Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
 |
| 1943 Steel Cent. |
Yesterday I showed a couple coins that needed cleaning. I thought they might be steel cents. After a day of soaking in white vinegar, I could see enough to tell what they are even though they still weren't completely clean.. One of the two (shown above) turned out to be a 1943 steel cent. You can make out the date on the coin and see the steel surface.
The other coin turned out to be a 2005 cent (below).
 |
| Partially Cleaned 2005 Cent. |
The crust on the coins looked very similar. I thought they were probably from the same location and dug at around the same time. I was really surprised when I saw that the dates were 52 years apart. It is possible, I guess, that both coins were uncovered at the same time and that the steel cent was lost after 2004. Or it might be that they were found at different times and places even though they look very similar. Unfortunately, I don't remember when they were dug or put in the box. Maybe they have nothing to do with each other than the very similar, and very stubborn crust. From the crust, I wrongly assumed they would be about the same age and made of a similar material.
I could have checked the steel cent hypothesis before cleaning by using a magnet before cleaning these coins, but I knew I wanted to see them anyhow, so just put them both in the vinegar bath.
Once again, I used a small milk glass cosmetic jar for the cleaning solution. Those containers have several advanages. One, they are small and require little cleaning solution. Two, they are very white, so you can see every speck coming off. And three, they have a slightly rounded bottom rather than angled edges, which makes it easier to remove items and provides a little hollow on the bottom so the solution contacts both sides of the coin.
Here are examples of the kind of containers I like to use.
 |
| Vintage Milk Glass Cosmetics Containers. |
They probably held rouge or something like that.
I found them when hunting bottles. I always liked milk glass even though it usually has little to no collector value. I've found these ones useful.
Also in the same little box of old finds was a couple religious medallions.
The first is very small. It measures just a touch over 3/8 inch in diameter.
 |
| Small Religious Medallion. |
This one is from a shrine to Saint Rita in Italy.
The second medallion is a little bigger.
 |
| Two Sides of Medallion. |
This one is from a sanctuary in Carru, Northern Italy. This one isn't silver. Seems to be aluminum or something.
Coincidentally, both are from the area of the current Winter Olympics.
Next I'll have to go through the wheaties.
===
So we know about copper pennies, zinc pennies and steel cents, but did you know there are more.
Off-metal errors rank among the most compelling artifacts of American numismatics. those linked to World War II hold even greater appeal. One such piece stands apart: a 1945-D Lincoln Cent struck o a 75% silver Philippines 10 Centavos planchet.
Here is the link for more about that.Unique 1945-D Lincoln Cent Struck on Philippines Silver Planchet
----
SAVE-THE-DATE
February 21-22, 2026 - 10am to 5pm
Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach, FL
Loggerhead Marinelife Center will host its 21st Annual TurtleFest on February 21-22, 2026. Over 16,000 guests came together at TurtleFest 2025, a free-admission event that promotes ocean conservation through interactive educational exhibits and marine life, as well as music, art, shopping, games, and other family-friendly activities.
Here is the link for more about that.
TurtleFest - Loggerhead Marinelife Center
As coin shooters, you might be interested in beach events that bring crowds to the beach, but besides seeing the turtles off, there wll be music, art and other fun events.
---
One part of American history that most people know little about these days is life on the home front during World War II. It was something I doubt we'll ever see again. Everyone was involved. There were drives to collect materials and all kinds of events to support the war effort.
My wife's aunt received training in welding which she completed when she was 17. She got a good paying job working in a munitions plant. She told them she completed high school, but she didn't. She told them she'd bring her high school certificate, but, of course, never did.
The money was much needed by the immigrant coal mining family not many years out of the Great Depression. It was a feminist movement without being called that and provided a great opportunity for much-needed financial support.
As a young girl, or woman, she worked on smaller shells, and she said she always wanted to work on the large shells because those ladies had wagons and got to move the large shells around the factory.
It was a company that prior to the war made pressure tanks, but like many companies, during the war converted to war time products. It was a total country effort. I don't think we could do that today.
Too bad people don't know the history of their grandparents and great-grandparents. There are great stories that should be told and heard.
---
 |
| SurfGuru Fort Pierce Jetty South Zoom Beach Cam Tuesday Morning. |
 |
| Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com. |
The wind is still from the west but will become more south as the day goes on the surf decreases.
I wouldn't expect any improvement in beach metal detecting conditions.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net