Spanish Gold On Florida Hunt? Nah...

[F350Platinum]

One of the nicer days here in Florida, it's starting to warm up a little, but not enough to bring out the sun worshippers in their skimpy clothes, with blankets and towels and lost change and jewelry.

It only got to about 70 today, with a north-northeast wind off the water. The Ocean is about 64 degrees, so it's instant air conditioning with the wind no matter how warm the air. 

Some scalloping is beginning to appear, but early on the sand was like oatmeal, very loose and squishy, which is an indicator that the good stuff sunk deeper, something I learned from Joe D. He will leave a beach if it's like that. 

I hunted the dry, there were detectorists all over the place, it being a warmer day than it has been. One guy I guess was so desperate to find something he was hunting the dune, which is not a good thing and makes us look bad. 🫤 All I found on the dry was a fresh dropped dime.

I was waiting for the tide to go out, and hunted the wet and wash on the way back to the hotel. On the way I encountered two people, one a man who was just starting detecting, he asked for advice and I helped him. The only thing he was really not doing well was keeping his coil flat and close to the ground while sweeping. I emphasized that if he wants to find gold, it's going to be at most 8" deep if the detector is powerful, and if he was swinging his coil 8" above the sand he would miss it. I pointed out other guys that were doing that. 😅

The other was a kid with his Mom and Dad, they watched me for a while and motioned for me to come over. They wanted the boy to talk to me and give him some advice for beach hunting. He had a cheap beep and dig detector, but I didn't disrespect that, I just gave him the same advice as the other gentleman, and told his folks to keep him in the dry because the salt in the wet would make everything sound like a target, even nothing. They asked what I find and I showed them all my pics of finds over the last year. The boy was excited! 

Karma. 🤷‍♂️

It was another pretty find free day, here's my trash: 

Not bad, I'm getting used to the junk here, but one stainless washer and one screw got me, so I guess I was screwed. 😅

Ok on to the subject, Spanish Gold. This beach was more in the Space Coast than the Treasure Coast, but this find (a 75 on the Manticore) got me: 

One of the best Spanish coin fakes I've found so far! It's metal. The other side is even more convincing:

A pretty detailed copy of a 1731 2 real, Potosi mint...

Except the fact that if this coin were a real real 😏, it would be silver. 🙄 Recognized that instantly. 

So, yet another hunt that produced next to nothing, the guy I gave tips to got 2 dimes, one more than me 🤣

Still, I considered it a great day. 

🍀

[Joe D.]

   Great job on the instructions for the newbies! Always gotta remember we all were once in their place, and be respectful!🏆

   We will be back at it soon, before you gotta head home!🍀👍👍

[F350Platinum]

1 hour ago, Joe D. said:

   Great job on the instructions for the newbies! Always gotta remember we were once in their place, and be respectful!🏆

   One piece of your "junk" is a piece of flint! So not exactly metal, or junk!👍 Indians here, as well as all over the rest of the country, coveted it for tools and arrowheads, and traded for it from other tribes, if it wasn't available!

   We will be back at it soon, before you gotta head home!🍀👍👍

Thanks!

We are ambassadors of this hobby, if we maintain high standards, we all win. 🙂

We all run into some people that don't deserve respect or kindness, thankfully they are few. Overall the beach seems to make everyone happy. 😅 We walk softly on the beach and carry big sticks 😏

I don't think I've ever had a bad day detecting. 🤔

🍀

[glacialgold]

Even if you aren't finding anything, your stories and pics give hope to those of us still looking at 8+ inches of snow on the ground and yearning, yearning to hear that sweet beep.

[F350Platinum]

19 minutes ago, glacialgold said:

Even if you aren't finding anything, your stories and pics give hope to those of us still looking at 8+ inches of snow on the ground and yearning, yearning to hear that sweet beep.

Appreciate the feedback, G-G. 🙂

I know my posts after the first two are kinda polished turds, and my apologies to the hardcore guys. 🤷‍♂️ It's kinda embarrassing really, but I'm hardcore too. Still learning how to be moreso.

There just isn't anything here. 🫤 I'm as shocked as the next guy, but as Joe D. told me, "people need to see reality now and again". 🤔 It's winter, and Florida has had record low temps. There was significant erosion when I first got here, but not significant like after a hurricane. Just like that,🫰 most of it is gone now.

I know I'm good enough after 6 years of this, and owning and using the two best detectors money can buy.

I'm giving back in a way, y'all made me what I am. 🏆

🍀

[Shojo510]

Keep at it, beaches can change in an instant.

Those fake spanish reales and doubloons can get your heart beating. My experience with those was in a tot lot after dark...everything looks great under flashlight. It was exciting to say the least. Which makes it a lot of fun.

Good lookin' out for the new guys, nice of you to take the time. HH 😀

[F350Platinum]

26 minutes ago, Shojo510 said:

Keep at it, beaches can change in an instant.

Those fake spanish reales and doubloons can get your heart beating. My experience with those was in a tot lot after dark...everything looks great under flashlight. It was exciting to say the least. Which makes it a lot of fun.

Good lookin' out for the new guys, nice of you to take the time. HH 😀

Thank you Shojo,

I actually laughed out loud when I found it, so many tells that it was fake, but again the best fake I've found. 🤣

Most important was depth, next the fact that I was on the Space Coast. It was only about 6" deep, I've been hitting Zincolns at over a foot, so I know I'm doing ok. 😅 Joe D is too now he switched to Dankowski, but it's kinda disappointing to dig 2' for a crappy coin, especially in the surf. 🫤

Right now ya get what ya get. 

I love talking to people about the hobby, and have even tried to help older people, but you know what is said about training old dogs. 🙄 I also have a lot of great answers to the usual dumb questions, and some of them might make my wife mad 😅

My favorite right now for "I get your next diamond ring" is "No, you'll have to fight my wife for it, and she'll kick your ass" 🤣

Seriously, I take karma where I can get it. 🍀

[Knomad]

HEY..!

Not watching where you swing and Knocking legs off of Gulls is Bad PR for the sport..!

[F350Platinum]

4 hours ago, Knomad said:

HEY..!

Not watching where you swing and Knocking legs off of Gulls is Bad PR for the sport..!

Those birds are Willets, the largest Sandpiper in the US. 🤔 I saw a group of a much smaller variety on one leg, and for a split second thought it must be something in the water... 🤣

Seriously, the worst part is the "gulls" here are missing for the most part, you'd think the ladies would show up in their string bikinis for a good skin treatment from the blowing sand, it's been really windy. 🙄

I saw one young woman dig a shallow hole the size of her frame, and dug her folded chair sideways behind her head to block the wind. I told her she won the Smartest person on the Beach Award...

🍀