Treasure News

Tool maker hits States with metal detecting kit

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 09:37

A metal detecting enthusiast who started making digging tools in his garden shed to help him find buried treasure has had his first bulk order from the United States.

UK - Arthur Cole, aged 65, from Rowley Regis, used to run his own tool making business, but when orders dried up in 1980  he turned to metal detecting to fill his time.

He now has famous customers on his books, including Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and his tools regularly appear in the hands of archaeologist’s on Time Team.

It was while out in the frosty fields of Shropshire where he and his fellow treasure hunters were trying to break through solid ground that he decided to develop a tool to make their lives easier. That tool is now set to go global.

Mr Cole from Buckingham Road developed the tool affectionately known as ‘number 1’ in 1982.

Since then he has developed eight trowels that cut through frozen ground, sift through sand  and cut through roots.

Read more: Tool maker hits States with metal detecting kit

US COURT REJECTS ODYSSEY APPEAL

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 09:13

The US Supreme Court has again avoided the international dispute over the treasure salvaged from the wreck, believed to be the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes that sank off Portugal’s Atlantic coast in 1804.

The justices on Monday rejected appeals from Odyssey Marine Exploration, who found the wreck of a sunken Spanish galleon and wants it back, as well as Peru, both of which objected to court rulings awarding the treasure to Spain. In February, Spain took possession of 17 tons of silver coins and other artifacts estimated in 2007 to be worth $500 million.

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Odyssey Marine searches will be subject of TV specials

Last Updated on Saturday, 05 May 2012 11:25

By Ivan Penn, Times Staff Writer

Although Odyssey Marine Exploration hasn't always been able to capitalize on treasures it pulled from the bottom of the sea, the Tampa outfit is hoping its adventures are more successful on air.

An Emmy Award-winning video production crew will travel aboard Odyssey's ships in June to film the company as it searches three shipwrecks for sunken treasure. The footage will air as three one-hour television shows.

Odyssey's adventures to date have proved good source material for a Hollywood drama: hundreds of millions in gold and silver pulled from the Atlantic Ocean; international political intrigue involving the Kingdom of Spain, the U.S. State Department and a multimillion-dollar painting stolen by the Nazis; and treasure troves with nicknames like "Black Swan."

The company announced the planned TV miniseries that it is filming with JWM Productions, which has produced shows for National Geographic and PBS, during its corporate earnings conference call Friday.

"After the recovery work … you'll have a front-row seat for all of the action, as camera crews are presently aboard and are filming for three one-hour television specials," said Mark Gordon, Odyssey's president and chief operating officer, during the conference call.

Read more: Odyssey Marine searches will be subject of TV specials

Amateur treasure hunter finds 14th century gold brooch worth £25,000

Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 May 2012 16:02

By NICK ENOCH

Shaped like a heart - and with two hands clasped together in decorative sleeves at its base - this piece of jewelry may be tiny but it was to prove an enormous find for one lucky metal detector enthusiast.

Stan Cooper, 60, unearthed the 2.5cm gold brooch beneath the soil in a farmer's field near Sandbach, Cheshire - and was initially unaware of its true provenance.

But the item - no bigger than a pound coin - has now been dated to between 1350 and 1450 and is thought to have originally been a betrothal gift because the hands appear to be male and female.

Furthermore, it is worth an astonishing £25,000.

Experts said it is rare to have a brooch containing the heart and clasped hands together on one piece.

Bill Forrest from Adam Partridge auctioneers in Macclesfield, Cheshire, which is selling the brooch, said: 'It is an annular-style brooch that combines two symbols; a heart and hands clasped.

'It is rare to find these two symbols together on one brooch and it really is such a fine thing that a jeweler today would struggle to make it.

Read more: Amateur treasure hunter finds 14th century gold brooch worth £25,000

Odyssey Increases Available Capital by $8 Million for 2012 Recovery Operations

Last Updated on Monday, 30 April 2012 08:47

Tampa, FL – April 26, 2012 -Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NasdaqCM: OMEX), a leader in the field of deep-ocean exploration, today announced that it has delivered an additional closing notice for the Second Tranche of the financing that was previously announced in November 2011. The Company and the investor have agreed to a Second Tranche amount of $8 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, the indebtedness under the note for the Second Tranche is not convertible into equity for six months, during which time the Company has the right to redeem the note for 110% of the amount outstanding at the time of redemption. The note will bear interest at the rate of 9% per year.

“We plan to begin operations this quarter on three high-value recovery projects,” said Mark Gordon, Odyssey President and COO. “We’ve elected to enter this transaction to ensure that we are appropriately funded to commence recovery operations. Exercising our right to issue this tranche is consistent with our intent to fund projects with bridge financing designed to minimize equity dilution. The ability to prepay this tranche, combined with the previously announced increased loan with Fifth Third Bank, provides us with $10 million in funds without significant shareholder dilution.”

Akerman Senterfitt served as legal counsel to Odyssey in connection with this transaction.

Craig Hallum Capital Group LLC acted as the as exclusive placement agent on the transaction.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMEX) is engaged in deep-ocean exploration using innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology. The Company is a world leader in shipwreck exploration, conducting extensive search and archaeological recovery operations on deep-ocean shipwrecks around the world. Odyssey also has a minority ownership stake in Neptune Minerals, a company focused on discovering and commercializing high-value mineral deposits from the ocean floor. Odyssey also provides contracting services, including proprietary deep-ocean expertise and equipment, to governments and companies around the globe.

Odyssey is planning to conduct the archaeological excavation of HMS Victory(1744) under contract with the Maritime Heritage Foundation and cargo recovery operations on SS Gairsoppa and SS Mantola under contract with the UK Department for Transport in 2012. The Company has several other projects and government agreements in various stages of development throughout the world

For details on Odyssey's activities and its commitment to the preservation of maritime heritage please visit www.shipwreck.net.

Forward-Looking Information

Odyssey Marine Exploration believes the information set forth in this News Release may including “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Certain factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are set forth in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Courtesy Odyssey Marine

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Butcher uncovers 3,000-year-old axe in Flintshire village

Last Updated on Monday, 30 April 2012 08:32

by Kathryn Quayle, Flintshire Chronicle

A TREASURE hunting butcher has found a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age axe on farmland in a Flintshire village.

Colin Lewis, 51, was out with a friend using a metal detector to search a boggy field in Treuddyn when his machine started to beep.

The father-of-three from Wrexham uncovered a bronze socketed axe, with part of its wooden haft still inside, and a hook-shaped tin object last year.

The haul, which is thought to have been buried between 1050 and 800BC, has been dubbed the ‘Treuddyn Find’.

Following expert analysis Acting Coroner for North East Wales John Gittins officially declared it treasure at an inquest in Wrexham last Thursday.

The National Museum Wales is now keen to add the artefacts, which were found less than 20cm apart, to its collection following an independent valuation.

Mr Lewis made the discovery on August 21 last year. The father-of-three said: “I have been metal detecting as a hobby for about four years but this is my first significant find.

“I once found a Roman coin which I gave to the farmer to give his children to take to school.”

He told the Chronicle he was ‘shaking’ when he realised what he had found.

Thinking the find was special he contacted the Portable Antiques Scheme, based at National Museums Liverpool. The hoard was then passed on to experts from National Museums Wales who put together a report on the find.

Mr Lewis added: “I haven’t got the foggiest how much it is worth– it’s the historical importance mainly.”

Experts believe the hook-shaped object is possibly an attachment or a handle to a larger object and may have been deliberately selected for burial because of the importance of tin as a metal at the time.

A National Museums Wales spokeswoman said: “The two artefacts were once buried together, possibly in a small pit. Part of the wooden haft of the bronze axe survived inside its socket.

“The tree species of the wood may be identified in the future and a wood sample may be used to obtain an accurate radiocarbon date for when the axe was made. The socketed axe is faceted and of a recognised type, known as Type Gillespie.”

Mr Lewis will now discuss what should be done with the treasure with the farmer who owns the land where it was found. He planned to return to the field last weekend, weather permitting.

Courtesy Flintshire Chronicle

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TreasureWorks Launches Honduras Treasure Expedition

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 April 2012 07:40

For Immediate Release

TreasureWorks Launches Honduras Treasure Expedition

SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA – Saturday April 14, 2012 - TreasureWorks, LLC., today launched a new treasure hunting expedition into the Central American nation of Honduras. International Adventurer and Treasure Hunter Tommy Vawter launched the expedition from Guatemala City where they have been on the ground for the last 16 months researching ancient Maya culture, and searching for and exploring ancient Maya Ruins throughout that country’s central highlands.

The north coast of Honduras and its Bay islands are situated on the Caribbean Sea, and were once heavily trafficked by Spanish Treasure fleets laden with Gold, Silver and Precious Gems pillaged from Central and South America. The expedition plans on being on the ground for the next few months continuing its exploration of Mayan civilization from the ruins of Copan in the west, to the legend of La Cuidad Blanca to the east.

The deep water Port City of Trujillo on mainland Honduras as well as the ruins of Old Port Royal on the Island of Roatan will also be of particular interest to the expedition. Trujillo was once used by the Spanish as the gateway to the treasures of Central and South America, while Old Port Royal on the lush tropical Island of Roatan, was once used by pirates as a refuge and staging area to launch attacks on the Spanish Treasure Fleets. The team will also examine the legend of Captain Henry Morgan’s treasure believed to be buried on or near the Island of Roatan.

TreasureWorks, LLC., is a privately held treasure hunting company involved in the world-wide search for lost treasure. For regular updates and video accounts on the progress of the expedition, visit the expedition’s website at www.treasureworks.com, or you can email Tommy Vawter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Lost a ring? Call in the Swingers!

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 April 2012 06:38

The Warley Swingers: Scott Gravenor, Simon Haley, Brent Scriven, Richard Riscoe and Andy Stewart

UK - A group of swingers have been making the earth move for people across Calderdale.

The Warley Swingers are a band of mates who go out metal detecting across Calderdale and further afield.

Since being formed last year they have uncovered many interesting finds but club member Brent Scriven said the most rewarding have involved reuniting people with lost jewellery and sentimental items.

Read more: Lost a ring? Call in the Swingers!

'Treasure' found in Ribble Valley

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 April 2012 07:23

UK - AN artifact more than 300 years old found on an East Lancashire estate will be handed over to the landowner.

The object, a ‘silver seal intaglio’ bearing the Assheton seal was found on land at Worston.

At a treasure trove inquest at Ribble Valley Coroner’s Court, metal detecting enthusiast Christopher Gardner said it was the only valuable find he had made on the site.

Mr Gardner, from the Feniscowles area of Blackburn, said: “We have permission from Lord Clitheroe to go on the land.

“The rectangular silver intaglio was the only valuable find.

“There were one or two coins of a Victorian age and some modern jewelry, but it was mainly debris.”

Mr Gardner explained the item, bearing the initials RS, would have been the face of a ring.

After writing a letter, wax would be dripped on to the back of the envelope and the ring used to seal it.

Unfortunately, the ring was not found as part of the discovery.

He said: “As it was on the Assheton estate it could belong to somebody in that family.

“But as it probably dates back several centuries, the owner will most likely never be traced.”

Coroner Michael Singleton said in order for the item to be classed as treasure, it had to be more than 300 years old.

He said: “The British Museum says it could date from about 1700 to 1820.

“To be treasure, it needs to pre-date 1711, which gives us a window of 11 years.”

However, Mr Gardner argued that, based on a semi-educated guess from previous discoveries, it was earlier than that.

Ruling that it was treasure, Mr Singleton said: “I am satisfied that based on what you have said, this is likely to be more than 300 years old.

“The Crown does not want to keep it, so it belongs to you.”

Mr Gardner, a children’s home support worker who enjoys metal decting in his spare time, said he will do a display and put the relic in a presentation box before handing it back to the landowners.

Courtesy Lancashire Telegraph

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Lump of wood found on the beach leads to shipwreck on the seabed

Last Updated on Monday, 09 April 2012 06:29

UK - To the untrained eye, the misshapen chunk of timber Todd Stevens stumbled across while beachcombing might have seemed like nothing more than a piece of driftwood.

But the experienced shipwreck hunter from the Isle of Scilly knew better and instead of casting it aside, pulled on his wetsuit and went diving to investigate.

Within an hour, he had found the wreck of a ship which sank with just one survivor and had lain untouched on the seabed for nearly 130 years.

"It's just a lump of wood with some nails in it," said Mr Stevens.

"But to me, it's just the beginning of the story."

The carpenter and self- acknowledged shipwreck "anorak" had been diving in the clear blue waters west of Annet, an uninhabited bird sanctuary which is one of the 28 islands in the Scillies.

Ironically, he had been looking for the wreck of the Shaftesbury, a ship which sank with all hands in 1637 after playing a central role in the founding of Canada.

But he decided to take a break to give his shipboard companion – Daisy the dog – a run along the beach and his eye quickly picked out the unusual piece of wood.

Read more: Lump of wood found on the beach leads to shipwreck on the seabed