Gold Coin in water ?

[Floridabill]

Let me ask, a gold colored something was found very deep 15" in a 4' cut at the beach, neck deep water. We have heard that there is a shipwreck in the area as three cannons were found a few years back. The object is encrusted with black whatever you call it from being in the saltwater so long. You can see a Spanish cross on part of it but it is very Small about the size of the end of my middle finger and appears to be gold however it seems like it is perfectly round and may have some type of rim running around it, could be jewelry of some type?

Any ideas on how to get the black crud off without damaging the whatever it is, and did they make gold coins that small back then? I am posting a photo of some keys I found that had this black encrusted on them so you know what I am talking about....

 

[bottlebum]

or maybe some kind of ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[bottlebum]

You might want to check and see if there is a conservatory (I think that is the right term) in your area. They would be able to give professional advice. If it's a true coin, I could be valuable so you'll want to do it right, which I am sure you already know.

 

[Macaco]

I would.

You can use a small chisel to remove some of the conglomerate from one face of the coin using a light tap like a screw driver handle. Just don't nick or scratch the coin. That's a nice piece with the shells in it too.

The stuff will lift away if it gets a fracture in it.

Otherwise just smack the conglomerate with a chisel where the coin joins the mass where the shells are and it will likely break free. It will still have a bunch of black on it but it should be legible all the way round.

If you do break it out and want to get the black off it you can soak it in a 10% nitric acid solution until the crud is off of it then dip the coin in a baking soda/water solution then rinse. If it's gold it will come out clean. I prefer to take a gold coin out of the acid early though so it still has some of the conglomerate on it. That's just me though.

 

[Bobbie]

n/t

 

[JW]

could be a small 1 escudo

 

[Floridabill]

I didnt find this .............Just a question

 

[Graw]

n/t

 

[twalton]

Soak it in olive oil for a few days. The crud should soften up enough to break apart. Heat it SLOWLY in a sauce pan over low heat to get the oil to penetrate if need be.

HH, twalton

 

[R-n-R Magnolia SpringsAla]

n/t

 

[scubadetector]

That gold coin looks more like brass to me. I really hope I am wrong but gold doesn't change in salt water or fresh water. Especially a coin made from 90 - 100 percent pure gold.

I have pictures of the coins from the Central America. Beautful uncirculated condition and it sank in 1857.

As I said I hope I am wrong and whoever has it has a beautiful old gold coin.

 

[doindadiggin]

Hi florida bil mate that coin looks like our aussie two dollar coin .but i hope it,s a goldie for your sake terry in oz

 

[Stacey in West Palm Beach]

The news crew traveled from West Palm Beach to do a remote from the Driftwood Inn in Vero. They asked her about what to do if people find Spanish Shipwreck gold - or silver on the beach that might be encrusted. She said to bring it to them (Mel Fisher's place in Sebastian) and they would authenticate it (and I believe clean it) for free - as long as you tell them WHERE you found it. She said, "Because then we'd want to document it and hunt that spot in the ocean."

But, you're right...I'd be worried that someone would want to claim it.

Stacey

 

[Floridabill]

Scuba, that is not a photo of the coin that is a photo of a key I found encrusted in that mess and was posted just to show you what the gold coin with the cross was in...LOL
It was found by a buddy and I don't have a photo of it