Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Mexico Minted Beach Cob Without Other Identifying Information. |
In the past couple of weeks I posted several beach-found half-reales that were found during a couple hunts almost thirty years ago. I had a lot of good information on those cobs, including but not limited to, when and where they were found. Unfortunately not all finds are so well labeled. This half reale was labeled with no information than the name of the beach it came from. I have no idea what year, or even decade, it was found. I can tell that this cob was minted in Mexico because of the style of the cross, and I can tell it is a half reale from the size, but that is about it. If the cross was not visible and so well placed, even the denomination could be in question. Some cobs found on the beach are worn down to a fraction of their original weight and sometimes you'll just find small pieces of silver that you can't tell if they are a part of a coin or not.
The first piece of silver I found on a wreck beach was about the size of a one reale but had no detail at all. Back then I thought it might be a razor (thin flat cob). Now I think it was probable off of something else.
The first piece of silver I found on a wreck beach was about the size of a one reale but had no detail at all. Back then I thought it might be a razor (thin flat cob). Now I think it was probable off of something else.
The cob shown above looks like the part of the cob right where the monogram would be found flaked off and most of the potential diagnostic information was lost.
You might think that you'll remember where and when you found something, but that might not be the case thirty or forty years later. It is best to write it all down.
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| Dime Showing Significant Salt Water Corrosion |
Compared to some, this dime is in good condition. Unlike the cobs, I cleaned this dime. I've seen Roosevelt dimes that were so corroded they look very much like cobs. It doesn't take a real long time for a silver coin to turn into an indistinguishable black mass with absolutely no details remaining. I might show some like that some other time.
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Notice the big bubble up near the right shoulder. That is typical of blown bottles.
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Here is a doctoral dissertation that you might like to read.
It is a study of a late 17th century shipwreck and a late 18th century wreck. As you browse through I'm sure you will find some things of interest.
Here is one brief excerpt.
Finally, the accidental discovery of the Benya Lagoon site highlights just how little is understood about the Lagoon’s role in the town of Elmina’s function. Although its use for the careening and refitting of vessels is noted in historical accounts, their validity was unproven. It had been assumed that until the twentieth century most of the lagoon was overgrown with mangroves and brush. Consequently, maritime activity was confined to the river’s mouth adjacent to the castle. The presence of a relatively large eighteenth century vessel upriver now suggests otherwise. Although the intent behind the abandonment of this vessel remains a mystery, its placement in an area of restricted access must have been intentional and sanctioned...
You might want to think about what that could mean to you and how it relates to where you hunt.
Here is the link for the entire dissertation.
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| Old Blown Green Flask Type Bottle. |
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Here is a doctoral dissertation that you might like to read.
It is a study of a late 17th century shipwreck and a late 18th century wreck. As you browse through I'm sure you will find some things of interest.
Here is one brief excerpt.
Finally, the accidental discovery of the Benya Lagoon site highlights just how little is understood about the Lagoon’s role in the town of Elmina’s function. Although its use for the careening and refitting of vessels is noted in historical accounts, their validity was unproven. It had been assumed that until the twentieth century most of the lagoon was overgrown with mangroves and brush. Consequently, maritime activity was confined to the river’s mouth adjacent to the castle. The presence of a relatively large eighteenth century vessel upriver now suggests otherwise. Although the intent behind the abandonment of this vessel remains a mystery, its placement in an area of restricted access must have been intentional and sanctioned...
You might want to think about what that could mean to you and how it relates to where you hunt.
Here is the link for the entire dissertation.
https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1088&context=ant_etd
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
