7/11/17 Report - Photographs For Viewing Coins and Artifacts. Looking For Lost Items: A Reminder.

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

I receive a lot of pictures of coins and artifacts and make quite a few myself.  Yesterday I received the pictures of the lost gold cross, and they were excellent for the intended purpose.

A lot of the photos that I've taken leave a lot to be desired.  The most important consideration is what you are trying to accomplish.  A picture that is good for one thing might be a total waste for something else.  The picture of the cross being worn was an excellent picture; it showed the owner, the size of the cross and there was also another photo showing a closeup of the cross.

If you are just trying to show a nice find, that is one thing, but if you want people to be able to identify the item or put a value on it, that requires a different kind of photo.

Sometimes you might not want the item to look like it looks in real life - not because you are being dishonest, but because you want to show certain details or features that might not be real obvious to the unaided eye.  The photo at the top of this post shows some found bottles.  The photos were taken in black light to show something you wouldn't see by actually looking at the bottles without the black light.  Those photos were taken for a specific purpose.

No matter how good a photo might be, it is not like being able to hold the item in your hand.  If you are holding it, you can turn it, get it under different lighting, inspect it from all angles and touch it.  It is easier to get a good feel for an object when you are holding it.

You can sometimes photograph things so that you can see things that you can not easily see with your own eyes.  You can use magnification, for example, and you can adjust the photo with editing software to do such things as increasing contrast or sharpness.

If you have a good closeup lens or a microscope that can take pictures, you might be able to see and show very small marks or details.  Different kinds of lighting can help too, as shown above.

I had one piece of red sea glass that I did not realize was made with uranium to make it glow.  I found information that told how lenses used on buoys were sometimes infused with uranium to make them glow.  I could only see some suspicious yellowish specks in the glass, but when photographed under black light, I could see that the glass was fluorescent on one side.

You can read more about the red sea glass and those fluorescent bottle finds in an old post by using the following link.

http://treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com/2015/09/91715-report-how-one-artifact-continues.html

When it comes to coins, it is often best to have them lighted from an angle.  A flash aimed straight at a coin will usually glare out a lot of detail.  Remember that a coin is not a flat object.  It is often best to photograph it in a way that shows the three-dimensional features.

Photo of Recently Found Wheat Penny.

This photo isn't a bad photo for the intended purpose.  I just wanted to get a good closeup view.  It was taken with a Celestron microscope camera - an inexpensive camera setup that can make decent close-up photographs of smaller objects such as coins.  My primary purpose was the see if there was any doubling.  There was not.  The one shown below does show doubling.  That photo is from eBay.

Photo Taken From eBay Showing a Error Coin.

The Celectron is more convenient than using a  high-powered loop at times.  And the lighting is easily adjusted.

Lighting is one of the most important things for any photo.  Move the light around until the coin shows like you want it to.

When submitting photos of artifacts to be identified, make sure to provide a variety of angles and some idea of the size of the object.

If you want to photograph old embossed bottles, I often position them so the sun is behind the bottle and shining through it.  Move it around until you have the right angle.  That can take some experimentation.

My main point is to think of the purpose of your photos and make adjustments so that the photo will accomplish the intended purpose.

It is usually easier to identify an item in person, so if you want somebody to try to identify an item from a picture,  give them some chance by giving them the best pictures you can.

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Bill Popp sent me an email and reminded me that items are often not lost where people think they are lost.  That is a good point.  Bill pointed out that when a person first misses an item, they tend to think that is where they lost item, but that is not always the case.

I've found items almost exactly where someone told me they were lost, but more often the item is not found or is found somewhere else.  It is not unusual for an item to show up some distance from where it was thought to be lost.

Thanks for the good reminder Bill.

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There is no tropical activity brewing.  The tides are moderate.

Today the Treasure Coast will have a one to two foot surf.  The surf will increase a little tomorrow and be up to three of four feet Thursday.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

Some people believe that they can make good things happen for themselves by keeping a positive attitude.  There is undoubtedly some truth in that, even if it might not work exactly the way they think.

A positive attitude is a real asset for a treasure hunter.  If you don't have the expectation of being able to find something, you probably won't even buy a metal detector.

People are different.  Some can tolerate long periods of frustration.  Others can't.  A positive attitude can keep you going through the dry spells.

People often say that persistence is the difference between success and failure in treasure hunting.  It is certainly a big factor, but not the only one.

Many people who buy a metal detector get discouraged and quit after a few outings.  They don't stick with it long enough to learn what it is about.

A treasure hunter must be somewhat optimistic, otherwise they wouldn't spend the time looking.  It takes time to become proficient.  The ability to be happy with small successes is also an asset.  It will keep you entertained and going until you can find bigger and better things.

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between the treasure hunter and those that sit on the beach watching.  Many beach-goers are curious.  Some will stand and watch over your shoulder while  you dig, hoping to get a glimpse of what you find.

How many times have you got the question, "Did you find anything?"  Or, "Did you ever find anything good?"  Or, What is the most valuable thing you have found?"  Those are common questions that you will get.  Those people seem to be curious, but not enough to try it for themselves.

One place where I hunt once in a while, people will tell me there's nothing there.  Yet I go out and make finds.  The next time I'm there they tell me again, there's nothing there.  I show the gold ring or old coin I found the last time, and then they tell me there is nothing else there.  The fact that I showed them that there was something there doesn't seem to impress them or change their mind.

There are people who are curious but won't try it for themselves, and there are people who are not curious at all.  Neither will give it a try. They don't have the dream.  They won't make the effort.

A positive attitude is a great asset, especially if you can keep it when things are not going well.

Not only will a positive attitude make you happier and more energetic, it will also improve your relationships.  One negative person can bring down an entire team, while a positive attitude can inspire and energize people.







http://blog.spiritdaily.com/inspiration/why-negativity-is-a-social-killer











When too much success comes too quickly, it can set up unrealistic expectations.  There have been people who have found a gold coin on their first outing.  Imagine going then going out the next time, next ten times, or next hundred times and being unable to follow the first outing with anything nearly as exciting.  It could lead to discouragement and disappointment.  I hear a lot of you saying, "Wish I was that lucky."




People who start out with unrealistic expectations are not likely to last long.  Most will become disappointed and discouraged in a short time. Those won't last a year.

The expectation might be totally unrealistic for some people.  They think if they have a metal detector all they'll have to do is go out for a while and it they'll find gold or something great.  They might not realize how much some people put into metal detectin

This summer’s Mel Fisher Days are set for July 13^th-15^th. Every summer a celebration is held in honor of Mel Fisher, a man who pursued his dreams and discovered a fortune in treasure in the seas off Key West, inspiring millions to follow their own dreams and earning him the title of The World’s Greatest Treasure Hunter.

On July 13^th and 14^th Mel Fisher Fans can participate in Behind the Scene Tours of the Mel Fisher’s Treasures Conservation Lab on Thursday and Friday, 10am and 4pm, at 200 Greene Street. Space is limited; Pre-registration is encouraged on the Mel Fisher Days website.

The annual Dock Party at Schooner Wharf will take place Saturday, July 15^th from 3pm-9 pm at 202 William Street. From 4:30pm-6:10pm, Captain Andy and his crew are offering tours on board Mel Fisher’s Treasures’ 90 foot salvage vessel, JB Magruder. The Magruder will dock at the Historic Seaport, just behind Schooner Wharf Bar.

The evening is filled with a HUGE silent auction, live auctions, the famous Cupcake Contest, 50/50 raffle, the presentation of the prestigious Mel Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy Matroci, great music and drink specials. The world famous Mel Fisher silent auction will offer over $15,000 in exotic items including everything from gourmet dinners to luxurious vacations and authentic treasure from the Atocha, The Santa Margarita and the 1715 fleet shipwrecks.

Starting Monday 10^th, Mel Fisher Fans can enter a free raffle at both of the Mel Fisher retail locations, 200 Greene Street or 613 Duval Street. Drawing for the raffle winner will take place at Schooner Wharf at 8:45pm. One lucky winner will take home an Authentic Atocha coin valued at $1,400. Must be present to win. No purchase necessary.

During the 16-year search for the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, Key West embraced Mel, his family and crew, and supported them when others did not. Now his namesake company, Mel Fisher’s Treasures, is committed to giving back to the island community he called home. All of Mel Fisher Days’ net proceeds benefit Wesley House Family Services, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance the safety, well-being and development of children by educating, supporting and meeting the needs of families. “Mel Fisher’s legacy is part of the life-blood of Key West,” commented Jeremy Wilkerson, Director of Community Relations for Wesley House, “and Wesley House Family Services is honored to share in celebrating this legacy and thankful to be the recipient of Mel Fisher Days event proceeds, which will provide crucial support to child welfare and family preservation throughout the Florida Keys.”

For a full Mel Fisher Days schedule and advance registration discount tickets visit

Boat Update

June was one of the best month’s we have had this year for finding Atocha and Margarita artifacts. We found a ornate piece of gold jewelry, more than a dozen silver coins

g.  They might not realize how long it can take to become really skillful. They might think that the detector will lead them to treasure somehow.

3/22/17 Report - Public Service Provided By Detectorists Remains Largely Unknown And Unappreciated. Bigger Surf Coming.

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

We don't do a good job of letting the world know how much of a service that detectorists provide. One of the ways that detectorists provide a public service is by finding and returning lost items.

I woke up last night and was thinking of some of the items that I returned over a brief period when I was doing a lot of hunting a few decades ago.  Here are a few of the examples that came to mind.

There was the young girl that lost her sister's high school ring in about four feet of water.  Her sister didn't know she had the ring and she was in for big trouble if she lost it.  I found it in a short period of time and returned it.

A tourist from another part of the country lost his eye glasses in a few feet of water in front of one of the hotels.   I found his glasses after a short hunt, and he offered to buy me a drink.  Being soaking wet and dressed only for the water, I declined his offer.

There was the high school ring of a young man that was lost in about three feet of water.  He promised twenty dollars to anyone who found it.   I just happened to be wondering through the area shortly after it was lost and saw the people hunting.  I found it and gave it to him, but he made no attempt to deliver on the reward.

There was the nice gem stone ring returned from about a foot of water near the Pompano Pier.  Not so much as a thank you was offered.

The same for a nice gold gem stone ring recovered from a submerged sand bar in front of a hotel.

I've mentioned this one in this blog before.  The fellow that ran the beach concessions in front of one of the major Miami hotels lost a key ring with about twenty keys on it before he opened for business early one morning.  He couldn't run his business without them.  He offered fifty dollars if I would find them.  I found them in the dry sand in a short amount of time and he was back in business.  That was the biggest reward anyone ever offered, and about the only one that I accepted.

That reminds me of the fireman from New York that lost his 20 year ring or something like that from the fire department in front of the same hotel.  I hunted that one for a long time, but never found it.  He gave me his address, and I hunted it a few times after he left town and wrote to tell him that I still didn't find it.

Another one I've mentioned before was on a remote beach outside of Pensacola back before cell phones.  I stopped at this remote beach and an elderly couple and their grandkids were just leaving the beach when they discovered they had lost their car keys. I found them.  There was no one else on that beach, and they could have been stranded a long time if I hadn't found their keys.

I don't tend to remember the ones I spent a lot of time trying to find but never found.  There were a number of those.

There was the gold chain and pendant that I found for the young man that did a handstand in the shallow water.  It was found relatively quickly.

Then there was the gold chain in a lake in Minneapolis that I couldn't find.

Probably the most expensive was a huge diamond engagement ring I found in the dry sand.  I was walking down he beach when a frantic woman stopped me and said she lost an engagement ring and asked me to find it. I found it after a short hunt I walked off into the sunset as they celebrated.

Other than the fifty dollars, the only other reward I recieved was when I found a nice emerald ring that a nice young lady lost in a couple of feet of water.  After presenting the ring to her, she ran up and got something and ran back down into the water and stuffed a twenty in my pocket and ran off again before I could give it back.

 The list goes on and on.  Those are just a few that came to mind last night.

If it wasn't for detectorists I dare say hundreds of thousands of cherished lost items would still be lost.  From the number that I personally remember returning from that one brief period of time that I was thinking about last night, I can only assume that the total number of items returned by detectorists must run at least into the hundreds of thousands and probably more if you think of the decades that this has been going on.

We should publicize returned items more.  Any park ranger or government official that is against metal detecting would quickly change his mind if his wife lost her engagement ring or family heirloom.  Then it might hit home.

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Warren D. has sent in reports of nice returned finds that he has made.  I'd like to see more or that kind of thing from others.

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There are other services that detectorists render as well.  Detectorists work with archaeologists and police, uncover bombs and dangerous items on the beach, return coins to circulation as well as precious metals and other items, and  remove trash.

I have no idea how much the return of coins to circulation saves the country, but I'll bet the amount is very large.


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Warren D. alerted me to the upcoming Marx lecture.


Sir Robert Marx lecture


Tuesday, March 28, 2017


7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)


Gleason Performing Arts Center


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The surf today tomorrow and Friday is supposed to be up to something like 5 - 7 feet.  Unfortunately the tides will be fairly flat.

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/1/15 Report - Found Old Lead Buck Shot. Hunting Lost Items And Dealing With Dishonest People.

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

Not The Man In The Moon.
A Small Old Lead Buck Shot Found

I was recently in West Virginia for a couple of days and had the opportunity to hunt the woods where the brother of one of my ancestors, well-known Indian scout Louis Wetzel, roamed during the 18th Century.  I have a couple of interesting books about Lewis and hunting that area makes it very interesting for me because I'm always thinking that Lewis or his brother (my ancestor) could have been at that very spot centuries ago.  I know from the books that he was indeed in that area. from various places and landmarks that are described in the books.

I like hunting the woods and listening to the birds and watching the squirrels and chipmunks and always having a chance at sighting an arrowhead or something (I'll post some arrowheads and things like that from the region some other day).  No people, just the sights and sounds of nature.

It sure is a change from the beach.  The hills are so steep I can hardly hang on them at times.  And the mud, clay and rocks makes it really different too.

You might remember me showing the 1829 Large Cent that I found up there in the woods.  I checked that area a little while again and then moved over a hundred yards or so and was hanging on the side of a very steep hill when I found on old axe head.  That was the first sign of some older things that day.  Then a few feet from there I dug an old lead buck shot.  That was one of my favorite finds of the trip even if it isn't worth anything.

Picture Of Musket Ball Found On Line
For Comparison With The Recently Dug Item.

Buck and ball were used from around the Revolutionary War to the time of the Civil War.

It was very difficult to find that little ball after it was dug.  It was covered with mud and looked just like a small pebble.  I probably touched it several times before identifying it.  It is very small and has a heavy patina.  (I'll get pictures with objects for size comparison.)  The above photo shows the dug buck shot under magnification.

They were made of lead or pewter.  I think this is lead, but not absolutely sure yet.

In the picture of the musket ball that I found online, you can see where the sprue was.  A sprue is the hole where the molten metal is poured into a mold.  When the ball or buck was removed from the mold, material that was in the passage (sprue) to the mold would be cut off.  In the picture of the recently dug buck you can clearly see where and how that metal was cut.  A pinching device, maybe something like a scissor was used.

On the ball shown immediately above you can not see how the cut was made, but you can see where the sprue was, and you can see the seams of the mold.

On the one I dug you can see the seams, but not in the picture.  The one I dug was not as round.  It was a little flattened.  Maybe it was made in a more primitive mold or maybe flattened later.

Buck And Ball Dug At Various Other Times and Places.

Here you can see both a musket ball and buck that I found at other times.  Notice the patina on the musket ball,  The buck in this picture, though, look like they could be modern reproductions.  People are still making their own buck and ball.

The patina and location where the recently dug buck was found convinces me that it is old.

I'll have more on my woods hunting in the near future and some other finds when I get the photos ready.
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Robert H. brought up an interesting topic.  Here is what he said.

Was wondering if you could shine some light on this experience or if others have encountered the same. I'm pretty sure you've covered having business cards or a contract with you but I'm not sure you've mentioned when a person looses an item in particular a wedding ring. Knowing when they are lying or when they are serious. I've only been able to do a handful of recoveries for people. I run into it very often when someone tells me they lost a ring but then I come up empty handed. I hear them laugh or look at them seeing them smiling or they say it's only worth so much and I'm convinced they didn't loose anything. Lately I've told them $20 just to look for the item but then they some how convince me to look for the item saying they will give a reward if found. It's left a bad taste in my mouth and I really don't take it too seriously or I will do a quick 5 or 10 minutes search or three or four quick lines of 25 feet length just doing a quick check.   


I'll make a few comments and then let everyone else weigh in. 

There are people who will lie about losing things.  That is always an unfortunate possibility.  There are also,people who will try to claim found items that they did not lose.  I've talked about that in some detail back a few years ago.

Here are some things that will work in some situations.

Before hunting for a particular item, get a good specific description including specific identifying marks such as inscribed names, dates etc.  That is very important.

Don't let anyone see finds unless you have a detailed specific description from them first.  

There are a number of techniques for keeping finds concealed.  One of my favorites when water hunting, is shaking the scoop vigorously while the scoop is still in the water and then while there is near zero visibility, with one motion quickly move the item from the scoop to your pocket without it ever being visible.  Develop the skills of an amateur magician.  You can tell what the item is by feel, and you can inspect it later when you are away from people.

I don't put much stock in contracts.  The main thing they are good for is making clear what the conditions and expectations are.  Don't expect to enforce a contract.  It depends upon the good will of both parties.

Get a defined area where the item is thought to have been lost.  Draw lines in the sand or use other markers.

All observers should stay out of the defined search area while you hunt so that you can run a grid and work the area properly without people getting in the way.  Explain that you can not work an area unless they stay out of the search area.

These days I seldom hunt around people, which solves a lot of problems.

Reading people is an important skill.  Sometimes if you press for a detailed description, dishonest people will stumble around as they attempt to make up answers.  Ask questions that will reveal dishonesty.   Is the ring 24K gold?  A yes answer indicates a probable liar, for example.  Be prepared with trick questions.

How much does it weigh?  Few people will know that.  A too quick, precise or unrealistic answer can be a tip off.

Learn to be a bit of a detective.  Ask a second party and see if you get the same or a completely different answer.

I know that most of us want to believe that people are honest and we want to help people, so we go out of your way to help, but you need to realize that not everyone is honest and you should be prepared one way or another to deal with that.

I don't have any set policy.  I try to evaluate each individual situation and the people involved.  I don't see any problem with asking for $20 out front.  I've known people that do that and stick to it.  If you do that, stick to it. I've never done that myself, but I have no problem with that.  It might be seen as greedy, but it can also save you from a wild goose chase.

It is too bad there are dishonest people, but that is a reality that you have to deal with in your own way.  Be kind and helpful, but don't let people take advantage of you.

Don't expect a reward, promised or not.  Most people don't give a reward, sometimes even if they promised one.  I don't really understand that.  I'd think if someone found something and returned it, it would be natural to offer some sort of reward, but it seldom actually happens.

As far as coming up empty when looking for an item for someone.  It happens.  People often don't know when or where they lost the item.  That is one benefit of drawing a boundary.  You get a good idea if they actually know where they lost the item, and it confines the search to something less than the entire beach.

I often find something good other than the item I was looking for when I hunt for a lost item.  That brings in many of the points I mentioned above.  You need a good description to identify the targeted object.  You are better off not showing or even giving a hint that there were finds.  Keep people away from you and skillfully keep finds hidden.

Those are a few of my first thoughts on the subject.  Please sent your own thoughts and experiences to add to this discussion.

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On the Treasure Coast we have a small surf again.  This week we'll have something like one or two feet.  There is a small negative tide again.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net