1/20/20 Report - Some History of Treasure Coast Treasure Hunting: Bruce Ward. Bigger Surf Coming.

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

January 1965 Issue of Argosy Magazine Containing Story of Bruce Ward's Treasure

Submitted by JaminJackUSA.

If you are interested in the history of treasure hunting on the Treasure Coast you might want to find a library copy of the January 1965 issue of Argosy Magazine.  

Several days ago I posted a nice four-reale that was purchased by JaminJack from the estate auction of Bruce Ward.  Jack sent me a copy of the Argosy article as background on the adventures of Mr. Ward.  The article describes Ward's big find, which was made in 1964, early in the history of modern Treasure Coast treasure salvage, and at a time when the Real Eight Corporation and a variety of other smaller and less documented treasure hunters were working along the Treasure Coast.  This is the type of article that no Treasure Coast treasure hunter will want to miss.

Photo Appearing in January 1965 Argosy Magazine.

Submitted to TBR by JaminJack.

Bruce accumulated a lot of treasure, which he did not sell because he planned to make start a museum.

Here is a photo of a homemade dive platform that he created and used until he upgraded.

Photo of Homemade Dive Raft Shown in January, 1965 Argosy Magazine.

Sent to TreasureGuide by JaminJack.

And here is his salvage boat, the DeeGee.

The DeeGee Salvage Boat.

Source: Jan. 1965 Argosy Magazine.

Thanks JaminJack.

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I was working in the yard this morning when I noticed that the wind had changed direction.  It is now coming more from the north, and it feels like a bit of a cool front came through, so it was not surprised when I looked at the surf predictions and saw that the surf will be increasing.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Looks like maybe up to a ten feet surf by Wednesday.  And some north winds before that.

That is a big enough surf to move some sand.  I just wish the wind kept coming from a northerly direction for a longer time.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net

1/17/20 Report - Treasure Auctioned by Ward Estate. Nice Dated Four-Reale. Electrolysis. Frederick Douglass Report.

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

1702 Four Reale

Photo by JaminJackUSA

I received the following message along with coin photos form JaminJackUSA.

I had the pleasure of meeting a member of Bruce's family metal detecting at Turtle Trail many years ago. They were fascinated that I knew who he was and knew him when I was younger. I actually met him on a beach in late 60s in Ft. Pierce. He even showed me where and how to identify shipwreck coins. This beach back then was called Colored Beach, now known as Douglas Beach.

Now to the present. I was tipped off about his estate going to an auction. (Bruce had moved away from Ft. Pierce area, and eventually passed away years, ago.) There were flintlocks, cannon balls, a caravacas cross, and 100s of encrusted coins. Few were clean, but most were in clusters, etc. There were 8s, 4s, 2s, 1s, and halves!

Below is one of the coins that has been through an electrolysis process. At the time I am just trying to clean the lots I won. Later, I may sell some of them.

Dated 1702 Four Reale

Photo by JaminJackUSA

What a shock and extremely rare! I have found a few 1 reales from Charles II, but never a 4 reale Phillip V!! 

And below is a photo of an electrolysis setup from JaminJack.

Simple But Effective Electrolysis Setup Using Battery.

Photo by JaminJackUSA

COA From Estate Auction.

Photo submitted by JaminJackUSA

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Frederick Douglass Beach Early 1/17

Photo by Steve M.

Steve M. sent the following message along with the photos from Frederick Douglass beach.

 We hit Douglas Beach today Thursday, around 8.   Washed down wall since last week.   Very Shelly only found tiny bits of aluminum beer cans , and rusty nails.   Beach still convex.   Surf about 2-3 foot.

Frederick Douglass Beach Early 1/17

Photo by Steve M.

Frederick Douglass Beach 1/17

Photo by Steve M.

Steve also sent photos of the kinds of things he's been finding at Frederick Douglass such as those on the plate below.  

Shells and Things From Frederick Douglass Beach.

Photo by Steve M.

He said he looks for all kinds of things while detecting, including shells, fossils, sea glass, and old artifacts, such as pot shards.  I very much advocate that.  Not only are the other items interesting on their own, but they can give you valuable clues.

Thanks for sharing Steve.

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I had some other topics that I started but I put them off for a short while because I've been getting timely beach photos that need to be posted while they are current.  That's great.  I'll have time to continue the other topics in the near future.

This morning the wind started and undoubtedly the surf is building.  We will have that higher surf for not much more than a day.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com

Happy hunting,

TreasureGuide@comcast.net

11/8/19 Report - More Reales Being Auctioned. New Book on Coin Hoards. The Great Southern Treasury Hoard. Bigger Surf.

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

Lots from Bruce Ward Estate Auction

See Cargileauctions.com link below.

The Sedwick Coins Treasure Auction no. 26 has concluded, but many silver reales from the Bruce Ward estate is being auctioned by Cargile Auctions.

Online bidding has begun, but bidding will not close until Dec. 9.

Here is the link to the Cargile Auctions site.

http://www.cargileauctions.com/auction/350594/the-estate-of-bruce-ward/

And here is the link to the online auction catalog.

https://cargileauctions.hibid.com/catalog/189905/1715-spanish-fleet-coins-and-artifacts---the-estate-of-bruce-w/


Many of these are said to be in their original uncleaned condition.

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Q. David Bowers tells CoinWeek about his new book, Lost and Found: Coin Hoards and Treaures.

Here is a brief excerpt from the article.


In numismatics, there are many stories of coin treasures that have come to light, most often under circumstances a bit less exciting than written in buccaneer lore, but often quite intriguing. Typically, notices of such finds have been reported first in newspapers or other popular periodicals, often with incomplete or inaccurate information. Then, if a numismatist were consulted, the facts might have been recorded.

Found coins were usually spent, sold, or otherwise scattered without any inventory being made of them. I have reviewed thousands of news accounts of robberies, finds of buried coins, losses of ships laden with coins, and the like, but only a tiny percentage of such narratives have any interesting or important numismatic information. The exceptions form many of the stories given in my book Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures, now in its second edition...

You might want to read more of this.  Here is the link.

https://coinweek.com/coins/supplies/books-2/coin-hoards-treasures-and-troves-separating-truth-from-taradiddles/

I'm sure you will be able to get it through the library if you don't want to spend the money.

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Talking about hoards, did you ever hear about the Great Southern Treasure Hoard?


Near the beginning of last month, CoinWeek traveled to NGC headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, to get a first look at the Great Southern Treasury Hoard of 13,000 New Orleans Mint Morgan dollars.

Coin dealer Jeff Garrett was instrumental in bringing this numismatic bonanza to the market, negotiating a deal with a family of hard money advocates to trade 13 U.S. Mint-sealed bags of Morgan dollars for approximately $1 million in gold bullion.

The family purchased the coins in the mid-1960s for an estimated cost of $1.30 per coin. That investment returned an estimated $76.92 per coin in 2019...

Here is the link for more about that.

https://coinweek.com/video-news/coinweek-video-jeff-garrett-and-the-great-southern-treasury-hoard-of-morgan-dollars/


$1 in 1965 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $8.15 in 2019, a difference of $7.15 over 54 years.  Not a bad investment, but without figuring it out exactly, I think you would get more if you put your money in the bank in 1965.  Interest rates at one point were up around 20%, if you can imagine that in todays near-zero interest rate environment.

Maybe you still would have enjoyed the coins more.

Interest Rates Over the Years.

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When you see all of the cars on the road, it seems like nobody is where they want to be - otherwise they wouldn't be going somewhere else.

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Source: MagicSeaWeed.com

Tomorrow the surf is supposed to be five to eight feet.  The tides won't help much though.

But look farther out.  A six to nine foot surf is predicted for next week.

Happy hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net.