9/20/21 Report - The TreasureGuide Metal Detecting Success Formula. Access. Watching The Weather.

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

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Well, the National Hurricane Center map is getting busy again.  Now we have Peter and Rose and another undeveloped area to watch.

Rose looks like she will head north very soon and not affect us.  

Peter is closer to us, but it looks like we won't get much from him either.

Projected Track for Peter.
Source: nhc.noaa.gov

It looks like we'll get nothing bigger than a four foot surf this week.

It has been a slow summer for beach metal detecting, especially if you focus on old things.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

The high tides are getting big again.

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As you know, beach metal detecting has a lot to do with timing.  Every once in a while there are times when your chances of success are much greater.  In fact most finds occur during rare events.  When you are talking about a specific type of treasure such as old shipwreck treasure coins, there are days, or sometimes just hours, when you can find more in a very short time span of a few hours than you would typically find in year or more.  The window of opportunity can open up very quickly and then close quickly again not to open up like that again for a very long time.  If you are at the right time and place during those rare events, your finds will multiply quickly.  And, of course, if you are not at the right time and place, you miss out.

You might remember my formula for metal detecting success.  It is Success = L + T + Sk + E + D+ N + A, where L= location, T = time on task (research, scouting, and detecting), Sk = skill (I've defined that before), E is the effort you are willing and able to put into it, D is your metal detector, N is = networking, and A is access.

I always think it is worth pointing out that your metal detector is only one small piece of the success formula.  

And Effort is partly determined by your priorities, which affect how much you are willing to put into metal detecting.

In the past I talked about each of those factors.  Access is a very important factor that I haven't emphasized much in the past.  Some people simply have access that most people do not have.  I experienced this as far back as hurricane Andrew.  I wasn't metal detecting the Treasure Coast much back then when I was still living down south.  

Hurricane Andrew didn't help most of the beach areas, but it did produce some good hunting at a few locations.  After hurricane Andrew, as is often the case, some of the beaches were closed.  I was metal detecting along Key Biscayne beach when I came to the boundary of the state park. A park ranger was stopping some people.  He stopped me from entering the park, but I could see up ahead that he allowed some people to walk on in.  I didn't argue or anything, but I did notice that some people were allowed in while others were not.  

There are times when the bridges and beaches are closed, but some people still get access.  Some are park rangers or law enforcement officers.  Some are local residents.  Some have contractor's licenses or permits, and some people just know the right people and can pull some strings to gain access that most people do not have.  That can be a huge advantage. 

There are ways you can legitimately gain access for metal detecting that we all know about, such as talking to property owners who will give you access to metal detect.  Or in some cases, if you are able and willing, you can gain access by simply walking a long way around from another access point.  

Sometimes it has to do with your priorities.  I completely missed out after Francis and Jeanne because I had other people with needs to care for.

Gaining access has nothing to do with metal detecting skill, but having additional access can really multiply your finds.  

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The Covid cases were very high in St. Lucie County recently, but seem to be coming down again.

Take precautions.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/19/21 Report - New Florida Spanish Missions Artifact Database. Recent Beach Finds. Tropical Storm Peter.

 

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

Fray Pareja and 17th Century Caravaca Cross.
Source: https://cmap.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/

Researchers, educators, students and the curious can explore the history of Florida’s Spanish missions via a new online database. Launched Wednesday, the Comparative Mission Archaeology Portal includes digitized artifacts, image galleries, personal narratives and details of excavation sites.

Under Spain’s rule, Florida was home to more than 100 Catholic missions, a network of outposts that served as the political, economic and religious backbone of the territory for nearly two centuries...

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the database includes information from three North Florida sites: Baptizing Spring in Suwannee County, the site of the Mission San Juan de Guacara; Fig Springs in Columbia County, once home to the Mission San Martín de Timucua; and Fox Pond in Alachua County, the former site of the Mission San Francisco de Potano.

While the database has a research emphasis, it’s designed to be user-friendly to anyone looking for an introduction to what missions were like and common artifacts found during the excavations, such as pottery and projectile points...

Here is the link.

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/floridas-historic-spanish-missions-go-digital/

I'll probably have more on that in the future.

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Eisenhower Dollar and Kennedy Half Dollar Coins.
Finds and photo by Mitch King.

Wanted to share two odd finds for the Treasure Coast. A Eisenhower Clad

Dollar and a Kennedy Clad Half Dollar.

Both found in the same area a day a part last weekend. The appear to

have "surfed" up into a washed out area with a lot of shells. Both are

1972 and not worth much. But this was my first Ike Dollar found at the

beach.

Mitch King

Vice President

Treasure Coast Archeological Society

Coin Hunter of the year Colchester England 2019

You probably know Mitch, who has been in a leadership roll for the Treasure Coast Archaeological Society for a long time.

These are not common beach finds. Mitch has found as many different types of coins as anyone, so when he says that the Eisenhower dollar is his first, you know it is not a common find.

Another thing you can take from this is that even though beach conditions have not been anything great, some seasoned coins have been found. If you spend enough time and know the beaches well enough you can find spots that will produce things like this even when conditions are not great. When you find items like that you want to search the area thoroughly.

Thanks Mitch.

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Tropical Storm Peter.
Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Now we have Tropical Storm Peter.  You can see the projected path above.  From the GFS model, I thought it was going to fall apart sooner.

Still, it is not going to give us any big surf.  We will have some increased surf though.

Source: MagicSeaweed.com.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/18/21 Report - Upcoming Treasure Auction and Lectures. The Whiskey Rebellion. Treasure Coast Weather Watch.

 

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

We’re reaching out directly to valued clients like you to personally invite you to our Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction 30 to be held on November 4th & 5th online and in-person at the Hilton Garden Inn here in Winter Park, Florida. We will have lot-viewing and guest speakers on November 3rd and checkout will be on Saturday November 6th.

Some of our featured collections include:

- The J.O.B. Collection of Seville Gold Coins
​- The Fernandina Collection of Colonial Gold Cobs
- The John Adams Collection of Admiral Vernon Medals Part I
- The Jorge Ugaz Collection of Potosi 8 and 4 Reales Cobs
- The Tamarindo Collection of Costa Rican Error Coins and Paper Money
- Mexican Silver Cobs from the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet
- Selections from the Robert Mastalir Collection of Countermarked Potosi Cobs
- The Antigua Collection of Guatemalan Cobs Part II (Minors)
- A Choice Selection of Graded Spanish Numismatic Rarities
- Atocha Pre-Anniversary Special Selection of Choice Silver Cobs and Ingots
- 1715 Fleet Selection of Important Gold Cobs

Special Guest Speakers:

Ben Costello (Washington, Pennsylvania) The Fort Capron Treasure lost off Fort Pierce, FL

Miguel Estrella (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Las Monedas Dominicanas durante el Reinado de Felipe II

Stephen P. Burrington (Blue Ash, Ohio) Curiosities from The Potosi Mint

 

It's a small mall world!  Washington, Pa. is my home town and the home of David Bradford who played a key roll in the Whiskey Rebellion.

The Whiskey Rebellion (also known as the Whiskey Insurrection) was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington, ultimately under the command of American Revolutionary War veteran Major James McFarlane. The so-called "whiskey tax" was the first tax imposed on a domestic product by the newly formed federal government. Beer was difficult to transport and spoiled more easily than rum and whiskey. Rum distillation in the United States had been disrupted during the Revolutionary War, and whiskey distribution and consumption increased after the Revolutionary War (aggregate production had not surpassed rum by 1791). The "whiskey tax" became law in 1791, and was intended to generate revenue for the war debt incurred during the Revolutionary War. The tax applied to all distilled spirits, but consumption of American whiskey was rapidly expanding in the late 18th century, so the excise became widely known as a "whiskey tax". Farmers of the western frontier were accustomed to distilling their surplus rye, barley, wheat, corn, or fermented grain mixtures to make whiskey. These farmers resisted the tax. In these regions, whiskey often served as a medium of exchange.  Many of the resisters were war veterans who believed that they were fighting for the principles of the American Revolution in particular against taxation without local representation, while the federal government maintained that the taxes were the legal expression of Congressional taxation powers...   (from Wikipedia)

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov

If you are wondering when you are going to get some better beach detecting, don't expect much improvement real soon.  Tropical Storm Odette is doing more for the northeast than us.  And the next system in line is probably going to fall apart before doing much for us.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Nothing more than three feet on the MagicSeaWeed predictions for the Treasure Coast for the next week.

And the GFS model shows why.   You can see that on Ventusky.com,

Wind Speed Map For Next Thursday.
Source: Ventusky.com.

The system that looks like it might be headed our direction, by next Thursday is very weak.  You can see what remains of it down by Santo Domingo.

That is according to the GFS model, and we can't know for sure yet, but that is what it looks like now.  Little hope for any big improvements next week.

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Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/17/21 Report - Two Other Ways To Find Spanish Beach Treasure. One Reader Comments On Padre Island Treasure. Predictions.

 

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

Photo of Spacex Launch
by Alberto S.

Greetings,

 

The night launch last night was impressive, one of the best I have seen to date, the image attached is composed of 2 different images taken with just a short time between the 2 shots. The halo was formed after the separation of the rocket booster took place.

Have a great day,

 

Alberto S

That is a super photo. Thanks Alberto.

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There is a lot of activity on the hurricane map now.  Here it is.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

Not much has changed on the map other than the one system that was off Jacksonville has moved north.  It looks like it will become stronger, but won't affect us.

The other system that is out in the Atlantic could develop and is coming in our general direction.  Taking a look at the GFS model, we see that it is still small and far away.

Wind Speed This Coming Sunday
According To The GFS Model.
Source: Ventusky.com.

You can see the one system that has moved off to the north while the other system is still small and far southeast of us.  Below you can see what the GFS model is predicting for Thursday.

Wind Speed For Thursday
According To The GFS Model.
Ventusky.com.

As you can see there is still a remnant of the first system to the north, but the other system has moved mostly north from where it is now.  It has developed nicely but remained out in the Atlantic.  That is what I said the other day that I expected, but it is still too soon to tell for sure.  

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A couple days ago I mentioned the Padre Island treasures.  Kevin K. had the following to add on that topic.

Hello Treasure Guide-

Back in 1984 I bought a limited partnership with Mel Fisher in the Atocha treasure, so I went to the Tulane University library to research Spanish shipwrecks. I managed to find the Texas Archaeological Department's report on the Padre Island shipwrecks. It makes for very interesting reading. Forgive me if you have read it, but here are a few interesting tidbits from it:

1) The three ships were part of a fleet of 44 that had come over from Spain. Only one of the 44 had been certified by the marine surveyors as seaworthy enough and in good enough condition to make the return trip to Spain! Their owners had doubly insured them in hopes of them wrecking, whereupon they would get rich. I never knew marine insurance existed that early, but obviously crooks did.

2) One of the three shipwrecks was destroyed when the state dredged a channel right through it's wreck site before it was found, so most of what was there is now buried in the dredge spoils somewhere.

3) Much more silver, and I presume gold, was found than was on the cargo manifests, indicating a large amount of smuggling, as has been found on the other Spanish wrecks. Many cannons were found to be stuffed with smuggled precious metals and other valuables.

As for my limited partnership, it was only good for that year, and of course 1985 was when they found the pile of Atocha silver, so I only received a couple of coins from the Santa Margarita instead of the Atocha, and a tax writeoff. Maybe I told you this...

Also, I just bought a Nokta Macro MultiCruzer metal detector-it is MUCH better than my old Bounty Hunter Landstar.

Kevin Kerwin

I asked Kevin if he would let us know how he likes his Nokta after a while. Sounds like so far he likes it.

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Beach hunters don't have much chance of finding old Spanish treasure on the beaches during the typical summer unless you get some good storms to stir things up, but there is still some chance.

One way to find old Spanish coins during poor beach conditions is by hunting modern jewelry.  If you pick up enough jewelry you might find a mounted reale or escudo.  I've shown examples of that before.  Many mounted coins are sold at auction, by the Fishers and other salvors as well as jewelry stores.  Some are reproductions or fakes, but there are real coins mounted in jewelry too.  

Another source of beach cobs during poor summer conditions is the renourishment sand.  Some cobs have been found in renourishment sand.  That does not happen often, but it has happened.

As far as I know, the latest renourishment project at Fort Pierce South Jetty hasn't produced any cobs, but I did find one old flat button in the sand there even though I only detected that area twice since the sand was dumped.  If one old item is in the sand, I'd suspect there are more.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

O

9/16/21 Report - Rare Silver Brooch Found by Detectorist. Spacex Launch Viewed by T. C. Storm Scene.

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

Source: BBC.com link below.

A metal detectorist who found a rare early-medieval silver brooch has said it was his most "incredible" find ever.

The Trewhiddle-style brooch found on farmland at Cheddar in Somerset features detailed interlace decorations with animals thought to be peacocks...

The South West Heritage Trust conducted a follow-up investigation at the find site but no further significant discoveries were made

"The fact that no further significant objects were found suggests that the brooch was lost or discarded into water, rather than deliberately buried," she said.

The disc brooch dates back to between 800 and 900AD was declared as treasure at an inquest held at Taunton Coroner's Court in August.

Here is the link for more about that.

Somerset detectorist finds rare early-medieval brooch - BBC News

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Last night you could see the Spacex launch brightly from the Treasure Coast.  From about 8:02 a bright orange light could be seen as the rocket ascended.  Later the bright orange light turned into a dimmer white light but atmospheric conditions produced a large light halo effect.  I'd never seen a space launch from Kennedy so well.  

Spacex Rocket Over Treasure Coast Last Night.
Source: Yahoo.com link below.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacex-launch-lights-night-sky-065715109.htm

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There is now a lot of activity on the National Hurricane Center map.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

The system east of Jacksonville could sent some higher surf to parts of the U.S. east coast later this week, but I'm not expecting much surf from that one to reach Florida.

In my opinion the one to watch is the one farther out in the Atlantic.  It is likely to develop during the next few days.  Without consulting any additional data, my guess is that it will probably stay east of us, but we'll have to keep watching it.  Even if it does stay out in the Atlantic, it could possibly send us some waves.

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It looks like the deep state has become a real Cuckoo's nest.  The most psychologically unfit are drawn to the power centers of piower like dung beetles to a fresh dropping.  Different times in history are characterized by different mental illnesses.  Projection seems to be the primary symptom of this time period. The most racist see others as being racist.  The most unfit see others as being unfit, etc..  For a while I wondered if that might just be a political strategy, but it is becoming evident that mass delusion runs rampant in DC.  Megalomaniacs like Comey and Milley provide perfect examples.   Unfortunately the internet provides support groups for all sorts of delusions.  

 

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Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/15/21 - Civil War Shipwreck On Beach. 13 Shipwrecks and Five Tons of Gold (?) Discovered.

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

This week, the archaeology team completed unearthing the hull of the wreck, right in the nick of time.

Archaeologists believe it to be the wreck of the Caroline Eddy. It was a cargo ship built in Maine for the Union Army during the Civil War. It was later used as a merchant ship.

In 1880, the Caroline Eddy departed from Fernandina Beach, heading toward Philadelphia, full of lumber. It sailed into a hurricane and eventually hit a sandbar off the coast of Matanzas Inlet...

In November, a nor’easter's winds and waves pushed the sand off part of the ship’s hull. It had been buried for decades.

This week, the team finished uncovering the hull...

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

Civil War shipwreck 'The Caroline Eddy' unearthed in Florida | firstcoastnews.com

You might recall the high water and finds we had on the Treasure Coast back in November.

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AN UNDERWATER exploration group says it has detected 13 shipwrecks - one a billion-dollar find - in Bahamian waters with the Government having quietly given a salvage licence to another operator.

BSD Global Exploration, whose principals include former US ambassador to The Bahamas, Ned Siegel, says satellite technology able to locate minerals and precious metals some 26,000 feet below ground or the ocean surface has identified multiple sites of potential economic and historical significance to The Bahamas.

A presentation by the group, which has been seen by Tribune Business, asserts that just one shipwreck alone could have five tons of gold - worth an estimated $1bn - sitting on The Bahamas’ ocean floor.

“BSD Global Exploration scans cost between $1m and $1.5m per each search per metal or substance,” the presentation said. “We have done a search of your waters and found the following results.

“Thirteen shipwrecks including one shipwreck from the 1715 fleet with about five tons of gold on the ocean floor. Estimated total is $1bn.”

However, BSD Global is far from alone in seeking potential riches on the Bahamian seabed. For Joshua Sears, the Prime Minister’s senior policy adviser, has confirmed to Tribune Business that an underwater exploration/salvage licence has already been issued to Carl Allen, the multi-millionaire Walker’s Cay owner, and his company...

Much more to that article. Here is the link.

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/sep/13/billion-dollar-treasure-exploration-heating/?fbclid=IwAR2wiz6mkaFdMcW3i2986Ckx9qt4hICQB0dTJtn2JsMY4PFoNqr8kCuljqQ

Thanks to DJ for both of those links.

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

The area out in the Bahamas will probably develop some.  I'll be watching that area farther out in the Atlantic, but it is too soon to say much about it.  I'm not expecting much, but it could become a big concern.

The area just to our east might bring us some higher surf in a few days.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Notice the increase in the surf early next week.  That will probably change some, one way or the other, by the time we get there.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/14/21 Report - Nicholas and The Padre Island Shipwreck Treasures. American Eagle Gold Coins.

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

Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

Tropical storm Nicholas is making landfall in Texas.  There is a ;possibility that the Padre Island beaches will be producing coins, but the that all belongs to the National Park Service now.  In the old days those beaches were hunted, and hydraulic mining was even used.  They blew the beaches away with high powered water pumps.  The wrecks there are said to be the oldest shipwrecks ever found in the Americas.

In April 1554, three Spanish naos (a type of cargo and passenger ship similar to Columbus’s Santa Maria) went aground on Padre Island following a storm that had blown them across the Gulf of Mexico from the coast of Cuba. At the time this was the greatest disaster to ever befall the Spanish fleet in the New World. Tons of treasure bound for Spain was lost in addition to the lives of approximately three hundred passengers and crew who died from hunger, thirst, and attacks by natives as they attempted to walk back to the port of Vera Cruz...

“The 1554 shipwrecks are important for a lot of reasons. The "mining" of them by Platoro caused the State of Texas to realize that shipwrecks and archaeological sites in general are important, and the property of the people and the state. They are cultural resources that have to be cared for. Some of the earliest experiments in the conservation of artifacts from the sea were done on the objects and hull remains that were recovered from the sites that Platoro and the State worked…The Platoro conflict did lead to the establishment of the Texas Antiquities Committee, which led to the Texas Historical Commission, which led to the discovery and excavation of La Belle [the ship of the French explorer La Salle, found on the Texas coast within the past few years] among other accomplishments.”

Here is a link for more about that.

The Importance of the 1554 Shipwrecks - Padre Island National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

The coins found there were are silver.  Very little gold was found - some French coins and ingots.

That one area off the coast of Florida could develop, but I don't think it will do much for us.  And the system coming off of Africa is too far away at this point.  I wouldn't be surprised if it went north into the Atlantic.

MagicSeaWeed.com isn't predicting any surf over two feet for the next week or so.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

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Yesterday I mentioned that the Panda gold coins come in a few varieties but the bullion coins are the most common.  The same thing applies to American Eagles.  

You might find American Eagles mounted in rings or jewelry.  It happens ever once in a while.  I've seen it.

American eagles are minted in four formats: bullion, burnished, proof and reverse proof.  Pandas come in the same varieties.

Gainsevillecoins.com. says, "The vernacular surrounding the “bullion” version has changed over the years. It was originally known as “uncirculated.”  

"Bullion American Gold Eagles are the lesser-expensive of the two major product categories. While they generally feature well-struck details and decent surface quality, they generally are not pursued by collectors. The main market for bullion-quality Gold Eagles is the investor set, and such coins are produced in large numbers. Rather than being sold to the public as most United States Mint products are, they are distributed to a network of authorized dealers who then sell these coins in individual or bulk quantities to collectors and investors for relatively small premiums over spot."

Bullionexchanges.com provides the following comments.

American Gold Eagle Coins are among the most sought-after coins in the industry. Their high gold purity content and beautiful design make them appreciated and in-demand. Furthermore, mint error American Eagle coins frequently sell for even higher premiums than regular Gold Eagles. This is due to the high collector value they hold. The many types of mint errors, including misalignments and struck-throughs, provide Gold American Eagle error coin collectors with many purchasing opportunities.

There is a lot to learn about and a lot to look for.

Metal detecting keeps is really an educational activity.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net