9/22/19 Report - $30,000 Find by Detectorist on Melborne Beach. Another Tropical Storm. Other Finds.

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

Eroded Melborne Beach

Photo by Jerry P.

I received this message from Jerry P.

I had an interesting day on the Treasure Coast yesterday. I found the conditions much as you described them in your Friday Post. The Big surf had beaten up the dunes pretty good, but it was mostly renourishment sand that was knocked down. Then because the waves were hitting square on to the beach, that sand wasn’t moved off the beach. I didn’t find any shipwreck items but did find the most expensive item I’ve ever found.  It’s a one-kilo brick of cocaine (See below.) that washed up on the beach in Melbourne. Not my best find but definitely the most valuable. After turning it over to the local Sheriff deputy, he told me the wholesale value is about $30,000! My jaw hit the ground😎

  

Regards,

Jerry P.

$30.000 Brick of Cocaine

Photo by Jerry P.

That reminds me of the morning I arrived to see three huge bales of pot washed up on John Brooks beach.  Each bale was a cube of about five feet.

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Plaque Washed Up On Melborne Beach

Source: FloridaToday.com

Talking of things washed up on Melborne Beach -

Bobbing amid then-Tropical Storm Humberto's swells, a wooden wall plaque bearing Jesus Christ's image reached the beach just as former professional surfer Bryan Hewitson and his daughter, Olivia, approached carrying bags of litter.

"It was still wet. It had just washed up," Bryan recalled from their beach cleanup walk shortly after sunrise Saturday...

Here is the link for the rest of that article.

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2019/09/17/mystery-jesus-plaque-washes-ashore-near-melbourne-beach-tropical-storm-humbertos-waves/2343070001/

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My Friday Finds.

I've done more detecting in the past three days than I've been able to do in a long time.  I went out three times and spent an average of about an hour detecting each time.  I also spent time scouting beaches that I didn't detect, but I averaged about 25 modern coins per hour detecting by working eroded renourishment sand.  That is not what I'd prefer to hunt, but it was easy, and I was also getting to know the Equinox detector so I wanted to hit a good number targets.  If I had a lot more time I would have spent time detecting for shipwreck items too, but that didn't look like a good bet under the circumstances.

If you look at that ring shown above, you'll notice it is broken.  It gave a much weaker signal because of the broken band.

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Now a correction:  Yesterday I posted a photo of a watch that was like the one found by Joe D.  The way I mistakenly labeled the photo, you would have thought that the brand new watch was the one found by Joe.  It was not.  Joe's find was beat up.   Rather than taking the time make that clear in yesterday's post, I just removed the incorrectly labeled photo from that post.

Joe provided this handy link to a database on pocket watches, which provides detailed information on any watch that you can find in the database.  I've found a few pocket watches over the years that I have never researched, so when I get the time I'll be using that link.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/

And here is the link to the particular make and model found by Joe.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/search/result/hamilton/1752320

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John Brooks Beach Saturday Evening Near Low Tide.

Notice all the sand between where the waves are breaking and where the water is on the sand.

The beach is still mushy even though the water has been getting pretty high.

John Brooks Beach Saturday Evening Near Low Tide.

The coins I picked up Saturday were not the easy ones.  They were deep in wet sand where the water was still coming and going at low tide.  That makes recovery more difficult.


Now we have another tropical storm - Karen.  Looks like she'll pretty much follow Jerry.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov.

For the next few days the surf will be decreasing.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/21/19 Report - Pocket Watch Finds. Hurricane Jerry, Weather and Beach Conditions.

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

Recent Watch Find by Joe D. After Cleaning.

Photo by Joe D.

After cleaning this pocket watch, Joe did some successful internet research on his watch and had fund doing it.  The internet makes research so much easier than it used to be.

Joe was able to get all the necessary information off the watch and locate the detailed specifications online.  He enjoyed the internet research.

I've often said that a lot of the fun comes after the find.

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Sebastian Steve offered the following comments relative to pocket watch finds.

So far as Joes's pocket watch "Congratulations Joe!."  __Like Things Attract__ and it should not be too long before you find another!  The pattern looks quite old, maybe not quite Victorian.  I remember finding my first gold watch... only the little ring on top for the chain was sticking out of the debris pile.  I thought I was reaching for a gold man's wedding band, but when as I tugged and tugged, finally out came this heavy gold pocket watch circa 1850 !!!  WoW!!!  Like things attract?  Not five minutes had passed since I reached for a beautiful English Sovereign.  The size and weight of our $5 gold piece.  These Sovereigns were very common in U.S. Commerce in and around the Civil War era.  The Sovereign was a known and trusted coin the world over, and Britain had been minting them since the 1830's I believe.  You were far more likely to find a Sovereign than a $5 U.S.  On an amazing ratio of 20 to 1....Sovereigns to U.S. $5.  Amazing, it really was.  The Sovereign is a beautiful coin, loaded with intricate detail, not at all easily forfeited.  

Now listen up Joe... I'm sure at this point, the last thing on your mind is selling it.  But if and when that day comes, when gold hits $5,000, __and it will__ know this...these gold outer watch cases bring -Big Dollars- just in scrap.  __Don't let anybody cheat you.__

I recall selling two of mine for a little folding money, and being handed $1400.00.  Yes, that zero is in the correct place.  When you get it open, with soaking with lots of running warm water, and plain ole dishwashing soap (lubricant) over and over, --do not rush it-- the hinge will gradually open for you.  Don't break it...you will hate yourself.  

Inside the lid, once you have cleaned it well, you should see the "jeweler"s hallmark."  It will be a very little box, like 1/16th "x 1/16th with the karat weight.  You should see a little "14" or even an "18" in this box if old enough.  By law...somewhere on that case you will find the assayers mark!  Almost all of the old Victorian jewelry was 18 Karat.  And a heavy watch case will amaze you with the layers of gold!  Also you may see little notations scratched in by jewelers, as was the custom in the old days, to signify repairs that they performed and when.  Just initials and like the month digits and last 2 year digits.  You can often get a good idea of the age of the watch from this.   

Maybe there is more there?  Remember...LIKE THINGS ATTRACT.  I found a beautiful pair of a man's and woman's hand crafted matching pocket watches with elaborate etchings carved in by hand, oh how many hours of craftsmanship?  A hundred hours for the pair?  Easy.  Both these from out the same steamer trunk.  Sad..this loving couple most likely went down with the ship, as their pouch of gold was still nestled in with the watches.  Hopes and Dreams... now dashed upon the proverbial rocks.  Who is to know such things?  Which ship to take, which to avoid?  Is a calm sunny day always your safest time to travel?  Words to Ponder...

God Help the Perishing Mariner Tonight

We Fear the Pall of Darkness

Shall be the Precursor of their Doom. 

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Joe was indeed able to find all the identifying information.

By the way, where he found it, the ground was littered with broken glass and trash.

Here is the photo.

Littered Ground Where Pocket Watch Was Found.

Photo by Joe d.

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By the way, the photo at the top of yesterday's post showed a lot of erosion at Jupiter.  That was all renourishment sand that got washed into the surf.  That, along with the east swells, is why we are getting much old stuff being uncovered on the beach.

The erosion is not getting down to the older sand in most areas, and the old stuff in front of the beach is being covered by old renourishment sand that was washed into the surf.

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Source: nhc.noaa.gov

There is still a lot of weather to watch and still a chance for us to actually get some better beach conditions.

Jerry is still on the north/northeast path, but there are two other systems out there that could develop and eventually affect us.

The surf is expected to decrease now for a few days.  That could be an opportunity to detect out a little farther than has been possible lately.

I got in some detecting time the past two days and dug a lot of targets.  I was interested in testing the Equinox, but tried not to stress my back.  I was most happy with the fact that my back held up.   I was also learning more about the Equinox, which I'll study more and report on at a later date.

I'll have to go back and research some of my pocket watch finds, which, for some reason, I never really looked at much.  I guess I never opened them up.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/20/19 Report - So Much Wind, So Little Erosion. Jupiter, Hobe Sound, and South Hutchinson Island. A Few Finds.

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

Jupiter Inlet Beach Friday Morning.

Photo by Joe D.

There was a lot of eroded renourishment sand just south of the Jupiter Inlet this morning. You can see that in the above photo by Joe D.

After visiting the beach this morning, Joe decided to detect at an inland site and found his first pocket watch.

Pocket Watch Find.

Find and photo by Joe D.

Hobe Sound Thursday Morning.

Photo by Joe D.

Yesterday Joe took the above photo at Hobe Sound.

Congratulations on the pocket watch find Joe!  Very nice.  Thanks for sharing.

John Brooks Early Friday Morning.

I looked at John Brooks and Frederick Douglass along with a couple other South Hutchinson Island beaches.  Despite all the wind and surf, there were no cuts.  It wasn't very impressive at all.  Still pretty mush.

John Brooks Early Friday Morning.

I didn't detect either of these wreck beaches, but went where I thought I could find some easy targets to practice with the Equinox.

Frederick Douglass Beach Early Friday.

Yesterday I did the same thing.  I have not detected very much this year and had some fun picking up 54 coins in just a little over an hour.  Nothing good though.

54 Coins Dug Yesterday.

Today I did the same thing, but didn't detect as long and only got a few coins, but did get a silver and diamond ring.  It is marked 925.  I'd think they are diamonds because they are so small I can't see any sense in making fakes that small.  

The ring was broken and gave a very weak/poor signal.

I'm sure some people are getting frustrated that all this wind and surf isn't helping the beaches more.  

I could see that there was a huge amount of sand in front of the beach yet.

Humberto seems to be off the map now, but Hurricane Jerry is still out there.

Source: nhc.noaa.gov

It looks like the surf will remain fairly big for a couple of days.

Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/20/18 Report - Three Amazing Finds Found in Different Ways and Different Places.

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

James Madison Silver Indian Peace Medal Found in Farm Field.
Source: See PBS link below.

I saw this on the Antiques Roadshow recently.  The silver Indian Peace metal was found in a farm field during plowing.  It was appraised at $20,000 to $30,000.

Here is the link for more about that.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/20/omaha-ne/appraisals/1809-silver-james-madison-indian-peace-medal--201503A14/

A big find showed up in the garbage.  Garbage collectors found a relic of St. Clement in the trash.

Relic of Pope Clement Found in Trash.
Photo by Ruth Gledhill
Source: See TheTablet link below.

You never know what you might find or where it might pop up.

The relic of Pope Clement I which was found in a red and gold, wax-sealed case in waste collected from central London is being restored to Westminster Cathedral today.

The relic, a piece of bone, is the personal belonging of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. It was one of a number of items stolen from a car in Central London.

It was found by waste collectors from the Enviro Waste company when doing their rounds in central London earlier this year. Workers did not realise what they had until they appraised the waste a few days later...

Here is the link for more about that.

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/9268/relic-of-pope-st-clement-restored-to-westminster-cathedral

Here is another great find.

Source: See DailyMail link below.

Divers exploring wreckage of the Pulaski which sank in 1838 find a gold watch stopped at 11.05pm - exactly 5 minutes after the ship's boilers exploded, sending it to a watery grave.

Exploration of the wreckage of the Steam Boat Pulaski has uncovered a pricey gold watch with hands appearing to validate the recorded timeline of its sinking.

The boilers on the ship were believed to have exploded at 11pm Eastern on June 14, 1838, and the hands on this ornate watch now read 11.05pm.

The Pulaski was ferrying wealthy Southerners from Savannah to Baltimore on the day that half of its 200 wealthy passengers died off the North Carolina coast.

It was first confirmed in May that the wreckage being explored by Blue Water Ventures International for the last seven months belonged to the Pulaski...

Here is the link for more about that.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5854239/Divers-exploring-Pulaski-wreckage-watch-stopped-exactly-5-minutes-ships-boilers-exploded.html

Thanks to Peter H. for that link.


That isn't what I planned to post today, but these three stories of great finds came along, so I decided to post them all at once.

I have plenty of other things to post but can't do all in one post.

I suspect it won't be long before we'll hear about some of this year's salvage finds along the Treasure Coast.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

9/11/14 Report - Big Auction With Cannons and All Types of Guns. Al Capones Pocket Watch. Solar Storms. JW Fishers ROV Towable Metal Detector

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

Cannon Offered in James D. Julia Auction.
Source: Link below.

If you are interested in Revolutionary War cannons, machine guns, Winchester lever action rifles, or Colt army revolvers, you'll find plenty to look at in this Oct. 2014 James D. Julia auction catalog.  There are thousands of lots, including a few items other than guns, such as Al Capone's pocket watch.  The catalog is  huge and is a great resource for research.

Here is the link to the first session.  

http://jamesdjulia.com/auction/369-october-2014-firearms-auction/?session=1

Al Capone's Pocket Watch
Source: James D. Julia Auction Catalog
Session 3.

The cannon shown above has an auction estimate of 8 to 12 thousand dollars.

Al Capones pocket watch is estimated at 35 to 55 thousand dollars.  The pocket watch is one of very few items listed other than guns.

You'll find the links to the other two sessions at that site.

www.nhc.noaa.gov

We have two weather systems to watch.  The one out in the middle of the Atlantic has a 70 percent chance of becoming a cyclone in the next 48 hours, while the one just off of our coast only has a 10 percent chance of forming.  We're getting a little rain off of that one.

The second is close but not doing much.  We still have only a 1 - 2 foot surf, and nothing bigger is predicted for the next few days.

Two-Coil JW Fishers Metal Detector Attached to ROV

JW Fishers makes a metal detector that can be attached to the front of one of their ROVs.

You can tow it or whatever. 

The prices is around $12,500.

I don't know how good it is.

I haven't seen any reviews.

Here is a picture of the detector attached to an ROV.







A strong solar storm is heading towards the earth, but we won't get a direct hit.   No disruption to electric grids is expected.  Solar storms are said to disrupt the Earth's magnetic field.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_SOLAR_STORM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-09-10-17-56-39

I have been getting an unusual amount of what appears to be EMI in my ear phones on some detectors lately, and have dialed back my sensitivity some, which I almost never do.   Could it be the solar storm?

Anybody else notice that?

That is it for today.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net