🥇 BANNER Lightning Strikes in the Lowcountry - Colonial Gold

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
5,615
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I have been metal detecting since 2013. This hobby can be an addicting one that presents ever increasing challenges to find new permissions as well the never ending pursuit of topping your last “best find”. While some chase the latest tech or shell out money for paid hunts, ultimately the only thing that matters is time spent swinging the coil. For any detectorist, finding a gold coin is a top dream…but for me my interests reside in early American colonial sites. While I would be thrilled to recovered a 19th century gold, I’ve always dreamed of finding a colonial gold coin.

While I have spent far more time swinging the CTX3030 on the coast due to its stability on the salt flat, the machine’s biggest drawback is portability. Now that the Deus 2 can handle salt water, its compact nature allows me to drag it along on trips with ease. Given I had a long layover scheduled in Charotte, I knew the timing was right to sneak back to the lowcountry for some dirt therapy. First stop was a tried and true permission that has been beaten to death over the years by my hunting buddies and I, but still yields a good 1812 or Civil War button now and then. I ran the machine in stock beach as I perfer the 24hz over 40hz max frequency to avoid small foil and lead with the 13x11 coil. A few tweaks to reactiveity and I was off swinging. First decent target rang up as a 55, nice little 1812 era US pewter cuff.

With the pressure of a skunked hunt off, I continued along bank until an crisp 83 stopped me in my tracks. My inital thought was musketball as 75 caliber’s ring in pretty consistantly 82-83 in these conditions. Not thinking much of it, I reached down, dug the plug and noticed an unfamiliar color peeking out from the pluff.

Just dug 6400R back.jpg
Just dug 6400R front.jpg


What followed was complete shock and disbelief. Staring back was a 1774 6400 Reis (4 Escudos equivilant) minted in Brazil in 1774 by the Portuguese. I steadied myself as to avoid scratching the surface and carefully rinsed away the sand and mud.

Front.jpg
Back.jpg


Over 10 years digging all matter of trash and countless hours spent researching and swinging culminating in one increadible find. This coin was minted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and predates the declaration of independence by 2 years. After 250 years in the ground, it still retains much of its original gold luster. Hard to imagine losing such a large and valuble coin as an early American colonist. As with anything in life, detecting has its highs and lows and I will be riding this high for a while. Now to set my sights on a new recovery goal…but what is better than an 18th century gold coin?

Happy hunting

www.patriotrelics.com
 

Last edited:
Upvote 187
Amazing! The golden image of King Joseph I of Portugal looks just as regal now as it did 250 years ago! Whoever lost that must have been mighty upset! Maybe it's part of a pirate's plunder!
I'm with you on that UnderMiner. As soon as I saw the image I got that feeling that there could be many more scattered around that area where a chest might have been broken apart over the years.
Lowcountry SC.....perfect spot for pirate's plunder to be hiding.
Great find Patriot Relics !! Best wishes for continued success in that area !! CONGRATS!! Beautiful old coin.:headbang:
 

Last edited:
I have been metal detecting since 2013. This hobby can be an addicting one that presents ever increasing challenges to find new permissions as well the never ending pursuit of topping your last “best find”. While some chase the latest tech or shell out money for paid hunts, ultimately the only thing that matters is time spent swinging the coil. For any detectorist, finding a gold coin is a top dream…but for me my interests reside in early American colonial sites. While I would be thrilled to recovered a 19th century gold, I’ve always dreamed of finding a colonial gold coin.

While I have spent far more time swinging the CTX3030 on the coast due to its stability on the salt flat, the machine’s biggest drawback is portability. Now that the Deus 2 can handle salt water, its compact nature allows me to drag it along on trips with ease. Given I had a long layover scheduled in Charotte, I knew the timing was right to sneak back to the lowcountry for some dirt therapy. First stop was a tried and true permission that has been beaten to death over the years by my hunting buddies and I, but still yields a good 1812 or Civil War button now and then. I ran the machine in stock beach as I perfer the 24hz over 40hz max frequency to avoid small foil and lead with the 13x11 coil. A few tweaks to reactiveity and I was off swinging. First decent target rang up as a 55, nice little 1812 era US pewter cuff.

With the pressure of a skunked hunt off, I continued along bank until an crisp 83 stopped me in my tracks. My inital thought was musketball as 75 caliber’s ring in pretty consistantly 82-83 in these conditions. Not thinking much of it, I reached down, dug the plug and noticed an unfamily color peeking out from the pluff.

View attachment 2138392View attachment 2138393

What followed was complete shock and disbelief. Staring back was a 1774 6400 Reis (4 Escudos equivilant) minted in Brazil in 1774 by the Portuguese. I steadied myself as to avoid scraching the surface and carefully rinsed away the sand and mud.

View attachment 2138394View attachment 2138396

Over 10 years digging all matter of trash and countless hours spent researching and swinging cultimating in one increadible find. This coin was minted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and predates the declaration of independence by 2 years. After 250 years in the ground, it still retains much of its original gold luster. Hard to imagine losing such a large and valuble coin as an early American colonist. As with anything in life, detecting has its highs and lows and I will be riding this high for a while. Now to set my sights on a new recovery goal…but what is better than an 18th century gold coin?

Happy hunting

www.patriotrelics.com
Very very special coin, huge congrats!!!
 

Welcome to the gold coin club.
That's one big sweet looking beauty.
Congratulations and the the feeling will last for many moons.

View attachment 2138466
Thanks pepper, hard to describe to folks outside the hobby how hard it is to pull this one off. Some much random chance involved, but happy it found my coil
 

Now that's nice
A gold Joe
I've only heard of someone finding one of those many years ago..never saw a pic ever
Feast for my eyes ! Congrats on that one!!!
Thanks iron horse, truthfully I had no idea what kind of coin it was after I dug it. Portuguese was not on my radar
 

Thanks pepper, hard to describe to folks outside the hobby how hard it is to pull this one off. Some much random chance involved, but happy it found my coil
It's definitely a surreal moment that stays with you for a good length of time.
Digging my first one in England in 2013 then my other in a corn field in 2023
The feeling of those moments are locked in tight.

I've looked at yours a number of times and just think WOW! What a feeling it would be to dig that honking gold disk up.
It seems happens when one least expects it.
Congrats again:headbang:
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Discussions

Back
Top