11/19/25 Report - Coin Market Makes Strong Showing. Auction Highlights. TreasureGuide Metal Detecting Music Awards.

 

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

Yesterday I was talking about collecting and investing in coins.  The recently closed Sedwick auction did quite well, hitting the 5-million-dollar mark.  Below are some of the highlights.

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I thought I'd do something whimsical today.  It is my first and last - ever - TreasureGuide Metal Detecting Music Awards.  

First goes to Connie Francis and Where the Boys Are.  Every time I hear that song it takes me back to Fort Lauderdale Beach and Spring Breaks of long ago.  Youth was busting out all over.  Fort Lauderdale was the first beach I spent much time on in any way and a beach I later spent a lot of time metal detecting.

The Top Group award goes to Rolling Stones.  Bonus points for longevity.  All of us as detectorists know You Can't Always Get What You Want.

Second top group award goes to the Beach Boys.  The name of the group says it all, but if you ever used a Vibra metal detector, you know the significance of digging all the good vibrations.  Vibra detectors were underwater detectors that vibrated instead of using sound.

Third group in this category is the Temptations.  If you love metal detecting, you know how it is to feel like you have sunshine on a cloudy day. 

Top performer goes to James Brown.  Everybody knows that when his goodie bag wears out, Papa got a brand new bag.  I've once told a funny story about a goodie bag with a hole in it.

Second top group award goes to Jerry Lee Lewis.  When you got a fresh scoop full of slightly wet sand, you know there's gonna be a whole lot of shakin going on.

Third in the top performer category goes to M. C. Hammer.   You know how it is when you are digging a hole and the wave fills it faster than you can dig it.  You know it's there, but you just can't touch it.

Top performer in the women's class is Tina Turner. Always reminds me of mudlarking bottles rolling down the river. 

Here is one from the Way-Back category for when your feeling real lucky - I'm looking over a four-leaf clover.  How Much is that Doggie in the Window, would have tied, but I couldn't come up with a MD connection.  

Top live concert goes to Pink Floyd at the Pittsburgh Civic Center arena.  First row stage left with.  

There are other honorable mentions, but I'll end it there.

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 Today's Treasure Coast surf chart is really flat.  Might be some nice water hunting,

I'll get back to my how coins move series when I get a chance.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/18/25 Report = Collecting and Investing in Coins and Bullion Including Spanish Colonial.

 

Here is an excerpt from an article about the best Spanish coins to buy.

Here are their top picks from 2024.

1. Eight-Real Cob Coins: These coins are highly sought after for their historical significance and unique appearance. Coins from famous shipwrecks, like the Atocha and 1715 Fleet are particularly valuable.
2. Potosí Mint Eight-Real Cob Coins: Known for their high silver content, these coins played a crucial role in global trade during the Spanish colonial period.
3. Pillar Dollar (Milled Coins): Featuring the iconic Pillars of Hercules, these coins are a symbol of Spain’s influence and are prized by collectors for their detailed designs.
4. Gold Escudos (Shields of Gold or Doubloons): These gold coins, minted in various denominations, are highly valued for their rarity and historical significance. They often feature intricate designs and are associated with Spanish colonial wealth.

Here is the link.

Expert Reviews: Which Spanish Coins Are the Best to Buy Now? | Commodore Coins & Collectibles, Ltd.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are suggesting the coins they have in inventory.

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Here is an excerpt from an article that gives a sample of Colonial Coin values from 2025 eBay listings.

Spanish Colonial Coin Values

Millions of coins were minted in the Spanish colonies, so heavily worn samples are not hard to find, nor are they necessarily expensive. Some can be had for just a few dollars. On the other hand, pristine coins can command very high prices.

Since such large numbers of Spanish colonial coins exist, and more are yet to be discovered from shipwrecks and treasure chests, comprehensive lists of the most valuable ones are hard to come by. Here’s a list of 10 recent top-quality coins for sale on eBay to give you a sense of the high end of the current market. Bear in mind that these are asking prices, so the final sale amount could be lower (or higher).

Description	Grade	Asking Price
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos 1714 “Date on Reverse”	NGC 63	$65,000.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Cob Doubloon	NGC 62	$50,000.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Cob "Full Date”	NGC 58	$48,500.00
1818 Small Planchet New Spain Fernando de Bexar Silver ½ Real	Not given	$39,500.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudo Dated Gold Doubloon	NGC 55	$34,950.00
1715 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Dated Gold Doubloon	NGC 58	$32,500.00
1760 Mexico 8 Escudos Colonial Doubloon	Not given	$29,995.00
1715 Shipwreck 1714 8 Escudos Gold Cob	NGC 64	$29,500.00
1733 Shipwreck 8 Escudos Gold Doubloon	NGC 55	$29,500.00
1714 8 Escudos 1715 Fleet Gold Cob	NGC 64	$27,500.00

Here is that link.

Collecting Spanish Colonial Coins

Of course there are many excellent quality coins available for considerably less.

I wouldn't put too much stock in eBay. The most recent Sedwick auction will be more telling.

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... Coins and other collectibles can add a level of diversification for the right client, Wennersten said.

"Like most speculative investments that produce no cash flow, appreciation potential depends on the specific investment, and we won't know how good the investment was until we have the benefit of time," he said. "Gains on rare coins can be significant."...

Many investors prefer to buy coins that have been independently certified by third parties as to authenticity and condition.

Jonathan Dane, founding partner and chief investment officer at Defiant Capital Group in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, works with clients who hold physical precious metals as a diversifier in the context of their overall investment strategy.

For purchases, Dane said he steers clients toward highly liquid coins with low markups — like American Gold Eagles, Krugerrands and American Silver Eagles — rather than bars or collectibles, which can have wide bid-ask spreads.

"Liquidity and pricing transparency matter far more than novelty," he said.

Because scams in the space are common, Dane said he only sends clients to vetted dealers his firm knows.

"I advise against online purchases where authenticity and pricing are harder to verify," he said....

McNinch et al. (2006), studying artifact deposition in a similar shallow, energetic

Here is the link for much more about that.

Should advisors let rare coins jingle in client portfolios? | Financial Planning

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The Treasure Coast surf will remain near flat for the next week.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/17/25 Report - Inter Caetera Papal Bull of 1493: Discovering New Lands. Returning Indigenous Artifacts. Miscellaneous Other Bits.

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

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 artifacts from its vast ethnographic collection to Indigenous peoples from Canada, as part of the Catholic Church’s reckoning with its role in helping suppress Indigenous culture in the Americas...

For a century, the items were part of the Vatican Museum’s ethnographic collection, known today as the Anima Mundi museum. The collection has been a source of controversy for the Vatican amid the broader museum debate over the restitution of cultural goods taken from Indigenous peoples during colonial periods.

Here is the link for more about that.

The Papal Bull Inter Caetera of May 4, 1493Vatican returns 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples in Canada | AP News

As is often the case these days, I see no relation between the photo and the article.  The photo shows a headdress given to the Pope in 2022.  The article is about artifacts from the Vatican Museum's ethnographic collection.  Such is the state of journalism and the media these days.

Anyhow, the Papal Bull Inter Caetera, written in 1493 by Pope Alexander VI to grant Spain exclusive rights to newly “discovered” lands west of a demarcation line in the Atlantic, effectively dividing the non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal. It legitimized Spain’s claims following Columbus’s voyage, forbade other nations from interfering, and laid the foundation for the “Doctrine of Discovery,” which justified European colonization of the Americas.

The Papal Bull is interesting reading and history.  Below is one excerpt.

We have heard, of course, that though for some time you had intended to look for and find certain remote and unknown islands and mainlands, heretofore undiscovered by others, in order to return their local population and inhabitants to the worship of our Redeemer and to the profession of the Catholic faith, you were not able to reach the intended goal of this your sacred and commendable plan, as you were until now most occupied with the conquest and recovery of the Kingdom of Granada; but when the aforementioned kingdom was finally regained, as it pleased the Lord, and wishing to follow your desire, you designated [our] beloved son Christopher Columbus, a man certainly worthy and most highly recommendable and suited for a task of this magnitude, together with ships and men equipped for such an undertaking under the greatest hardships, dangers and expenses, to carefully search for remote and unknown continents and islands of this kind across the sea, where no one had ever sailed before;...

I highly recommend that you read the entire document, which is just a few pages.

Here is a link to a document which also includes an introduction and comments as well as a the translation.

The Papal Bull Inter Caetera of May 4, 1493

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The American penny is history. The nickel might be next.

The last pennies were pressed at the US Mint in Philadelphia on Wednesday, a victim of production costs higher than their worth coupled with limited usefulness. While the penny remains legal tender, banks and merchants are already reporting shortages.

But the factors that prompted the government to stop making pennies are even truer for the nickel. Pennies cost nearly 5 cents to make – 4 cents more than they’re worth. The nickel’s net loss is nearly 9 cents per coin....

Here is the link for more about that.

With the end of the penny, is the clock ticking for the nickel?

I was wondering if we couldn't simply accept the Canadian pennies be accepted.  We didn't spend a penny to produce them and I suspect there are quite a few in drawers or boxes in this country.  It would be something like when the Spanish real was widely accepted.  Of course, that was largely because of the silver content.

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Small Gold Bracelet Find.

2.7 grams of 14K gold isn't insignificant anymore.  As often is the case with found necklaces or bracelets, it has a broken link.

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Here are a couple other types of finds from nature.

Swallowtail Butterfy Caterpillar on Wild Lemon Tree Leaf.

You can see all kinds of neat things in nature.  The above is an example.  Swallowtails lay their eggs on the wild lemon trees.  The caterpillar above is on the third leaf up from the bottom on the right.  It is only about 1/8 inch long.  Another was found on another wild lemon tree.  It was less than the size of the head on a pin.  The "cats" will eat a few weeks and then form a chrysalis, and in the summer become a butterfly in about a week or two after that, but with winter coming, it probably won't emerge as a butterfly until spring.  Then it will breed and lay eggs, only a small number of which will survive in the wild to become butterflies.  Finding the eggs and small cats is challenging.  Like metal detecting, it helps immensely to know where to look. They lay on the tender new shoots of the host plant. 

Here are a couple more Florida nature finds from the same morning.

Passion Fruit Plants from Two 
Different Species of Passiflora incarnata.

Passion fruit are used in Hawaiian punch drink.  If you open these you'll get that familiar smell and be able to eat the contents.  They can be found growing in wild Florida.  

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I recently added a Fall's City beer bottle and a Horlick's Malted Milk bottle to tgbottlebarn.blogspot.com.

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I almost forgot about my How Coins Move on a Beach series.  I'll have to see where I left on an pick up on it again.  I know I was getting close to the climax.

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Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Looks like a small surf for the next week or so.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/16/25 Report - Artifact Reexamined: New Find on an Old Find. Who Own's The Beach and Common Question Partly Addressed.

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

Pewter Fork or Knife Handle from Treasure Coast Beach.

With time you accumulate more knowledge and often better tools.  As a result, it can be worth going back and reinspecting metal detector finds that you long ago put away.  The added knowledge combined with better tools can lead to new discoveries.  

Above is shown is old Treasure Coast shipwreck beach find.  It has been identified as an early pewter fork or knife handle.  The pewter handle is hollow and would have been over plaster or wood.  

Forks Photographed at the Queen's Jewels LLC Conservation Lab Several Years Ago.
See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 10/18/16 Report - BIG SURF Coming. Ferdinand VII Reale Find. Silver Sea Salvaged Forks. Pewter Fork Handle.

While numerous fork parts have been found on Treasure Coast wrecks, I have not been able to find a picture of a pewter handle cover anything like the one at the top of the post.  Two are listed in the PAS database, but, unfortunately, neither is accompanied by a photo. It seems this artifact is a rarity, and I'd love to see any photos of anything like it.  

The following excerpts are from Nishimura and Quieroz in Material culture and food: The evolution of tableware and the consolidation of behaviors during the mealtime.

The forks shown remains shown in the above photo are badly deteriorated.  They seem to have slim handles - perhaps too slim for easy handling with anything other than condiments.

Only in the 17th century, the dominant classes introduced the practice of eating with their own

cutlery and individual plates, and fork began to be used together with knife, which continues to

be the main utensil, handled with the right hand. Individualism than began to be marked by a

set of utensils arranged at an absolutely regular distance from the table neighbors.13

In the late 17th century, cutlery cases with spoons, forks and knives appeared. Large scale

production of cutlery in England after 1650 played a key role in improving the table manners.17

But only in the early 18th century, multiple cutlery sets began to be produced and, according to

Goldsmith,14 silver cutlery began to become popular in Europe for those who could afford it...

Even today, the table setting, i.e. the place of the utensils on the table, reflects symbologies

inherited over the centuries. Knife blades facing the plate comes from the Middle Age. The

intention of the host is to show that he is unarmed, in a sign of trust and peace to the guests.

Another aspect that reminds the times of violence at the table is the rest position of the cutlery.

Not gesturing with the fork or knife at the hand and lowering the knife when not using it was

associated with good manners.

The fact that the fork is hold with the left hand and the knife with the right hand comes from

the times of King Louis XIV of France. The order remains to this day because all etiquette rules

were designed for right-handed people due to discrimination against the left-handers.23 Cutlery

should always rest and left on the plate – not on the table - because the introduction of individual

forks and napkins raised hygiene and cleanness standards at the mealtime, and any stain outside

the food area or even on the tablecloth would no longer be admissible...

So I decided to put the proposed fork handle under my microscope to see what I could find.  I thought I could see a faint design and after obtaining the right lighting, I was able to get a decent photo of the design on the handle.  Here it is.

Design Found on Pewter Handle.(Magnified).

Too bad it isn't a shield or something more specific.  I'll have to look again.

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Someone recently asked a question that I often receive.   They asked about the laws applicable to finds.  Despite my reluctance to address the subject, I have commented on the subject in the past several times to some extent.

The first step is to determine what laws apply is to first determine who owns the land where the find was made.  Unfortunately, that may not always be easy.

Consider the following excerpts from an article that was published earlier this year.

Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are?

The fight over beach access is unlikely to end in Florida, where growing populations and eroding beaches create arguments over invisible lines in the sand...

Walton County isn’t the only place where people are arguing even about where a visitor can stand. That’s because it’s not clear on the beaches or in state law where the public is or is not allowed.

The Florida Constitution says beaches below the mean high water line are public land. That’s a relatively narrow strip of land on most beaches.

The Florida Supreme Court in 1974 expanded public access to the beach — in theory.

The state’s high court said access exists under the “customary use” doctrine from English common law. The court said access to dry sandy beaches must be based on recreational use that has been “ancient, reasonable, without interruption and free from dispute.”...

This a long article that is well worth reading.  Here is the link.

Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are. - POLITICO

As you can see, the answer isn't simple and clear.  There are controversies, contradictions and complications.

People often talk about the wet sand versus dry sand division as being important.  As I've said before, it doesn't matter if the sand is wet or dry.  The boundary for state property along the navigable waterways doesn't change with the tides or wetness of the sand.  The boundary is defined by the Mean High Water Line, which, as I've also explained before, is determined by survey and up-dated every 19 years to reflect changes due to erosion or accretion.

A waterfront property owner may gain or lose property by erosion or accretion.

Although the state lands boundary is defined by the MHWL, no person you encounter on the beach is likely to know where that line is without reference to the survey markers.

While the state lands along oceans, rivers, and other waterways often abuts private property, it also at times borders public lands controlled by municipalities or even the state itself where there is a state park.

Conversely, the “dry sand” area, which is the portion of the beach landward of the MHWL up to the vegetation line or a permanent structure, is private property. The ownership of this upland area belongs to the adjacent property owner. This creates a dual-ownership system where the public has a right to be on one part of the sand while the other is privately controlled.

In areas where significant beach restoration or nourishment projects have occurred, the boundary may be different. In these cases, a permanently fixed Erosion Control Line (ECL) can replace the fluctuating MHWL as the legal demarcation between state-owned sovereign lands and private upland property. This fixed line provides a more stable and predictable boundary for property owners and the public....

See Who Owns the Beach in Florida? Public vs. Private Rights - LegalClarity for more about that. 

The St. Lucie Erosion Control District (See Ch_2004-409.pdf) is responsible for the beach added below the Fort Pierce jetty, for example.   Erosion control districts are cooperative efforts between local municipalities and federal agencies including the Army Corps or Engineers.  They manage erosion control efforts and handle the funding.

It only seems right that areas created for erosion control are public property since they are paid for by Erosion Control District's and funded by a combination of federal and local funds and benefit the waterfront property owners extensively.

As an example of that, I was once metal detecting in front of a private beach club and the lifeguard employed by the club told me I couldn't metal detect there.  He was wrong.  I called the county offices and was told that it was public property back to the erosion control markers and had no right to restrict public access and use in front of the club.

There are other things that can affect your rights, including, for example, the "common use doctrine" or public safety laws, which I wrote about not long ago.

When there is a question, ask authorities.  Don't be afraid to call.  Get an answer.  It might be incomplete or even wrong, but if you did your best, what more can you do.

In conclusion, it is my feeling that the laws are complex and confusing, but you can stay out of trouble by simply being reasonable, respecting private and public property, being kind, courteous and cooperative with authorities, and doing your best to follow the laws to the best of your understanding.  A little wisdom and good judgement goes a long way.  As Jesus told his disciples, "Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves."  

You don't need to create conflict or trouble when there is no need.  In my opinion, fading in and maintaining a low profile can be a good strategy.

I might follow up on this in the future.

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Beautiful Day on the Treasure Coast.

Nice day to be out on the Treasure Coast.

Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com.

Nice small surf for the next few days.

Good hunting,

Treasureguide@comcast.net

11/15/25 Report - Recent Find at Bonsteel to be Identified. Last Minted Pennies to be Auctioned. Cranial Tool Found. Biblical Find.

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

I received these photos and the following message from James.

... I am a retired police officer in Kentucky and took up metal detecting as a hobby 13 years ago when I retired.  Recently I was in Charleston SC for my daughter's wedding and figured I would after the wedding drive to the Treasure Coast.  I had never detected there before.  I only had two days to detect.  I was in the Vero Beach area.  On the second day I detected north of Bonsteel Beach access and found this.  I almost put it in my junk pouch but looked like it had a design on it so I figured I would check it out more when I got back to the car.  That is when I thought I saw the cross sign and thought maybe I have something good.

Do you still have a forum on the internet that I could follow?  I am hoping to make it back down that way again sometime this winter.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great day

James

Does look like a cross.  A little cleaning might help.

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Archaeologists in Poland have discovered a rare iron tool that the Celts used to perform cranial surgery 2,300 years ago.

The hand-held artifact was found at Łysa Góra, a Celtic site in the Mazovia region of central-eastern Poland.The trepanation tool, discovered this spring in the same part of the site as the helmet, is even rarer than the helmet, according to Kaczyński, because only a few of these surgical tools have been found at Celtic sites. This particular implement, which features a blade that transitions to a spike and was probably originally fastened to a wooden handle, is a type of ancient scalpel...

Here is the link for more about that.

2,300-year-old tool used for skull surgery unearthed at Celtic settlement in Poland | Live Science

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The U.S. mint punched out the last pennies ever on Wednesday, Nov. 12 – and the public will have a chance to bid for them.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach were on hand at the U.S. mint in Philadelphia for the striking of the "final circulating penny" on Nov. 12.

The last five pennies were stamped with a special omega mark and will not go into circulation, according to the Treasury Department. The government plans to auction the pennies off in the future...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.

The last pennies were minted. The special coins will be auctioned in the future.

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Archaeologists unearth evidence of biblical power struggle beneath Jerusalem: 'Screamed with excitement'

Pottery fragment, 2,700 years old, shows correspondence between Assyrian Empire and Kingdom of Judah...

A group of excavators recently uncovered the first-ever Assyrian inscription found in Jerusalem — shedding light on ancient power struggles described in the Bible.

The inscription, which was carved on a small pottery fragment, was uncovered at the Tzurim Valley National Park in East Jerusalem. The find was announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) on Oct. 22, in conjunction with the City of David Foundation...

Here is the link for more about that.

First Assyrian inscription found in Jerusalem reveals biblical era | Fox News

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Source: SurfGuru.com.

Looks like a small surf for several days.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/14/25 Report - Metal Detecting Thriving in England. Last Penny Minted. Scouring and Settling: One Case of How Coins Move.

 

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

Treasure finds in England have hit a record high, with a lamp shaped like a human foot and an earwax scoop among the more unusual items unearthed.

Provisional government figures recorded by the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme show 1,446 discoveries in England in 2024 - up from 1,266 the previous year.

A treasure find can include multiple items, and eastern England has proved the jewel in the nation's crown, with 388 finds last year.

Many are uncovered by metal detectorists like Emma Youell, who estimates she has found thousands of artefacts and describes herself as a "massive history nerd"...

Here is the link to for the rest of that very good article.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly90nl202go

Thanks to Timothy M. for that link.

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The American penny passed away after a prolonged illness. It was 238 years old...

Beach said Wednesday that the final coins pressed will be auctioned off and that the actual last pennies put into circulation from the US Mint were struck in June.

The penny outlived its sibling, the half-penny, by 168 years. It’s survived by the nickel, dime, quarter, and rarely seen half-dollar and dollar coins.

Despite its demise, the penny will remain legal tender...

Here is the link to that article.

The last-ever penny was minted today in Philadelphia

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I didn't expect my How Coins Move on a Beach series to take so many posts, but understanding the details of how it all happens will you put your metal detector coil in the most promising spots.  

I didn't plan to talk about this today, but I just ran across a good study and some very good illustrations that I think might help you.

In the previous post in this series I discussed a study conducted on the artifacts of the Queen Anne's Revenge wreck.  The study looked at the process of scouring and the settlement of artifacts.  In that study, the artifacts observed were all much bigger than coins, but the same basic processes apply. 

The illustration I just found shows how scouring and settlement occurs.  The object's profile is shaped something like that of a coin, It is a lot wider than high.  The illustration is below.

The illustration first shows an object on a less than stable surface - sand.

Below that, the illustration shows the object after current has moved (either towards or away from the viewer) and scoured the sand away from the lower edges of the artifact. 

If you've been on a dry sand beach on a very windy day, maybe you saw a coin sitting on what almost looks like a pedestal of sand.  The wind did something like what the illustration is showing, but created by water rather than wind.

If you've ever been to EPCOT and walked around Spaceship Earth (the big ball), you probably noticed that it is always very windy there.  The wind is really funneled around the bottom half of the ball.  Same principle but wind instead of water.

Like with aerodynamics and a plane's wing, the current flows faster as it goes around the object, and the faster current moves the sand more as it speeds around the object. A similar kind of thing happens with the sediments around a rock in a stream.

After the object settles below the surface level, as shown on the bottom line of the illustration, sand fills the hole and eventually covers the object.

Here is the link to the study in which I found the above illustration.

(PDF) The fate of artifacts in an energetic, shallow-water environment: Scour and burial at the wreck site of Queen Anne's Revenge

Scouring and settling is a better description than sinking although the end result appears to be very much like sinking.  I've discussed my objections to describing coins as sinking in sand before.  

It is important to remember that the results of this study only apply to similar situations.  The same results would not be obtained in the wave crash zone, for example.  

The currents in this case this study were strong enough to move sand but not the artifacts.  The artifacts in this case were not movable. 

Also if objects somewhere between size of the grains of sand and the cannon ball were considered, you might see some of those objects being move in other ways.  For example, if you had a flat thin piece of copper sheathing, maybe not perfectly flat and had some decent currents, the item could be moved horizontally like the sand instead of simply settling.  And if you were in the wave crash zone, the bottom would not be as flat and the current could act on objects in other ways.

Long ago I posted about a study of an object on a sandy slope with the currents running uphill.  What happened is the scouring occurred, very much like in this study.  When the sand on the downhill side of the object was moved away the object slipped down into the vacancy where it stopped.  Then the scouring began and again, and the object slipped down another step.  I called that stepping or something.  I couldn't find that study right off but will post it again if I find it.

The site of the QAR is not along the Eastern Coast like the 1715 Fleet.  It is not subject to the predominant coastal longshore currents and is protected from strong north/northeast winds and waves.  The QAR is more vulnerable to south or southeast winds.

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The Sedwick auction went live today and will continue tomorrow.

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Expect one to three foot surf all week along the Treasure Coast.

Good hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net