11/5/26 Report - More on Shipwreck Treasure Finds. Xray Used to Solve 400-Year-Old Padlock Code. Renourishment Again.

 

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

I showed this lock before.  I posted it back in July of this year in the first of two posts I did showing the finds of Peter Hughes.  The lock was discovered along with approximately 870 other silver and gold coins from the Ann Francis that sank in December of 1583. 

Here is the link to my first post on Peter's finds.  Treasure Beaches Report: Pt. 2. (2020 and Beyond). : 7/12/26 Report - Most Amazing Early Shipwreck Beach Finds Made by Long-Time Detectorist and Reader of This Blog...

After many failed attempts, the code for the 400-year-old padlock was finally solved by using X-Ray technology.  

Here is an excerpt from a BBC article about that.

Experts have cracked a four-letter code to open an ancient padlock from a shipwreck off the Welsh coast using modern scanning technology.

The 400-year-old brass lock was discovered by metal detectorist Peter Hughes in the sand near Margam in Port Talbot, in 1999.

It forms part of a wider treasure hoard from the Ann Francis ship that was caught in a storm on 28 December 1583 on the way back from Spain. Its cargo was hidden beneath the sand for centuries.

Museum experts have used CT scanning to examine the lock's internal mechanism, identify the correct letter combination and solve the mystery...

"It was by chance - a day off. I was walking along the beach with my metal detector on a day off, and I came across a coin," the 69-year-old said.

"That was the start of a journey that lasted 21 years."...

And here is the link for more about how the code to the lock was discovered.

Code cracked for Margam shipwreck padlock solving 400-year-old mystery

Thanks to Norbert B. for alerting me to that BBC article.

While on the topic, here are a couple more find photos that Peter Hughes sent me.  I don't think I've posted them before.

Additional Find Potos by Peter Hughes.

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Taking a look at Wabasso this morning, that flat area in front of the access looks interesting enough to give at least a quick check with a metal detector.  Judging from the Seawall to the north, the sand level isn't too low.  Still, I like the look of it for at least some modern coins or jewelry.

Wabasso Beach Cam Thursday Morning.

There doesn't there appear to be anyone at the beach access, so I assume it is still closed.

Can you believe it?  Here they go again down at Fort Pierce.  

View of Fort Pierce South Beach from the Beach Cam on Surfguru.com Yesterday.

Another renourishment project at Fort Pierce just in time for the rougher winter weather.  Good luck.

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Nothing exciting on the surf chart.  Still it might be fun to get out there and check out some areas, especially at low tide.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net