5/17/19 Report - Coin Varieties and VAMs. A Submerged Archaic Period Site. 1715 Fleet Escudo Values.

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

Source: See VAM link below.

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If you are looking for one thing, you might find something else.  That was the case with a diver who was looking for fossils off Venice Florida in 2016.  21 feet under water, he found an Archaic Period burial pond site.  Here is an excert about that from the Herald Tribune (link below).

SARASOTA — Native Americans in the Archaic Period in Florida used the burial ground now known as the Manasota Key Offshore archeological site as far back as 8,000 years ago, Ryan Duggins told members of the Time Sifters Archaeological Society Wednesday evening in the Geldbart Auditorium at Selby Public Library.

Prior to this, previous activity at the site was thought to date back roughly 7,000 years.

Before the rising of the Gulf of Mexico, it was a shallow freshwater burial pond similar to Little Salt Springs in North Port...

Another bit from the same article...

“This demonstrates that we can have preservation of worked wood, of cordage of burials that have survived thousands of years of storms — It’s completely unprecedented.”...

See: https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20190516/ancient-burial-site-off-manasota-key-is-1000-years-older-than-estimated

Things can remain very much protected under sand or other materials for a long time and then suddenly be uncovered by the right set of circumstances.

It was an amateur fossil hunter that found and reported this site.  How often do we hear about  detectorists or people hunting for other kinds of treasure that make exciting archaeological discoveries?  It seems like it happens a lot, yet many in the archaeological community are always talking about looting rather than the assistance they get from the public.

https://dos.myflorida.com/historical/archaeology/projects/manasota-key-offshore/

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We normally only scratch the surface.  That applies to a lot of things, but it certainly applies to coin collecting.  People often begin by wanting one of each date.  Then they want an example from each mint too.  Then they start getting particular about the condition of their coins and want the finest coins they can get.

As detectorists, we usually don't get too deep into coin collecting.  We're  don't buy coins, and you can't systematically dig whole sets - certainly not in great condition, even though we might occasionally find some very nice caches that can make a good collection.

As detectorists, we do find a good number of coins and can benefit from knowing enough to recognize what coins might have extra value.  I suspect that we often fail to recognize coins (and other finds) that are more valuable than we wold have thought.

In addition to all of the date/mint combinations there are also a lot of coins that are valuable because of mint errors.  I didn't know hardly anything about mint errors until just the past couple of years.  I recently reported on a penny that was worth over $20,000 because of a mint error.

There are different types of doubling and some are not worth anything.  For example, doubling due to the die bouncing when it strikes the coin is called machine doubling.  It normally does not add any value to the coin.

Doubled die coins on the other hand can be worth a lot.  That type of doubling occurs when a doubled image is on the die that strikes the coin.

I wish I knew more about that type of thing years ago.  I could have found some valuable coins, and I maybe I would have enjoyed my finds even more.

I didn't find a lot of silver dollars over the years, but because of more recent finds, I'm just starting to learn about silver dollar VAMs.  Here is a definition of VAM.

Silver dollars are created by striking metal blanks with hardened dies containing the mirror image of the desired pattern. Through careful study, slight differences can be used to identify specific dies that created the coins. Sometimes these differences occur during the creation of the dies, while other times they are caused by the maintenance or use of the dies.

Source: http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/VAM

VAMs are not obvious to the untrained eye.  You have to know what to look for, and for me, it requires magnification to see the small differences.

At the top of this post is a photo of a Peace silver dollar VAM.  The VAM is identified by the gouge and dot that the arrows are pointing to.

Just roughly I'd say there are more than a hundred different Peace Dollar VAMs.

Coin varieties and errors are something that you might want to look into.  A lot of people search and collect Lincoln cent varieties and errors.  You can get a hundred pennies to search through for only a dollar, and then turn in the ones that aren't anything special for an entirely new batch.  Or, you can just study your finds, digging the pennies instead of skipping them.  They can be valuable too.

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One of the first things a lot of detectorists want to know when they find something is how much it is worth.  We all know that something is only worth what somebody will pay for it, but how can you get an idea of what somebody will pay?  One thing I do is check the auction sites and other on-line sites where things are sold.  If you don't have a realized price auction list, you can still sometimes get a good idea from the auction estimates, especially when an quality experienced auctioneer is the source.

In the last Sedwick auction, for example, there were six 1715-Fleet Mexico cob 8-escudos listed together.  While some were better than others, or should I say, expected to bring a higher price than others, they didn't vary a lot.  If you looked at those estimates, you might conclude, as I did, that 1715-Fleet Mexico 8-escudos in good condition might be expected to bring a bit over six thousand dollars, on average.

I know that some of my readers aren't much interested in the auctions, but the auction catalogs are really a good source of information and can help answer a lot of common questions, of which value is only one.

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We have some decent tides now, but it looks like the surf will run around two feet for a week or so.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

12/9/18 Report - Looking More Closely At Common Modern Coin Finds: One Mint Error Example. Beach Cut and Unfilled Holes.

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

Pepper Park North

Photo by Dale J.

Dale J. was at Pepper Park yesterday and saw this old cut.  He said there was a lot of soft sand.

He also pointed out the holes that he filled.

Holes Filled by Dale

Photo by Dale J.

Thanks Dale.

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1984 P Snowing Mint Error.

Can you see a mint error on this dime?

There is one.  See if you can find it.

Here is  closer look at the error.

1984 P Dime Close Up View.

Notice the crown bottle cap like design on the coins rim.  That is not part of the intended design.  It is a minting error referred to as "collar clash."

As you probably know, coins are made using one die to create the obverse impression and another die is used to create the reverse impression.  That is the way it has been done since colonial times.  The big difference now is that the process is mechanized and the coins are not hand struck.

An anvil die is usually used to make the reverse design, and the punch die is used to make the obverse design.  The obverse is the side shown above with Roosevelt on it.

The anvil die is usually on the bottom, and the punch die is struck or forced down on the metal.  In Spanish colonial times, that was done by hand with a hammer.

One of the big differences between Spanish colonial cobs and modern coins is that the minting process now involves a third die.  The third die is the collar.

The collar is a circular piece of hardened steel which acts as the wall of the coining chamber, which provides the impression for the uniform circular outline around the coin. As its name implies, the collar prevents the striking pressure from spreading onto the flange. Apart from preventing imperfect strikes, the impression on the coin's edge (either as a recess or raised inscription) deters forgery or clipping (an illegal paring of metal from the circumference of the coin). The dies impress the various designs and devices on the obverse and reverse for the coin while the collar forms the edge of the coin. The collar, which is five-thousandths of an inch larger in diameter than the dies, is mounted on springs which allow slight vertical movement...

(Source: https://www.fleur-de-coin.com/articles/coin-striking)

A collar clash represents damage to the rim gutter of the die from contact with the collar. It shows up most clearly in reeded issues, where it takes the form of serrations along the top or the edge of the design rim. In an off-center strike, a collar clash will appear in the form of parallel grooves in the “slide zone”.

Collar clash is far more common on the hammer die. It occurs when a temporarily misaligned hammer die collides with the top of the collar and/or scrapes along its working face...

(Source: http://www.error-ref.com/collar-clash/)

The collar clash is shown on the obverse of the dime above.  It would therefore have been created by the hammer die.

Here is a picture of a die with notches on the edge.  That damage to the die was caused by the die clashing with the collar.  Those notches would then be transferred to the coin when it is struck.  That is what happened to the dime shown above.

Die Showing Damage Caused by Clashing With the Collar.

Source: See Error-Ref.com above.

There is a lot more to be seen on a modern coin than the date and mint mark.  Besides the intended design of the coin, you will also often see mint errors.  Some mint errors, such as collar clash, are fairly common and not worth anything.  Other errors are highly collected and can increase the value of a modern coin to millions of dollars.

It can be worth picking up pennies and other small denomination coins if you inspect them carefully and learn to identify valuable errors and varieties.

One of the biggest differences you will see between Spanish colonial cobs and modern coins, is the edge.  Modern coins have the finished round edge, perhaps with reeding or other designs features, because of the collar.

In addition to the possibility of finding a valuable a mint error or variety, you will also learn things from modern coins that can be applied to your understanding and appreciation of Spanish Colonial coins.  There are differences, but there are also many similarities.

It wasn't until rather recently that I began to inspect my coins for mint errors and varieties.  I don't know if I ever spent valuable coins.  It is certainly possible.

I have found a variety of mint errors.  Most have no value or very little value, but one was the first documented example of its kind, and is listed on an online error reference database.  

It is not as easy to find a valuable mint error.  Valuable examples are rare.  And some errors and varieties are difficult to correctly identify.  Like anything else it takes study and practice, but the results can be gratifying.

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The surf predictions do not look as encouraging as they did a little earlier.  Now it looks like we'll only be getting three to five feet.  We are supposed to have a long period of north winds either.  Don't expect much improvement in overall beach conditions.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

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What is your all-time favorite coin find?  

Send me a photo of your favorite and tell why it is your favorite.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

7/30/18 Report - One Find. Database of Ancient Finds. How To Identify Valuable Modern Coins.

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

1899 Barber Dime
Found on the Treasure Coast

Silver 19th century coins are often heavily worn like the one shown above.  It seems they were kept in circulation a long time.  As you might guess from its appearance, although it is a Treasure Coast find, it was not found on the beach.  

In this condition it might be worth around four dollars.  If it was in much better condition, it might be worth over a hundred dollars.  That doesn't seem like much when you consider how long it was lost and the difficulty of finding one in the field.  

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Here is an interesting British metal detecting club web site including a database of interesting ancient finds.  There are many individual finds along with some hoards.

http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/H/hoardandtreasure.htm

I think someone sent me this link back a while ago.  Sorry I forget who now.

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I found a very good pdf document about how to identify valuable coins.  You can find them in pocket change or in your goodie box.

Here is the introduction just to give you an idea what it is about.

Almost everyone has a box, can, jar, or piggy bank full of spare change. Who knows what treasures might be found in this change? And how do you tell the difference between ordinary change and a collectible coin? Is it possible to find something worth more than face value? Yes, it is! Even better, you might be able to make some money from your pocket change.

Numismatics is the study and collection of various forms of money throughout history. It is an intriguing and rewarding hobby. Numismatists can do well given the opportunity by examining many different coins to notice differences — including comparisons among coins with the same denomination. There are subtle variations — even among coins with the same year and mintmark — and recognizing these distinctions can pay off handsomely.

A numismatist becomes skilled through years of study, but eventually the effort becomes worthwhile and it’s possible to find real treasures in your change. New collectors may become discouraged if they don’t make exciting finds right away, but patience has proven to be a valuable trait toward becoming a successful collector. Many treasure hunters say it’s not about having the treasures, it’s about finding them – the thrill of the hunt.

The guidelines provided here are intended to assist the beginning collector.

Here is the link if you want to read the rest of the 26 page document.
https://www.money.org/uploads/treasures/TreasuresPDF.pdf

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The mind is amazing thing.  There are rare occasions when you can recall the smallest details from the most distant times.  As crazy as they might seem, dreams seem to play an important roll in taking you places in thought and feeling that you don't normally go in normal waking consciousness.  I often awake and see things differently or feel differently about things after reflecting on my dreams.  Sometimes I'm motivated by dreams, like when I wake up from a dream of finding a lot of treasure of one type or another.

Last night I dreamed I was at grandmas house, where I spent my first five years before my dad and mom built their own house.  It has been a long time since I was there and grandpa and grandma are long gone.  Grandpa and grandma were there, of course.  I hadn't seen them in quite a while.  A couple of their friends that usually visited on holidays were also there and sitting on lawn chairs in the back yard, as they often did.

It wasn't one of those real crazy dreams - just a nice visit with the past and some of the people I miss the most.  It was a little strange - but not very, as dreams are judged.  More than anything, it brought back memories.   It is surprising how much detail is stored away deep down in your brain somewhere.  You normally just can't recall a lot of what is there.

As I entered their house, I went to turn on the light over their driveway.  There were two light switches beside the cellar door.  At first I hit the wrong switch and the cellar light came on.  That is the exact position where those two switches actually were.  I remember that now even though if you asked me before the dream, I would never have been able to remember that.

So what does that have to do with treasure hunting?   No matter what the task is, you have more knowledge than you realize.  Some of it is unconscious.  You can use that.  Some people call that intuition.  It is based upon unconscious or subconscious knowledge.  There is a difference between the two, but that isn't important now.  My point is that your dreams can provide deeply moving experiences and provide greater access to knowledge and provide insight and intuition.  And secondly, you probably know more than you think you do if you can only access it.

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Nothing new with the beach conditions.  I'll keep watching for storms or changes.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net