Gold Hawg: 1715 Fleet Find

[mad4wrecks]

Looks like they concluded it was a pelican!

http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_st_lucie_county/mother-daughter-treasure-hunters-find-gold

 

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[Salvor6]

Darren that picture looks more like a barbeque chicken than a phoenix.

 

[aquanut]

Whatever it is... I still say it looks like a chicken.

 

[Darren in NC]

You guys crack me up

Congrats on the credit well-deserved, Bonnie and Jo!

 

[fladiverdown]

I like my chicken fried also.

So I'm heading to the Home Depot in St. Augustine at 6:30 this morning and listening to the local radio lady. She starts talking about you. Definately caught my attention as I have been following this wonderful event since you first posted. Made it sound like you were hunting shells on the beach and stumbled on your $900,000 bird. I didn't know whether to flip or fly myself. We have got to get the public educated about this wonderful thing you do. Once again congratulations on this life changing find. I am so humbled to be in the midst of all these great minds that post here. This has become an online course for me.

HH Black Bart

 

[BOHUNTER]

What an absolutely remarkable find!

I also look for artifacts, but my problem comes in with FS 267. If I am in navigable waters inland or offshore and I find anything man made/altered/modified by man over 50 years of age it is considered State of Florida Property. Bottles, pottery, cannon balls, ship bells, anchors, arrowheads, bone pins, drilled shark teeth anything which can be determined as altered. What are the reasons why this belongs to the finder and not the State? I believe in finders keepers. Although the Historical Commission Chairman Judy Bense feels differently, I dont tell my finds PERIOD. Call it unethical or whatever, I guess Im a criminal.

What are the steps in securing this artifact. Is this "Documented" wreck a permitted excavation? Not to stir the pot but curious as to the difference between me finding a broken arrowhead in a river and you finding a golden bird.


A priceless find. If the State claims it you are screwed.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What an absolutely remarkable find!

I also look for artifacts, but my problem comes in with FS 267. If I am in navigable waters inland or offshore and I find anything man made/altered/modified by man over 50 years of age it is considered State of Florida Property. Bottles, pottery, cannon balls, ship bells, anchors, arrowheads, bone pins, drilled shark teeth anything which can be determined as altered. What are the reasons why this belongs to the finder and not the State? I believe in finders keepers. Although the Historical Commission Chairman Judy Bense feels differently, I dont tell my finds PERIOD. Call it unethical or whatever, I guess Im a criminal.

What are the steps in securing this artifact. Is this "Documented" wreck a permitted excavation? Not to stir the pot but curious as to the difference between me finding a broken arrowhead in a river and you finding a golden bird.


A priceless find. If the State claims it you are screwed.

Yes she is working under permit from the State.

 

[adh247]

Congrats on the find Bonnie! I just read about it on Florida Today as well!
Here is a link for those who want to read the article.
Also I noticed that it is valued at $885,000!!
HOLY CRAP!! THATS ALOOOOOOOOOOT! LOL
HH ~Anthony
http://www.floridatoday.com/article...314/1006/Treasure+hunters+find+gold+from+1715

 

[lazooro]

<3 <3 <3

 

[inletsurf]

Also I noticed that it is valued at $885,000!!

I can price a 2000 Tahoe at $900,000 but that doesn't mean anyone will buy it! The only way to determine its true worth is to put it up for auction. That day will most likely never come....I'd bet the state will yank this one. Can't blame them, as this is a truly unique artifact.

 

[jeff k]

Also I noticed that it is valued at $885,000!!

I can price a 2000 Tahoe at $900,000 but that doesn't mean anyone will buy it! The only way to determine its true worth is to put it up for auction. That day will most likely never come....I'd bet the state will yank this one. Can't blame them, as this is a truly unique artifact.

How is the finder compensated if the state takes it?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Also I noticed that it is valued at $885,000!!

I can price a 2000 Tahoe at $900,000 but that doesn't mean anyone will buy it! The only way to determine its true worth is to put it up for auction. That day will most likely never come....I'd bet the state will yank this one. Can't blame them, as this is a truly unique artifact.

How is the finder compensated if the state takes it?

Maybe they will trade other treasure.

 

[inletsurf]

Also I noticed that it is valued at $885,000!!

I can price a 2000 Tahoe at $900,000 but that doesn't mean anyone will buy it! The only way to determine its true worth is to put it up for auction. That day will most likely never come....I'd bet the state will yank this one. Can't blame them, as this is a truly unique artifact.

How is the finder compensated if the state takes it?

I don't know, but if I were them I'd lawyer up on it, don't let the state rip you guys on this one!!! If they want to be pricks about it you could tell them here's your 80% then rip off one of the wings, just like a bbq chicken leg. But be warned you might end up like that guy who threw all his treasure back in the ocean!!!

 

[captbonnie]

The appraisal of $885,000 is just that - an appraisal - not an asking price or an end result
The State of Florida is due 20%, and the leaseholder, Queens Jewels LLC, and the subcontractor, myself, split 50%50% under the terms of the contract. As with all contracts, all parties have obligations and responsibilities.
Bringing the bird ashore was just one step in a process: besides the obvious tasks of readying boat and gear, the first and crucial step was obtaining a contract to be able to salvage legally on the 1715 sites. The leases provide protection for the State, the leaseholder, and the sub-contractor. These sites are not open to "finders-keepers" but are worked in a systematic and responsible fashion - the sub-contractors I know take their work seriously. "A Pirate Looks at Forty" may be one of my favorite songs but when it comes to these sites, pirates are not welcome they are also breaking the law.

We work under the archaelogical and environmental guidelines of the State of Florida. All work is logged whether it consists of visual surveys, magging, or excavation - even the days on site when the water pump goes and you return to port early! Artifacts are logged, tagged, and turned into the Lab for conservation. The information is sent to the State and also becomes part of the database of knowledge that yields these finds.

A division will take place, and I hope the details can be fairly negotiated. This season was the best I have had and I need a return from it to keep working. Right now it is time for research and patience.

 

[Red_desert]

Yeah, it sure has been a good year for some, who work the 1715 fleet! Hope next season will be a productive one too.

 

[OldGold74]

Atocha find - look at the birds....

 

[Emileel]

Congrats!!!! I am so jealous!!! How deep were you?, (in general terms)

 

[RELICDUDE07]

The Phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death. In ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, it is associated with the sun god. According to the Greeks,the bird lives in Arabia, near a cool well.

Every morning at dawn, the sun god would stop his chariot to listen to the bird sing a beautiful song while it bathed in the well. Only one phoenix exists at one time. When the bird felt its death was near, every 500 to 1,461 years, it would build a nest of aromatic wood and set it on fire. The bird then was consumed by the flames.

A new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre. It embalmed the ashes of its predecessor in an egg of myrrh and flew with it to Heliopolis, "City of the Sun," where the egg was deposited on the altar of the sun god.Oh & i think the golden egg from the chest area is very close to the area

 

[find1000]

Incredible find. Your success inspires all of us that seek treasure.

 

[mosemeister]

It's beautiful! Exciting to find that, I bet!