1715 Fleet Beach Find

[Bodhi69]

Been Hunting well known beaches on the Treasure coast since Irma blew thru. I haven't been finding much, actually since the Hurricane I have only dug one clad 2006 quarter and 1 penny, recent drops. Nothing worth noting. Since these beaches are probably some of the most hunted anywhere they are very clean. Good news is, I haven't dug a bottle cap, hair pin or pull tab since the hurricane.
We have been getting some pretty good surf and it is causing some erosion of the dunes. Today at low tide close to the shore line I got a very strong and consistent tone and dug a piece that will take a little investigation to determine if it is a shipwreck artifact or just a miscellaneous piece of metal. It is 4 inches by 2 inches and is a dense non magnetic material. It rings very high on my metal detector but that still doesn't guarantee anything. I will have it checked to see if it is silver but my gut tells me it is pewter. possibly part of a pewter plate or such. Anyway here it is, found on the Treasure coast today.

 

[smokeythecat]

Looks good to me. Let us know. A specific gravity test would let you know. Silver would be heavier than pewter.

 

[huntsman53]

I could be wrong but some of the edges and rubbed higher points make it appear to be Silver. Let's hope that it is and if so, it may be a unique piece of contraband Silver.


Frank

 

[smokeythecat]

It's a great find whatever it is. Hope the winter beach season is good.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on your find

 

[G.A.P.metal]

cool find !
Gary

 

[scruggs]

Sweet little find!

 

[Underwonder]

Hi Bodhi69,

Congratulations on the curious find. I have spent some time on the treasure coast in Winter but although I like relic hunting, I found beach hunting with my Spectrum XLT very noisy and frustrating...so I walked and hunted for sea glass and fossils instead without detector. Good luck in searching after the storms...

 

[smokeythecat]

Here'e a tip. Drop it from a few inches onto a hardwood table. If it does "thud" it's pewter. Even a misshaped piece of silver will ring.

 

[Bodhi69]

I just dropped it on my tile floor (only about two or three inches up) and did the same with a silver round and the sound is completely different. More of a solid thud sound on the piece I found. Additionally from some preliminary research I have done there have been other pewter pieces (plate shards and such) found from the 1715 Fleet in close proximity to where I found this one. I will update as I learn more.

 

[Bodhi69]

There is definitely a learning curve with beach hunting and even a difference between the wet and dry sand. Fortunately I have been playing a game of lost and found. Walking on the beach for four weeks in the sun metal detecting there haven't been many rewarding finds but I have LOST 15 pounds.