Gold Hawg: 1715 Fleet Find

[fenixdigger]

Great find!!! I'm going to mess with a few skeptics, can't resist.

 

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[captbonnie]

Thank you all for all the postings and all the interest! Thank you also to all the treasure hunters that have led the way -
when you meet those who believe so in the search, you believe also.

Spent yesterday searching for the missing wing - a lot of slow work, light blowing and moving a lot by hand
No finds and need to be in port today but looks as if weather will hold so should be out tomorrow

So many have asked what the bird is worth - no official appraisal yet but to me it's worth

all the days in the boatyard, the rebuilt Cat, the days and seasons I searched without any finds (2007 I found one musketball)
all the sea urchin spines, and raw fingers, and bent anchors, all the other parts of life I let slide because the goal was to get out there
diving .......well you get the picture

finding a gold bird "priceless" - and for the fuel bills there's credit cards but don't remind me of that now!

Bonnie

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Fantastic!!!!!keep at the site

 

[NGE]

Sure hope it doesn't take ya as long as it did Mel to hit the big one, if there is another big stash out there.........NGE

 

[celtex]

 

[Hangingfor8]

"what's that glob of pinkish stuff on left leg? did the leg break?"
It's coralline algae...

 

[baspinall]

Can we get some more pictures please.

 

[Treasure $ Trekkies]

WoW, Assume find!! I love hearing about the 1715 wreaks. years ago on treasure hunting magazine, there was a young man that found a solid gold vegetable plate off the same place. It is now in the museum in Tallahassee. 1990,, this is what dreams are made of.!! congrats

 

[Bavaria Mike]

One of the nicest finds I have seen lately, beautiful and a mystery with that hollow inside! I wonder what it was used for? HH, Mike

 

[Azman-1]

Wow!!!..

That is beyond amazing!! Congratulations on such a fantastic find!!...........

 

[wirebender]

This is worth at least 2X melt. if not 2.5X congrats!!

 

[Trez]

Very Nice...
I would go back to the exact spot and re-work it...slowly and methodically and find that broken wing to complete the piece.
I hope you do find it...it's nice to see the 1715 fleet come back to life

it has got to be here

Trez

 

[Trembull]

Awesome Awesome Awesome

 

[Goodyguy]

WOW!

That had to of held something of value!
Awesome find.

GG~

 

[JohninCT]

Really great seeing a smaller dive team find something as great and exciting as this. I imagine you will lose it to the state, but hope they put a real high value on it so your share gives you a very large bonus for your good find. Thanks for the pictures and the story. I hope you have more good luck in future dives.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is worth at least 2X melt. if not 2.5X congrats!!

I think much more...

 

[LandStar]

I would think the item that went into the center was an incense burner...and the chain was used to swing it much like a modern Catholic incense burner...

HH,

 

[mad4wrecks]

Landstar may be on to something.


The Spanish Catholic monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, used the eagle as a part of the royal shield representing Saint John the Evangelist.

St. John the Evangelist (Apostle) is a disciple of Christ; he followed Jesus after the miraculous draught of fishes on the Sea of Galilee and was with him at the most important moments. At the foot of the Cross he supported the failing Virgin. After the Apostles scattered, he traveled to Asia and settled in Ephesus. There he was arrested and thrown into burning oil, but was unhurt. Under Emperor Dominitian he was exiled to island Patmos, where in the company of an eagle he wrote the Revelations. After amnesty he returned to Ephesus, where he composed his Gospel. There he survived an ordeal set by the high priest of Ephesus: he was unaffected by a beverage concocted from snake’s venom, when offered a chalice, St. John blessed it, and the venom in the form of a snake, was miraculously drawn from the liquid. He is the patron saint of booksellers. In fine arts he is often depicted with an eagle, book (Gospel or Revelation), snake or dragon emerging from a chalice.

Tom

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Tom may be on to something.

Google John the Baptist Eagle Lectern and look at the images.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I doubt that I can be of much help but I would like to ask a few questions. This is indeed an incredible find, Bonnie, and a mystery.


Did you say it has 3 eyelets- one on the head and one on each wing?

It also appears to have 3 holes dead center in the hinges. The holes must serve a purpose. They must be there for a reason.

Anything on the base, hole or eyelet? Will it stand up on its own?

Do the wings move with the hinge? Do you see any wear marks?