8/31/25 Report - Studying Various Factors to Determine How Coins and Other Objects Will Move on a Beach and Where They Will Be Found.

 

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

Wave photo from Landscapes - Clark Little Photography

I haven't talked a lot about how the beaches and objects on the beach move lately, but that will be today's topic.

You might have seen my famous, or perhaps infamous, photo of a coin and ring in a cup of sand and water.  Here it is one more time, just for reference.

Gold Ring and Penny on a Layer of Sand Under Water.

Detectorists often referred to coins and things sinking in the sand, which seemed misleading to me.  I wouldn't call it sinking.  In order for a coin to "sink" in sand, there has to be another force that moves the sand, which is where the emphasis should be.  As my cup demonstration shows, the coin and ring will sit on the surface of the sand forever unless there is another force that disturbs the sand.  And that force on the beach is the force of moving water.

At the top of this post you there is a beautiful and unusual photo of a huge wave.  I'll get back to that in a little while.

Below is the same cup of sand and water after the cup was swirled.

Same Cup of Water and Sand and Objects
After Being Swirled a Little.

When I moved the cup, the water moved, which moved the sand.  When the water cup and water was moved faster, even more sand was picked up and moved with the water.  The surface sand moved first and most.  The deeper sand moved less, and the deepest layers didn't move at all.  

So what happened to the coin and ring when the cup and water moved?  As the sand became suspended and moved, the objects settled lower to the more settled sand.  That isn't surprising, but it was nice to see so clearly in operation. 

 The ring, offering less surface area than the coin, sand end up where the dark blue line is shown on the cup.  The coin ended up buried at the lighter blue line. 

I think the word "buried" describes the process better than "sunk" because the sand lifted, and the objects settled to the lower area and then were covered as the sand settled once again.  I expected the ring to settle deeper and that is what I've observed at the beach.  Coins offer a lot of flat surface area and settle on less densely packed sand.  I know I'm using a very demanding definition of the verd "sink", and you might object to it, but I think the distinction is a good one because it moves the focus from the more passive object (the coin) and puts the emphasis on the forces that drive the process.

The little cup demonstration is simple one, but it provides an illustration of some very important basic principles.  See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 9/4/14 Report - How Coins and Rings Sink In Beach Sand. Targets Only Sink As Far As The Disturbed Layer. 

In another experiment, I showed that the shape of an object affects the objects movement as well as the density of the object.  As I've often said, but will repeat again because of the number of new readers, a ton of Styrofoam will float as will a steel ocean liner. It isn't just about weight.  Both density and shape are important factors that will help determine where an object will end up on the beach.

The photo at the top of this post shows a large wave.  Clark Little dives into crashing waves and gets the most interesting and informative photos.   Here is a link where you can see more of his photos.  

If you look at the photo at the top of the post, you'll see that the wave is picking up a lot of sand.  The photo shows some very turbulent water and a lot of sand being being picked up.  Not only can a strong wave pick up a lot of sand, but when the wave crashes, it will push a lot of that suspended sand up the beach.  The crashing wave will also pound the sand as the water crashes down on the beach front.

Below is another Clark Little photo that gives another picture of sand being churned up.

While swirling the little cup created enough water force to pick up and move some sand, this wave shows an entirely different level of force.  Not only does the wave move sand but the repeated pounding loosens the sand up.  For more about that see The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 7/5/20 Report - Waves, Liquifaction and Sand Movement on The Beach. NHC Map Lighting Up. Access to Technology and Data.

In the past, I haven't talked about this high impact zone as much as the mid and upper beach and the erosion that occurs there.  Besides sand being moved, the larger force can move shells, rocks and other things.  I've seen coins flip up at the top of the beach when a wave hits a cliff with good force, so it undoubtedly happens in this high impact area as well.

If you look at a lot of Clark Little's wave photos and carefully observe his videos, you can see how things work in the crash zone and beyond.  Take a look at his videos where you can stop that action and replay it.  Here is a link.  SHOREBREAK: The Clark Little Story - Official Trailer - 1 Minute  

One additional thing to remember is that as you go through the tide cycle, the waves will crash farther up the beach and then back down with the tide cycle. The crash zone will cover a fair area of the lower beach as the tide cycle progresses.  As I've explained before, all of that might still not cause a cut beach.  If the various forces are just cancelling each other out, you'll end up with mushy slope but not necessarily a cut. 

Remember also that the sand washes up the beach and then back down.  The inflow and outflow can pretty much cancel out.  I won't go over again the conditions for a cut to form.

It is impossible to include all the factors and considerations in a single blog post, and I know I'm leaving a lot out, but I'm today I'm adding a little new material to what I've presented in various posts in the past.  I hope it helps.  It will make more sense if you put it all together with other posts related to the topic.  The following chart is important and very informative. I've discussed it several times.  Keep it in mind.

Here is a link to a previous discussion on that.  Treasure Beaches Report: Pt. 2. (2020 and Beyond). : 4/8/25 Report - How Coins and Things Sink in the Sand Revisited: Informal Experiment and Discussion. Trigger Points and More.

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 It looks like the Treasure Coast will get a couple days of two or three foot surf around Wednesday, then decreasing again.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

8/29/25 Report - How to Begin Checking Your Finds for Valuable Coin Errors and Varieties. Tips and References. Peak Hurricane Season.

 

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

I received the email below and accompanying photos from Mark G.

I have been holding off submitting this content until I have some more examples of modern coin errors however your 8/27 post is a good segway.

I have started to look at my coins more closely lately and now it has turned into an obsession with many more coins to go through. So far I have found 3 coins I think have various errors that are in various condition. How rare they are is important as well as their condition. Actually I lied I have 4 examples which are also lessons in scarcity and rarity which I believe go hand in hand.

First is my 1961 Nickel strike error (I am still learning types of errors) this appears as deformed letters in the P & L of Pluribus and shadows of letters beneath the letters in “five Cents”. This is a detected coin I cleaned hard so condition is poor the value will have to rely on the rarity of the error.

Second is my 1983 penny with a cracked die marking (above). This happens when a die cracks from use and can leave raised marks that look like scratches but are not. This coin is in circulated condition I found it going through my pocket pennies looking for copper pennies 1882 and below. Cracked die is not rare I believe value will be based on severity of the error and circulated condition which by themselves is not rare.

Third as I am getting into this I am learning that rarity is actually the culmination of severity of error and condition as scored (on a scale of 1 to 70). Higher the score the more valuable because this translates into rarity. Example: My 8 Reale that I found badly worn with pieces missing barely able to make out the shield was scored a “4” which basically makes it barely worth the silver in it. My next example is my 1992 sealed certified uncirculated coin set which could possibly score in the high 60’s. My aunt used to buy and give to us for Birthday or Christmas gifts, I also have a 1992 proof set which is as good as it gets, no errors. When I realized I had these I started to look at them. I noticed right away what looks like a planchet error on the penny. Any error on an uncirculated coin is rare especially one which is packaged and certified at the mint.

Fourth is a fun one some of you might have heard of, the new quarter specifically the Edith Kanaka’Ole quarter has die errors in the first letters KANAKA. I found 3 just looking through a few quarters so this is not going to be rare.

Stay tuned my mom has my father's collection of 1943 steel pennies she agreed to let me go through, that should be interesting to see what he collected, he did not have the internet or YouTube back then.  

 

Thank You

Mark G.

Thanks for sharing your experience checking for modern coin errors Mark.  I recommend that every detectorist look into modern coin errors and varieties.  It might not be for everybody, but every detectorist should be somewhat informed on coin varieties and errors.  You don't want to let a valuable coin pass through your fingers just because you had no idea.  Even if you don't get into it heavily you should be able to spot the most obvious examples with no problem and know enough how to check into others.  Not only do you want to be alert to the errors and varieties of varieties of modern U.S. coins that you will undoubtedly see, but when you learn about coin errors you will also learn a little something that applies to other old coins including Spanish cobs which are also created by being struck by a die even if by hared rather than a mechanized process.  There will still be some similarities.  

Unfortunately, the checking for coin errors and varieties requires a lot of study, but with a little study you can learn to identify some of the more obvious errors and become aware enough to effectively investigate those that are less obvious.

I put the 1983 cent at the top of this post simply because it shows a die crack that you will see on many pennies.   I'm talking about the small crack running from the bottom corner of the steps to the edge of the coin.  That is extremely common, but by itself not worth anything.  There also appears to be another longer extended die crack.  If die cracks run from one edge of a coin to another, they are more interesting.  Without looking more closely to see its extent and if it might be a scratch or something instead of a die crack, I'm not as sure about that one even though it seems to be the results of a die crack.

A scratch will under magnification will show a depression or trench in the metal as well as raised metal on each side of the depression from the displaced metal.  A die crack error, on the other hand will be raised on the coin because of the metal flowing into the crack in the die on striking.  It is necessary to inspect the area very carefully under magnification and with good lighting.  It is tedious but can be rewarding.  Of course, valuable errors or coin varieties are not common, so it normally takes a lot of looking to find a valuable one.

I've actually learned more about die crack errors than many of the other types of errors because I've found some decent examples of my own, one of which is listed in a catalog of coin errors  See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 12/13/19 Report - Looking More Closely At Your Coin Finds For Fun and Profit. Coin Chips and Cracks. Surf's Up.

Fortunately, we have access to good research tools on the internet these days.  I'd recommend going to coincomunity.com and then going to the U.S. modern errors and varieties forum if you want to learn to identify possibly valuable coin errors and varieties.   You can post your own examples and questions and get expert opinions.  You'll see many examples by people that post pictures of suspected errors or varieties to receive opinions about their coin.  Reading those forums is a great way to learn, and it gives you access to experts that will tell you what you actually have.  You'll notice that many of the suspected error coins are actually PMDs, which stands for post mint damage.  PMDs are not worth anything.

I've been mentioning coin errors and varieties, but haven't defined a variety.

A variety is a coin that has characteristics specific to the die pair that struck it. Most collectible varieties can thus be traced to a set of dies.

There seems to be some confusion as to exactly what constitutes a variety. In United States numismatics, a variety may be defined as a die or die pairing that offers some distinctive feature not a normal part of the design. For early U. S. coins, those made before the introduction of the reducing lathe in 1836, every die required extensive hand punching of letters, numerals and other small features. Therefore, each and every die was distinctive, and each die pairing constitutes a variety. Thus, all coins from this period are of some identifiable variety, and each die pairing may be identified by number under NGC's VarietyPlus service...

For more see  What is a Variety? | NGC.

One of the ore common varieites is the large and small date 1982 cent.

Here is the difference.

The small date variety is rare and can sell for big money.  The large date in great condition can sell for more than face value but not a lot.

That is just an example of one variety.  It is not a mint error, but a variety produced by different die pairings.

Here is the link for more about the large and small date variety.

Small Date vs. Large Date Penny Differences & Values (Including The Rare 1982-D Small Date Penny Worth More Than $10,000!) | U.S. Coins Guide

Collecting coin errors and varieties requires a lot of time and study, but even if you don't get into it heavily, I think every detectorist should have some familiarity, and in my opinion the best way to do that is by reading through the coincommunity forum.  Not only will you learn about genuine errors and varieties, but you'll also quickly learn about the most common mistakes that beginners normally make.  

Here is another great site for finding information and photos for learning about error coins.

Error Coin Price Guide with Mint Error Photo Descriptions | CoinNews

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We are getting into the peak of hurricane season.  As you can see from the following chart, we are right around the peak hurricane season.  Nothing so far.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

Soi, there is one area to watch for now.  Still a week or so out.

Surf Chart for Fort Pierce Inlet Area from Surfguru.com.

Wow.  Really small surf for this time of year.

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A few of my thoughts on the recent tragedy in Minneapolis that is so much in the media.

After the Minneapolis shooting, there has been a lot of talk about prayer in the media.  There are many who seem to think prayer doesn't work.  They seem to confuse God with Santa Claus.  They seem to think if you've been good, and of course they think they've been very good, they should get whatever they want.  That seems kind of juvenile to me.  They blame God for killings even though God clearly told us not to kill.  They seem to think that this earth is supposed to be heaven even though they do not believe in it or act like it is heaven.  God could have prevented the killings easily by not giving man freedom of will and choice, but with choice, men choose evil over good.  Can't blame God for that, other than for giving you the freedom to choose.  Adam and Eve chose wrongly and so do we.

You might also want to check out Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Good seeking,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

z

8/28/25 Report - Old Map Points to Early Settlement. Artifacts and Isaac's Needle: Connections. The Stories of Childhood.

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

Experts believe they may have finally solved the centuries-old mystery of America's lost Roanoke colony through hidden details discovered in a 400-year-old map.

A blank spot on the historic "La Virginea Pars" map, drawn by colonist John White, has revealed a concealed fort symbol when analysed by British Museum experts.

The location corresponds to a site in present-day Bertie County, North Carolina, where English ceramic artefacts were later unearthed.

The discovery could explain what happened to more than 100 English settlers who vanished without trace from Roanoke Island in the late 16th century...

Here is the link for the rest of that story.

Experts may have solved '400-year-old American mystery' after discovering hidden secrets on ancient map

Old maps can provide good metal detecting clues.  Things change.  Where I now live was once a pineapple plantation, and I've found farm implements as well as the railroad related items that I once posted.  I've also found an indigenous pot shard by the rode and a few fossils very nearby.  And that was all from a plain looking residential area that provides no obvious clues to most people that speed by.

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This find might not seem interesting right off the bat but please stick with me for a minute or two.

National Trust archaeologists have undertaken a ten-day excavation at the site of Isaac Newton’s mother’s house in Lincolnshire, uncovering everyday objects that will form part of a new display at Woolsthorpe Manor next year.

The dig, conducted in collaboration with York Archaeology, located the foundations of Hannah Newton’s house in a field adjacent to Woolsthorpe Manor, where Isaac Newton was born. The house was built for Newton’s mother after her second husband died in 1653 and was demolished following a fire in the early 1800s.

Archaeological finds included decorative Staffordshire slip tableware, a fragment of a 17th-century bellarmine jug featuring a bearded face cast into the pottery, a gaming token known as a jetton, three thimbles of varying sizes, needle fragments, buttons, and animal bones showing evidence of food preparation....

Here is the source link for that one.

Dig uncovers Isaac Newton family objects now set for display - Museums + Heritagecop

There is an something interesting about that that isn't mentioned in the article.  It might well be that it wasn't known by the archaeologists.  If it was, it wasn't part of the report. 

First of all, Isaac Newton is one of the most important scientists ever.  They found common household objects that might seem dull, but there is a connection that made it much more interesting for me. 

One of the objects is a needle.  Here it comes.  Did you know that one of Isaac's experiments on optics involved the inserting a needle into the eye (as it is often reported).  Actually, it wasn't right into the eyeball.  A bodkin needle, which he inserted between his eye and the bone near the socket.

A bodkin needle is a special purpose blunt needle, a little different from the typical sewing needle, but referred to as a needle, nonetheless.

A needle used for an experiment by Isaac Newton would, to me, be one very exciting find.  It is connections to famous people, events or shipwrecks that often adds significance and value to finds.  

When the experiment failed to yield definitive results – beyond black and white spots appearing wherever pressure was applied by the needle or bodkin – Newton turned to less invasive methods to further his investigation. Developing over a few years a series of increasingly elaborate and refined experiments using prisms, he eventually enjoyed the breakthrough he was seeking when sunshine entering a darkened room and, passing through a prism, diffracted. He described beautifully the rainbow effect he witnessed as the coloured Image of the Sun...

Here is a link for more about that.

The Story Behind Opticks by Sir Isaac Newton - Bauman Rare Books

Here is what was described as a 17th century bodkin needle on Etsy.

Bodkin needles were also found at the Jamestown archaeological site.

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Thinking of all the children and workers shot in Minneapolis...

Not too long ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with a line in my mind.  At the time, I thought the line was from the introduction to the 1960s Perry Mason TV show.  The line was as it came to me was, "In every city, there are a million stories." 

After getting up the next morning and doing a little research, I found that I was wrong about both the TV show and the line.   I discovered that the TV show was actually The Naked City instead of Perry Mason, and the line that I remembered inaccurately was actually repeated at the end of each episode of the Naked City in the following words; "There are eight million stories in the naked city.  This has been one of them."

So, I got a lot of it wrong, but the time period of the TV show and the general idea expressed by the line was correct.  There is no shortage of stories.  Treasure hunters have many of them.

Other than my immediate family, I spent more of my life with the kids shown above.  I spent twelve school-years with most of those kids.  We went from first-graders to high school graduates in the same classes and schools.

Some of us knew each other even before we went to school.  One of the girls in the photo was born two days before me in the same hospital.  I remember visiting that little girls house and watching the Mickey Mouse club on TV.  She and I not only went through the same twelve years of schooling, but we were also in the same German class in college.  She passed away a few years ago, as did her husband, who is also in that school picture.  

To me it seems amazing that I can recognize so many of these six-year-old kids after seventy or more years have elapsed. I probably wouldn't recognize them today if I met them.

Each kid lived their own life's story.  I remember digging tunnels and crawling through them with Bed Bug.  He was drafted right after high school, went to Viet Nam and was what they call a tunnel rat.  I'm sure he could tell some stories.  He married an Asian girl and passed away a few years ago in Alabama.  

We had stable peaceful childhoods, but of those I knew, there was schizophrenia, alcoholism, and even an accidental killing of a friend at a party by one of the girls in the school picture who thought the gun she was holding was a toy. Can you imagine the sorrow and tragedy of that story. She later worked in Washington DC.  She passed away just a few years ago.  

There were accomplishments too -  I'm sure many more than I know.  

It was only in my later years that I learned to appreciate the kindnesses of one of those kids and his brothers. There were five children in the family, including three boys near my age.  One of those boys really sticks out in my memory although two of his brothers are also fondly remembered for what they did for me.   

The boy one year older than I, walked me down the country road to my first day of school.  We both wore jeans and plaid long sleeve shirts.  

I remember that fellow fondly for his kindness and encouraging words to me through the years.  I remember him congratulating me on good plays in football and baseball and telling his sister to keep quiet when I could have gotten in trouble for a childish prank.  His younger and older brother had kind words for me at different times too.  As I look back, I really appreciate their outstanding encouragement and kindness.  I know that one of them has passed, but Id like to say Thank You to the others if I could ever find them.  I doubt they'd even remember those instances that I eventually learned to really appreciate and remember so many years.  It was just the kind of people they were.  

Little kindnesses can mean a lot.  A simple kind word or act, even if not acknowledged or fully appreciated at the time, can leave a big impression and be remembered many decades later.  The effects of childhood can remain all your life.

Pray for the victims in Minneapolis.

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

Nothing on the hurricane scene for the nex few days, but something could develop.

On the Treasure Coast it looks like at least another week of small seas.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/27/25 Report - Coin and Token Scarcity Rating Scales. Other Resources Used for Spanish Colonial Coinage. Personal Aspect of Finds.

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

Humiston Boardwalk in Vero Damaged by 2022 Hurricane.

Humiston Beach boardwalk to cost Vero Beach $4.7 million after it was damaged by Hurricane Nicole 3 years ago.

Here is the link for that story.

Humiston Beach boardwalk to cost Vero Beach $4.7 million after it was damaged by Hurricane Nicole 3 years ago

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The Sheldon Rarity Scale ranks in descending order the estimated number of known scarce vintage coins of collectible die varieties of a type for certain types.  It is not used for  all types of coins and has other limitations.

Here is the nine-point scale.

• R-9: Unique
• R-8: 2 or 3 Known Examples
• R-7: 4-12 Known Examples
• R-6: 13-30 Known Examples
• R-5: 31-75 Known Examples
• R-4: 76-200 Known Examples
• R-3: 201-500 Known Examples
• R-2: 501-1,250 Known Examples
• R-1 Over 1,250 Known Examples

And here is the link.

Sheldon Rarity Scale - What Does It Mean and What Does It Do?

The Sheldon rarity scale was originally developed for U.S. Large Cents and later adapted for other early American coinage, especially varieties with well-documented populations.  Unfortunately, the scale is not used for Spanish Colonial coins, like cobs, pillar dollars, and portrait issues, which were minted across a vast empire with fragmentary records, variable minting practices, and wide circulation, making population estimates difficult to standardize.

Instead, Spanish Colonial numismatics often rely on auction records and private collection surveys, specialized auction catalogs (e.g., Calicó, Krause, Sedwick), descriptive terms like “rare,” “very rare,” or “unique.”  Occasionally, Sheldon-style R-numbers for Spanish colonials may appear in niche publications or dealer inventories, but these are not universally adopted.

Source: Sheldon Rarity Scale - What Does It Mean and What Does It Do?

There are several rarity rating scales for specific types of coins and tokens, such as the Universal Rating Scale (URS), the Overton Rating Scale, Breen's Rating Scales.  

The URS is for pre-Federal early American coins.  Breens scale is a hybrid scale based upon Sheldons Rating Scale.  The Overton Scale is used for U.S. Bust Half Dollars.

The Van Allen & Mallis Rarity Scale is for U.S. Morgan and Peace Dollars.  This scale is shown below.

That one has been the most useful for me because I've found a good number of those.

Here is the link for more rating scales.

The Various Numismatic Rarity Scales – NovaNumismatics.com

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You can look at a metal detecting find in variety of ways. You might see a find as a personal victory, as an item of economic value, as a new piece to add to your collection, or as a piece of history, but when you make a find, you pick up a bread crumb left behind by real people.  It could be a king, or soldier, adventurer or common Joe, like you and me, but no matter who it was, remember that the find was once a part of a real person's life - sometimes numerous lives. 

Finds are not objects without a past. When making a find, take a moment to reflect on its history and the lives it was a part of.  There was someone there before you. You are walking in their footsteps. In the case of Spanish shipwreck coins, the history is long and many hopeful people were involved, from the time the metal was mined, until it was minted, packed and shipped and then stranded on the beach along with people struggling to save their lives and treasure.

You are not the first to touch your finds and you will probably not be the last.

There is a good chance I'll pick up on this topic again in the near future.

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

Source: SurfGuru.com.

So there is only Tropical Storm Fernand on the National Hurricane Center map.  And Fernand is no threat to the Treasure Coast.

And for now, we are back to summer-like conditions.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

8/26/25 Report - New Florida Law On Silver and Gold Used for Transactions. New National Park Proposed. New Techniques to Detect Fake Coins.

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

Reverse of 100 PTAS Coin Found by Metal Detector on a Treasure Coast Beach
.See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 9/18/18 Report - Detectorist Finds Gold and Pearls. Some Uncommon Beach Coin Finds..

What we define as money is changing. The 1-cent coin appears to be on its way out, but specie money is once more becoming relevant. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed HB999, a state law that makes it legal to use gold and silver coins as lawful payment for just about anything in that state. According to the governor, “this legislation will authorize money services businesses like check cashers or PayPal to transmit and accept payment in gold and silver.” Florida can’t mint its own coins under Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, but HB999 will make qualifying legal tender gold and silver coins exempt from Florida’s sales tax. It will also permit them to be able to pay government agencies using electronic transfers or debit cards. Just when specie is making headlines in Florida, crypto tokens are being given a warning by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. SEC Commissioner...

Here is the link to that article.

New Law Allows Gold and Silver Transactions - Numismatic News

That leaves a lot of questions.  I wondered, for example, how the value of a gold or silver coin would be determined for the transaction. Below is how Copilot says it will work.  

Under Florida HB 999 gold and silver coins meeting specific purity standards—99.5% for gold and 99.9% for silver—will be recognized as legal tender for transactions, including the payment of debts and taxes.

That excludes escudos and reales and other coins that do not meet the purity standards.  The 100 PTAS coin shown above, being only .8000 pure, would not qualify either. 

The bill does not fix a face value for these coins. Instead, it allows their value in transactions to be determined by:

• Mutual agreement between parties: Buyers and sellers can negotiate the value of the coin based on current market conditions.

• Market spot price: The prevailing market price for gold or silver at the time of the transaction may serve as a reference.

• Purity presumption: Coins meeting the defined purity thresholds are presumed to qualify, but the burden of proof lies with the person claiming the sales tax exemption or legal tender status.

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Many fake coins are sold on the internet, sometimes intentionally and sometimes by sellers that didn't know it.  Maybe an heir inherits a coin not know much about it.  Unfortunately, new techniques are being used create convincing fakes.  The good thing is that new techniques are also being used to detect fakes, as evidenced in the story below

How can you tell if the patina on a centuries-old coin is genuine? Can you tell if a coin is authentic or if it is a cleverly contrived fake? These aren’t new questions, but rather some of the ways artificial patina can be added to a genuine or counterfeit coin, and the methods used to detect such fakes are changing....

Methods used to corrode or add patina to a coin artificially have unfortunately improved...

In a paper titled “Corrosion Behavior of Coins in Artificial Sweat Solution: A Review,” the authors used chemical and electrochemical techniques to examine artificial sweat on coins...

It was concluded that corrosion had penetrated deep within “the body” of genuine coins, an indication of a gradual degradation of the surface of the coins. “Corrosion in the recently minted replica was mainly confined to the surface, consistent with rapid corrosion over a short time period.”...

“As time goes on, however, compounds in the environment begin to penetrate the coins....

Here is the link for the rest of that story.

Modern Techniques to Find Fakes - Numismatic News

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It looks like Florida could soon have a new National Park.

U.S. Rep. Randy Fine wants to designate Ocala National Forest and some surrounding springs in Volusia, Flagler and other counties as a national park...

Florida currently has three national parks within it's boundaries: Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, and Everglades, as well as two national seashores: Canaveral and Gulf Islands.

Also listed as U.S. National Park Service properties are Big Cypress National Preserve, Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas national monuments, DeSoto National Memorial, and Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, home to Fort Caroline National Memorial.

Here is the link for that story.

Under new bill, Ocala National Forest would someday become Florida Springs National Park

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A giant atmospheric wave is circling Earth, chilling the mesosphere and igniting noctilucent clouds (NLCs). Sky watchers around the Arctic are seeing bright displays weeks after the season usually ends. Full story and observing tips @ Spaceweather.com.

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“To get a great idea, come up with lots of them.” — Thomas Edison

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No big news on the weather/beach conditions front today.  

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

8/25.25 Report - Post-Erin Treasure Coast Erosion and Gold Find. First Day Gold Find for Archaeologist. Old Fehr's Beer Bottles.

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

Gold Diamond Ring Found After Erin by Dan K.

Dan K. sent these photos and the following email.

Good afternoon,

I got out on Sunday to check some treasure coast beaches to see how they were developing from the hurricane Erin swells. I checked about 7 beaches. A few of them had clearly been pushed in closer to the dunes with very steep concave slopes. One beach had a small 3 foot cut that I detected for about 3 or 4 hours. I dug lots of lead fishing weights and building materials (screws, washers, nails). I also got a few coins and a 14k gold and diamond ring. The weather was beautiful and it was great to be back out after a long quiet summer.

Cheers!

Dan

Eroded Beach After Erin 
Photo by Dan K.

Great find Dan. Thanks for sharing.

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A Florida archaeology student discovered a rare piece of ninth-century gold during her first ever dig.

Yara Souza, from Orlando, unearthed the medieval medal during an Newcastle University excavation in Redesdale, Northumberland, England in July.

She discovered the decorative ancient object within the first 90 minutes of the group dig...

The gold object, which dates back to the 800s, is approximately one and a half inches long and has a decorative ornament on one end...

The route continued to be used long after the fall of the Roman empire and eventually became a part of a major road in England - the A68 - which runs from Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, to the North East of England...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.

Florida student unearths incredible 1,200-year-old treasure on her first dig | Daily Mail Online

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Tropical storm Ferdinand is way out in the Atlantic and far north of the Treasure Coast.

The bottle on the left is embossed "FEHRS." The one on the right reads "FRANK FEHR BREWING CO."

I previously posted the older one in TGbottlebarn.blogspot.com.

Before the 1930's beer came in green bottles then after the Prohibition, brown glass was used because it was thought to preserve freshness by filtering out sunlight.

And that would suggest that the one on the left is later than 1930, which I would have guessed anyway, and that the one on the right, which looks more green in person, is older than 1930.

The more recent brown bottle undoubtedly originally had a paper label.

Both are Treasure Coast finds.

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Tropical Storm Ferdinand is far out in the middle of the ocean and no threat to Florida.

The Treasure Coast surf will remain down around two feet for the next week or so.

The high tides are today over three feet.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

8/24/25 Report - Laws and Regulations Related to Erin and Beach Metal Detecting. Surfers and Blinken Forced to Leave.

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

Surfer Handcuffed After “Karen” Calls Cops During Hurricane Erin (Video).  

In many ways surfers are like detectorists.  They wait for days, weeks or months for mother nature to produce the right conditions for an epic experience.  We chase the big treasure and they chase the big beautiful wave. If any group pursues their hobby more fervently than detectorists, it might be the surfers.  On the whole they are more adventurous than the metal detecting community, which I suspect is partly due to their younger ages and partly due to their hobby being perceived as more dangerous by others who are not as experienced or at home in rough water conditions.  I don't think I've ever heard of a surfer drowning, although it must have happened sometime somewhere.

If you've noticed, we benefit much from the surfing community.  I often post clips from SurfGuru.com, for example.

A surfer was handcuffed after a lady called the cops during Hurricane Erin (Video).

Here is a link to that story. The link will take you to a site that that also provides a variety of other clips you might find interesting.

Viral Clip: “Karen” Gets Surfer Arrested During Hurricane Erin - Surfer

Leave it to someone who would drown in their own spit to call the cops on a surfer who would very likely be able to qualify to be a lifeguard.

I'll try to restrain myself from going off on people who seem to think they have the knowledge and judgement to look out for the welfare of others when they are the worst people to do so.

Below is the story of a well-known and high-ranking person being removed from a beach because of Erin.

Blinken, 63, was kicked off East Hampton’s exclusive Georgica Beach while catching rays with a friend, photos showed.

The beach had been closed days earlier from the rough conditions unleashed along the East Coast by the massive storm.

The ex-Biden official and a pal were on the sand Friday when they were ordered to get out by a lifeguard patrol

Following a brief conversation with the lifeguards, a barefoot Blinken, wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt and black shorts, picked up a tote bag, grabbed a beach towel, folded up his chair and took the walk of shame back to the asphalt parking lot...

Here is the link for the rest of that story.

Ex-Biden Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off East Hampton’s Georgica Beach

So what does the surfer in handcuffs or Tony Blinken have to with metal detecting?  Actually, the same kinds of laws apply to detectorists that applied to surfers and Tony Blinken.  Public safety mandates apply.

Occasionally, I get asked what the rules and regulations are that apply to metal detecting the Treasure Coast beaches.  I hate that because it is an impossible task.  The laws are too many and complex to explain in a post.  That is why we have lawyers and courts to settle disputes.  And it isn't really necessary to know all the laws.  A reasonable person can usually stay out of trouble by simply observing the local norms, being cooperative with authorities and using a little good common sense. The Treasure Coast is very metal detector friendly, although there are some limits.

It doesn't hurt to have some idea of what laws might apply.  I'll try to give you a few of my thoughts about that, which will not cover all that could be said and could well be wrong on some details.

In all my years, I never got kicked off a beach by a lifeguard or anyone else. I was once told by a lifeguard that metal detecting wasn't allowed on a beach I started to detect, so I went somewhere else..  The rejection turned out to be a good thing because I called the county park offices and asked them about it. They said it was about to change. They were going to lift that restriction very soon.  Being alerted, I was one of the first to know and was one of the first to get a shot at some good ground that hadn't been hunted for a while. The area happened to have some very good hunting that paid off right away and long after.

A lifeguard in front of a private beach club once told me I wasn't allowed to metal detect in front of that beach club.  I called the county officials, and they told me I COULD detect on that beach back to the erosion control markers.  Everything in front of the markers was public property despite the fact that the club or some lifeguards tried to control it. I often detected that location before being told I couldn't.  I usually went early in the morning before anybody, including the lifeguards, were there.

Over the many years, I've had very little trouble with that sort of thing.  If you use your head, don't draw attention to yourself, and generally are friendly and cooperate with the authorities, you'll have little trouble.  They will sometimes not bother you even when they could legally ask you to leave. Making friends with lifeguards, attendants or security, will often open doors.

From my experience, it is usually a hotel or private club that will try to chase you off, whether they have a right to or not.  Again, friendliness is usually the best policy.  Knowing your rights doesn't hurt, but simply using your head is the best policy.

Too bad it wasn't Maxine Waters on the beach instead of Blinken.  I don't think that would have gone so smoothly and would have been more entertaining.

One key concept for beach detectorists is the mean high -water line (MHWL) which is legally recognized as the boundary between state-owned sovereign submerged lands and uplands that is often owned by private individuals, corporations or other agencies or jurisdictions.  I've talked about the MHWL several times before.

You'll often read that you can detect on the wet sand.  It actually has nothing to do with if the sand is wet or dry.  The MHWL is determined by survey and updated periodically (If I correctly recall, every 19 years).  But without reference to the survey markers, no one on the beach will actually know where the MHWL is. 

When you go from a county or city park, and cross the MHWL, you move from county or city property to state lands.  So, when the parks are closed, you will still technically have your riparian rights to walk along the beach below the MHWL.   

So what gives the city or county lifeguards or authorities control over the state lands and waters?  I said it is complicated.  

Under Florida Statutes 177.28, the MHWL is legally recognized as the boundary between state-owned sovereign submerged lands and uplands subject to private ownership. Below the MHWL and the submerged areas are public lands held in trust by the state. However, local lifeguards and other officials - whether employed by a city or county - derive their authority NOT from ownership of the land, but from public safety mandates granted by their respective municipalities or counties. 

That is as far as I'm going to go with this.  You probably don't know all the applicable laws, and fortunately, you don't need to. Just observe the local norms, be considerate, cooperate with authorities, and use your head.  

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

Looks like we'll have a smaller surf for the next few days.

Source:SurfGuru.com.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net