Pbs (usa Public Tv) Gets On The Treasure Show Bandwagon

[GB_Amateur]

https://www.pbs.org/video/gangsters-gold-pa78zu/

As part of their ongoing series (18th season?!) titled "Secrets of the Dead", PBS just released an episode on the (supposed) Dutch Schultz treasure.  You can watch online (link above).

In a nutshell, Schultz was a Prohibition and early Great Depression Era mobster/gangster in New York (city and upstate) who met his demise in 1935 when he bucked the syndicate and set out to assassinate a powerful federal government prosecutor -- Thomas Dewey (same guy who 'defeated', well almost, Harry Truman in the 1948 presidential election).  Supposedly Schultz had hidden (possibly buried) a steel strongbox with several million $ (1935 dollars...) in diamonds, gold coins, paper currency, and WWI US government bonds.

As is typical with PBS, the historical components of the show are well done.  As far as the treasure search (and searchers)..., well, at least they don't keep talking about a curse.  I'll call them 'optimistic' and leave it at that.  (As we all know, treasure hunting isn't the proper activity of pessimists.  )  Basically three pairs of treasure hunters are featured along with a couple freelance researchers (one of whom joins one of the teams near the end of the show).  All teams have metal detectors.  Also used is Ground Penetrating Radar; fortunately no hocus pocus snake oil LRL's -- take that Gary Drayton.  I was able to recognize some -- Minelab Equinox, Garrett Treasure Hound (2 box), Garrett AT (one of the VLF models), White's Coinmaster or Treasuremaster.  Two of the teams (boyfriend-girlfriend and father-daughter) admit to being amateurs and one team (two guys ~mid 40's?) call themselves professionals.  Those familiar with treasure hunters in the NE USA may recognize the so-called pros, or not.  (Let's just say I wasn't super impressed with their professionalism, but they are a lot better than those two brothers -- supposed professional miners -- from Arizona who had a show last year on cable looking for a different major lost treasure every week.)

Spoiler alert:  a find is made which would excite most of us, but whether or not it has anything to do with Schultz is just wishful speculation at this point.  Bottom line, IMO, is that this is more/less typical of these kinds of shows.  If you like them you'll like this and if you're a disser, well here's more ammo for you.  Oh, and sorry to disapoint Simon, but the find was made with a Garrett.