Friday the 13th Spanish Treasure Coin - 400 years old

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Maryland
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XP Deus II
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All Treasure Hunting
I went out with Megalodon and Tommybuckets during the nor' easter today. We were on the beaches, two different ones, for about 5 hours. It was a tough go for sure. We were looking for shipwreck coins, modern jewelry, and coins.

It was a tough go! I found one British halfpenny, it was almost on top of the sand! Not the first time that had happened. A couple hours later I wandered semi close to the spot I found it and got a screamer of a signal. It read 88 on the Deus. I was puzzled as to the tone of the machine, as something around 88 is a lot of times a big wad of heavy aluminum. I got my scoop out and pounced.

In the scoop was what looked like a piece of flattened chewing gum. Like what? I got it out and saw some degradation to the metal, and determined it was made of copper. I thought at first it was perhaps a misshapen broken half cent, but it was too thick. Then I thought it was a piece to one of the WWII artillery shells that get found on the beach. After we got it to the truck, I turned the light of my cell on it and could finally see some writing, at least it looked like writing, and a depressed circle with a "VI" in it.

So...what we have is Spanish 6 Maravedis copper cob! This style is most likely from the era of Philip IV. Right now I can't move, almost 10 at night after driving 360 miles and walking miles on the beach...so...I can't tell or see what is on the coin. It will need some serious attention before it will be presentable. I don't know how much of the inscription is still there. The picture I have now just shows "dog food", essentially. I think with the light of day in the am and my optivisor and Andre's pencils, I'll see what she looks like in the am. And THEN both coins will need to be submerged in fresh water for numerous weeks, with water changes to try to get some of the salt out. Doing it right takes awhile.

And the other coin? A mere 1781 Hiberia half cent, George III. Obverse is nice. It apparently had been sitting with the obverse up as the salt water damage is primarily to the back of the coin. It has that great red coloration, and probably has been sitting high in the sand for over 200 years. The ones from down below generally tend to be either thin "razors" or heaving encrusted. This one apparently has been beach tumbled for a bit!

Pics tomorrow when I have enough light to get them. Back in about 1989 or so I found my first Revolutionary War cannon ball on a Friday 13!
 

Upvote 34
I will be going back fairly soon, and in the mid winter. Folks will be there fishing on the weekends for another few weeks, and then it's totally abandoned! At which point I'd have to go with someone else, for safety sake. Most of my finds were in the winter months.
 

Smokey I always enjoy your posts. I know I am going to get a great story and some excellent finds. That Halfpenny looks like it survived quite well! The Maravedis is amazing! Congrats and I look forward to the cleaned version!
 

Thanks for chiming in Gary,
I've hunted that beach since the early 1980's. Its possible we passed each other there in that storm you described! But after that, I was turned away for 5 days in a row after a perfect storm by National Guard, state police, park rangers and every other person who could wear a uniform. So I gave up on it for over 20 years until Smokeythecat invited me to go with her. It is more fun to go with someone. I'm happy to have finally met Smokey and hunted with her. We learn from each other when we hunt together. I don't know if she learned anything from me - but I learned to examine finds much more closely, seeing her focused on that cob. I hate to admit it, but had I been hunting alone, the 6 maravedis she dug probably would have gone in my junk pocket along with the pull tabs. Now I'll look at those crappy looking little pieces of copper more closely. And Smokey has found a rose guinea there in the past with the same model I was swinging, but her machine was apparently tuned for gold and mine is maximized for pull tab depth...
Best, Rick (not Phil)

Hey Rick
My bad on your name. Can blame that on being rushed out the door by the girlfriend or just being old. suspect both and sorry about that. Actually I was surprized on my hunt 26 years ago was not stopped by someone of authority but not and again to my knowledge the only nut on that beach . I see Deb has put up here Rosy gold on that old machine of hers. One of few that ever pulled gold off that beach and yes u need to tape a coin on your boot to make sure the detector works. Must admit it was a hairy adventure on that beach now long ago but a thrill to hunt and even brought home some KGs and relics home . BTW Rick just pulled out recently at my site a Broad Arrow 6 pounder with story to follow soon. AS almost always the last target of the day. Never hunted with Deb but who knows if i get an invite this Winter could happen. I did find my KG111 coin . this one the smaller size than Smokey's and not a Hibernia. Here is a oic. On tha beach probably close good as u will find one. U can see the striations . The back is toast as were the other two. Happy hunting and thanks DEb for showing us your gorgeous gold. G
 

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Thanks Gary. That "old machine" is the machine that found it. FYI
 

Thanks Gary. That "old machine" is the machine that found it. FYI

Congrats on that Rosy as I think u are one of few to have found one. That was my quest 26 years ago as I was dreaming one would find its way under my coil. As a coin collector myself u have the best of both words. A rare gold coin and relic from a well know historic wreck. U R indeed a legendary relic/coin hunter Deb.
 

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Thanks Gary. That "old machine" is the machine that found it. FYI

Yup your machine is an oldie but a goodie when u scored that Rosy. Am sure I was using my White's XLT , which ain't to good on salt beaches, when I found the 3 KGs and relics. The beauty of "Coin Beach" is like the farmer cultivating his fields as coins and artifacts can indeed be found there at surface levels when storms come in on that massage amount of sand. . . Case in point the fantastic King George I almost got while working the surf. Man the wind was blowing with a cross rain when I looked down to see old King George looking back at me with one eye as if to say "You found me so come and pick me up" . So i bent down and got the hand about 6 inches from that fine example when a large wave came in and washed it away. Not a fish story but indeed the one that got away. I think George was winking at me just before that happened and they call King George mad? Was some great memories and only wished had a camera . G
 

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I'm watching the weather every day. We are between beach season and relic season. A kind of hard time as the yellow jackets are out and the fields have not been harvested.
 

I finally got to weigh the maravedis and it is right on for an average weight for a 6 maravedis at 3.3 grams. There is quite a bit of variation to them. FYI
 

Bump, Mac, See post #14.
 

Banner all day and a few more days after. Great find you deserve it you were very hard for your finds. Glad to see Hope you had a nice T-day.. Tommy
 

Tommy, I have a banner up now, can't have two. I have a bunch of stuff to post from this week, but I'm still cleaning it. Was doing the hot wax treatment with my propane torch just now outside under and umbrella...
 

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