4/11/19 Report - 1715 Fleet Gold Nuggets. Anthropology Blog Comments on Treasure TV Show. Nokta/Macro PulseDive.

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

The above gold nugget was found in 2014 on a cut John Brooks beach.  I  found it with two other smaller nuggets in the same general area on a day when no other targets were found.

Gold Nugget From 1715 Fleet Beach.

Quartz matrix is still attached. You can see that in the photo.

I originally posted that photo in 2014.

Here is the link.

https://treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com/2014/03/31714-report-shipwreck-gold-nuggets.html

The May 2019 Sedwick Coins auction offers a lot of seven small nuggets (See below.) that were found at Rio Mar. The lot description says that nuggets from the 1715 Fleet are rare and were probably being carried by passengers.

1715 Fleet Gold Nuggets From Rio Mar.

Source: SedwickCoins Auction Catalog.

Here is the Sedwick lot description.

Lot of seven small gold nuggets, 1.12 grams total, ex-1715 Fleet. Each up to 1/4". Very few natural gold nuggets were found on the 1715 Fleet, so it seems odd that the Fisher marketers did not separate this lot into seven individual artifacts, but fortunately these pieces have retained their original plastic artifact tag and certificate. A few of the nuggets (mostly flat) are tiny, but some are substantial, and most likely they were being carried as "tax free" wealth by a passenger. From the 1715 Fleet ("Rio Mar" site), with original Cobb Coin Co. (Mel Fisher) plastic tag and photo-certificate #CC86-025.

If salvaged 1715 Fleet nuggets are rare, my guess would be that 1715 Fleet beach nuggets are even more rare.

There was fine gold salvaged at Rio Mar too.  A portable gold dredge was used with modest success.

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Sebastian Steve was a beta tester for the newly available Nokta/Macro PulseDive.  It is said to have more sensitivity/depth.  

Steve calls it a game-changer.

You might want to look it up.

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Recently I started trying to show how a more scientific approach can be applied to treasure hunting. I'm tired of talking about the Oak Island TV show, but it provides so many great examples, and it makes it easy for me because I know that many of you have seen the show and the things I am talking about.  That saves me a ton of time trying to describe something when you've seen it for yourself.

If you think I'm hard on the Oak Island TV show, others who come from a scientific background are even more hard on them.  There is no personal animus or anything, but if you have a history as a research scientist, especially in the social sciences, their approach will smack you in the face like a rock.

I stumbled on the following post in an anthropology blog, and I hope you will read it.  Not only does it expand on much of what I have said, but it also adds to what I have said, and I don't have to take the time to do it myself.  The post helps show the mindset I am coming from as a scientist bringing a scientific perspective to metal detecting.

https://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/romans-on-oak-island-no-just-another-steaming-pilum-of-baloney-evidence-by-peter-geuzen

Here are a few excerpts from the blog to get you started.

As the show keeps trying to be about something, it keeps delivering essentially nothing. Scraps of minor finds are inevitable with the amount of digging and metal detecting going on. Give any historic location in Nova Scotia the same level of effort and you wouldn’t find much of anything different. It’s all stuff from the last couple centuries, but on Oak Island there is also stuff from all the past dead end searches...

The first line of the next excerpt sarcastically makes sums up something I've said.  Taking the excerpt out of context, I thought I should point out the sarcasm.

... when swinging a metal detector turns up a pointed piece of iron, it’s best to start with a conclusion and worry about details later. Fist pumping yelps of TEMPLAR are now mandatory. The obligatory cell phone speaker call to bring over the always conveniently close by fellowship members has to happen next. The bros then high five all around and Prometheus immediately cuts to a leap of faith confirmation fantasy historical re-enactment scene, with universally condemned narration from the “Could it be?” guy. In other words they found this iron spike thing and immediately gave it a bromance declaration as a Templar crossbow bolt.

The excerpt then talks about a fake Roman pilum find.  The same type of analysis would apply equally to other finds such as the few I've mentioned in the past.

I hope you take time to read it.  You'll better understand much of what I've been talking about lately,  and where I am coming from when I comment on the show.

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This would seem to be a good morning to do some low-tide hunting.  The surf is small, but will be increasing going into the weekend when the surf will be about three or four feet again.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

3/18/15 Report - Surface Hunting Old Bottles To Locate Old Detecting Sites. Accu-Sound Pinpointer.

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

Miscellaneous Bottles Found While Surface Hunting On The Treasure Coast Yesterday.

Besides doing good library research, another way to find good detecting sites is to simply go out and scout around.  One of the first signs of an old site will normally be broken pieces of class or pottery on top of the ground.

A lot of people dig for bottles, but they can also be found on the surface on beaches or along waterways.  I found my first old bottles after Hurricane Andrew when I was hunting silver coins with a detector and noticed old bottles floating in the surf.  I started picking up the bottles, and that was the beginning of my bottle collecting.

Below is the type of area where these bottles were found.  Their were many more modern bottles, broken bottles, pieces of glass and other junk.  The few older bottles were partly buried, except for the small ones.

Areas Where Bottles Were Found.

At this particular location I've found mid-19th century bottles and a surprise horse tooth fossil.

If you find a cluster of old bottles, it might be a good sign of a nearby old detecting site.

None of these bottles are very interesting, and they aren't worth much, but if you are in an area like that something more valuable might also be found.   It is worth looking.  You never know what you might find.

Generally there will be so much junk in an area like this that it won't be worth detecting.  You might however detect the original site that is the source of the bottles.

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A bottle of wine from a blockade runner that sank in 1864 was opened and drank.   The verdict - yuk!

Here is the link to that video.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/Uncorked-Wine-From-1864-Shipwreck/414769219890/Comcast/Today_in_Video/?cid=hero_sf_TIV

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An Inexpensive Pin Pointer.

I got this pinpointer free with the purchase of a metal detector.  It is one of the less expensive pinpointers.  It is also not very effective.

I tested it with the four objects shown above and you nearly have to touch the object to get a signal.  It could be of some help I guess.  But if you really want a pinpointer, you probably want something more effective.  I never use a pinpointer myself, and my experience with this one did nothing to convince me that I should.

A pinpointer is not as much help if you beach detect.  You can sift sand fairly quickly.  If you hunt in muddy soil or clay, a pinpointer might be of more use.

I personally pinpoint rather well with my metal detector, being able to determine a lot about the location, size, shape and depth of the object from the detector.  There are also other helpful tricks that you can use instead of a pinpointer.  I've talked about some of those in the past.

Some detectors provide easier pinpointing than others.

I actually made a video showing the use and effectiveness of this particular pinpointer but haven't managed to get it uploaded to the blog yet.

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Sotheby is auctioning a large selection of valuable travel and discovery books including some on the Indians of North America and various voyages and wrecks.  If you are looking for good lead information or just like to read history, this auction will give you a good start.  You don't have to buy the books, but when you see one you like, you can do an internet search for digital books, cheaper replications, or other material you might find by the same author.

Here is a link to the auction lots.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/2015/exploration-discovery-library-franklin-brooke-hitching-l15411.html

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There is little hope for improved beach detecting conditions on the Treasure Coast in the near future.  The surf is smooth today.  Tomorrow (Thursday) we're supposed to get something up to about five feet, but the wind will be southerly.  That's too bad.  Maybe we'll get a little stirring.

Happy hunting anyhow,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net

 

2/5/15 Report - National Geographic State of the Detecting Hobby Overview. More On Pinpointing. One Method Illustrated.

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


Here is a good general article on the state of the metal detecting hobby and the opposition.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/diggers/articles/metal-detecting-101/

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I talked about using pinpointers not too long ago.  I almost never use a pinpointer but some people do.  A pinpointer can help.   Some pinpointers are inexpensive and not very good while others cost nearly as much as a basic metal detector and are very powerful.  Some can even be used submerged.

You can use a screwdriver to pop coins and other small items out of the ground without any digging, but if you use a screwdriver, you need to be able to pinpoint well.   That is a very helpful skill in any case.

Second. if you use a screw driver, you might want to file down any sharp edges to minimize scratching in case you do make a mistake and hit the object.

In addition to the screw driver, you might also use a probe.  An old antique car radio antennae with the little chrome ball on the end will work.  If you use a probe carefully, you can touch and locate the coin without scratching it.  That method doesn't work well in rocky ground though.

Sand can be sifted quickly, so you won't need a pinpointer on a beach, but you can improve your pinpointing skills by learning to use your detector better.  

There are the obvious things you can do, such as switch to all-metals, non-motion, or pinpoint mode.

Additional methods include cutting down sensitivity or detuning or raising the coil higher to diminish the area that produces a signal.

Another technique you can use in a hole, involves putting the coil at something like a 45 degree angle from the ground and rotating the coil around the edge of the hole to locate where the target lies relative to the hole. (See illustration.)

I often find this method useful, especially when the target is deep and you have to scoop more than once.  This method will quickly tell you if the object is to one side of the center of the hole. 

Some elongated objects can be difficult.  The signal, depending upon the angle of the sweep, can appear to be at the end of the object rather than over the center.  In that case your first scoop might be off-center.  This method illustrated below can quickly tell you if that is the case.

Another technique that can help is to set the coil at a 45 degree angle next to the hole and facing the hole so any movement of the target is detected as you move sand or dirt.  To use that method you should be using a non-metallic trowel or digger.

Also setting the coil by the hole as dirt is dug or thrown towards the coil or onto the coil will tell you when the target has been moved.

In sand I often use my hand to feel for a target when I am getting close rather than continuing to scoop. 

Of course a handful of dirt swung over or onto the coil will also tell you if the target is in your hand.

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We have a small surf on the Treasure Coast today.  The wind is from the South, but will switch around this afternoon and be coming from the North, continuing into tomorrow.  The prediction for tomorrow is for a four to six foot surf.  That might create a few cuts, but probably not produce really old stuff.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net

1/22/15 Report - Some Treasure Coast Finds. Top November Posts. Gold And Silver Prices. Views On Pinpointers.

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

Finds By Dan B.
Photo by Dan B.

I received this photo of finds from Dan B.  Here is what Dan said about his finds.

Today's finds include my first ever buffalo nickel, and a 43 

quarter. And what seems to be atwo-sided belt buckle.

Congratulations on your first buffalo nickel Dan.

A couple of days ago I posted some thoughts on pinpointers.  Sine then I made a video demonstrating the use of one pinpointer but have been having trouble getting it uploaded to the blog.  Maybe I'll manage to get it uploaded someday soon.


The most Google Plused post of November was the

11/5/14 Report - Update On Beach Conditions.   Time Upside Down, A Book About When Things Are Not Where They Are Supposed To Be.

When people use the Google Plus button, that helps me determine what people like.

And the most read post of November was the

11/14/14 Report - 2014 Treasure Coast Finds. 8 Reale Sells For Over Half Million Dollars. 19th Century Wreck Found. Valuable Explorer's Notebook Found

There are hundreds of posts in this blog and I generally leave them for a long time.  You can see the archive on the main page of the blog below the Reference Link List.  You can go back through years of posts.  You can also use the search box and enter key words to search the blog.

I let a month or so pass before reporting on the most read and most Plused posts because people continue to read them at a fair rate for a couple of months.

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Along with the photo of his finds shown above, Dan B. sent these comments on pinpointers.

I am personally a big fan of using a pinpointer. I believe, at least for my type of inland hunting, that mine is invaluable. 

I dig smaller holes, I damage less valuable finds. I don't worry as much about live 

ammunition.

And I enjoy digging whole lot more.  I have no doubt that due to my reliance on such a 

tool, that I lack many tricks and skills. But you won't find me without mine due to weight restrictions. I would sooner leave my shovel.

I get to about a centimeter from my target, and I get to unearth slowly until I have 

identified what type of metal. If it is aluminum, or is rusty, I will dig and pry 

recklessly. But if I see something nicer, I can remove it from where it has been resting 

with the skill of a surgeon, but only because I knew exactly where it was before I saw it. 

Thanks for your views Dan.  I always benefit in one way or another from hearing from the readers of this blog.  It lets me know what people are thinking, what they are interested in and gives me ideas  for my posts.

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After falling most of 2014, gold has been making a good move to the upside.  More is predicted.

http://goldsilverworlds.com/price/gold-price-exploding-in-all-currencies-worldwide/


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net