🥇 BANNER Does Coral beep? yes, when its full of coins!!!

[BVI Hunter]

Could'nt work out why this lump of coral (in 2 ft of water) at the beach kept "hitting"?

brought it home and it started to fall apart in my bag - WOW!!!

just need to identify them and work out how to save / clean them

any ideas

thanks!!

 

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[Greylock]

Absolutely amazing. Take you time and be happy with your decision on whatever you decide to do. Congrats on a very cool find.

 

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[diggummup]

Amazing find. Congrats on the banner. Many may argue that seperating them is not the way to go. To each his own. The main reason I wouldn't break it apart is for fear of damaging them. Electrolysis (done correctly) is the only way to go as far as separating them goes. IMHO

 

[Doubter in MD]

I mostly lurk here. Based on the enthusiastic response, this is a major find. I personally think it is very cool, but I am not a pro. Like others, I think this could be the tip of the iceberg. Like those same others (and a few more) I think the OP should probably keep any future finds to himself. I PM'ed the same advice. This might be a fluke, but if it is only a small part of a larger discovery then discretion is probably the best way to go here.

 

[Tnmountains]

Very cool Treasure. What we all dream about. Thanks for taking us along.
HH
TnMtns

 

[prolab69]

it may be worth more if its left as is. i think removing that crust would take years of soaking.

 

[VERMONTIS]

CONGRATS ON A BANNER FIND!!! Hope you marked the spot some how .There might be more=ED

 

[seeker41]

it may be worth more if its left as is. i think removing that crust would take years of soaking.

YES!!!!! if its not to late , you should keep it as is.!!!!! great find and explore that area thoroughly and often!!!!!!
chuck.

 

[gabberbob]

to put in liter of the distilled water on a lattice and each two weeks water to update. For 2-3 months. If bark doesn't leave, leave coins in bark. It is a good numismatical sample. There is no electrolysis, electrolysis will kill coins.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I think $500 is a little low... I'm guessing $150-$200 a coin x 7 coins, you do the math.. As a clump its more likely to be considered sunken treasure cause its more evident that it is sunken treasure. You say it was loose under the sand, so it could have come from anywhere... I'd work from where you found them out to the depths in a circle pattern.. I'd do your research on the rights to sunken treasure too.... Don't tell anyone where found them and avoid the law until you know the law. You may want to talk to a lawyer.... Are you a diver or do you know how to snorkel ? The chances of finding the place of origin are slim but that should be your primary goal.... Leave that clump alone for awhile and get out there and find some more !! If you stumble across a Sunken Ship... You have a lot to deal with, zoning, licences, rights to the treasure all kinds of things... Also is that Gold in the bottom side of the other pic ??

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I would start the bidding at a thousand but it could be worth much more.

ADDED: I really have no idea of value but I would start high to be safe.

If you ever watch Antiques Roadshow you may have noticed that artifacts are worth more in a grouping with a story. Find that story! There is no rush as the find has been documented here at TN.

I would not seperate. Its would not even be tempting to me. Soak in distilled water, Hey I got a handful of corroded Spanish 1/2 reales. Ill trade you lol.

 

[WildDigger]

Awesome find!!! Those are amazing and would be top of any collection.

 

[BVI Hunter]

I think $500 is a little low... I'm guessing $150-$200 a coin x 7 coins, you do the math.. As a clump its more likely to be considered sunken treasure cause its more evident that it is sunken treasure. You say it was loose under the sand, so it could have come from anywhere... I'd work from where you found them out to the depths in a circle pattern.. I'd do your research on the rights to sunken treasure too.... Don't tell anyone where found them and avoid the law until you know the law. You may want to talk to a lawyer.... Are you a diver or do you know how to snorkel ? The chances of finding the place of origin are slim but that should be your primary goal.... Leave that clump alone for awhile and get out there and find some more !! If you stumble across a Sunken Ship... You have a lot to deal with, zoning, licences, rights to the treasure all kinds of things... Also is that Gold in the bottom side of the other pic ??



Keep @ it and HH !!

Good advice, dont think its gold at the bottom, just two smaller encrusted coins.

 

[BVI Hunter]

Incredible find! That's the stuff that metal detecting dreams are made of! By the way, approximately what size are the coins? Ouarter, half, dollar?

Approx 1 inch across best i measure - 2 smaller coins at bottom

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Amazing find. Congrats on the banner. Many may argue that seperating them is not the way to go. To each his own. The main reason I wouldn't break it apart is for fear of damaging them. Electrolysis (done correctly) is the only way to go as far as separating them goes. IMHO

Diggummup is right that electrolysis IF DONE RIGHT will stabilize the silver and remove any salt from the concreation this will help to keep the silver from tarnishing easly. The good thing about silver found in the ocean is it does not absorb salts into the metal like iron does so electrolysis is more of an option rather then a necessity. The other good thing is that it hasn't been exposed to oxygin and in your case it has been living in a cacoon of coral this protects the coins from wear thus ensuring that your coins will be in fantastic shap if you decide to crack them open.
Another thing you must consider is provinance, you abviously have shipwreck coinage here and this will automaticly double is value on the market, if cracked open it will not be so obvious thus decreasing it's value. If you can locate the source of this coinage I garrenty that there will be more there but what will be just as important is you may be able to identify the wreck which could easly triple the value of the items recovered. I remember going into a shop in Key West and seeing small iron nails recovered from the Atocha and they were selling for over $100. If your wreck happens to be from a known pirate ship, well the sky is the limit on that one.
If you PM me your e mail I can send you a PDF on conservation, I think you are goining to need it.
ZDD

 

[willpond & LLK]

Great find, I would leave them as they are. Store them safely, take them out on occasion and enjoy the memories of finding them. They may have a verified market value, but they will be priceless to you! Congratulations!

 

[Aquila]

Very cool find. Congrats!

 

[beau-bc]

Thats why we all love this hobby,never know whats going to be under that coil.Great find.really like this thread.This is what its about,the search ,the find, just fantastic.I'm pumped ,headed for the hills.

 

[Dasseldig]

Very cool find. I would keep those coins as is, then I would do some more searching myself to see if I could find anymore. If I came up empty, I would sell location info to the highest bidder and document the whole story(finds) with lots of pics. You will end up with cool find, and a little cash in hand, but that is just what I would do. Good luck!

 

[Infowarrior]

Awesome story! And very sweet lump of coral!!!!!

HH

 

[ivan salis]

as a shipwreck type of find they are increased in value by staying intact "together" as a clump but clumps can be harder to sell then separated coins are if one want to sell them that is.