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

BVI Hunter · May 23, 2013

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!!

Twinkletoes · May 23, 2013

Super find! Congratulations!

View attachment 801751

detroitdigger · May 23, 2013

That is a great day!!!!!

Sawyer · May 23, 2013

I would suggest that you contact the Fisher Musuem in Key West(they have a website) for advice. They have more experience than anyone. That is an amazing find, and I hope you finds LOTS more!

rmbutcher4 · May 23, 2013

Wow that is cool.

Zodiacdiverdave · May 23, 2013

The guys a right they might hold more value in their current condition then cracked open. The provenance is unmistakable in this condition. Here is a pic of a gold sovereign that a buddy of mine has found and kept in situ.

Bigcypresshunter · May 23, 2013

Absolutely. DO NOT CRACK IT OPEN. Right now you have something unique and valuable. If you seperate them, you will have no more than a handful of damaged coins.

I hope I am not too late with the advice.

Bigcypresshunter · May 23, 2013

What you want to do first is ID the coins which shouldnt be hard in the What Is It section. Mackaydon can do it. Soaking in saltwater is a great idea for now but I would later switch to distilled water for weeks to try to remove the salts. Ask some others to be certain. After that, I do not know if anything more is needed besides identifying the shipwreck and keeping the location secret. Hopefully you did not take a pic with your phone that has GPS because the location may be imbedded in the picture.

ClovisOak · May 23, 2013

Awesome find! Makes me want to go to the Virgin Islands! Amongst other reasons.
HH

Bigcypresshunter · May 23, 2013

I think they are Pistareens

mirage83 · May 23, 2013

Superb find! Speaking for myself, I would just about have to leave them as you found them in the coral/concretion. A handful of coins, even old coins, in and of themselves aren't that uncommon and don't really have a significant amount of "character". What you have there is something really special, and aside from some medium-to-long term soaking to remove the salts and such from the material the coins are embedded in I'd keep them just the way they are.

Terreldactyl · May 23, 2013

Maybe I should metal detect in my saltwater fish tank.

Erik in NJ · May 23, 2013

Bigcypresshunter said:
Absolutely. DO NOT CRACK IT OPEN. Right now you have something unique and valuable. If you seperate them, you will have no more than a handful of damaged coins.

I hope I am not too late with the advice.

Yes, I agree with this advice....do not crack it open! Amazing find! Congrats!

WilliamH · May 23, 2013

That has to be the coolest find I've seen yet. Congrats!

DocBeav · May 24, 2013

Absolutely Incredible! Congrats and Banner!

BVI Hunter · May 24, 2013

pepperj said:
Even though I can't see what they are individually it's got my vote for a Banner find. Congrats on the lump of special coral, hopefully somebody will direct you in the right direction regarding the preservation, oh how tempting it would be just to break it open completely to see the coins.

Got half the field saying break open and clean, got the others saying leave intact as its unique.......... :dontknow:

BVI Hunter · May 24, 2013

ggossage said:
Holey Moley that is fantastic! How many coins seem to be visible to you? I think I see eight. I'm not waiting to vote banner! Congratulations!

I count TEN :hello2:

BVI Hunter · May 24, 2013

Sawyer said:
I would suggest that you contact the Fisher Musuem in Key West(they have a website) for advice. They have more experience than anyone. That is an amazing find, and I hope you finds LOTS more!

Thats now on my-to-do-list for tomorrow! thanks!

BVI Hunter · May 24, 2013

Bigcypresshunter said:
Absolutely. DO NOT CRACK IT OPEN. Right now you have something unique and valuable. If you seperate them, you will have no more than a handful of damaged coins.

I hope I am not too late with the advice.

I am swaying in that direction too... :dontknow:

BVI Hunter · May 24, 2013

Bigcypresshunter said:
What you want to do first is ID the coins which shouldnt be hard in the What Is It section. Mackaydon can do it. Soaking in saltwater is a great idea for now but I would later switch to distilled water for weeks to try to remove the salts. Ask some others to be certain. After that, I do not know if anything more is needed besides identifying the shipwreck and keeping the location secret. Hopefully you did not take a pic with your phone that has GPS because the location may be imbedded in the picture.

very good point!!
Luckily I read a very good post on this site about GPS phones!!

Just a note - the wreck is NOT in my house...... :laughing7:

g-olden years · May 24, 2013

You're right -- don't grab the dremel, lol! :tongue3:

What a wonderful discovery, good thing you let your curiousity take over rather than assume it was junk metal under the coral clump. WOW! :hello2: