Coin Beach!

Jaded Diva · #1 06-17-2008, 07:29 AM

For a few years, I've heard about a section of beach on the Delaware Coastline where people have found coins from a shipwreck back in the late 1700's.

Some saw it's located in Lewes, others swear it's on the shores of South Rehoboth, into Dewey. Some say it's Fenwick.

My family and I brought it up again after the big storm last month when a research boat got beached in Bethany. So I started to do some research.

They used to call parts of the beaches, "Coin Beach" because of the large amount of coins found on the beaches after big storms - apparently this ship lost 400 barrels of them. The director of the Shipwreck Museum in Fenwick (it's above Sea Shell City right on Coastal - if you've never been you should GO!!) said coins can pretty much be found on average every 1/4 mile down the shoreline.

http://www.discoversea.com/Coin_Beaches.html

Google searches of "coin beach" "delaware" produced a couple of very cool articles on the shipwreck itself and what people find.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/p...0001/-1/LIFE08

But what's also interesting is that there are many, many shipwrecks that have yet to be explored - due to lack of funds. It's neat that something could have sunk so many years ago, and the cargo still finds it's way to shore.

I think I'm gonna take out my dad's metal detector next time I'm out that way - hopefully after a nice big storm!

Anyone else do any metal detecting/treasure hunting along the beach? Find anything cool?

Slim Jim · #2 06-17-2008, 07:42 AM

When I was a kid, we had a summer place in Rehoboth. You could go out after a good storm and sometimes find pieces of eight. I guess it depended on exact storm and current movement as to when they washed in. I still have a couple to this day in the lock box. As far as metal detecting, living in Northern Carroll County, I have found quite a few civil war items and coins on my property. I also found a college ring a cousin had lost forty years before..

Mamapsyops · #3 06-17-2008, 07:43 AM

Thanks! This site will be great for my kids!!

Jaded Diva · #4 06-17-2008, 07:50 AM

Really?? Cool!!

It says it's mostly British halfpennies and some other coin. Regardless of the value, I think it's cool to have something that came off a ship like that!

CPR4LIFE · #5 06-17-2008, 07:54 AM

http://images.jupiterimages.com/comm...8/22619805.jpg

Jaded Diva · #6 06-17-2008, 07:57 AM

Hey! That's not funny!

And it's usually old men or families out digging in the sand that I see! So there!

I just thought it would be fun to go look - I've even thought about the beaches where it's limited to surf fishing. (Plus I want to go surf fishing....they're having an Intro to Surf Fishing seminar at the DE State Park beach this weekend!)

You know it would be kinda cool to find shipwreck coins, don't ya CPR!

Norman · #7 06-17-2008, 07:59 AM

Sandals, black socks, gilligan hat....

Slim Jim · #8 06-17-2008, 08:00 AM

You never know what you might find JD. I have a friend that is really into this and he's found all kinds of neat stuff. Old gold and silver coins, lots of jewelry, old knives and swords, a musket..etc..You just never know!

Jaded Diva · #9 06-17-2008, 08:05 AM

My dad said last time they were on the beach, he talked to a guy who had a bag full of old WWI bullets - including a few larger ones. Apparently they did some sort of training exercises on the beach back then....I wonder if it had anything to do with the beach replenshment at Bethany - maybe they dug up alot of old stuff??

Norman -

mlatoman · #10 06-17-2008, 08:13 AM

That Sea Shell City Museum looks (from the outside) like your typical beach tourist trap, but it actually has some neat stuff in there. Worth the trip.

Jaded Diva · #11 06-17-2008, 08:15 AM

The actual Sea Shell City is the biggest kitchy beach souvenir shop EVER but kids love it!

The museum is upstairs and rented out by the director of the museum. The owner of Sea Shell City offered the space to him, so they are not connected.
They have some really great stuff up there, it's not really big though - they do traveling exhibits and lend out alot of their items. Future plans are for a bigger place to be able to display it all.

Freelander · #12 06-17-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlatoman

That Sea Shell City Museum looks (from the outside) like your typical beach tourist trap, but it actually has some neat stuff in there. Worth the trip.

I agree....this place is on the "must do" list every time we go to the beach. Mrs Freelander and the girls LOVE Seashell City, and spend thier time down there, while my son and I take in the museum.

Jaded Diva · #13 06-17-2008, 08:54 AM

They actually have some pretty cool stuff! My mom and I LOVE the shell collection!!

And I just remembered...they have some neat metal detector rentals....hmmm......

Mamapsyops · #14 06-17-2008, 09:32 AM

Henlopen was an old military post and that's where we go camping. My kids are always digging on the beach in hopes of finding old military artifacts. Having all boys, they would be thrilled to find bullets....LOL

Jaded Diva · #15 06-17-2008, 02:16 PM

Henlopen may have been where the guy found some of it, but he was out on South Bethany, near Fenwick. I'm betting the State Park beaches yield more because there aren't as many people/stuff going around.

I want to check out over by Savages Ditch Rd at Delware Seashore State Park, where the lifesaving museum is....I'm reading that might be a good spot.

I'll bet if your boys found bullets they would be more than thrilled! lol

Jaded Diva · #16 06-17-2008, 09:05 PM

Still something fun to do early in the day or late in the day!

Provided my parents don't get a rental for their place this weekend - I am GOING!!! My dad has 2 older metal detectors, so I'm gonna try 'em out!

Get up early and go out for an hour or so, then just hang out on the beach, then go back out in the early evening.......fun stuff!

And I'll definately make a stop at the Shipwreck Museum!

Jaz · #17 06-18-2008, 12:14 AM

Any wreck off the east coast that sits in less than 120' of water or so has not only been extensively explored, its been stripped bare. Recreational divers will salvage anything they can off a wreck as a souvenier. If you can find a wreck with a porthole or dinner plate still in it don't tell anyone where it is, it won't be there for long.

Jaded Diva · #18 06-18-2008, 07:27 AM

Jaz - alot of the wrecks supposedly haven't been explored and there's no program to do that. They've only had the State step in on two old wrecks - one in the Delaware Bay that people were "looting" and one that another vessel wrecked into. (according to an article I read from last year) I'm sure though like you said, recreational divers will explore some wrecks, but apparently there are quite a few, so there might be some further out or in deeper water. It would be cool if the state did have a program to explore all these wrecks and be able to catalog and display the finds.