before taking the good stuff to the bank deposit box.  That way I had the photographic record of finds as well as the continual log of coins and jewelry.

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For a very lengthy list of assayers for Spanish Colonial coins, check this Fisher Museum link.

Spanish Coin Assayer - Mel Fisher's Treasures

Very good list.  Check it out.

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Keep the show-and-tells going.

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Source: SurfGuru.com.

Nothing special in the weather, but with all of the tourists hitting the beaches during this beautiful weather, there should be plenty of newly lost items to find.

When you look at all of the things some people have found, think of all the swinging, digging and holes.  The people who find a lot, hunt a lot.

If you remember my formula for metal detecting success, you'll remember that the first factor is time on task.  

You will have slow periods, but eventually you'll get back on track.  You'll learn something or try something new and become more productive.

Even when the old suff isn't coming up, you can find modern stuff.  Make adjustments and keep going.


Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net














Wednesday, January 1, 2025

1/1/25 Report - Happy New Year! One Reader's Super Finds From 2024. Busy Beaches Beckon Detectorists. The Past in the Present.

 

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


Favorite 2024 Finds by John H.


I received these photos and email from John H.

Happy New year to you and your readers! These are all my favorite finds for 2024. All were found on South Hutchinson Island south of the power plant to Bathtub Beach. 7 gold rings, 16 silver, 62 total with 3 returns. I think the pendant with the real is my favorite, it tested as 14k. It is probably one of the cheap ones from a museum gift shop with a low quality coin in it but I still like it. It tried to get lost in the ocean twice. I find a little less coins every year, it seems as though they are not being circulated as much...

Reale in Pendant Found by John H.

Congratulations on the great finds, John.  Thanks for sharing.  Everybody likes to see what is being found and is inspired to see what is out there to be found.  Too many people have been giving up.

I think you are right about coins.  Fewer people are carrying money, including coins.  

John provided a service by sharing.  Let me see what you found in 2024 as well as 2025.

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No matter what has been found, the beaches are being replenished, and I don't mean just sand.

Mark G. send the following photo of a crowded tourist beach.


Jammed News Year Eve Beach
Photo provided by Mark G.

Thanks to Mark G. for the photo.

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As midnight on New Year's Eve approached, the sound of random fireworks grew more frequent.  I've done this about eighty times before and it all seems very familiar.  Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve program is on again minus Dick Clark. Many of the 2025 party-goers probably don't know about his American Bandstand TV program where their grandparents could have danced to the music of the day.

The routine familiarity of the New Year's Eve events set off a seemingly endless stream of memories for me.  Some memories seemed random and very unexpected, but the most precious are memories of family members who shared my New Year celebrations in the past.

I remember grandpa.  I always remember the time I took my wife home for the first time and my grandpa met her and said she didn't seem like a stranger at all but a regular part of the family.  That was precious to me.  We had Christmas dinner at grandma's house.  Yes, it was grandpa's house too, but grandma ran the show and orchestrated the merriment.  

The day after meeting my wife, grandpa went to the hospital and passed away a few days later.  I'm still so glad he met my wife even if it was only one time many years ago.

I remember mom.  Her passing still seems fresh to me.  I disposed of her possessions last year, which were numerous, including many mementos from generations.  Talk about boxes of memories.  I sold her house last summer - a not so easy task.

In a strange way my mom seemed very much like a sister to me as well as a mother.  Despite the age difference, we grew up on the same country hillside overlooking the creek in the valley and the road we both walked to school.  WE passed the same spreading oak and old barn and studied in the same school rooms.  

She played in the same green fields, attended the same elementary school and got her Baccalaureate degree from the same college as me.  She returned to school as an adult and graduated college the same year I graduated high school.  

Her family was stable as could be and had deep roots in the area.  The road had her surname as did the hollow on the other side of the hill over which we both watched the sun go down every day of our youth.  

My dad was the opposite in many ways.  He was a street kid.  I don't think he knew for certain who his father was.  He worked from a young age and barely attended school.  He split from his family.  I never knew any of his family.  

Dad was a fighter.  Mom would never do anything to receive a reprimand let along a spanking.  But when one teacher threatened to spank my dad, it didn't happen.  It wouldn't have been a spanking.  It would have been a fist fight.  And the teacher thought better of it. 

Mom's family provided deep generational stability, and my dad was adopted into it.  They were in some ways opposites but together made a perfect match.

My mom's uncle and aunt were also mine.  Mom's uncle and aunt were always referred to as Uncle Bill and Aunt Ellen.  It was quite a while before I figured they were not my uncle and aunt because that is what we always called them, and that is who they were to me.

All this reminiscing about people who are no longer around might seem depressing to you, but it is not depressing to me.  The memories of all the good times and precious people are with me every day.  They are too numerous to mention.  If I started on all those precious memories, it would never end.

The memories sometimes don't seem like memories at all to me.  Sometimes it seems more like time travel.  

Those old times are still with me. I am what I am now, but I am also what I was then.  For me the past never left. it is just another layer. 

The biology of those people lives on in me.   Their nurturance, presence and acts molded me.  They and the events of the past are encoded in my brain.  

And now I fondly look back, and with much greater understanding and appreciation, sincerely say what I should have said more often back then, "Thank you!"

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As you can see from the photos above, it is a good time to do some metal detecting and see what you can find.

Happy New Year!

TreasureGuide@comcast.net