Platinum pieces

[Crispin]

Digging an old artifact site and coming up with a lot of old silver and platinum pieces. I figured I would post them all together and see if anybody had any ideas that could help connect the dots:

























Thanks for looking. All intelligent comments most appreciated.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

I have found copper nails and screws but they are all modern trash. I have a pair of calipers so I measured the more whole coins. Most of them are 19mm, a couple are really worn down in the 18.5mm range, and then one is 20mm. My first thought was that they were silver dimes that had just been beaten up; however, I have not found a single silver quarter, identifiable silver roosevelt, or merc in the area. If these were all dimes then by odds I would have to have found a silver quarter by now. I also have found nickels going to back to 1940, a thin dime from an old play set, one wheat penny from the 50's, and tons of copper pennies from the 60's and 70's. All pretty readily identifiable and not in near the shape of some of the ones posted above.

I have been hunting this site on and off for three years. You are looking at well over three dozen hunts ranging from 3-5 hours. I have sifted out pounds and pounds of Aluminum. Thousand or so pull tabs, bottle caps...you name it. I don't mind taking better pictures of everything if we are going to get serious about this. However, I don't want to be doubted when I call something silver or platinum. That really irritates me. If you can agree to give me the benefit of the doubt on the type of metal I am identifying I will take good pictures tomorrow, with a blue background, in natural sunlight. Otherwise, we are just gonna end up back at square one with doubting. I need the help but I don't need the hassle.

I hope we can reach an accord here...I think I have been working on something special. Or....I've wasted countless hours of my time digging up trash...lol. Still plan on taking TH out to the site. He will not be able to disclose any details but he will be absolutely convinced by the end of the hunt that this area is special. He couldn't make it this Friday and I have to be the speaker at Grand Rounds next Friday. Otherwise we would have a solid date.

OK fair enough. The only reason I questioned because the way I remember is you claimed shipwreck silver before they were even tested and I advised you to purchase the acid solution, remember? I also remember you shaving pieces of metal for testing so I posted instructions on how to look for the red color. Then we discovered your instructions from the bottle to look for a creamy white color were incorrect. Remember? This all added to the confusion. Then you argued they didnt test red because they were in a fire, remember? With poor photos, I became frustrated trying to help. You cant really blame me.

I still dont know how many are silver but lets assume they all are for argument sake. If you say they tested red, I will believe you but, unless I missed it, I havent heard you say it yet. Are they Silver or Platino? I dont care about the spit, tinfoil, ice or chlorox testing but it would great to know if they tested red.


If you have been hunting for 3 years you are NOT a beginner and I apologize for implying that. I meant that you seem to be a beginner in the identification process or shipwreck/ Native Indian identification.



I agree after 3 years you would think that you would find a quarter. Thats odd.

Most of them are 19mm, a couple are really worn down in the 18.5mm range, and then one is 20mm.

According to the link I posted the size doesnt fit Spanish Reales. http://www.metaldetectingworld.com/coins_silver_reales.shtml

Spanish Coin Denominations:
1/2 REAL or One-Half "Bit" is equivalent to American HALF-DIME or 1/16 PESO also called a PICAYUNE, DIAMETER: 16.4 mm - 17,7 mm

1 REAL or One "Bit" is equivalent to American DIME or 1/8 PESO, DIAMETER: 20.3 mm - 21.6 mm

However its possible that they have worn down. So far it remains a mystery. My only complaint here on this forum is that we cant go around claiming Spanish treasure or Native artifacts without proof. I hope you understand this. We have a responsibility to our readers.

Now lets try and find a way to proove these are Spanish Reales! Im here to help you. And I think these are very interesting finds. And I aplogize again if you thought I was causing a hassle for you.

I also wish others would comment. Im sorry if I scared everyone away.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

The size may fit one reales in different stages of wear. Keep in mind these were not in a fire, they are deteriorated by saltwater. Did you say one had a cross?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think you have a decent site because I cant find nothing old on any of our East Coast beaches down south without digging deep.. or the 1715 beaches. It would have helped if I knew more about the location. I didnt even know it was West Coast. At this point Im thinking you are not on a normal tourist beach. I dont want to know dont worry.

 

[Crispin]

bump your thread up and I will copy and paste

 

[Crispin]

No. I am not on a tourist beach.

 

[Crispin]

I don't know if it is a cross or not. My eyes could be playing tricks on me.

 

[Crispin]

I honestly don't have any idea what scanner you are talking about or how I would find one. Maybe you can PM GIB. He might be able to help me.

 

[Crispin]

I dug the turtle up two years ago. Here are some pics of it in the raw and right after cleaning.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I honestly don't have any idea what scanner you are talking about or how I would find one. Maybe you can PM GIB. He might be able to help me.

Im talking about a regular scanner that you use to copy papers. You dont have one? I dont want you to spend any more money. I just lift up the cover and put in the coin instead of paper. It worked great with my token. If there are no visible markings, it probably will not help.

I have a Canon CanoScan.

 

[Crispin]

In the first pic...bottom left, you will see a black elephant charm...It turned into gold after a lot of cleaning. I think it is very old. From the same site. This is over two years ago.

 

[Crispin]

ring and unknown from two years ago...

 

[Crispin]

That pretty much brings the site up to date. After that I suffered diffuse bilateral pneumonia and was out for a year and a half before I could hunt again. Which leaves us with were we left off. By that point in time GIB had plundered everything. So you will have to look at his stuff...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hey, Would a real good copy machine work too? Like what they use at business's?

I dont know. Am I the only person that has a scanner?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

ring and unknown from two years ago...

View attachment 1199085View attachment 1199084

Thats Kokopelli the flute guy on that silver ring. Not an exact match but you get the idea. http://zeppomerch.com/jewelry-catal...o-stones/sterling-silver-kokopelli-band-ring/ The conglomerate is really cool but we can conclude its not old because its dated 2000. I would not clean it or break it apart. Too bad it wasnt a reale stuck to it. It would be a unique find. Still cool though. Give me some time I'll find the elephant charm.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

In the first pic...bottom left, you will see a black elephant charm...It turned into gold after a lot of cleaning. I think it is very old. From the same site. This is over two years ago.

I dont know what it is but its not solid gold. Gold will not tarnish like that even in saltwater.. Google elephant charm and you will see similar examples. Sorry its modern. If you dont believe me, ask anybody. Is it marked as gold?

That pic is very poor. Throw that camera away. For a man that clears a grand a day, get something that takes decent photos.

 

[Nitric]

I dont know what it is but its not solid gold. Gold will not tarnish like that even in saltwater.. Google elephant charm and you will see similar examples. Sorry its modern. If you dont believe me, ask anybody. Is it marked as gold?

View attachment 1199106

Depends on K. Yes it will. I can't prove this without actually showing someone. I've been in these type discussions many times. I can't say about salt water, because I don't know that for fact. But I have found as high as 18k that was dark brown or black. Still unsure why? There is a thread that I had a link in it that explains this or was someones theory on this. I'll see if I can find it and add it here. I do agree it's more modern because of the style hook on top. How modern? No clue. I'm using modern meaning within last 100 or so years.


added....http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/wgc-gold-karat-tarnish.htm

This explains some. It's more skin related, but the science and chem, might be the same out in the wild or could happen!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Depends on K. Yes it will. I can't prove this without actually showing someone. I've been in these type discussions many times. I can't say about salt water, because I don't know that for fact. But I have found as high as 18k that was dark brown or black. Still unsure why? There is a thread that I had a link in it that explains this or was someones theory on this. I'll see if I can find it and add it here. I do agree it's more modern because of the style hook on top. How modern? No clue. I'm using modern meaning within last 100 or so years.

Yea maybe you are correct on 12K. I have heard this before. I dont think the elephant is that old but I cant search for a match without a better pic. What I do know is its not Spanish gold. Thats really the only issue here. The Spanish hi karat gold coming out of saltwater is as clean as the day it was lost.

I use modern as 20th century.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have one. But with the use of smart phones I rarely use it. I can take a pic of a document and text it to you in a few seconds. I don't think too many people even use a scanner anymore. Those were from the scanner,fax,printer days. I might be wrong! I haven't used mine in a long time, even for work. I take a pic and email with the phone.

OK lol. Im really computer iliterate and my scanner/printer/laptop is all 10 years old. Yes even my $48 cheap ZTE celphone can take a clear photo of a document. So I believe you.


I just copied a whole bunch of old photographs on my scanner and it came out a lot better and easier than laying them all out on a table outside and taking pictures.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What Im looking for is one item that could be positively identified as Spanish shipwreck item so I can say I was wrong. These are all interesting finds but Im not finding that one item yet. And I dont see the cross on that melted piece of metal.


Maybe someone else can find that item. I tried my best.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

That pretty much brings the site up to date. After that I suffered diffuse bilateral pneumonia and was out for a year and a half before I could hunt again. Which leaves us with were we left off. By that point in time GIB had plundered everything. So you will have to look at his stuff...

I didnt know you were hunting with GIB. I think he found some melted silver too.