Treasure Set in Stone UPDATED MACRO PIC CLOSEUPS AND X-RAY PHOTOS

1liquigirl

Sr. Member
Jun 13, 2005
393
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Bellefonte, PA
[size=12pt]LOOK TO PAGE TWO FOR THE LATEST AND THE NEW MACRO PICS!!!!!!! [/size] :thumbsup:

Gambling in Atlantic City is a thing of the past. You'll make out better on the shoreline. I run with a Garrett Ace 250 and came back with this and a few pieces that I think are bayonets, various sand pennies and the mouth of an 1800's amber brown whiskey bottle. It stormed with thunder and lightning the night before, and the surf was really pounding. The beach opened at 6AM and out I went. I turned the stone over and there it was, a chain and a shiny silver coin sticking right out at me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and after the shock wore off, you should have heard me whooping it up. I put it in my bag with the shells I had been collecting prior. I didn't care at that point about breaking any of them, to me I don't think I'll ever find anything better. About a minute after I put it in my bag, an ATV cop went by me, and I ecstatically said "Hi" to him. It was probably pretty out of place, but I couldn't help it. I held onto that bag like my life depended on it all the way back to the hotel room, to show my sleeping partner the treasure I had truly found. I wonder how long it takes to embed coins and chains in to sandstone? More than 30 years, I'm sure. :laughing7: We didn't head straight home, we went to a friend of ours that owns a stones and gems shop. He'd never seen anything like this before. He told us that as is, we are looking at a value of at least $400. We plan to get the stone X-rayed at some random dentist's office to see if there may be a pendant or even a gem on the chain and if we're lucky, there may be more coins. There is an indent in the rock underneath the area that the coin is showing that could have held another coin, it is completely round and about the size of a dime. There's alot of MDing that goes on along the shores of Atlantic City and alot of iron content out there, so I bet this stone could possibly have been overlooked by others more than once. I want to get all of the sand removed that is concreted on this coin, but I'm afraid to hurt it in any way. I carefully removed some of the grains of sand with a razor blade and I am sure I didn't scratch it. It is just enough to see that some letters are still present, but not enough to identify them. I refuse to do anything more to it. I trust someone out there can get it clean. The chain located in the top left of the stone in picture one and on my finger in picture two is handmade, the ends of each link are wrapped over the next loop. It is non magnetic, but has been tested for 14 ct gold and dissolved right away at our local jewelry store, so it's more likely to be bronze. A few more links are showing on the other side of the stone from where it hangs out on the other, so most of the chain could be wrapped up inside the stone. I hope to make banner with this one! I live in Central Pennsylvania and I doubt there is anyone around here that could identify this coin as is, it is thinner and smaller than an American Dime.

Update: There have been lots of views, replies and posts for me. Read the whole post to see the progression of IDing this. We will have the Macro pics of the coin tomorrow (Thursday, October 7th). We have used Goo Gone and the sink spigot for two days (alot longer tonight than the last). It's is showing a spot in the middle of the coin, when it hadn't before, but not much more. We used aluminum wrapped around the coin with baking soda and hot water for about 5 minutes, it didn't help much. We're hoping to find a dentist to do a water pick trick on the coin, although none of the dentists we have called wanted to even do an X-Ray. We paid $105 for two X-Ray photos at Metzger Animal Hospital in State College (I had volunteered here 12 years ago, in High School. We received a phone call back from the head of the Earth and Mineral Science Building here at Penn State. The head of the Department gave me an e-mail for a lady in the Anthroplogy Department. She has lived in Florida and has worked with shipwrecks. Just waiting to hear back from her now. Thanks for the five coin rating, on the My Best Finds Forum, but to see how this is progressing, it goes to show you, that everyone wants to find treasure, but the time and effort it takes to ID and find it's place in history, takes alot of work and patience. No one sees that in the beginning, then you find something good and you realize. Please, any other suggestions would be appreciated.
 

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DMN

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Apr 19, 2009
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Jamesbibb may have it right. Could be a 1/2 reale. Might be enought time for the concretion to set. Can't wait to see better macro pics of the coin. I'm certain someone here would be able to ID it!
 

Saabman

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

That is one way cool find!!! WTG!!!
 

theseeker

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

1Liquigirl, That Is A Very Cool Find !! I'm with the suggestions of leaving it as is for now and getting an X-Ray. There could be more coins or other artifacts embedded in the conglomeration. After getting an X-Ray to make that determination, perhaps just a little careful removal of the conglomerate around the coin to identify it. It could as suggested be a Spanish Reale coin. Great Find! Keep us posted on any more info you get and any X-Ray photos of the conglomerate!!!! :icon_thumleft: :icon_thumleft:
 

Blind Squirrel

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

That is really cool !!!! Keep us posted as to what you find out, and some better pics would be great.
 

JerV3

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Yeah you are right.

The alloys may transfer onto one another. I'd just see if you could get a id on what the coin is somehow. Then just leave it as it is. Not to often you find a chunk of sea with treasure embeded in it. Unless you get a x-ray of it and see multiple coins and artifacts in there. Then maybe getting a hammer out wouldn't be a bad idea.

Still a really neat find. Hope you get to the bottom of it somehow. The suspence will drive you crazy by not knowing what you have.

Take care

Jer
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

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Jun 13, 2005
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Bellefonte, PA
Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Thanks all, and I will tell you, it's a beauty. I think a half reale is quite possible, I've been thinking about the reales ever since I found it. I really don't think it's American by the look of it, but I could be wrong. Were they used in trade in the US a long time ago? As to the suspense, it's killing me. I contacted the Earth and Mineral Science building here at Penn State University, but have not received a response back from my message. I hope they don't think I'm prank calling. Called a few dentists too, they've gotten back to me and all replied that they would not X-Ray it, because it's for patients teeth. What's up with that? Maybe I have to take it into one of their offices to show them that I'm not fooling around. I'll keep you posted. Just got an e-mail address for the Earth and Mineral Science team.
 

Woodland Detectors

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

1liquigirl said:
Thanks all, and I will tell you, it's a beauty. I think a half reale is quite possible, I've been thinking about the reales ever since I found it. I really don't think it's American by the look of it, but I could be wrong. Were they used in trade in the US a long time ago? As to the suspense, it's killing me. I contacted the Earth and Mineral Science building here at Penn State University, but have not received a response back from my message. I hope they don't think I'm prank calling. Called a few dentists too, they've gotten back to me and all replied that they would not X-Ray it, because it's for patients teeth. What's up with that? Maybe I have to take it into one of their offices to show them that I'm not fooling around. I'll keep you posted. Just got an e-mail address for the Earth and Mineral Science team.
Everyday currency. Sure.
As you may know, back in the day, America had no currency to call there own, none. So currency was "adopted" or "stolen" What ever you want to call it. Have you ever hear the old saying "two bits?" "4 bits" etc... Well, it goes way back.
When you would purchase something in America then, (1700's) the person who was selling whatever, would accept the currency as an agreement as payment, "So, where's my change? you ask" :D He would then take a pair of snips or, a knife and hammer and cut the coin or hit the knife over the coin hence, making/ presenting your change. Pretty cool huh?

Scholars say, the only coin or token made in America at the time would have been the "1783 Georgious Triumpho" token dug a month ago in Charles Town" South Carolina
Not to take away from your awesome find, but I thought you would like to see what I was talking about.
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

Sr. Member
Jun 13, 2005
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

That's a nice find 4-H. I have seen alot of goodies come out of the Carolinas. No, your not taking away from my find, and I hope you all keep watching. I plan to keep posting. I just got a hold of the cell phone # of the head of the Earth and Mineral Science at Penn State and called him. He's teaching a class right now, and told me to call back and leave a message for him. He should get back to me shortly. I'll let you know as this progresses.
 

djabend

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Fascinating discovery.
Cant wait to see what it is.

You may be able to dislodge the coin with an ultrasonic cleaner.
I have dislodged crystals from their rock base using a cheap jewelry ultrasonic cleaner.
It would be best to keep it as is though.
As for closeup photos I can help you with those if you can't find someone local.
Just look at some of the pictures in my posts.

HH,
Donny
 

Woodland Detectors

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

If I had to guess what that coin is, I would have to vote "Carolus lll Reale" 1700's. (not too valuable) You would think silver from then would be, but they really aren't. I would clean it just enough to be able to Identify it and leave it just like it is. It's probably worth more embedded in the stone than by itself. Very cool
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

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Jun 13, 2005
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

I'm afraid to stain the stone with acids or ultrasonic cleaner, does anyone know if it would? I like the water pick idea, but I'm afraid to scratch it. I need to find someone that has one and is experienced in using it. 4-H, I looked at the Carolus, before you mentioned it, it's quite possible. I hope someone on here can tell me what silver coins are approx. 16.6 millimeters in diameter. I don't think it's American, but we can't rule it out just yet. Some of the coin face is showing, working on getting a good camera to get better photos and download on here tonight.
 

djabend

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

1liquigirl said:
I hope someone on here can tell me what silver coins are approx. 16.6 millimeters in diameter.

Here, I pulled some info on coins that size like the 1/2 reale (16.4 mm - 17,7 mm)

Click here for link to reale info

and the earlier US half dimes (16.5 mm)

Click here for coin facts on flowing hair half dimes

Click here for coin facts on bust hair half dimes

Keep in mind there may have been some edge loss due to environmental damage
Is the edge reeded?

Oh and I only use soap and water in the ultrasonic cleaner not any of the solutions that you can buy.
It does not clean as well, but is not as harsh . The store bought solutions should not stain, but they do
warn against using ultrasonic on softer stones and settings that can come loose.

HH,
Donny
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

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Jun 13, 2005
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

I don't think it's reeded hard to say from the sand on it. My partner measured it at 16.6, I just measured it and it looks to me he wasn't measuring from the middle of the coin, I say it's 17.5 millimeters. Thanks for the links. The lettering is large and close to the edge of the coin.
 

N.J.THer

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Interesting find. In addition to adding a better picture of the coin I would like to see additional pictures of the chain if possible. Thanks.

NJ

BTW if you have a loupe/magnify glass you maybe able to hold it up to the camera lens and take a picture. May add more detailed info.
 

plymouthian12

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

i love finding stuff locked in time good luck id'ing it
 

SouthJerseyJim

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

We should have a contest to guess the coin and the date. My guess is a toasted merc. Maybe 1930ish. Unfortunately it is actually pretty common to find those where you found it. AC beaches are HORRIBLE on coins and trying to find them in all the iron is a challenge without Iron discrim. But 400$ for a piece of iron and a probable post 1900's silver coin stuck in it I would have sold it to that guy! Again it is a cool find :thumbsup:
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

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Jun 13, 2005
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Well all, here are the updated pics very large under the old ones. Please don't overlook the last photo, scroll over. Had to go out in the pounding flood to borrow a cam for the shots. SouthJerseyJim has placed a bet. I hope someone can ID this now. Thanks everyone for waiting for it.
 

SouthJerseyJim

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Re: Treasure Set in Stone

Im thinking maybe more of a religious medal, maybe the chain isnt just in there randomly. Could be a coin necklace. Here are a few my mom has found on the beach. She calls the "Concretions"

Concretionswithcoins001.jpg


Concretionswithcoins006.jpg


Concretionswithcoins004.jpg
 

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1liquigirl

1liquigirl

Sr. Member
Jun 13, 2005
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Re: Treasure Set in Stone UPDATED NEW PICS

Looks like you've been hunting the same beach SouthJerseyJim!!!! ;D Could be attached to the chain, we thought about that before your post.Any guesses on the coin now? What do you all think. Help me out on this one, please.
 

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