4/30/25 Report - Old Sunk Boat Explored. Another Way That Coin Clusters Can Be Created. Researching Old Bricks.

 

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

The area, which is being dug up in order to build a new centre dedicated to biomedicine and biodiversity, has already yielded finds ranging from a Spanish civil war air-raid shelter to traces of the old market and of the city’s 18th-century history.

But earlier this month, archaeologists came across the ruined stern of a big vessel that may have sunk during a storm in the 15th or 16th centuries, when that part of Barcelona was still under the sea.

A large fragment of the boat, 10 metres long and three metres wide and crossed by more than 30 curved wooden ribs, has been uncovered at a depth of 5 metres below sea level.

Here is the link for more about that.

Archaeologists find wreck of large medieval boat in Barcelona | Archaeology | The Guardian

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You can find bricks like this on many old sites.  They can provide good clues for the detectorist.  

There are brick collectors and sites where you can research old bricks.

Here is one good link.

Brick Collecting .com

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Most of the coins that are found by detectorists have been lost in one way or another.  We seldom think of other reasons for coins being in the wild, but not all coins are abandoned by error or carelessness.  Of course some were buried, and those usually aren't difficult to identify because there is usually some kind of container.  But some coins are intentionally discarded.  In foreign tourist areas, lose change might be discarded because it will have little to no value back home and isn't worth fooling with in the airport.  But some coins are discarded because of superstition or traditions that result in many coins being found in small areas.  You will see evidence of that kind of thing many places.

No one knows the origins of this superstition exactly, but the idea of people leaving a monetary offering to spirits transiting through water likely began with concepts related to cleansing. It is believed the custom may have originated from Celtic mythology and is documented to go back to Roman-occupied Britain. UC Irvine researchers documented thousands of first-to-fifth-century coins thrown into a wishing well in Northumberland County, England, as an offering to Coventina, a goddess of wells and springs...  For more, see World Coin Clinic - How Wishing Wells Work - Numismatic News

The act of throwing coins into water is deeply rooted in symbolism. It represents a desire for good luck, prosperity, and the fulfillment of wishes. Different cultures have their own interpretations and beliefs surrounding this practice. For example, in ancient Rome, tossing coins into fountains was a way to show gratitude for clean water and seek divine blessings. In Japan, throwing coins into ponds or wells is not only a spiritual practice but also a way to contribute to the environment and the community. 

The symbolism of pennies and the act of throwing them into water reflect the universal longing for luck and fortune...  

Ultimately, the act of throwing coins into water is a powerful representation of our innate hope, faith, and belief in the unseen forces that shape our lives. It is a way for individuals to connect with something greater than themselves and express their deepest desires. This ancient practice continues to be a testament to the human spirit’s unwavering optimism and resilience...

In ancient Rome, coin tossing was not only seen as a way to seek good fortune but also as a gesture of thanksgiving. The Romans believed that tossing coins into fountains would appease the gods and show gratitude for the blessings received. This practice reflected their deep respect for water, which was essential for daily life...

Here is that link.

Is It Good Luck to Throw Away A Penny? Exploring Coin Beliefs

At DisneyWorld, virtually everybody of water holds coins from around the world. They are piled on the pilings where the boats depart from the transportation center and in the small streams of the model railroad layout by Germany in Epcot. There seems to be something about DisneyWorld that inspires the custom of throwing coins in water. Maybe it is the prominence of fantasy and wishing, or maybe it is just the large number of people, uselessness of a few pennies or the wealth of the population or carefree attitude inspired by the fantasy environment. Whatever the case, people throw tons of coins into the bodies of water. I can never pass such a pile of coins without my mind wondering about possilble methods of harvesting those coins.


I remember a swimming area in a park in South Florida that was drained yearly and the coins and jewelry was removed by a contracted detectorists. I can't remember the name of the park right now.

The Minneapolis Mall of America reportedly collects about $25,000 a year. The lake in front of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas receives about $12,000 in coins annually, and a 2016 report indicates the famed 18th-century Trevi Fountain in Rome accumulated about $1.5 million that year. A 2007 Fountain Money Mountain report claimed tourists globally tossed about $3.7 million into fountains annually... Source: World Coin Clinic - How Wishing Wells Work - Numismatic News

Some of the traditions explained by Copilot follows:  If you throw one coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome.  If you throw two coins, you will fall in love with an attractive Italian.  If you throw three coins, you will marry the person that you met.  In the past it was believed that the water from the fountain had mystical properties.  It was claimed that a maiden should lead her sweetheart to the fountain and give hi a cup of water to drink, then smash the cup to ensure his safe return to Rome and his devoted love forever.

The Celts and Germanic peoples are often cited in reference to the tradition of wishing wells. These two groups, who are closely linked in origin, thought such waters had mystical powers and believed them to be guarded by spirits. These spirits were said to reside at the source of the water. Speaking something aloud over the source made it come to pass, if the spirits were thus inclined. Therefore, it became common practice to beseech the blessing of the well’s divinity or spirit by offering something in return. Patrons would sacrifice coins and other valuables in hopes that the spirit would look upon them in favor and grant their wishes.  From The Ritual behind Wishing Wells: Buying Favors and Good Fortune | Ancient Origins

When thinking of places I'd like to metal detect, my mind always goes back to a small wooden bridge over a small stream between a swimming pool and the local drive inn theatre.  I doubt it is still there, but if it is, I would guess that more than a few cons were tossed into the stream there.  I can think of other similar places as well, such as the old covered bridges up north, where I'd imagine that more than a few cons were tossed into the water for good luck.  You might want to think about places that seem to invite people in a flight of hope or fantasy to intentionally toss their lose change.

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On a similar note of custom derived from superstition, my grandmother never gave the gift of a wallet without putting some money in it.

See Never Give a Wallet Without Money Inside, Part 2 – WalletBe

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Source: surfGuru.com.

The big news is another day of 3-foot high tides.  Unfortunately, the surf isn't high to go along with it, although it looks like there is a good chance of a higher surf in a week or so.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net