The possibility that you could find a valuable piece does exist though. Makes me wonder how deep and or how far out to sea the old jewelry could have migrated in a hundred years. Good to hear you have found some gold though. New England with it's history sounds like a great place hunt.
Yes if the ocean is creeping inland it makes sense the older stuff would be farther out, then storms come, churn it all up, uncovering some, and hiding others.
Its a mixed bag for sure, never quite sure what you will find.
I hear a lot about beach erosion. Do you think that means the sand and soil is washed out but the heavy metals are left behind or they are washed out to sea along with the sand and soil? I know I have read a lot of good finds have been found after severe storms with a heavy surf. Does it wash sand ashore or take it out? Not a beach person, I'm in Indiana