2/19/25 Report - How to Safely Ship Gold. A Quick Test of a Couple AI Systems For Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting.

 

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

Shipping gold and other precious metals requires careful planning and consideration, as the high value of these items makes them a target for theft. To ensure the safe transportation of your valuable assets, follow these guidelines:

1. Use a reliable shipping company: Work with a reputable shipping service with experience handling precious metals. Some of the most trusted names in the industry include FedEx, UPS, and Brinks.
2. Package your items securely: Protect your metals with appropriate packaging. Use a sturdy box, and wrap each item with bubble wrap or protective padding. Seal the box with strong tape, ensuring no gaps or openings.
3. Choose appropriate insurance: Insure your shipment based on the value of the items being transported. The shipping company should offer various insurance options to cover the full value of your precious metals.
4. Utilize tracking and signature confirmation: These services ensure that your package is accounted for at every step of the shipping process and requires a signature upon delivery.
5. Maintain discretion: To minimize the risk of theft, avoid using words like “gold” or “precious metals” on the outside of the package. Instead, use a generic description like “metal samples” or “machine parts.”...

Here is the link for more about that.

Gold Shipping & How to Ship Precious Metals in 2023 | American Bullion

The most secure methods are not the fastest.  Be prepared for delays.  An item that must be signed at each point will sit and wait for the required signature.  I remember one package sitting in a location for almost a week because the person that was supposed to sign-off on it was on vacation or something.  

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I decided to test Grok 3, another AI chatbot that is supposed to be very good.  I first asked where is the best place to find coins from the 1715 Fleet, and it gave a pretty good answer, including the Treasure Coast around Melborne, Vero, and Fort Pierce.  It gave a little more than that, so I queried to get more specific, and asked what are the best beaches.   Grok 3 gave the following reponse.

Among the beaches along Florida's Treasure Coast, where the 1715 Fleet sank, some are more renowned for their historical significance and potential for finding artifacts like coins:

• Sebastian Inlet State Park: This area is particularly famous for finds from the 1715 Fleet. The inlet's shifting sands can sometimes reveal treasures, especially after storms. It's one of the prime spots for treasure hunters, although finds are less common now due to extensive previous searching.


• Vero Beach: Known for its history of treasure finds, this beach has been a hotspot for both serious treasure hunters and casual beachgoers picking up coins after storms. The McLarty Treasure Museum nearby offers insights into the history of the 1715 Fleet.


• Fort Pierce: The area, especially around Pepper Park Beach, has seen its share of treasure discoveries. This beach continues to be interesting due to its proximity to known shipwreck sites.


• Melbourne Beach: While not as famous as Vero or Sebastian, Melbourne Beach has also yielded treasures from the fleet, particularly after significant storm events that can disturb the seabed...

I went back and asked :"What are some of the better beaches on the Treasure Coast where you can find 1715 Fleet coins. Below is that response.

The Treasure Coast of Florida is known for its historical connections to the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, where numerous coins and artifacts have been found over the years. Here are some of the better beaches for potentially finding such treasures:

1. Turtle Trail Beach, Indian River County - This beach has been notably mentioned for discoveries, including 22 silver coins from the 1715 Fleet found by treasure hunters in 2020.


2. Melbourne Beach - Known for its history of treasure finds post-storm, Melbourne Beach has been a hotspot for both novice and experienced treasure hunters. In 2015, a significant find of over $4 million in coins and artifacts was made here.


3. Wabasso Beach - Just north of Vero Beach, this location has seen discoveries like 22 silver coins in 2020, indicating that items from the 1715 Fleet still surface here.


4. Sebastian Inlet State Park - The area around Sebastian Inlet, especially near the McLarty Treasure Museum, is rich with history. The museum itself sits on the site of a survivors' camp from the 1715 shipwrecks, and local beaches have yielded finds.


5. Vero Beach and Surrounding Areas - The general area from Vero Beach to Sebastian is part of the known shipwreck sites. Beaches like South Beach Park and Seagrape Trail Beach have been areas where artifacts occasionally wash ashore.


6. Ambersands Beach Park, Vero Beach - The proximity to where the historical shipwrecks occurred makes this public beach another potential spot for finds, especially after significant weather events.

When searching for treasures on these beaches, it's important to note:

• Metal Detecting: You can use metal detectors from the foot of the dunes to the low tide line on public beaches, but always check local regulations as they can change.


• After Storms: Post-storm conditions often shift sand, revealing items that have been buried for centuries.


• Permits: For underwater finds or in state parks, you might need permits or must adhere to specific regulations regarding artifact recovery.

Remember, while these beaches have historical significance and a reputation for finds, every treasure hunt depends on a mix of luck, knowledge, and timing.

Grok 3 seems to give a pretty good response and goes a bit beyond your specific question. You might call it a chatty chatbot. In the first response, Grok 3 included information about digging holes and some other related information. I wish I captured all that, but you get the idea.

It is a decent source of information and will answer many questions.  It evidently vacuums up a lot of information from many sources, assimilates that information, and provides quick answers that will be sufficient in many cases.  I'm not so sure that information sources receive enough credit as being the original source of the information provided by Grok or any of the other AI chatbots.

This was an extremely brief test of the system, but the initial results are fairly impressive.  I'll continue to evaluate AI systems and the usefulness for detecting and treasure hunting.  I'm sure it will prove useful in a variety of ways.

How an AI system judges or evaluates various content sources is important and will determine to some extent the nature and effectiveness of responses.  It is important how the system weights different.  I would hope that information provided by an Einstein would not receive the same weight as information provided by Joe Schmoe.  If all sources are considered equally important, you'd end up not getting the leading edge or most advanced thinking on a topic but rather some form of averaged group think.

I tested Grok on one very controversial subject and what I might describe as the common consensus was presented as the response.  I already knew what the common consensus and politically correct answer, so that wasn't very helpful to me.  I was hoping to find something a bit deeper or more insightful.  It seemed like I was getting the same answers I would get from any of a hundred other common sources.  I'd rather hear something that isn't already easy to find all over the internet.

For another kind of example, I queried Copilot by asking what shipwrecks are near Sebastian, Florida.  

Below is Copilot's response. 

Sebastian, Florida, is part of the famous "Treasure Coast," known for its rich history of shipwrecks. Here are some notable shipwrecks in the area:

1. 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet: This fleet of 11 Spanish galleons and one French ship, the Griffon, sank off the coast near Sebastian during a hurricane. The ships were heavily loaded with gold, silver, and other treasures from the New World.

2. Nuestra Señora de Atocha: Although not directly off Sebastian, this famous Spanish galleon was discovered by treasure hunter Mel Fisher. It sank in 1622 and was found in the Florida Keys, carrying a cargo of gold, silver, and copper bullion.

3. Santa Margarita: Another ship from the 1622 fleet, the Santa Margarita, was also discovered by Mel Fisher and his team. It carried a similar cargo to the Atocha.

Ehhhh..,  It said that the Atocha and Santa Margarita were "not directly off Sebastian," but the inclusion stills seems misleading, if not completely incorrect.

I also queried Copilot on wrecks and got some helpful answers but also noticed some important omissions.

Once again, this was a very quick test, but I think it points out some of the benefits as well as shortcomings of the AI systems tested.

I noticed that one system picked up the "Happy Hunting" and was adding that to the end of responses that were metal detecting or treasure hunting related.

It will be interesting to see if AI systems tailor answers to the user.  We could end up with systems that give you what you want to hear.  We don't need that.

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Fort Pierce Surf Chart.
Source: SurfGuru.com.

The weather has been beautiful for being outside lately.  The surf is nothing special,   

Good Hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net