2/4/11 Report - Mexican Reales & Crystallized Shells and Fossils

A Guatemala 8 Reales That Sold for Over $35,000.Photo from web site linked below.A lot of Mexican coins did very well in the Stacks-Bowers numismatic auction held in January of 2011. The 4200 lots brought in a total of 7.86 million.A Mexican 1823 MoJM "Hookneck Eagle" 8 Escudos in NGC AU-55 — the first gold coin of the Mexican Republic sold for $35,400.A Guatemala 1854 A.E. 8 Reales certified

2/2/2011 Barrel Hoop, Fisher Finds & Coin Lines and Holes

Barrel Hoop Remnant From the Santa Margarita.I noticed this barrel hoop from the Atocha for sale on eBay. A lot of people pass up rusty looking items like this, but they can be worth something. This particular barrel hoop already was bid up over $250 and will probably go up much more.Part of the value comes from the fact that it is known (as well as can be) to come from the Santa Margarita.

1/26/2011 Report - Flint Pocket Pistol Found on Treasure Coast & Charles II Half Reales

Treasure Coast Beach Metal Detector Find by Mike H. in 2009.Mike, who submitted the photo said, "...included is a picture of a very small flint model pocket pistol, the rivets are still visible. I found this near turtle crossing north of Vero Beach."That is an interesting find. Mike coated the pistol with Rust-oleum Clear Coat to preserve it and that accounts for the shiny appearance in the

1/25/11 Report - King Philip and Charles Half Reale Cob Monograms

Charles II Cob Found by Metal Detector on Treasure Coast Beach.Most of the cobs that I've found on the Treasure Coast have come from 1715 Fleet beaches. And most of those cobs have been Philip V cobs. But there are also a good number of Charles II cobs found on the 1715 Fleet beaches.Charles II reigned from 1665 through 1700, and so those cobs are older than the Philip V cobs that were minted