6/11/19 Report - Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch Trade Routes. Lost Treasures of the Florida West Coast Book. Valuable Pennies.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Spanish and Portuguese Trade Routes.

Yesterday I was talking about how to find good spots and how different things tend to be found in different places. The day before I mentioned trade routes as one factor.

Above are the Spanish and Portuguese trade routes, and below are the Dutch trade routes.

On the Treasure Coast the 1715 Fleet dominates much of our treasure talk, and for good reason, however other nations had significant trade routes, and they also have something to do with where treasure can be found.

Dutch Trade Routes.

As you can see, the main Dutch trade routes were significantly different than the Spanish and Portuguese.

---

I discussed some of Frank Hudson's books not long ago. One that seems more detailed than some of the others is his Lost Treasures of Florida's West Coast book that was published in 1983.

Frank Hudson's Lost Treasures of Florida's West Coast. 

I did a quick count and it seems to mentions over 230 different lost treasures. There are a lot of pirate treasures.  Some have been found, and some are in locations that you won't be able to metal detect.  A lot has changed since 1983, but the book has a lot of information.  You might recall one reader saying that they found some of his tips to be very accurate.

I think most any treasure hunter would enjoy looking through that book.

He also discusses using a two-box detector and constructing an A-frame to extract large deep treasures.

---

Here is an article that lists 20 pennies that would have a combined value of over $5.5 million.

Most Valuable Pennies.

---

Happy hunting, TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/6/19 Report - 16th Century Shipwreck. Reader Firsts. Scientific Approach To Treasure Hunting.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Copper Sheets From 16th Century Shipwreck.
Source: See nltimes link below.

Researchers found a Dutch shipwreck from early in the 16th century while cleaning up containers that went overboard from the MSC Zoe on New Year's eve. This is the oldest shipwreck ever discovered in Dutch waters, the National Cultural Heritage Agency said on Wednesday...

During the container salvage operation, copper plates and wooden beams were found. An archeological investigation was immediately launched. According to the Cultural Heritage Agency, the wooden beams came from a ship with a smooth hull that was likely around 30 meters long. The wood was further examined and this revealed that it was felled in 1536 and that the ship was built in the Netherlands around 1540. It sank while transporting copper plates.

Investigation into the copper plates dated them to around the same period. An interesting detail is that the plates are marked by the Fugger family, who had a monopoly on copper production in the 16th century. "The find is of very high cultural and archeological value", the Cultural Heritage Agency said...

Here is the link.

https://nltimes.nl/2019/04/03/16th-century-dutch-shipwreck-found-shipping-accident-cleanup

I had this article for a few days but put it on hold to discuss some other things first.

---

I like to find different kinds of things.  Some seem special.  There was my first ring, my first Rolex watch, my first Spanish treasure coin, and my first gold nugget, to name just a few.  I often mention reader firsts.  Last month DJ experienced some firsts and shared them with me in an email.  Here is what he said.

... I have decided that your blog is an encyclopedia of information, much of which I was able to use in March. Thank you for sharing this information, it makes the hobby all the more rewarding.  

A list of firsts: First time I found lots of targets, jewelry, first silver ring, green clad lying on top of the sand and first square copper/brass nail. 

Also helpful were the strategy of reading the beach, checking, making myself check another beach if things are not too good where I am. Many examples exist and were put into play this trip...

Congratulations on so many firsts in such a short time DJ.   Many more to come!

I'm delighted that you are making such good use of the blog.

There were others who recently sent me emails of thanks.  I sincerely appreciate them all.  It keeps me going.

Thanks guys!

In a world filled with so much discord and hate, I'm encouraged daily by the fine kind people I meet through the blog. 

---

Coming from a scientific background, it was only natural that I would bring a scientific attitude to my metal detecting and treasure hunting.  While a treasure hunter will usually not want to conduct any kind of formal scientific experiments, adopting a "scientific" approach is recommended.  To a large extent that means being abundantly cautious, systematic, thorough, disciplined, reserving judgement, and highly valuing evidence, or data.

There is a lot more to science than laboratories, test tubes and experiments.  Science requires a number of traits and attitudes. It requires a real desire to understand, creativity, objectivity, logic and skepticism.

That might sound like a lot, but you undoubtedly already possess and use some of those traits, and others can be developed and improved.

I can't do a comprehensive treatment of the subject in one post, or even a lot of posts, but I'll discuss some things that I've found very helpful and recommend that you at least consider them.

You'll often see someone make a find and without any serious thought or study, proclaim what the item is.  There are usually a variety of possibilities that should be considered.  I always like to try to think of as many alternative explanations as I can.  It is important to develop theories and hypothesis, which can be tested or evaluated.

They say, "You don't know what you don't know," but I know a lot of things I don't know.  It is important to have an awareness of what you don't know. A scientific approach requires having a deep respect for  how much you don't know.  I wouldn't want to have brain surgery conducted by a podiatrist.  Over-confidence can be deadly literally as well as figuratively.

No matter what you think of the TV treasure shows, they provide a lot of examples and illustrations that many of us have seen and can discuss.  Sometimes you will see a hap-hazard, disorganized, poorly considered approach.  They look here and look there and find this and that, most of which has no significance, and come up with conclusions that are little more than wild speculation.  That creates drama, which is something a TV show must do, but for me, it is not the way to solve a problem.  That is the reason I am so critical at times.

A number of seasons ago on Gold Rush, Parker finally got Tony to drill some test holes to sample some ground.  I thought, its about time.  Sampling is a scientific strategy that I use all the time in a different form.  It is a systematic method of collecting data.  That is just one of many examples.

Don't get me wrong.  A skilled professional who has tons of experience on a specific type of activity can be successful without all the stuff I am talking about today.  My father-in-law was in coal mining his entire life and could tell by just looking at the land where there was going to be good coal.  There is no substitute for that type of experience. You can find that type of experience and skill on the Treasure Coast.

A more scientific approach used by a relative novice will lose to vast professional experience every-time.  However, I believe anyone who wants to and makes the effort can benefit by taking a more scientific approach.  It will dramatically increase the learning curve for the less experienced and prevent costly mistakes and increase efficiency for those who are already skilled.

Taking a scientific approach is not a quick path to success.  Neither can it replace long hard work.  It will help though.  In some cases it might be absolutely necessary - depending upon what you want to accomplish.

Some people will not be interested at all in a scientific approach.  For some, it just will not mesh with their personality, philosophy or goals.

Some people are just out for a little relaxation.  Some people like to go by feel or hunch.  That is fine.   And if you disagree with everything I just said, that is fine too.

I haven't even began to scratch the surface on this topic and may or may not get into more detail in the future.  I suspect I will from time to time.

---

We now have a slightly negative low tide.  Other than that there is not much change to report concerning beach conditions.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

10/23/14 Report - Things That Will Help You Grade Dug Coins. Florida Dug Walking Liberty Halves. Dutch Shipwreck Huis de Kreuningen Found.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

Dug 1943 Half Dollar.

It can be difficult for a detectorist to determine the actual value of a dug coin.  A lot depends upon the grade or condition of the coin.  With the internet it is becoming easier for an amateur to get a good idea of a coins grade.

Today, just as an example, I decided to look at some dug Walking Liberty half dollars.  Fortunately there are some good sites that provide very helpful pictures of coins of different grades. 

Here is a good site for grading Walking Liberty halves.

http://coinauctionshelp.com/How_To_Grade_Walking_Liberty_Halves.html#.VEcIRel0zak

Photograde Online is an excellent aid too.

http://www.pcgs.com/Photograde/#/Walker/Grades

That site provide a image library of reference coins of each grade from the PCGS library.



1943 Half As Dug From A Beach.

You probably know that you should not clean coins because if they are valuable you can quickly destroy a lot of the value.  However, if you detect beaches, coins can be entirely unreadable without some cleaning.  They can also be in such poor condition that there is little danger of reducing the value by cleaning them.   My advice is to consult an expert when in doubt.  You can visit coin dealers or conventions and talk to experts there.




Similar But Different 1943 Beach Dug Half That Has Been Partly Cleaned

You might recognize the common reddish patina that is often found when a layer of green crust has been partially removed.

Of course a good magnifying glass is handy.

I made these pictures with a low power Celestron digital microscope, which is handy for inspecting coins as well as making photos.  I find it much easier than squinting through a magnifying glass or loop or something.

Here is a much cleaner dug coin.

You can see the roughness of the coins corroded surface.

You can also see the some of the details that help in grading the coin.

I am no expert at this, but I focus on details that might be removed or faded as the result of wear.  For example, the vertical lines in the draped material, or the shoes.

Dug 1945 Half Dollar

Here is dug 1945 half dollar for comparison.

While it looks more worn and flattened from circulation, it doesn't show the same effects of salt water corrosion.

A smooth worn surface on a silver coin is attractive to me but hurts the value.

Other Side Of A Dug  Half Dollar.

Notice the designers initials (A over W) just to the right of the R in dollar.  That is something you might not easily notice without magnification.

Of course good lighting is important.

Lighting can really affect your photos too.

Another View.

Here you might focus on the stars in the furled flag, or the creases, or the facial features.

This Walking Liberty Half is thought by many to be among the most attractive coin designs.

I think if you use one of the sites I pointed out above, you'll be able to come up with a good estimate of the grade of your dug coins.




If you use either or both of the web sites I referenced above you'll be able to get a good idea of the condition of your dug coins.

-----------------------

The Dutch ship Huis de Kreuningen was sunk in Scarborough Harbour in Trinidad and Taboago on March 3, 1677 along with 15 other vessels.  The Huis de Kreuningen, has been found.

A project conducted by the University of Connecticut ... found a wealth of other material, including nine canons; Delft and Bellarmine pottery jars that date to the third quarter of the 17th century; lead shot that was never fired; dozens of Dutch smoking pipes; and bricks that perfectly match the specifications of bricks made in the Dutch city of Leiden in 1647.

Here is the link for more of that article.

http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2014/10/uconn-archaeologist-discovers-17th-century-shipwreck/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+uconn-today+%28UConn+Today%29


--------------------------


The surfing web site says we should have about a two-foot surf on the Treasure Coast today.  That isn't much, and from the look of the wind, I'd guess it would be a bit higher.

I was surprised this morning to find that Tropical Depression Nine disappeared, as did another disturbance the developed real close to it near the Yucatan.

There will be a partial solar eclipse around 6 PM today.

Happy Hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net