The Ranger made a mistake, but to my favor.:shocked:

[PaPa-Joe-Fla.]

Went to a Park on the gulf today, ask the Park Ranger if any restrictions on MD. He told me just not to bother the tourist.So I hit the water about waist deep. Second signal .925. Then the Ranger returned, called me to the beach to let me know there was protected seaweed and his boss told him I could hunt the beach only.Honest mistake.Here is the NUT and ring.

The Nut , No I didn't detect the coral it came with a pull tab.[attachment 50933 wallacebrooksparkfinds060.jpg]
11NV have no ideal what it stands for. the ring is size 11 1/2
[attachment 50934 wallacebrooksparkfinds062.jpg]
Ring was very beat up and pitted
[attachment 50935 wallacebrooksparkfinds063.jpg]
Has 3 baguettes on each side stones probably CZs
[attachment 50936 wallacebrooksparkfinds065.jpg]

 

[PaPa-Joe-Fla.]

Sorry I missed this picture on the camera first time around.

[attachment 50942 wallacebrooksparkfinds066.jpg]

 

[annamariaslim]

That bit about the protected seaweed sounds a bit fishy to me.I've lived my whole life in west Fla and never heard such a thing.Wonder what his agenda was?At least he didn't chase you out of the park.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

You might wanna check the stones, if the swiiming area is old especially, as back in the day diamonds were set in silver, so I'm told. However, every piece I've found in .925 has in fact, been CZ. Great looking nut and ring. When the coil goes over gold, it will be yours.
GH

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

n/t

 

[PaPa-Joe-Fla.]

annamariaslim, I am guessing you are in Anna Maria Island, I used to take my boat to Edgmont Key and stay over night. Have you ever MD there?
About the sea grass at the other Park, the Ranger had the Uniform and shinny badge so no argument from me, but yes it did sound strange, maybe MD is his night time hobby. The sea grass was in small patches about 50 yards off shore. I was like a kid told he couldn't play with his favorite toy.

 

[JoeSWFLA]

n/t

 

[annamariaslim]

I have lived on Anna Maria/Longboat my whole life and been to Egmont Key hundreds of times.Before the park became a park it was the island's kids playground.Our parents would drop us off on a Friday night and pick us up on Sunday aft.,we had the run of the place, we would camp the entire weekend.Now that it is a park,there are signs everywhere about preserving the archaeological sites, and specifically prohibiting metal detecting.Back in the day we used to find tons of stuff on the island with our MD's and just probing and digging.Some were: silver spoons with QMC written on them,(quartermaster corps),bowls,dishes,buttons,cannon shot,cannon friction fuses, tools,searchlight carbon rods,you name it we found it.We knew where the civil war encampment was, the CW burial ground,all the Spanish American war sites, the WWII sites,.About all I do now over there is go after a real hard rain to the CW site and look around.My two best finds which I still have are two pieces of insignia, both crossed cannons.One is about2" across, say for a hat, the other is almost 4" wide and has a wagon wheel in the center.They are either CW or perhaps from the time the island was used as a detention center and deportation point for the Cherokee Indians.I'll try and send a photo or two if I can figure out how to do it.Regards, ED

 

[DonNWF]

A year or so ago Florida lawmakers under the direction of Historic societies and the State Historic Agencies Archies repealed the "Isolated Finds Law". To make this short - you cannot water hunt in State controlled waters and only in a few designated State Parks. The law was orig written to permit artifact hunters to recover artifacts in State waters that were not designated sensitive or known protected Native American sites. You may really be surprised to learn that any coin over fifty years old is a protected artifact. Here is the really bad news - if you pick up a coin over fifty years old and give it to someone you are committing a Felony !!! Artifact hunters are fighting to reestablish permission to hunt and get the stupid provisions of the law changed.