(Old pieces of cast-iron like this fence filial are often found near coin caches and troves.)
Base Metals Often Overlooked
It's very easy to become "fixated" on precious metals such as gold and silver when involved in treasure hunting. After all, it's the gold and silver bars, bullion, nuggets or coins that will point the way to wealth and riches, right? True, but only partially so.
The real truth of the matter is that less-than-noble metals such as tin, iron, cast iron, brass, copper, and even bronze are often overlooked in terms of their overall importance in successful treasure hunts, whether those hunts are on dry land or underwater. Moreover, the importance and significance of these sorts of base metals targets are often underplayed or even forgotten by some treasure hunters, particularly novices.
Rusty Iron Worth Its Weight in Gold?
Let's put all of this another way. A lowly chunk of rusty iron could be worth its weight in gold. How so?
It's a well-known fact that in many instances, at least a portion of lost or buried treasure hoards contain iron or other base metals as part of the trove itself. NOT as part of the treasure per se, but as incidental items associated with the trove or remnants of containers that once held the treasure items.
Treasure Hunting
Gold Concentrators
Metal Detectors
Getting the picture here? Imagine an antique wooden footlocker bound with metal cast-iron or brass straps or the stereotypical pirate's treasure chest. Even if the wood of that chest rots away, its base metal fittings will remain nearby and perhaps be the first indicators you find when searching for a cache or trove.
Base Metal Found in Treasure Caches
Here are just a few items with base metal found in or containing treasure caches (all of these items represent recovered treasures individually worth thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars or more):
Sailor's footlocker (iron and brass fittings)
Travel or "steamer" trunks (iron and brass straps and fittings)
Empty oil drums (iron)
Cookie tins: (tin, pot metal)
Cast iron objects: (everything from wash pots and stoves to bedsteads and decorative filials)
Jewelry boxes: (brass, copper, iron, tin, and some bronze)
Iron or brass padlocks: (a number of these have been found with the troves they were meant to secure)
Horse shoes, stirrups, and bits: (many equestrian related items have been found with or near treasure troves and caches)
Coffee cans: (countless small coin caches have been recovered from old coffee cans)
Horse shoes, stirrups, and bits: (many equestrian related items have been found with or near treasure troves and caches)
Coffee cans: (countless small coin caches have been recovered from old coffee cans)
(Coffee cans were once used as buried coin banks in past years.)
These are just a few examples of how closely associated base metals are with real, bona-fide treasures. Other non-precious metal items often associated with or found in treasure troves are old weapons (pistols, rifles, cannon, knives, and swords). Other "giveaways" can be old ammunition, including cannonballs!
So the next time you're out in the field on a serious hunt, perhaps all those "junk" items you used to recover and toss away thinking they had little value may become waybills pointing the way to treasure right under your feet. Want a bit of advice from an old timer?
Don't overlook those base metal targets my friend.
Good hunting!
If you liked this post, you may want to read: "21 tons of Gold"
(c) Jim Rocha (J.R.) 2012
Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com
