🥇 BANNER Equinox finds Spanish treasure! - Re upload

Minkey

Minkey

Jr. Member
Aug 5, 2008
57
112
Kentucky
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Xterra 705, Minelab Excalibur II, Minelab CTX 3030, Minelab Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
My Dad and I failed to adhere to TreasureNet's rules and posted our find on his account. The following is a reupload of my Dad's post. Apologies and thanks to anyone who has already taken the time to leave a comment, like, or banner nomination.

Last week, my son and I went on another “Treasure Coast” trip, this time armed with our new Equinox 800’s.


Our last trip to St. Augustine had me finding the only “old coin”, an 8 Reale, that I was sure was authentic, but my 21 yo son had the opposite opinion. For the last 6 months, I have been hearing it from him about my “lead slug”.


Fast forward to last week. It’s about 11:30 pm on 3/27, and he comes up from behind me and tells me he found a “fake” coin, and not so jokingly accuses me of planting it, so he could have the heart attack/heart break of finding a worthless piece of junk… So, Sam pulls the “coin” out of his junk pouch so we can both give it a better look.


Upon inspection of the coin, its mint appearance gave the impression of a newly minted souvenir, but the coins details were so fine, and weight so heavy, we really did not know what to think. Back at the hotel we researched, compared pictures of actual coins, and did everything we could at 3 am to prove or disprove its origin.


The next morning we went to the West Bay Trading Company in Vero Beach to have the coin seen by folks who know much more than we do. The guys at West Bay were really helpful, determined that the gold content is just under 90%. 21 carat (by all records we found, 87.5 % was what the coin were supposed to be), Both Ron and Scott looked at the coin in disbelief of the condition, and determined that it was indeed genuine, and Scott, with his loop, discovered that the date was an over stamp 1787 over a 6. We were advised to have the coin graded and slabbed, and that is where it sits now.


Needless to say, we had a great trip. The Equinox has proved to be a great, fast, deep machine. Small brass/bronze/copper bits at 8 to 12 inches ring up VERY loud and clear on the wet sand (Beach 2), leaving no doubt that you have a non-ferrous item under the coil. Yes, aluminum rings up as well, but as we all know, that is just the cost of doing business… Battery run time is all of 10 hours plus, the wireless headphones worked well, the backlight on its lowest setting is perfect, and the machine preformed very quietly in the dry sand, and even in the surf. Very happy with the Equinox! -muttandjeeps
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Angled Reverse.jpg
Obverse.jpg
Reverse.jpg
 

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Upvote 65
I don't mind voting the banner again. Astounding find!
 

pa-dirt_nc-sand said:
Congrats Sam! I'll vote banner again when I get to my PC for your find. Can you add some details like dry sand or wet sand, towel line, by volley ball courts, or secluded natural section of beach. Were you finding other hurricane relics or Normal beach junk. Did it look this great, unreal too perfect or did you clean it up for pics?Congrats!!!!
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Thanks! So, we had been working the beach in front of a hotel looking for modern jewelry. At first we were taking advantage of the fifty feet or so of hard pack and black sand exposed by the -0.4 tide but ended up with with nothing to show. I start working around the towel line and then BAM! So I scrape the top sand away figuring more can slaw. Took a scoop out and kicked the sand pile and this shiny circle popped out. Keep in mind, this was during the night with a red headlamp on, so I thought is was Lift 'n' Peel from a milk jug at first. Anyways, to answer your question. The wet sand I was working was relatively light packed but about six inches into the hole there was an inch thick striation of shell just like we were finding in the black sand. Could that have been what carried the coin? I don't know.

We did not have to clean the coin other than to rinse off the sand in the ocean. Thank goodness I had the sense not to just wipe it with my hand! The coin came out looking so pretty because these were minted from 21 karat (87.5%) gold. Gold being noble, does not react with oxygen. So no corrosion even after being in the sea for 200+ years.
 

Its a great coin.

No idea why you would slab it, your choice but a real waste of money.
 

CRUSADER said:
Years of finding gold coins from 2000 years old to modern (19th C).
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I meant no disrespect. I was curious about your reasoning.
 

Minkey said:
I meant no disrespect. I was curious about your reasoning.
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Non did I. Once its slabbed your are never touching it again. Why do this when your finger acids will do it no harm. Especially when I assume you hold it properly, ie. by its edge.
Now, if you want to sell it & never touch it again, that maybe a different deal, as that is never on my mind.:occasion14: (Pleasure vs profit)
 

CRUSADER said:
Non did I. Once its slabbed your are never touching it again. Why do this when your finger acids will do it no harm. Especially when I assume you hold it properly, ie. by its edge.
Now, if you want to sell it & never touch it again, that maybe a different deal, as that is never on my mind.:occasion14: (Pleasure vs profit)
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My main worry is scratches, as soft as the coin is. Also, I like the idea of certification because even until now, I find it hard to believe it's real and it will be nice to see how the grading compares it to other examples.

This is probably the only coin that we will ever find like this so I don't want to take any chances with it!
 

Dream find. Haven't been back home to to the beach detect in a while, but this makes me want to go so bad!!!! I can't believe how awesome a coin that is. That coin picked you. Think about where that coin has been! So much to tell. CONGRATS!!! :occasion14:
 

it is truly a dream coin find of a life time, well worth the banner vote. very glad that you found it and shared the experience with your father. now you both have the memories to share. Finds like this don't come by very often in life. congrats
 

Looks like you hit it with the digger.
 

Thanx for taking us along for this BEAUTIFUL ride. Although gold coins (the holy grail for all md'rs) are often chosen for banner, One glitch that might come up: It's often reserved for members with post history. Ie.: never for first time posters. And while it's true you have "more than 1 post", yet only 46 posts. Of which only 8 are in the last year. Might be enough to qualify as participating (not just once-in-a blue-moon). But that's up to the mod's. They have to be real picky about who/what qualifies, lest there be grade inflation. Or it's passed out to persons who don't chime in/contribute on a regular basis.

And not all gold coins have made banner either. But with all this said: Yours is utterly beautiful. Mint condition it seems.
 

Never mention banner nominations with your own coin. Self-promotion is the kiss of death for a potential banner find. Just my take on it...
 

Tom_in_CA said:
Thanx for taking us along for this BEAUTIFUL ride. Although gold coins (the holy grail for all md'rs) are often chosen for banner, One glitch that might come up: It's often reserved for members with post history. Ie.: never for first time posters. And while it's true you have "more than 1 post", yet only 46 posts. Of which only 8 are in the last year. Might be enough to qualify as participating (not just once-in-a blue-moon). But that's up to the mod's. They have to be real picky about who/what qualifies, lest there be grade inflation. Or it's passed out to persons who don't chime in/contribute on a regular basis.

And not all gold coins have made banner either. But with all this said: Yours is utterly beautiful. Mint condition it seems.
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Thanks! Yeah, usually I just lurk. My Dad and I have posted finds through his account up until now and it hadn't been an issue. We were recently told that we were not eligible for banner posting through his account so I'm trying mine now. Here's hoping!
 

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