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Sunday, June 29, 2025

6/30/25 Report - Coins, Fakes and Reproductions. Book: History of the Florida Keys Treasure. Electricity, Psychometry and Finds.


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


fake or real

I noticed the above coin sale online.  It immediately reminded me of a fake coin I saw before. As I looked at it, it just didn't look right.  It looks fake.  What do you think?

I looked at the listing a little more and saw that this coin was advertised as sterling silver.  OK.  So it is a fake.  Reading on a little more, it was advertised as a reproduction.

Can you see anything in the photo that would tell you it is a fake?  Take a close look.

Perhaps the most obvious sign, or at least the easiest to point out, is the seam that you can see running from the bottom of the view of the left up along the right side of that coin.  

I see no "COPY" mark.  Those marks are sometimes very small and disguised to not be apparent, but I don't see any such mark on this coin.  By the way, it was one of a group that were for sale from a site that sells reproduction coins - some being more obvious than others.

Should this coin be marked?

The Hobby Protection Act, passed by Congress in 1973, covers imitation political items (e.g., buttons, posters, stickers) and imitation numismatic items (e.g., coins, tokens, paper money, commemorative medals). These imitation items are required to be marked with certain identifying information to flag them as imitations. The Collectible Coin Protection Act (CCPA) further amends the Act to address the distribution and sale of such items. The Act prohibits manufacturing, importing, or selling imitation numismatic items unless they are properly marked. (Source: copilot)

I don't think this coin has to be marked because it is being sold as a reproduction. 

The asking price on the site is $37.95.  Being sterling silver, it does have some value.  I looked up the weight and it weighs 6.3 grams so today isn't worth much more than about a dollar in silver content.
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I recently mentioned treasure hunting in the Keys and Art McKee in particular.

Here is a good book you'll want to read - Hidden History of the Florida Keys.  You can read part of it free online.

Here is the table of contents.



And here is a brief excerpt from that book.



That is just a small part of it.  Take a look.  Here is the link for much more.


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We've been struck with summer conditions for, it seems like, at least three months.  No surf to speak of.  Nothing to stir anything up.  But now we are starting to get some tropical development.  We had one storm develop and quickly fall apart.  Now there is Tropical Storm Barry down by the Yucatan and no threat to the Treasure Coast.

We've been getting more rain too as well as some thunderstorms.  Watch out for lightning.

You can hear static from lightning a long distance away. I knew a fellow that got hit by lightning a couple times. I met him when I was doing consulting for Federal Express in Memphis.  He was on the tarmac both times.

Yesterday I was outside when lightning hit some distance away.  I was near an electric pole and heard static around the circuit breakers.  I thought they might be kicked off, but it didn't.  What happened though right after the static though surprised me.  Just a couple seconds after I heard the static about six birds came from I don't know where and landed right above the circuit breakers.  I wondered if the timing was coincidental or if the electricity somehow drew the birds. I'll probably never know.

Another strange thing happened close to that time. It had nothing to do with the lightning.  I opened an box where some of my old stuff was stored.  There were about four old baseball gloves from my childhood, my football kicking shoes. a couple footballs, including one that I kicked the heck out of and had a bulge where I usually kicked it, along with a few other old sentimental keepsakes.  But I picked up the better football and grabbed it like I was going to throw a pass and my hand fit it so well I couldn't believe it.  After sixty some years of barely touching that football, I felt a really strange connection. It fit like it was part of my hand.  I still haven't gotten over the sensation.  It felt like it fit better than a glove.  More lie it was part of my hand.  It was a strange feeling, and I haven't gotten over yet.

When I started to tell about this experience, I didn't realize any connection with treasure hunting.  I was just relating something that really struck me, but I just realized that I've talked for the first time about psychometry (object reading) in yesterday's post.  I presented the subject only to encourage tacking time to quietly consider or brainstorm about a find.  I paid no attention to any connection with the paranormal.  But the timing of this unprecedented experience did make me wonder about why the experience was so unexpectedly strong.  I do not have any belief that the incident had anything to do with any kind of energy resident in the object or any spiritual connection, still I was very struck by the experience and can only wonder about it.

For more on psychometry, see Psychometry: Reading Objects Through Touch - iResearchNet 

Interesting how things come together.

===

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

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6/29/25 Report - Cleaning Coins: Notes on Using Muriatic Acid, White Vinegar and Baking Soda. Two Treasure Coast Find Examples.

 

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

BEFORE                                          AFTER
Monogram Side of Lima Half Real Before and After Cleaning with Acid.

In an earlier post I discussed using a tumbler to clean coins.  Today I'll discuss using Muriatic acid and white vinegar to clean coins.

When found, the above half-reale was completely covered on one side (the side shown in the photo) with a very hard calcareous crust.  The other side was very different.  The side not sown above, was covered with a sand crust that was easily removed.  

The calcareous crust, although difficult to remove, actually protected the surface details of the coin from corrosion over the hundreds of years on the beach.  

The hard crust was removed by soaking the cob in Muriatic acid, which is one common method used on silver reales.  I didn't take the cleaning as far as is commonly done.  You can see that it is still black.  

I've posted this reale before, and I also posted the following excellent instructions as provided by Bill P. before.  Today I'll add some additional comments.  


Bill's Silver Cob Cleaning Method

Use this method at your own risk. This writer accepts no responsibility for misuse or ignorance or neglect for any person or party and for informational purposes only.

 This process uses diluted Muriatic Acid which is commonly used around swimming pools. It can be purchased pretty much anywhere pool chemicals are sold.

 A few precautions must be addressed first though. Here is a link to Bob Vila's Info on this acid https://www.bobvila.com/articles/muriatic-acid/ .

 As stated in the Bob Vila article, I cannot emphasize enough that water should NEVER be poured into acid to dilute it. The reverse is the only way it should be done...acid into water. This acronym should be in the forefront of your thoughts when using any acid...AAA - Always Add Acid!

 How to neutralize acid; baking soda neutralizes acid very quickly so make sure you have enough on hand.

 Muriatic acid is readily available at most home improvement stores in ½ and 1 gallon sizes. It is typically a 31% strength from the bottle. I generally cut this in half to roughly 15% strength and it seems to work perfectly but you may want to experiment (again, AAA).

 I suggest that you treat one cob at a time. I use a shot glass so not much acid is required. Place the appropriate amount of acid into the shot glass and gently place the cob into the container (no splashing please). Depending on how heavily it's encrusted, it should start fizzing immediately. It may take several treatments to dissolve the encrustation but in my experience once is enough.

 Remove the cob from the solution and if you only have one cob, neutralize the acid in the glass and on the cob at once. The cob will have a dull gray color.

 Next take a small amount of baking soda (not baking powder), place it in the palm of your hand, add a couple drops of water to make a paste. Then gently rub the cob between your fingers until a bright silver sheen is revealed. It's that simple.

 In the case of stubborn encrustation there is another method that works although not as reliable as the acid treatment. However it is much safer because there are no caustic chemicals involved.

You will need baking soda, aluminum foil and hot tap water. Make a paste with the baking soda and water, fold a small piece of foil in half, fill the folded foil with the paste and sandwich the cob in between. The whole thing may become warm as the aluminum and baking soda react. There also may be some fizzing. Once this is complete, you polish the cob as previously stated.

 It is my belief that using electrolysis can damage a cob. Years ago I watched a video when the early 1715 salvors were attempting to clean clumps of encrusted cobs. They dumped the clumps into a tub and poured muriatic acid over all of it. I never saw the finished product I'm sure it was effective.

You may want to try this first on a common silver coin instead on a cob...for your own peace of mind.

Silver and copper are insoluble in dilute Muriatic acid at room temperature.

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The Muriatic acid method works well. I've used it. The thing I would emphasize is monitoring any cleaning process. Check the progress occasionally and watch for anything unexpected. While silver or copper won't be dissolved, there is always the possibility of mistaking the composition of objects. Regretfully I've done that.

I don't usually remove all the dark silver sulphate, and I don't usually make my cobs bright and shiny.  Rubbing a coin with a baking soda past will shine the high spots while leaving dirt or a darker surface in the low areas.  I like just a little of that contrast to bring out the features.  Below is an example of a four-reale.that was cleaned that way. 

I used a microscope to view the cob.


You can see a few specs of sand remaining as well as the contrasting brightness of the high and low surfaces.  There are a lot of interesting features to be seen when you use an amount of magnification.

The aluminum foil method works very well.  I've used it too.

Lately I've been using white vinegar (5% acid) instead of Muriatic as my first choice.  The vinegar is safer for people and furniture.  I once got Muriatic acid on a dining room chair.  Not good.  You should use Muriatic acid outdoors anyhow.  It can give off fumes.  

Remove surface dirt, encrustation or corrosion physically first as much as you can safely do that.  Removing surface crust first will speed up the chemical process, but it will also enable you to get a better idea of what you are really dealing with.  You will learn about the metal as well as the type and amount of cleaning that needs to be done.  Extreme care must be taken to avoid damaging the coin when removing crust by force.

I have seen found coins with a crust that was completely impermeable to the acid.  The crust had to be physically removed before acid cleaning was possible.  The crust retained the negative image of the coin when removed.

Any of these methods will work.  Select the one that is most appropriate for the object being cleaned and your goals and circumstances.  There is no hurry.  You can avoid many mistakes by proceeding carefully and slowly.  If you stop too soon and are not happy with the coin, you can always continue, but if you go too far and make a mistake, you might not be able to recover.

You might experiment with coins you don't care too much about and gain confidence in your chosen method before applying it to your cherished finds.  For your better examples, if you don't feel that you have enough experience, you can get your coin professionally cleaned.

If you are going to sell your cobs, you will probably want them looking bright and shiny.  Augie of Sedwick Coins told me that buyers prefer them that way.

Sometimes you start out hoping for a Marie Osmond type of face lift but end up with more of a Nancy Pelosi type of effect.  Some cobs are simply nicer to start with.

In sharp contrast to this post about very old dug coins, when it comes to modern collector coins, cleaning coins in any way is discouraged.  Never clean those kinds of coins.  It is important to know when and when not to clean coins.





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On the Treasure Coast there is still a small surf.  There will also be a decent late afternoon low tide.

There was some tropical development in the Yucatan, but nothing that would affect the Treasure Coast.

Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
at

Friday, June 27, 2025

6/28/25 Report - New Atocha Find. Art McKee Treasure Museum. History of Diving Museum. Bottle Information.


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



 

The above photo and following email message was received Friday from the Mel Fisher organziation.

The Dare crew, currently working along the historic trail of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The team has recently recovered TODAY an intriguing piece of silver—what appears to be the neck or handle of a vase. This artifact may provide new insight into the types of items transported aboard the Atocha during her fateful voyage in 1622.

In addition to the silver piece, a small ballast stone was uncovered. These stones were used to help stabilize Spanish galleons and are strong indicators that we are still on the correct path toward the heart of the wreck site.

Each discovery, no matter how small, adds to our understanding of this incredible shipwreck and brings us one step closer to the untold treasures that still lie beneath the sea.

---

Dubbed the father of modern treasure diving, McKee also uncovered the sites of the Infante, Herrera, Chaves, San Pedro and San José. His exploits are chronicled in a remarkable exhibit at the Florida Kehys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada. 

The Keys' most famous wreck is immortalized at Key West's Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The museum showcases artifacts and treasures from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost in a 1622 hurricane and discovered off Key West in 1985 by shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher. Items on display include gold chains, cannons, navigational instruments, coins and heavy silver bars.

That excerpt came from the site of the Keys History of Diving Museum.  Here is the link to that site.

Early Wreckers, Treasure Hunters and Modern Divers Seek Keys Shipwrecks

That is another nice place to visit if you are down in the Keys.


I remember the first time I was down in the Keys and talked to Art one day when his museum was already closed. He was always known as a friendly helpful guy.

I posted several times about Art McKee and his museum, which.  Here is a link to one of those posts.

 The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 9/16/11 Report - Bronze Atocha Seal Find, Florida Bison, More on McKee

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Here is a bottle that had me puzzled for a long time.  I finally learned about it.

Cliquot Club Bottle.


On the shoulder the bottle is embossed as follows:

TRADE

CLIQUOT CLUB

MARK.

On the heel there is a big bold REGISTERED and a very small 84C or 84G.

And on the bottom is an R in a triangle, which is the maker's mark, which is an important mark.


Clicquot Club Ale—pronounced “Klee-ko”—has a fizzy legacy that dates back to the 1880s in Millis, Massachusetts. It all began when Charles LaCroix, of the LaCroix Fruit Farm, teamed up with Henry Millis to bottle sparkling cider under the name “Clicquot,” inspired by the French champagne Veuve Clicquot.

By the late 1880s, the company shifted focus from cider to ginger ale, which became its signature product. Henry Millis was a stickler for quality, using premium Jamaican ginger and Cuban cane sugar, which gave Clicquot Club Ginger Ale its standout flavor. The brand quickly gained popularity across New England and beyond.

In the early 20th century, under new ownership by Horace and H. Earle Kimball, Clicquot Club exploded in popularity thanks to savvy marketing. They introduced “Kleek-O the Eskimo Boy” as a mascot, lit up Times Square with a massive animated sign, and even sponsored a radio show called The Clicquot Club Eskimos.

At its peak, the company was one of the largest ginger ale producers in the world, with a factory so big it had its own train station. But by the 1960s, changing tastes and competition took their toll. Clicquot Club was sold to Cott Beverage Corporation in 1969 and eventually dissolved in 1980.

Source: Clicquot Club – Bay Bottles

The R in a triangle maker's mark indicates the F. E. Reed Glass Co.

For detailed information on that see FEReed.pdf.

I just posted that bottle in tgbottlebarn.blogspot.com.


As stated above Cliquot Club was inspired by a champagne.

For information about that, here is a link.

The Widow Who Created the Champagne Industry

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6/27/25 Report - Coin Cleaning: Six Methods and How My Thinking Evolved Over the Years. Discovery in Keys.

 

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




CEDAR KEY, Fla. (WCJB) -Among piles of dirt and debris also lie human bones from the past that were recently excavated as they were trying to renovate a pool.

After hurricane Helene, a sea wall that held up a pool for an 1800s property on 2nd street was damaged. This month, excavation began to repair the pool, until the property manager stumbled upon pieces of a human skull.

“I was just walking over the side just picking up some things in the dirt, seashells and things, and thought I had stumbled upon what looked like a piece of a broken coconut. But it obviously wasn’t a coconut; we don’t have coconuts here. So, anyway, then the bones were discovered later, long bones, and larger pieces of bones, so we knew it obviously wasn’t clam shells or coconuts,” says the property manager, Tom Ezell.

Archaeologists investigate human remains found at historic Cedar Key home

Thanks to DJ for that link.

===

Over the years, how I clean coins has changed.  I've learned some lessons and changed how I do things.

Below is a quick summary of the methods I've used along with a few notes.


1. Tumbling coins.

When I began metal detecting I found a lot of clad coins.  I already had a rock tumbler that was used for rocks, so I used it to clean coins.

I just threw piles of coins in the tumbler with a cleaning agent.  I did that until one day discovered  I made a big mistake.  A nice old (1715 Fleet) religious medallion got tumbled with the coins.  The medallion was so encrusted that it looked like a coin until it was cleaned enigh to tell what it was and by that time some damage was done to the object.  That taught me two lessons.

First, try to tell what you have before deciding on a cleaning method.  

And second, monitor the cleaning process periodically so you can see what is going on and prevent any damage before it goes too far.

Tumbling is OK for coins have no particular collector value.  Many coins can be done fairly quickly.

2. Electrolysis.

I purchased a electrolysis kit and did some electrolysis.

Electrolysis works but each coin is treated individually so it can be slow if you want to do many coins.

I relearned the same lesson I learned when tumbling coins.  Coins can be damaged if the process isn't monitored.  Too much material can be removed.  I discovered that on a buffalo nickel when I was testing electrolysis.

3.  Exchanging coins in machines.

You can put dirty coins that are not too damaged or corroded in vending  machines, push the return button and receive better coins in return.  I actually asked a vending operator if he cared about that and he said it didn't matter to him.

Now instead of exchanging coins in vending machines, I use dirty dug coins to pay for products where they have the self-checkout machines such as Wal-Mart or Winn Dixie..

4.  Muriatic acid.

Muriatic acid will work on many coins.  It will not damage silver or copper coins, however acid requires that you store and use it carefully and safely, is fairly expensive and is not available in many locations.

I've given the specific procedure before and will update it in a follow-up to this post.

5.  White vinegar.

I use white vinegar a lot these days.  It is used very much like muriatic acid, but can be slower in some cases.  It is inexpensive, safer than muriatic acid and easy to purchase and safely store.

6.  Professional cleaning.

I seldom use this method, but it is a good choice when you have a very fine or valuable coin.  There are companies that will professionally clean and conserve coins for you.  West Bay Trading Company is one of those.  Some of the salvage companies will clean coins for you for a reasonable price.


Try to get some idea of what you have before selecting a cleaning process.  That may require physically but carefully removing some crust or dirt before starting one of the above methods.  

The type of coin as well as the type and amount of cleaning that needs to be done will determine which procedure will be best.  The type of dirt, encrustation or corrosion is a consideration.  I've seen some encrustations that were impervious to acid solutions.

I personally prefer to underclean rather than overclean coins.  I don't like dug coins to look as shiny new as when they were first minted. If you stop early, you can always restart the process, but if you overclean a coin, you can't reverse the process.  Start with the safest process first and change later if you need to.

I will get into more specific procedures in the future.

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Clip from Stuart Rocks Beach Cam
.
No change in surf or beach conditions.

We are still getting a negative afternoon low tide.

Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net



at

Thursday, June 26, 2025

6/26/25 Report - Alternative Techniques for Treasure Hunting. SRI Testing of Remote Viewing. Psychometry or Reading an Object.


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


The remote viewing post I did a few months ago is still receiving a lot of attention.  It seems it is a popular topic.  Today I'll add to that content.  Here is the citation for a great article on remote viewing. 

Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 569–592, 2019 0892-3310/19 RESEARCH ARTICLE.    What Do We Know about Psi? The First Decade of Remote-Viewing Research and Operations at Stanford Research Institute by RUSSELL TARG.

And here is the abstract for that article.

Beginning 1972, three physicists at Stanford Research Institute (now known as SRI International)––Harold Puthoff, Edwin May, and Russell Targ––initiated free-response remote viewing experiments with psi gifted participants. The percipients were asked to describe their mental images with regard to some person or event distant in space and time. Many of our experimental series were statistically significant at four standard deviations from chance expectation, with effect sizes greater than 0.6. From these highly efficient experiments, we concluded that the accuracy and reliability of remote viewing is independent of distance up to 10,000 km, and of time up to several days into the future. Psi ability clearly violates our ordinary ideas of causality, since future events are seen to be the cause or trigger for experiences at an earlier time. We also learned that feedback to the viewer is helpful, but it is not necessary. Remote viewing is a nonanalytic ability; describing a distant shape, form, or location on the planet is easier than guessing a number from 1 to 10. The purpose of this paper is to correct the misconception that psi is weak and unreliable. On the contrary, in our laboratory experiments and classified operational tasks psi was found to be surprisingly reliable and useful.

Here is the link to full article.


That is one of the better articles I've seen on remote viewing.  

I still plan to do a little remote viewing experiment in this blog, hopefully someday soon.


Although I'd characterize my approach to metal detecting as being uniquely scientific/empirical, I also allow room for the intuitive side of things. 

Metal detecting for some is very much about the technology.  They are fascinated by the metal detector.  But when it comes down to it, the metal detector doesn't find anything.  All it does is give you a signal when the coil is over a metal target.  It doesn't tell you where to go to find treasure or where to put your coil.  Learning to read a beach will help you with that, but we've also acknowledged the role of intuition.

In the past, I've suggested what some would refer to as psychometry, or in other words, reading objects, although I didn't use those specific words.  There is a body of literature on that subject, but unfortunately too much of that literature is by psychics rather than more reputable writers. There is, however, a more respectable side to the subject, for example it's use in forensics.

I recommend psychometry as a method that encourages taking time to let your imagination focus on an object.  It can be used to facilitate brainstorming.  It doesn't matter so much if everything is correct or not.  The idea is to let your imagination flow while you focus on a find.  There is no need to assume there is any kind of special psychic ability or psychic energy involved.  

Here is a procedure you can try. 

Step 1. Begin by holding the object in both hands. Take a moment to feel its weight and texture against your skin. Close your eyes if it helps you concentrate better.

Step 2: Clear Your Mind.  Take several deep breaths and clear your mind of any distracting thoughts. Focus on being present in the moment and open yourself up to any thoughts or impressions that may arise.

Step 3: Tune In.  Allow your intuition to guide you as you tune into the object.  You may experience different sensations such as images flashing before your eyes.

Step 4: Record Your Impressions.  Write down your impressions. Let your thoughts flow freely without judgment or analysis.  That will come later.

Step 5: Reflect on Your Insights. Take time to reflect on what you’ve written down. Look for patterns or themes that emerge and consider how they relate to either yourself or the person connected with the object.

Much of that can be found in the article below.

Psychometry for Beginners: Your Guide to Reading Objects | Reality Pathing

I intentionally left out some of what you will find in that article.  I don't agree with some of it, but for the way I apply the procedure, that part is irrelevant anyhow.

I do recommend taking time to touch and focus on the feel of a find while letting your imagination wander.  Any thoughts or feelings can be tested later.  

---

Tbe first Atlantic tropical storm of the season lasted no longer than about a day.

The surf forecast remains basically unchanged.


Surf Forecast for Fort Pierce Inlet Area from SurfGuru..com.

We are still having some decent afternoon low tides.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net


at

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

6/25/25 Report - Research Resources for Finding Metal Detecting Sites. Gold Huguenot Ring Found by Boys. Bottle Find. First Storm of 25.

 

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


Gold Huguenot Ring Found by Boys in 1911

 

Below is a letter written in 1924 giving information about the find of a gold Huguenot ring by some boys digging in a mound.



That letter was published in, the book History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity: 1513 to 1924, by T. Frederick Davis (1925).  That book, which contains a variety of maps and illustrations, is available free online.

Here is the link.  


And here is one of the maps that I liked.


Notice the position of Fort Caroline and the lines indicating the older and contemporary shorelines, which have undoubtedly changed since publication.  

This is the type of book that provides a lot of good clues for the detectorist.

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Here is another interesting research resource.  This one also gives the location and details of other historic locations in North Florida.


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Below is a bottle I once found but recently learned more about.  It is embossed with a spider web and fly, as you can see below.


Brown Bottle With Embossed Wheat and Spider and Web.

It appears to be a whiskey bottle, possibly from the Frankfort (KY) Distillery, although I'm not entirely sure of that.

From what I've learned, it appears to be a Prohibition-era medicinal whiskey bottle. Six distilleries were authorized during the prohibition to make medicinal alcohol.

“Spiritus Frumenti” is Latin for “Spirit of the Grain,” which was a generic name for medicinal whiskey during the Prohibition.  Spiritus Frumenti was produced by the George T. Stagg Distillery and some other distilleries throughout the 1920s.

The diamond on the bottom is the maker's mark probably indicates the Diamond Glass Co. or the Illinois Glass Co.


Diamond Makers Mark on Bottom.


Diamond.pdf (sha.org) provides the following information and much more.


In 1904, the plant made “prescription, liquor and proprietary ware and milk jars” with the same equipment...


I found the picture (below) of a similar bottle with a different top and the label still attached.




Below is a closeup of that label.




I just added this bottle to my tgbottlebarn.blogspot.com site.

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An area of stormy weather in the open Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Azores became Tropical Storm Andrea on Tuesday morning, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Andrea is not a threat to land. The storm is roughly 1,200 miles away from The Azores, or about 1,400 miles east of the US East Coast, with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as of 11:00 a.m. ET Tuesday....

Here is the link for more about that.

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Surf Forecast for the Fort Pierce Inlet Area from Surfguru.com.

So, as you cana see the tropical storm is having no effect on us.

We will be having a nearly one-foot negative low tide in the afternoon.

Good huntng,
Treasuregide@comcast.ent
at

6/24/25 Report - Steamship Sunk By Confederate Mine in Florida Waters. Metal Detecting Find Photo. Mystery Remains. Recycling Computer Options.


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



There are historic shipwrecks in Florida that have yielded historical treasures other than Spanish reals and escudos.  And the summer months provide a good time to do a little exploring. That can pay off in many ways.  You might, for example, learn other techniques and strategies, not only for metal detecting but also for finding treasures of other kinds. 


At 4:00 a.m. on April 1, 1864, an explosion disrupted the still waters of the St. Johns River as a Confederate mine ripped through the hull of the steamship Maple Leaf. The ship was transporting Union supplies during the Civil War.

“It was participating in the Southeast Atlantic Blockade as a troop transport,” says Keith Holland, founder of St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions, Inc.

“After the Battle of Olustee, which was a major Union defeat, all troops were called from surrounding areas, especially Charleston, to come to Jacksonville immediately. They had camped on Folly Island, an entire brigade, for about 20 months. It took the Quartermasters approximately a month to break down the entire camp, and load up all of the thousands of soldiers personal effects into boxes. They were all placed into the Maple Leaf.”...


Holland and his team of divers dragged a metal detector across the bottom of the river, looking for the exact location of the ship. It snagged on a shrimp net, which in turn had been caught on the paddle wheel axel of the Maple Leaf. It was the only part of the ship sticking up from the river floor.

“The main deck was buried under seven feet of St. Johns River mud,” says Holland. “This was going to take a very big deal to get to.”

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

Florida Frontiers “The Maple Leaf” | Florida Historical Society

Here is another link.

Mandarin's historic Civil War shipwreck leads National Geographic episode

I also had an older video about the wreck, salvage and artifacts.  The original team and divers discussed the wreck and showed some artifacts, but I can't seem to get that one working now. But is link to an older video that shows many artifacts recovered from the Maple Leaf.

"Maple Leaf Artifacts" by University of North Florida

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I've been working through a stack of old metal detecting find photos I rediscovered not too long ago.  I think this is the thirteenth from that stack.


You can see the usual variety.  a couple class rings, a few more chains than usual, one of which has a very nice crucifix, miscellaneous gemstone rings, and a larger than usual number a variety pendant and a few earrings.  Not as many men's bands, it seems. On the vracelet, you can see the broken claw clasp that probably caused its loss.

The eye shaped ring at the top has a bloodstone setting. Bloodstone is a variety of chalcedony with red inclusions that has been used as a gemstone and a symbol of strength and healing for centuries.

The only one in that photo that I can identify and remember where it was found is the gold and enameled lapel pin shown below.    


Part of the enamel has worn off.  I always figured that Gentrys was a family name, but could never find Gentrys listed anywhere as a family name - only Gentry.  A reader of this blog suggested that the name might actually be of a fraternal organization or band and I think that could be right.  It is still something of a mystery item for me.  If anyone has any clues, let me know.

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I was talking one day about recycling computer components and reclaiming components.  You may have seen that there are gold plated parts from which some people reclaim the gold.  I hate to see things like that go to the land fill.  Such a waste.  Even the neodymium magnet.

Anyhow, Dell computer has a site that provides options for recycling old computers.

Here is that lin.

How to Recycle | Dell USA

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Source: Fort Pierce Inlet Surf Forecast from SurfGuru.com.

Still nothing but small surf and boring summer beach conditions.  There is, however, still a slightly negative afternoon low tide.

Good hunting,

Treausreguide@comast.net

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Monday, June 23, 2025

6/23/25 Report - 17th Century Eight-Maravedi Found by Detectorist in Surprising Place. Bottles and Launches. Popularity of Metal Detectors.

 

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


1600s Eight Maravedi Found by Detectorist.


17th century Spanish coin found in ‘Diamond Don’s RV Park’

Metal detectorists in Texas discovered the nearly 350 year old artifact by accident.

A couple staying at a motorhome resort in Marion County, Texas recently made a surprise discovery–with origins dating back nearly 350 years. While casually scanning the grounds of Diamond Don’s RV Park roughly 165 miles east of Dallas, David Durocher and his partner stumbled on a well-preserved Spanish Maravedis coin minted in 1661. But speaking with local news outlet KLTV.  Durocher explained the currency’s historical significance wasn’t immediately apparent.

“We were sitting outside the trailer here and I was going through the stuff that we had been detecting and for some reason she went over by the car,” he recounted on June 17. “A few minutes later she came back and handed me this thing.”

At first glance, Durocher thought the find was simply a discarded car wash token. However, a closer look confirmed the coin’s origins traced back nearly 247 years before the Ford Model-Ts 1908 debut.

“Man, this is a Spanish 8 Maravedis! Where did it come from?” he added.

Here is the link for more of that story.

https://apple.news/AQQ1_wChEQqmI0GzuuphNJg

Thanks to DJ for that link.

Things can be found in the most unexpected places, which is good enough reason to be out there searching.  In addition to the satisfaction of finds made as the result of successful analysis and strategy, there is also the fun of the most unexpected finds.

When you feel like doing a little metal detecting but don't feel like running to the beach, don't neglect the area right around you. You never know.

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Above is a graph showing the usage of the term "metal detector" over time.  In this case the graph shows the period from 1500 to 2022.

The vertical axis shows the relative frequency of that word or phrase in Google's book corpus. It’s measured as a percentage of all the words in all the books published that year—so a value like 0.0001% means the word made up that proportion of all words used in the books from that specific year.

We can see from the graph that the word "metal detector' stated to appear in books ever so slightly before 1940 but didn't really get a lot of usage until around 1950 and then really took off after that.

Sorry that I couldn't get the graphs to appear more clearly.

Here is another graph.  This one looks at the frequency of the terms "Mel Fisher," "Treasure Coast," relative to metal detector.



The top line is for the term "metal detector."  There was a bump followed by a little dip before the big increase.  I saw the same thing with the term "artificial intelligence."  You can see that below.

There was a blip in around the eighties and nineties followed by a dip before the big increase.  That is typical with technologies.  There is the discovery and the excitement and promise followed by a little period before the technology is widely adopted and refined.



But back to the previous graph, the use of the terms Mel Fisher and Treasure Coast appear to be correlated to a fair degree.  I can't explain the decrease in the term "Treasure Coast" after 2000.  Neither can I explain the peak in the term "metal detector," which shows at around 2015.  It could be due to a variety of factors, perhaps linguistic changes such as people referring to specific detectors rather than the general class or something else.

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Give you neck a little break.

Here is a list of the 2025 Cape Canaveral launches.


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If you do any bottle hunting, a lot of the bottles you find might be vintage but of no real value.  There are many ways to use those old bottles though.

Here is a list of sixteen ways to upcycle glass bottles and jar.s


I've converted some into Christmas ornaments.  These glass salt shakers could be converted very easily.

The first was found with the top so all that was necessary was to insert a loop.   A paint or better yet, Mirror Effect, could be used to make it shiny bright.   People might think of painting the outside of the bottle, but putting the paint inside the bottle and swirling around actually creates a very pretty effect with the clear glass surface remaining on the outside.

Two Found Round Shakers.

I've converted larger bottles for outside ornaments.

And then there are outdoors bottle trees, that have an interesting history as spirit trees like the one below.


All I'm saying is think about what you can do with some of those bottles that have no collector value but might be useful in a variety of other ways.  Just think about it before tossing them in the recylce bin.  

Many bottle hunters cut their embossed but broken bottles into tumblers or whatever.

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Clip from Sebastian Beach Cam.

Notice the small waves breaking on the flat sand that has accumulated in front of the beach over the past couple of months.  

The surf will be only one or two feet for the next week.  We are still have a decent low tide near mid-day.

Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

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Sunday, June 22, 2025

6/22/25 Report - Targeting Watches When Metal Detecting: Methods of Improving Finds. Testing and Experimentation.

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

Odd Sample of Watch Finds.

I don't know how many watches I've dug over the years.  I'd say easily over a hundred.  Many were broken or drowned and others were fine and still showing the correct time.  That included everything from cheap Timexes to Rolexes, as well as stop watches, sliders and pendant watches.  Shown above are just a few that I pulled out, which, of course, do not include the best, which I have safely stored away


Another Group of Watch Finds.

It is surprising that so many watches are lost.  I'd think something so big would be easy to find.  Many that I found were in the water, but a good number were found in the dry sand as well. 

On my recent trip to WV I found two watches, minus the bands, that looked on the metal detector meter just like coins.  They were cheap to start with but missing the crystal and hopelessly broken.  Without the bands, on the metal detector display they looked just like coins.

This is an important topic to me, because watches can be very valuable and they can easily be missed, especially if you are using some form of discrimination. The band can be a problem, making the signal more complex.  And watches are very different.  They have different metallic compositions.  Some have a lot of iron, others gold, silver or other metals.  And some of the metal parts won't sound good on the detector.  To top it off, the shapes can be very irregular.  As a result watches can present what I'll call a very mixed signal.  As a result, a lot of watches are missed, and it is not surprising.  

A few years ago, I made three short videos to show how a metal detector might respond to a watch. Again, it depends upon a lot of factors.

The first little video shows how the ACE250 responded to watches lying flat with the face facing up, which happens to be the most favorable position for a watch to be detected.

How the Ace 250 responds to watches lying flat.  When lying flat, the signals were pretty solid but not totally consistent, especially on the second watch.  

Take a look.  (After viewing the video use your browser return arrow to return to the blog.)

How Metal Detector (Ace 250) Responds To Three Different Watches Laying Flat.

Would you dig all three of those?

Here is another short video, this time using the Ace 250 in coin mode, and this time the watches are lying in a different position.  This time they are on edge   The area of the face is not presented to the coil.

Notice how the sweep direction now has a big effect on the signal.

Take a look.

Metal Detecting Watches With An Ace 250 in Coin Mode.

When the sweep direction is perpendicular to the face of the watch, you get a strong signal but when the sweep direction is parallel to the face of the watch, you often get little signal or no signal. The third watch gave less of a signal than the first two.  Watches are different in size, shape and composition, and there is the watch band to complicate the signal.

And now in all metals mode.

How Metal Detector (Ace 250) Responds To Watches in All Metals Mode

Again, the position of the watch and the sweep direction has an effect.  Did you notice that in one direction you get an iron signal.  That will vary some depending upon the watch.

When detecting watches, the watch itself, not the band, generally has the biggest effect on the signal.  

I highly recommend trying these kinds of experiments with your own metal detector and the settings you are likely to use.

You should become very familiar with the signals produced by the targets you want to find.  You should build a mental library rather than depending entirely upon a digital readout.

I rely a lot on the audio signal for target ID.  Of course you can couple that information with the information you get from a meter or readout.  

You can tell a great deal about a target from the signal, but it takes some training. There was once a product, I forget who made it, that provided ear training for the Excalibur.  I forget now if it was on CD or what, but it was a great idea that I don't think ever caught on too much.  However, you can do your own ear training.

In all metals mode you can determine the size, shape and depth of targets by sound alone.

The one disadvantage of using different detectors and different settings, is that it multiples the size of your mental library of signal types.  I find it takes a short period to become reaccustomed to a metal detector after switching detectors.

One thing I always recommend when you have a highly desired target, whether it is a Spanish reale, diamond ring, gold chain, or whatever, practice with a sample so you have the signal in its varied forms firmly in your memory.  Don't forget to vary the position of the object, which will have a definite effect on the signal.

My main topic was watches today because watches can be great finds and are easy to miss. You will have a better chance of finding valuable watches if you learn exactly how your metal detector responds to them.  You don't want to pass over the Rolex watch when it is right under your coil.

If I had a specific target for a particular hunt, I would try to get something as similar as possible to test with before the hunt, so the sound or sounds were firmly in my memory.  If my target was a Rolex, I'd try to test my detector with a Rolex before the hunt.  Or if I didn't have a Rolex for the test, I'd try to get something as similar as possible.  If my target was an eight-reale, I try to test with an eight-reale before the hunt.  Of course, that wouldn't be necessary if you already were very familiar with the sounds of those targets.  And it wouldn't be practical if you didn't have specific targets for the hunt.

I've seen people hunt reales with settings that would not detect a half-reale.  Or hunt a small gold chain with way too much discrimination.  You can avoid those kinds of mistakes.

I've written numerous times on the issue of discrimination and identifying targets in all-metals mode so I won't get into all that again now.

I will reiterate a couple of important points.

1.  Some good targets, such as watches, are complex and can present a variety of signals, and can easily be missed or passed over.

2.  No target or ID meter will tell you that a signal is coming from a watch or any of a variety of other good targets.

3.  You can improve your results by taking the time to learn how your metal detector will respond to different targets.  Practice and experimentation will help.

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On a related subject...

 Many people talk about how deep their detector will detect a quarter.  That is one measure of a detector's sensitivity, but is it the most important measure?  It is useful to some extent but why test your metal detector on a quarter if what you really want to find is a gold coin, or a Rolex watch.  One of my biggest recommendations is spend time working with your detector and various settings on the types of targets you'd really want to find.  And your target might change on different hunts.  I recently told of a hunt in the WV hills.  That was much different than a beach hunt. My first pass, I was targeting coins.  I went back, the second time, targeting relics.  That is when I found the flat button.  Adjust not only to the conditions but also to your expected and desired targets.

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Surf Forecast for the Fort Pierce Inlet Area from SurfGuru.com.

Nothing much new in the surf forecast.  

There will be a slightly negative low tide around noon.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net






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