Shipwreck and Treasure From the East River!

UnderMiner

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Jul 27, 2014
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Got up early today to take advantage of the extra-low tide and use it to do some coastal exploring. I found an area on the map that I had never visited before and figured I'd give it a shot. What I found was what we all dream of - shipwrecks and not to far from them - an algae covered sack full of glistening treasure! Best part is I had my camera and documented everything!

A wrecked ship, possibly a fishing vessel. The hull is fiberglass while most of the deck and pilot house is made of wood clad in thick copper paneling:
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Not to far away was this huge chunk of metal:
Anyone recognize it? It's a steam ship boiler! Piece of technology from a bygone era!
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A wrecked sailboat. It was named "Tranquility". Still had alot of junk inside it:
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I was just looking for wrecked ships today, not really looking for treasure. But guess I have a curse that just forces to me to find treasure even if I'm not really looking for it.
Not too far from the two wrecks a shiny glint in the sand catches my eye. I investigate and this is what I find. A disintegrating red bag beginning to spill its contents into the surf.
Judging from the algae I estimated it to have been in the water for at least 3 months:
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After I opened the bag I discovered it was choked completely full of jewelry! Talk about a childhood fantasy come true!
(those are my sunglasses on he rock behind the loot bag, I was so shocked that I almost forgot them there):
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Video of the find as it unfolded:


Video of me sorting through the treasure and finding the sterling silver locket:


At home I sorted more thoroughly and this was the result, 5 pieces of precious jewelry. Note the sterling stamp on locket and the hoop earring:
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Marked .925, these matching earnings are of a very high quality. Update: Just confirmed the stones are diamonds and amethysts:
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The unfinished ring still in its raw form, unpolished, and still retaining its casting sprue. It has places for three stones.
(Update: Just confirmed the ring is 3.0 grams of 18K gold!):
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Some of the higher quality jewelry including a Bulova watch and some yet-to-be-tested silver necklaces:
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Some of the more junky jewelry:
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In the end I discovered three sterling silver earrings, a sterling locket, and an unfinished engagement ring, still in the rough, likely some type of gold (Update: Just confirmed it is 3.0 grams of 18K gold! Now I just need to polish it to bring out its true golden luster!). Preliminary acid tests confirm it is neither base metal nor silver. The fact that along with the sterling items it was one of the only other things that did not rust or corrode supports my theory that it's either a gold or platinum alloy. Most other things in the hoard were of little value having corroded and disintegrated from being in the salt water for so long.

After returning home from the shore I visited the dump for a few minutes to see if I could find anymore treasures, but it appears my luck ran out for the day. :laughing7:
 

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Upvote 22
Amazing find a day after finding the "family silver!" I enjoyed watching the "live" video!

I believe it was in all likelihood stolen and then the whole bag was thrown into the water as perhaps the thief feared getting caught. I'm not sure about the Hindu tradition you mention but common sense tells me these people would not be tossing bags full of jewelry into the water as offerings. The unfinished ring with the sprue still attached would seem to point to at least part of the goods being stolen from a jeweler. Odd that there is so much costume jewelery mixed in with some silver and gold. I'd go back with a detector and shovel. If you were finding loose stones--maybe sift the dirt in the general area and see what else you missed by eye. There's a good chance there is more at that site.

Can you post a couple pics of everything including the costume jewelery?

Not necessarily. There's a community of Hindus that live in this area who believe throwing trinkets and offerings into the river is good fortune.
It's certainly good fortune for me, so I have nothing against it. :D
 

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Amazing find a day after finding the "family silver!" I enjoyed watching the "live" video!

I believe it was in all likelihood stolen and then the whole bag was thrown into the water as perhaps the thief feared getting caught. I'm not sure about the Hindu tradition you mention but common sense tells me these people would not be tossing bags full of jewelry into the water as offerings. The unfinished ring with the sprue still attached would seem to point to at least part of the goods being stolen from a jeweler. Odd that there is so much costume jewelery mixed in with some silver and gold. I'd go back with a detector and shovel. If you were finding loose stones--maybe sift the dirt in the general area and see what else you missed by eye. There's a good chance there is more at that site.

Can you post a couple pics of everything including the costume jewelery?

Yea, now that I think of it you're probably right. My new theory is a criminal stole alot of jewelry including alot of costume jewelry. He then sorted through it all and saved most of the expensive stuff. The costume jewelry and the few nice pieces he missed he tossed into the water to avoid being caught. The nice jewelry he probably sold on the black market or melted down to sell to Cash 4 Gold. I guess that makes this modern day pirate plunder then doesn't it :)

Here's another pic of more of the jewelry laid out. Most pieces were corroded and broken:
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Here's a pic of it still in the sand:
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Awesome finds as always UnderMiner. And now for the question that we all have in the back of our minds....what will UnderMiner find TODAY! to top his most recent finds. :)

With your luck you should play a buck or two on the lotto!

Happy Hunting and would wish you luck but you seem to have a ton of it already :)

TwoYewts
 

Awesome finds as always UnderMiner. And now for the question that we all have in the back of our minds....what will UnderMiner find TODAY! to top his most recent finds. :)

Meh, today was not as lucrative as the past two days. Besides the usual pictures of wrecked boats all I found was a carbon fiber ore, a handful of lead sinkers, and some fisherman's tackle box. I'll post it all a bit later for those interested in seeing what my typical day finds consist of. :wave:
 

That is every kids dream a shipwreck and treasure . So I guess that makes us all big kids here
 

That is every kids dream a shipwreck and treasure . So I guess that makes us all big kids here

Yes, but nothing can top your famous banner find. Actual buried treasure! Silver coins in a box buried long ago by persons unknown. Your story really inspired me, and I'm sure countless people on here to never give up on the dream. Here's hoping we all find our "dream find" one day.
:occasion14:
 

Yes, but nothing can top your famous banner find. Actual buried treasure! Silver coins in a box buried long ago by persons unknown. Your story really inspired me, and I'm sure countless people on here to never give up on the dream. Here's hoping we all find our "dream find" one day.
:occasion14:

Thank you for the kind words . I believe treasure is in the eye of the beholder, as such you should be just as proud of that pile of shiny bling as I was of my cache . I think honestly if I had a choice of finding mine again or finding what you found im not sure which I would choose as both finds would get my blood pumping for days . So rejoice in the knowledge that you have found something that the majority of us never will and hold your head high. That was a pile of treasure from the sea and for that I envy you . Congrats and mabey someday we can share a beer and celebrate our finds togethor:occasion14:
 

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