3/13/20 Report - Green Cabin Wreck: Wreck of the San Martin. St. James Religious Medallion.

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

Illustration in DisneyEveryDay.com Blog.

See link below.

Recently I did some posts on some of the older coins found on the Treasure Coast.  That brings up the Green Cabin wreck, which is thought to date to 1618, nearly a hundred years before the 1715 Fleet wrecks, and therefore the source of many of the oldest Treasure Coast coins.  I received emails from both Dan B. and JamminJack mentioning the Green Cabin wreck as the source of older coins.

The DisneyEveryDay.com blog presents an entertaining Disney-style discussion of the Green Cabin wreck, which is just south of the Vero Disney resort.  If not entirely accurate, the article is at least entertaining.

https://www.disneyeveryday.com/sunken-spanish-treasure-off-the-coast-of-disneys-vero-beach-resort/

By the way, if you've never seen it, the Vero Disney resort has, or had, a shipwreck artifact display.  If it is still there, you might be able to see it if you make dinner reservations.  All of the items that were in the display were not from the Green Cabin wreck.  There was, for example, a cannon ball and coins from the Jupiter wreck.

Here is a web site that gives a brief overview of the Green Cabin wreck.

Green Cabin Shipwreck (1618) - The Nautical Archaeology Digital Library (shiplib.org)

For a more detailed and historically accurate description of the Green Cabin wreck, see The 1618 Wreck of the San Martín, Almiranta de Honduras, by Dave Horner, edited by Cori Sedwick Downing.

Here is that link.

https://www.sedwickcoins.com/ta19/san_martin.pdf

Concerning the coins from the Green Cabin wreck, here is one paragraph from the Sedwick article.

In all, over 3000 silver coins and numerous artifacts were recovered. The gold ring was the only item of gold found. It was probably on the finger of one of those who perished in the storm over 300 years before. All the coins were from the reign of Philip II (1556-1598) and Philip III (1598-1621). Many of the coins were heavily oxidized, pitted, or worn from the abrasive action of the sand and many years on the bottom of the sea. Other coins were easily recognizable as coins, and a surprising number of them still retained their original design. A few of the prime specimens retained their dates, partial dates, and/or mint marks.

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One correction -  yesterday I gave an upper date range for one or two of the old coins as 1516.  While that is correct for Juana and Carlos coins, but for Carlos I coins the upper date range would be 1556.

I also noticed a Lima crowned-pillars style coin similar to JamminJack's holed one-reale listed in Monedas Espanolas desede Juana Y Carlos a Isabel II: 1504 a 1868 as a Fillip II coin (type 322, page 100).  It  seemed out of place to me, but I'm sure that the authors of that reference had reason for putting it where they did even though all of the other Fillip II coins are very dissimilar.

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Laura Strolia, author of The Marigalera of the 1715 Fleet and historian of the Spanish colonial period with a special interest in the religious history, had a few comments on the religious medallion that I posted yesterday.  Below is what she said.

I think Rome produced a good number of medals for the Catholic populations of English-speaking lands, such as Scotland and Ireland. The item should read “St. James Apostle.” My guess it was lost in the second half of the 18 ^th century. It is a unique specimen of history, suggesting there were Catholics in the British Regiment at St. Augustine.

Heavy corrosion obscured any sign of "St. James" on the medallion.  I assume it would be on the left side of the medallion opposite the word Apostle, which you can see on the right side.  

Author Strolia is nearing completion of a new book that you'll want to watch for.

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 The Treasure Coast surf is still in the 2 - 4 foot range, and the tides are still pretty big.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

2/7/18 Report - Dug Coins With Holes and Bent Coins: Uses and Superstitions. Snip Pattern On Steve's Mystery Find.

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

Figure From The Book
Numismatic Archaeology of North America: A Field Guide by Aiken et al.

Over the years I dug up a good number of "holed"coins. They include everything from a Charles II half reale to a Lincoln penny.  I don't think I got any of them in circulation.  If I did I didn't notice it at the time.  I think they were all dug coins.  If I'd thought about it, I might have kept them together as a nice little collection of holed coins.

When someone puts a hole in a coin it is often meant to change the function of the coin.  It is no loner used as money but as a pendant, button, token or something else.  I can imagine, though, that coins might be punched to be sewn into clothing for safe keeping and transportation.  I've read of how those escaping persecution in places such as Nazi Germany would sew valuables into their clothing.  I could see why one might do something similar for a long voyage on a cramped ship.  What better way to keep a few coins safe under those circumstances.

It seems that people assume that when they find a holed coin that it was meant to be a pendant.  That might often be the case, but there are other possibilities as well.  The placement and number of holes might tell you something.

The above illustration was published in the numismatic archaeology book by Aiken et al that I've mentioned a few times recently.  The same book also reported on a study of holed coins offered for sale on eBay.

The number of holes can vary from one to several.  The arrangement of holes can suggest the reason for the hole or holes.  A single hole near the edge of a coin suggests that the coin would be suspended, as would be the case with a pendant.  But it would only take one hole for someone to sew a coin into a garment.  It isn't all that easy to make a hole in a coin.  I'd only make as many as necessary.

Below is a picture of a crucifix that was sold in a Sedwick auction a year or two ago.  I personally inspected that item in Orlando before the sale.  I had the feeling and told Mr. Sedwick at the time that I thought it looked like the coins were a later addition.

Illustration From Sedwick Auction Catalog.

As this shows, coins can also be used as religious items and as ornaments.  Notice that the holes are placed so the coin hangs right side up.  Normally the hole would be started from the side that is most likely to show when suspended.

The corpus on the above piece looks to me like it was made by an indigenous silversmith.  I found a similar one of gold on a wreck beach back years ago.

While a single hole might indicate that the coin was to be suspended, two holes might also be for suspension, or when coins are attached to each other to make something like a bracelet.  Two holes can also turn a coin into a button.

Coins were also used at times as good luck tokens or religious medallions.

I used to find a lot of bent coins, especially at one location where there were a lot of rocks that rolled around in the surf.   I used to think the bent coins were probably caused by natural forces, but there are a lot of superstitions and other uses for bent coins.   Some believed a bent coin would change one's luck.  Another tradition is that carrying a bent coin in a purse would keep the purse full.  And then there were "witching coins" and love tokens.  So I guess there are several possibilities.

Here is a an old poem about mentioning a crooked sixpence.

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.

He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.

He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,

And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

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Concerning yesterday's mystery find from Steve in Sebastian, DB offered the following.

I recognize the snip pattern as those of aviation snips. That could also lead to the mystery itself. I've found several parts of planes as well as the fact there are WWII planes in the water along the Treasure Coast.
 Happy hunting

DB

Thanks much  DB!

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Not any real change in beach conditions.  I'll have to find time to get out sometime soon.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

6/24/17 Report - Taking Another Look At An Old Find. History-Changing Archaeological Discovery. Search for Lost Merchant To Resume.

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

Old Find

Once in a while I go back and look through old junk finds.  Sometimes I put things aside without paying enough attention to them and I might have missed something interesting.   I'll mention one example of that later in this post.  Anyhow, I decided to look through some old items yesterday, and the item shown above was one of them.

It had some greenish corrosion.  That usually tells you the item is at least partly copper.  I cleaned a little of the corrosion off.

As you can see in the close-up photos above and below, there is some exposed copper.  The item is silver plated.  I probably acid tested the item originally, but I wasn't able to get such good photos back then.

The photo of the other side (below) clearly shows better where the plating wore off.

Other Side Same Medallion

When I put this religious medallion under the Celestron camera to take these photos, I also saw for the first time the word "ITALY."  You can almost see it at the dark spot on the left in the flat space beside the upper arm in this photo.

The ITALY mark is significant.  That tells you the item is not older than 1861 - the year when Italy was founded.

Although in this case, nothing significant showed up, it can be worth going back and looking at old finds.  Sometimes you will find something that you didn't notice before.  Maybe you have newer and better methods or technology or maybe you've learned something that will help you better analyze and appreciate your find.  Keeping good records will help too, although if you are like me, junk find will just be put aside.

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...After years of debate over the dating technology used on the mastodon, a group of researchers now believes that they can date it and the human tools to 130,000 years ago—more than 100,000 years earlier than the earliest humans are supposed to have made it to North America....

Interesting article.  Here is the link.

https://www.wired.com/2017/04/130000-year-old-mastodon-threatens-upend-human-history/

As you probably know, the Treasure Coast produced its own history-changing fossil.  If you aren't aware of that use the following link.

Check out the OVIASC web site by clicking here.

I've found mastodon fossils on a Treasure Coastbeach.  I also found one fossilbone  that appears to have be drilled and cut by man.

I showed that in an old post.  Here is that link.

http://treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com/2015/11/111115-report-fossil-artifact-and.html

Like the fellow that found the carved mastodon bone near Vero, I had that bone sitting around a long time before I noticed it was worked by human hands.

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Nine coins, a few ballast stones and another piece of silver were recently found on the Margarita site by the crew of the Sea Reaper.

The Dare will soon be replacing her mailboxes with search gear and going north to resume the search for the Lost Merchant.  Lost Merchant is a code name.

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There are now no tropical disturbances on the Atlantic map.

We are having a calm surf and some good low tides though.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

4/13/17 Report - Couple Sinks In Beach Sand. Found Religious Medals. Ghost Ship. Higher Surf Saturday.

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

Imagine walking down the beach when you suddenly sink in the sand up to your knees.  Then you are in up to your waist and chest.  You panic.

That is exactly what happened to this couple.

An evening stroll along Torquay Beach for Sam and John Gould quickly turned into a fight for survival.

Sam and her husband John were walking along the beach near the water on Monday about 6.45pm when suddenly they began to rapidly sink into the sand.

Within a few seconds the sand was up to Sam's waist and the more she moved the further down she sank until it was up to her neck.

It was a traumatic experience for John, who fought with all his strength in the darkness while waist deep in sand, to stop his wife from sinking further into the depths.

"On a fear factor of one to 10 - it was 100," a shaken John told the Chronicle...

Here is the link for the rest of the article.

https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/within-seconds-we-were-submerged-in-the-sand/3165793/

Reminds me of the hymn that says "all other ground is sinking sand."

If you remember my posts on sand liquefaction ( 3/15/17 ), you'll understand how that could happen.

It is not surprising that this happened in front of a revetment wall.

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Dug Religious Medallion Finds
Photo by Michael F.

Here is the email message that accompanied the above photo received from Michael F.

In reference to your article yesterday. Indeed religious artifacts are common finds, not only on beaches but also in parks and schools. Below is a photo of a display I made of some of the religious and good luck medallions I have found over the years. Not unusual, I’m sure , but I think they make an attractive display.

An avid reader of your daily reports,

Mike in New Jersey.

Thanks much Mike.  Nice collection.

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A kayaker found a 110-year-old ghost ship on a small tributary of the Ohio River.

Here is the link for that story.

http://www.viralforest.com/110-year-old-ghost-ship-in-the-ohio-river/

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I picked up a nice fossil on a Treasure Coast beach this week.  So there are some old things surfacing, but fossils are different than coins.

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Source: MagicSeaWeed.com.

The surf is supposed to peak Saturday at 4 - 7 feet.  That is a three foot range, so there is a good bit of uncertainty.  If it is seven feet, we could be looking at some beach improvement, depending upon other factors.

The primary swell will be more east than northeast though, so don't expect much.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

2/5/16 Report - Laura Strolia's Historical Research Related To A 17th Century Artifact Found By A Detectorist In North Florida

I have a special post for you today.  Written by researcher and author Laura Strolia, today's post presents a historical analysis of the 17th century devotional medal shown below.  It was found in North Florida by a detectorist who asked Laura if she could provide information about the medal.

Laura's research on the artifact provides amazingly detailed information concerning the medal and provides important insight into 17th century Spanish Florida.

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Front and Back of Medallion Found By Detectorist In North Florida.
Photo provided by Laura Strolia.

Historical Analysis of Devotional Medal Found In North Florida.

This is an analysis of an oval devotional medal that was discovered while metal detecting in northern Florida.

Its weight and measurements have not been specified. A top loop remains on the object, which allowed it to hang on a chain or cord. It also could have been attached to clothing or suspended on a rosary. Considering this piece was made without any projecting flanges on its sides, it would not have been attached to a frame or another object with linking qualities. The medal is bronze and struck in the making process.

Unlike many other religious medals found on colonial American sites, this one holds two visual representations revealing one theme from its front to back. The medal remains notable because its specific designs and words are seldom seen together on artifacts in existence today. The small object happens to reveal an extraordinary story of history pertaining to an important movement of faith in the Catholic Church.

In 1563, after the Council of Trent clarified many doctrines and beliefs, artists were commissioned to paint teachings of faith in a visual manner. One topic of work encouraged in the Counter-Reformation period was the Institution of the Eucharist or transubstantiation. This doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist was shown using many artistic symbols, such as a wine cup, a wafer, grapes, bread, and wheat.

An earlier found devotional medal, part of a collection at the Florida Museum of Natural History, shows two praying angels on each side of a chalice with the Sacred Host. This medal of the Santísimo Sacramento (Blessed Sacrament) was unearthed at St. Augustine and dated from 1650 to 1700. Likewise, the artifact we are examining also has a wine cup and the Holy Eucharist, along with olive branches, a traditional symbol of peace used in adoration and praise of the Blessed Sacrament.

Before we attempt to date our piece, both pictures on the medal need to be considered.

On the opposite side of the Blessed Sacrament is a representation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, or Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is a belief the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived and born without original sin.

The subject of the Immaculate Conception had been popular debate since the 13th century because some of the faithful believed God sanctified Mother Mary after she was conceived. In the 1500s, the Council of Trent failed to assert an official Church position, and tensions from opposing views continued into the following decades.

At the start of the Baroque period, a wave of artists became inspired to paint the Immaculate Conception. Many were hired by laymen and religious orders to complete works in order to promote faith in the Immaculate Conception. The citizens of Spain greatly excelled, more so than anywhere else, in their devotion to Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción. In 1613, a protest occurred in the city of Seville after a speech. Around 40,000 people defended with loud proclamations and demonstrations to protect Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Confraternities also promoted Our Lady and pushed for the acceptance of the Immaculate Conception as dogma. In Seville, the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament committed to be a brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception. During public celebrations, their banner consisted of a monstrance holding a consecrated Host, along with an anagram of María (Mary), symbolizing the Immaculate Conception. The letters on the banner read, “sin pecado original,” meaning the Blessed Virgin was without original sin. Historic documentation even states the anagram of the María was put on the door of the Seville cathedral in 1616.

Movements promoting the Immaculate Conception grew rapidly in the first two decades of the 17th century, and the subject reached its height around 1620, becoming the most widespread Catholic imagery of the time. Three Spanish painters of the early 17th century, Francisco Pacheco (1564-1644), Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660), and Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1660), are credited with developing some of the initial visual themes for the Immaculate Conception, which in turn, impacted the work of many future artists.

Pacheco also had a book published after his death in 1649 that the Spanish Inquisition chose to use as their official rulebook for Immaculate Conception iconography. His guidelines in Arte de la pintura (“Art of Painting”) were mainly taken from the Book of Revelation of St. John: “a woman robed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

The artifact we are analyzing bears an image of the Immaculate Conception that closely resembles those in the paintings done by the three previously mentioned artists. A difference to note, however, is the number of stars in the Virgin Mary’s celestial crown. Unlike the commonly used twelve, the medal shows seven stars, a popular devotional number of the Franciscans. For instance, the Franciscan Seraphic Rosary contains seven decades in commemoration of the Seven Joys of Mary.

In 1621, the Immaculate Conception became Patron of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), who then pledged by oath to publicly teach and spread the mystery. It is plausible to say the medal we are examining was issued by the Franciscans who were then the leading religious order stationed in 17th century Florida.

Since clues indicate the piece was of Spanish origin, it would have likely been made in Seville. Rome was also considered another main production hub, but the omission of “Roma,” or “Rome,” on its surface tends to dismiss this source.

The local clergy regulated the devotional medals following the standards and rules issued by the Vatican. Religious orders were able to strike their own medals to create special devotions to specific events, symbols, or patron saints. Missionary groups collected and shipped the medals to the colonies in the Americas where they would be distributed.

Previous archaeological research indicates that medals of the Immaculate Conception found on New World colony sites, dating after 1650, drastically decreased in number, to almost none. This was the beginning of a transitional period, for in 1661, the Pope issued a papal decree to clarify the dispute of Immaculate Conception and forbid any further discussion.

This medal, dating to the period c. AD 1620-1650, has yet more to its story. Its inscriptions, which have not yet been addressed, reveal an interesting part of cultural tradition that has been lost over the centuries.

The side with the representation of the Immaculate Virgin reads in Latin, “et macula non est in te,” meaning “there is no spot in thee.” This verse from Song of Solomon 4:7 has been associated with the Immaculate Conception since the 12th century.

The opposite side with the Blessed Sacrament, at one time, had the legible Spanish words, “Alabado Sea el Santísimo Sacramento” or “Praised be the Most Holy Sacrament.” This well known Spanish hymn was sung in praise to the Sacred Eucharist.

Curiously, the texts put together from both sides make up verses from another famous prayersong, also originating in Spain. It was so well liked and embraced that the Franciscans began to spread it throughout the Spanish frontier. In every mission, the Indians were taught “Alabado Sea el Santísimo Sacramento del altar,” which in fact, had many versions. In addition, some prayers and hymns, called alabados, had a combination of both Latin and Spanish text.

This particular prayer-song eventually became a popular greeting for Spaniards . . . “Alabado sea el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar! Bendita sea la Limpia y Purísima Concepción de Nuestra Señora María Santísima sin mancha de pecado original!” or “Praised be the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar! Blessed be the stainless and most pure Conception of Our Lady Mary Most Holy without the taint of original sin!”

Native Americans were said to use this salutation in making a sign of friendship. Supposedly, when one Christian Indian greeted another, he said, “Praise be the Most Holy Sacrament!” The other would then reply, “And Ave María Purísima!”

by Laura Strolia, 2016 

Sources:

Deagan, Kathleen. Artifacts of the Spanish Colonies of Florida and the Caribbean. Vol. 2. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Pr., 2002.

Harris, William Richard, Lawrence Bishop Scanlan, Francisco Atanasio Domínguez, and Silvestre Vélez De Escalante. The Catholic Church in Utah a Review of Spanish and Missionary Explorations, Tribal Divisions ... the Journal of the Franciscan Explorers and Discoverers of Utah Lake, the Trailing of Priests from Santa Fé, N.M. Salt Lake City, UT: Intermountain Catholic, 1909.

Montaño, Mary Caroline. Tradiciones Nuevomexicanas: Hispano Arts and Culture of New Mexico. Albuquerque: U of New Mexico, 2001.

Muller, Priscilla E. Jewels in Spain: 1500-1800. New York: Hispanic Soc. of America, 1972.

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Thanks much Laura!  Excellent research.

Metal detecting isn't just about finding things.  That is only a small part of it.  Metal detecting is more about being and doing, and perhaps most of all, about learning and relating.  It is about enlarging your world and discovering meaning.

When you find an object, that is often just the very beginning of a long journey of discovery, and it doesn't matter whether the object is old or new.

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Yesterday we had a good south wind, and the sand was blowing north to south.  It wasn't long ago that I remember seeing it blow the other way.

Friday the wind will be coming from the north again, and the surf will increase a foot or two.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

1/3/15 Report - Shipwreck Finds From Dredged Renourishment Sand. Thousand-Year-Old Coins Found Worth Near $1.5 Million.

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



Copper Religious Medallion
Find and photo by William B.

Yesterday I wrote about dredging and renourishment projects.  I mentioned that sometimes old items end up on the beach in the new sand.  It wasn't long ago that I showed you one of those finds. 

William B. sent photos of these three very nice examples that he found in beach renourishment sand.

He said, I found these 3 artifacts on South Florida beaches either during or shortly after beach renourishment projects. The sand was being dredged from directly offshore of the beaches, not trucked in as they do on other beaches. All three artifacts were found on different beaches within a 3 mile stretch of coast.  



Napoleon’s 7th infantry Button
Find and photo by William B.

The copper religious medallion was found right in from a wreck that went down in the 1800’s. I believe it was Cuban. You can see an angel standing over a child. 

The button is from Napoleon’s 7th infantry. The brass key is about 3 inches long and was bent when I found it. You can see the marks on the shaft from the vice grips that I used to straighten it. 

It wasn’t until 4 years after finding it that it dawned on me that the key was probably in the lockbox when the ship went down, and the box slammed into something causing the bend in the key. It took a lot of force to straighten it.

Nice Old Key.
Find and photo by William B.

 

 

All of the artifacts were found after rough seas, but there was still plenty of new sand on the beach.

Of course this is all speculation, but finding 3 very old artifacts in front of an offshore dredging operation seems to be more than just coincidence, if you ask me.  

HH. William B.

Thanks much William.  Great finds! 

Yesterday I also mentioned the tons of junk that was in the Fort Pierce South Inlet renourishment sand.  Dan B. wrote and mentioned all of the aluminum junk in the renourishment up by the Sebastian Inlet, something that I'm sure many of you have noticed.

Near Amber Sands Beach access there was also a lot of aluminum in the renourisment sand, but also silver US coins.

It can help to know where the renourishment sand is coming from. 

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Detectorists participating in a group hunt found over 5000 ancient worth over $1.5 million in a farm field.  The coins were in near mint condition and dated back over a thousand years.

Here is the link.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/ancient-coins-worth-more-1million-4906211

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I've received several different ideas about the round mystery object that I posted not long ago.  Some time soon I'll post the ideas that have been submitted.  Thanks to all who submitted their thoughts.  Its not too late to submit yours.

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 If you are an experienced diver who knows how to use a detector and will be available for treasure diving during the upcoming season, send me an email telling me what you have done.   I'm not promising ANYTHING, but might be able to forward your information where it MIGHT be considered.

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On the Treasure Coast we'll be having a couple of days of two-foot surf. Swells will be coming from the south.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@Comcast.net

4/11/12 Report - $42,000 Gold Escudo, Local Man's Miraculous Medallion & Spanish Missions

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

1714 Mexican 8-Escudo Sold in the Sedwick Coins Auction Yesterday.

This was the star of the gold coins sold in the first session of the auction yesterday. It was struck with Royal dies and brought a bid of $42,500.

When I was watching the live bidding, I noticed that the undated Bogata 2-escudos were going for around $1600 while the dated examples were bringing about twice that amount.

A number of gold coins went unsold.

The auction continues today.


A Sebastian man no longer has to polish his religious medallion after visiting Medjugorje.

Here is the link.

http://www.medjugorjetoday.tv/5343/worn-medal-shines-after-medjugorje-visit/

One thing I don't like about silver is how it tarnishes. On the other hand, I think a little oxidation can actually bring out the features and enhance the appearance of vintage items.


Here is a good article about the early Spanish missions and efforts to convert the Native Americans.

The article includes a map showing the location of some of the early missions.

http://www.flahumforms.org/laflorida/Readings/Spiritual_Conquest_of_La_Florida.pdf


If you ever read fiction, I'd recommend Silas Marner. Good book about buried gold and lots more.


There are still a good number of recent drops remaining on the beaches from Spring Break and Easter.

Dug Metal Toy Plane.

I didn't realize they are still making toys like this of heavy metal instead of plastic. The plane is rather well made. The propellers still rotate even though it was dug from about seven inches of wet packed sand. Just another example of the variety of types of things you'll find on a beach.

I was a fooled by the signal my detector gave on this one.

A bunch of modern coins were found at about the same depth in the same area.


Another little cold front came through with the wind coming from the northwest. Seas are down around two feet or so. The swells are coming from the south. That means light material will wash up on the front beach, especially since the high tides have been higher than normal.

One person did tell me yesterday that they were finding lots of shells and some sea glass. Check out any big shell piles. Look for pot shards, fossils, arrow heads, copper, etc.

The seas will be building daily until this weekend when the predictions are for four foot and higher seas.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net

3/9/12 Report - Info on Religious Medallion, Detecting Self-Test & Blockade Runners

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

A Treasure Coast Beach This Morning.

After two days of southeast winds, this isn't surprising. A lot of seaweed was washing up on our beaches.

Sea weed is a bad sign that indicates that a beach is filling.

The cut beach that i showed a day or two ago deteriorated. It still had some cliffs, but also had sea weed and had filled in. The beach in front of what remained of the cut was now mushy where it was firm before. All of that means that the sand was coming in.

I'm downgrading my Treasure Coast Beach Conditions rating to a 1(poor) again.

The Whites Dual Pulse is an easy swinging detector. That is what I used today because I sprained my back the other day and it feels lighter than a lot of other detectors because it is well balanced.

One detecting tip that I have for today is when going along a beach and you aren't hearing hardly any signals, deposit a few test targets of your own behind you, then on the way back see how many of them you miss. That will give you a self-check. I'll bet that at least 50% of detectorists will be surprised how many they miss.

If you try this self-check where the waves might hit, bury the test objects under a couple of inches of sand so they won't be washed away.

I'm not saying that it is always necessary to cover every inch of sand on a beach. I often use a loose scan pattern when I am sampling an area, but there are times when you should cover every inch. By using some test objects you will learn just how much you might be missing.

Concerning the medallion that I posted yesterday for ID, Laura Strolia, author the the book, The Marigalera of the 1715 Fleet, sent in some good information. I thought she might know something about the medallion.

Here is what she said.

The lettering on the one side refers to St. Ignatius of Loyola of the Society of Jesus. He is shown as a courageous Christian knight, as he fought in many battles early on in his life. The image depicts St. Ignatius defeating a dragon like St. George had done centuries before. This act represents ideal Christian chivalry, thus making him the patron saint of all soldiers. St. Ignatius was said to have laid down his sword under the Blessed Virgin Mary of Montserrat, and he then dedicated his life to God.

The letters and image on the reverse side refer to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception who was born without original sin.

The Jesuit collection at St. Louis University holds a silver reliquary showing St. Ignatius of Loyola on one side and the Immaculate Conception on the back of it. It dates back to 1650, so the combination of these two images on artifacts goes back a couple hundred years.

Thanks for the help Laura.

When you send in an item for ID, please try to get a good clear photo. Many cameras won't focus well when the object is to close to the lens. Also provide as much information as possible, such as size, material, and any associated finds or anything that might provide some clues.

I can not post every submitted item. And i certainly can't ID every item.

Just because an item is old doesn't necessarily mean that it was lost a long time ago. For example, I dug up a wheat penny the other day, but I also recently found one in circulation.

People sometimes carry around old things. If it shows the wear of time and is found with other similarly old items, that might help to narrow things down a bit.

Unfortunately items that have been in salt water can corrode very quickly. I recently dug up one of the new state quarters that was completely green encrusted and corroded. It certainly wan't old, but it looked like it would be. The soil or context that items are lost in have a lot to do with how they are protected or how they corrode.

I mentioned the Diggers TV program the other day. I found it hard to believe that they were digging up such old items in such good condition. Some of those items didn't look like they had been used at all.


Artifacts from the blockade runner, Modern Greece, will be preserved after sitting for fifty years in storage tanks.

A systematic survey of blockade runners off the North Carolina Coast is planned before those wrecks deteriorate even more.

Here is the link.

http://www.kjct8.com/news/30635467/detail.html

The seas will be slacking off a bit tomorrow and then return to about seven feet or so Sunday. I'm not encouraged by the predicted wind direction though.

The high tide this evening is going to be higher than normal.


Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net