Rocky Mountain Prospectors &

Treasure Hunters Newsletter

The News
v. 19, n. 9 September 2015

Contents
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
15
16
18
19

1715 Spanish Treasure Ship

About The News
Find Of The Month
Half-Million Dollar Gold Coin
Proper Hydration Is Important
Lost Treasures Yet To Be Discovered
15th Century Ring Found
Calendar of Events
Calendars
The Bird Feeder
2015 Annual Paul E. Lange
Detector Coin & Prize Hunt and
Pot Luck Lunch
7 Mysterious Treasures The
World Is Still Looking For
Trading Post
2015 Schedule of Events
Contact List

Going for the Gold

1715 Spanish Treasure

Ship
Sunken 1715 Spanish Treasure Ship
Yields More Gold Coins
By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press
SEBASTIAN, Fla. Aug 20, 2015

iver William Bartlett had just started exploring a

300-year-old shipwreck with a metal detector
late last month in the waters off Florida's Atlantic Coast when he found his first Spanish gold coin.
Then one coin became two and two became so many he
had to stuff them into his diving glove.
When he resurfaced, "every fingertip was stacked with
gold coins, and we knew then we were into something
super special," the captain of his boat, Jonah Martinez,
said Thursday.
Over the next two days, Martinez, Bartlett and another
treasure hunter, Dan Beckingham, found 350 coins
worth $4.5 million, the most valuable find from the 1715
shipwreck site in recent decades.
Eleven treasure-laden ships that made up the 1715 Fleet
were heading to Spain from Havana on July 31, 1715,
when they encountered a hurricane off Florida's central
coast. The winds and waves smashed the ships onto
reefs, claiming as many as 1,000 lives in one of colonial
Spain's biggest maritime disasters off
Florida.
Now it's turning out to be a treasure trove.
In June, a family of treasurer hunters found $1 million
in gold coins in area south of the latest discovery.

We the people are the rightful masters of both

Congress and the Courts, not to overthrow the
Constitution but to overthrow the men who would
pervert the Constitution.
- Abraham Lincoln

The latest group of treasure hunters to find millions of

dollars in gold coins from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks
said they believe "magic" has played a role in the discov(Continued on page 3)

About The News

he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky

Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters
Club (RMPTH): our mailing address is 278
Sierra Vista Drive, Fort Collins, CO. 80524.
Opinions expressed in The News are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
club or its members. Publication of information in
The News constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use
of any information found in this publication is at the
sole risk of the user. Neither RMPTH, nor its coordinators, nor The News, nor its editors or contributors
assume any liability for damages resulting from use
of information in this publication.
Submissions

Articles, letters and short items of interest on prospecting, detecting and treasure hunting topics are
welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for
publication are subject to editing. Submittals for publication may be made in writing or, preferably, in ASCII text format on IBM-compatible disk. If you have
questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.

Advertising
Classified advertising for topic related items is free
for non-business ads. See the Trading Post section
for donation pricing of camera-ready display ads. Donations for ad makeup from sketches, etc., are available on request.
About RMPTH
RMPTH is an independent nonprofit hobbyist social
club, open to anyone interested in prospecting, detecting or treasure hunting. Its purpose is to provide an
educational and social forum of mutual benefit for
members. RMPTH holds a monthly meeting and conducts various field outings, as well as offers special
presentations and seminars. Active participants have
voting privileges. The monthly newsletter, The News,
is readily available on the Internet. Annual dues are
$25 payable in June. Applicants joining in any month
other than June pay partial dues of $2 per month for
months remaining prior to following June plus $1.

Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit groups
may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in
The News without prior permission, provided that
proper author and publication credits are given and
that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to RMPTH at the above mailing address. Clubs wishing to exchange newsletters
with RMPTH are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.

CLUB MEMBERS TAKE NOTE

Club Hats, Shirts, Jackets, & Patches are again available.
Ask for info at the club meetings to purchase your club items!
We will be running a 50/50 Drawing at each club meeting. At the end of each
meeting Tom will split the pot 50/50 and a lucky member will go home with more
money than they came with.!
The remaining 50% goes to the club treasury.
Page 2

The News, September 2015

(Continued from page 1)

eries this summer, coming on the 300th anniversary of

the sinking of Spanish colonial galleons.
"We all enjoy doing this and we all know the odds when
we're out there are finding nothing," Martinez said.
"To be able to go and do that, and then succeed in something like that, is more than any treasure."
They expect more discoveries to come, with $400 million
in coins still undiscovered in a coastal area stretching
from Melbourne to Fort Pierce, known as Florida's
Treasure Coast.
"Five years ago, before I got into this business, I would
have told you that magic is in fairy tales," said Brent
Brisben, whose salvage company, Queens Jewels, owns
rights to the 1715 Fleet shipwreck site.

Pictured L-R: Dan Beckingham, Jonah Martinez, William Bartlett,

Brent Brisben
Image Source: 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC

"I truly now believe that there is an energy that pervades

these shipwrecks, that I can't quantify. I truly believe that
these shipwrecks wanted their story to continue, that
this magically happened on this anniversary because this
story still needs to be told and it's currently unfolding."
Anywhere from a dozen to two dozen subcontractors
sign up with Brisben's company to search the shipwreck
site each summer. The subcontractors are responsible
for their boats, crew and other expenses which can tally
up to $50,000 each summer.
Brisben's company purchased the salvage rights to the
shipwreck five years ago from the family of treasure
hunter Mel Fisher, who won a lengthy court battle in the
1980s for the rights to the shipwrecks.

Golden Hoard

During the legal battle, the Spanish government never

asserted an interest on the lost treasure and so it has no
claim on it. The state of Florida did assert a claim, and
it's entitled to 20 percent of found artifacts for display in
a museum in Tallahassee. The remaining discoveries are
split between Brisben's company and whoever finds the
treasure after a federal judge in Miami signs off on it.
For any treasure found washed up on land, "it's finders,
keepers," Brisben said.

More of the Golden Recovery

See one very special coin from this hoard on Page 5 ->

The News, September 2015

Page 3

Find of the Month

Winners
August, 2015
Most Valuable Coin:
Ray Hettinger - 2007-P Dollar
Oldest Coin:
Paul Mayhak - 1883 Indianhead
Cent
Largest Raw Gold:

No Entry
Most Raw Gold:
Barb Schuldt Bottle of Gold
Best Bottle:
Mike Noll - Antique Log Cabin
Bottle
Best Jewelry:
Tom Marschall - Silver Ring
Most Unique Find (Excavated):
Tom Warne 9th Cavalry Crossed
Saber Hat Pin - Buffalo Soldier
Most Unique Find (Non-Excavated):
Ray McGhee Antique Axe Head
Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil:
Tom Warne - Quartz Crystal

Get Some Gold!

The reason Politicians try so

hard to get re-elected is that
they would 'hate' to have to
make a living under the laws
they've passed.
Gold Glossary
Flumes - Flumes are like sluice boxes, they do not
have riffles though and are used solely to transport
water in areas where a ditch would be impossible
(cliffsides, rocky hillsides). Two flumes were built in
the construction of the China Ditch.

TREASURE HUNTERS
CODE OF ETHICS

I WILL respect private property and do no treasure

hunting without the owner's permission.
I WILL fill all excavations.
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, and private property.
I WILL use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy
at all times.
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only.
I WILL leave gates as found.
I WILL remove and properly dispose of any trash that I
find.
I WILL NOT litter.
I WILL NOT destroy property, buildings, or what is left
of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I WILL NOT tamper with signs, structural facilities, or
equipment.

Page 4

The News, September 2015

Half-Million Dollar Gold

Coin
Rare coin found with treasure worth
a half-million dollars
Story by Al Pefley
FORT PIERCE (CBS12)
One of the coins found by treasure hunters last
month in 15 feet of water off the coast of Fort Pierce
is a very rare coin called a Royal. (See page 1)

Mineral Specimen Identification

As part of their community outreach, Metropolitan State
College of Denver, Dep. of Earth & Atmospheric
Science, Professional Services Division offers FREE
MINERAL SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION. Participants
will aid in the education of future Geoscientists!
Details and specimen submittal forms with instructions
can be downloaded
from:
SPECIAL OFFER FREE MINERAL SPECIMEN
http://college.earthscienceeducation.net/MINPET/
MINID.pdf

Unlike the other smaller coins that were found from

the 1715 shipwreck, the Royal is perfectly round.
It is a near perfect specimen and was made specifically to be given to the King of Spain.
That one coin, pure gold, is worth $500,000.
That one coin accounts for about half the value of the
entire amount of treasure that was found that day on
June 17.

Rare Gold Royal

Refreshment Volunteers
SeptemberBard Schuldt
OctoberRay McGehee & Ann Nichols
NovemberGeorge & Peggy Stumpf
The News, September 2015

Property Wanted
For Detector Hunt
RMPTH is looking for private property on which to hold
an organized club detector hunt. Obviously, it would be
most ideal if this property is known to have seen some
past historical activity. If you have such property or
know of someone who does, please contact Rick
Mattingly to plan a club field outing event.

Page 5

Proper Hydration Is
Important

ow many folks do you know who say they don't

want to drink anything before going to bed because they'll have to get up during the night!

I asked my Doctor why do people need to urinate so

much at night time.
Answer from my Cardiac Doctor:
Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body
when you are upright (legs swell).

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps

digestion
1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower
blood pressure (who knew???)
1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke
or heart attack (good to know!)
My Physician also told me that water at bed time will
also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg
muscles are seeking Hydration when they cramp and
wake you up with a Charlie Horse.

When you lie down and the lower body (legs, etc.) is
level with the kidneys, It is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier.
This then ties in with the last statement!
I knew one needed a minimum amount of water to
help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was
news to me.
Correct time to drink water... Very Important. From A
Cardiac Specialist!
Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body:
2 glasses of water after waking up - helps activate
internal organs

One Honkin Big Dual-Engine Gold Dredge

Page 6

The News, September 2015

Lost Treasures Yet To

Be Discovered
By Alex Ltourneau
Tuesday June 23, 2015
(Kitco News)

n case you missed the first half of this series, or

youre still not wildly rich from a monumental discovery, there are still some substantial treasures
that remain undiscovered in the world.

Leavenworth, Kansas
The first burial in the Easton Cemetery was of
an Army paymaster from Fort Leavenworth.
Lt. J. N. Walkup was in Company G, 9th Regiment of the Kansas Cavalry. He died in the
fall of 1855 after being stricken with cholera.
Many soldiers at the fort died during this time,
but Walkup took a secret to his grave that remains unsolved today.

The Fenn Treasure Rocky Mountains

Not only is there a bronze chest somewhere in the
Rockies, filled with gold, rare jewelry, gems and
coins, but the guy who stashed it legitimately wants
you to find it. Forrest Fenn, came up with the idea in
1988 when he was diagnosed with cancer. He beat the
sickness and waited until his later years to hide the
chest in the Rockies.

Folklore and history are mingled in the telling

of Walkup's death. He and his cavalry company were headed to Fort Riley and other
western forts, ready to pay soldiers who hadn't been paid for several months. Encampment the first night out was made at Martinsburg, located three fourths of a mile south of
the present steel bridge over Stranger Creek.

Fenn was kind enough to provide clues to where he

put it. Among those clues are that its in the Rockies,
north of Santa Fe and 5,000 feet above sea level, its
not buried under any old structures, its not in a
graveyard and its wet. He even provided a pull out
map of the area surrounding the treasure in his book
Too Far to Walk. Happy hunting.

Walkup hid the gold. However, during the evening he became ill and before a replacement
paymaster sent out from the fort could find
the money, Walkup died. Legend has it, the
gold was never found.

The Lost Treasure Of The Alamo San Antonio, Texas

If you havent heard of the Alamo, you havent paid
attention to anything. Ever. The site of one of Americas most famous battles may hold more than a rich,
albeit bloody, history. Legend has it theres a vast gold
and silver treasure buried somewhere on site, known
as the San Saba treasure. According to the legend, it
was supposed to fund the war for years. The location
is set, but you try going to Texas and desecrating the
Alamo.
Victorio Peak Treasure Southern New
Mexico
Shortly before WW2, a man named Doc Noss stumbled onto a tunnel inside Victorio Peak, and found a
treasure of 200 gold bars. He pulled out what he
could and hid it in several places because gold ownership, aside from jewelry, was illegal then. In more
bad news the tunnel collapsed before he could get all
of it out. Noss was killed shortly after and his heirs
could never the treasure. There have been reports of
(Continued on page 9)

The News, September 2015

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/leavenwo/
library/cemeteries/easton.html

It is estimated that
the earth's core
contains enough gold
to cover the entire
surface of the earth
with a layer fifteen
feet deep.
Page 7

Sothebys.

15th Century Ring

Found
By Nick Reilly | Yahoo News 5 hours ago

news.yahoo.com

treasure hunter dug up a small fortune after a ring he discovered turned

out to be a 15th century jewel worth a
whopping 35,000. (53,903.85 US Dollars)

But after bidding on the relic began earlier

this afternoon, the hammer fell at an impressive 35,000 with the money split between
the treasure hunter and the land owner.
Erik Bijzet, Sothebys Old Master Sculpture& Works of Art specialist, explained: It
was found by a gentleman using a metal
detector. Hes seasoned at it, but while he
normally finds coins, he struck gold on this
occasion.

A man with a metal

detector discovered
the historic goldenameled relic near
Launde Abbey, an
Elizabethan manor
house in Leicestershire which was
once the home of
Thomas Cromwells
son.
Experts have described the relic as
exceptionally lavish
with the point-cut
diamond and
rounded ruby reportedly reflecting
the bond between husband and wife.

The British Museum identified it as

a 15th Century ring
and then it was
handed over to us
and we narrowed it
down to the last two
decades of that century.

Picture: SWNS

The Portable Antiquities Scheme has

found
some extraordinary
lots over the years
and this is certainly
one of the best rings
we have had in a
long time.

The finder, who lives locally, then handed

the ring to his local council who asked the
British Museum to investigate its history.

Launde Abbey was taken over by Thomas

Cromwellas part of the dissolution of the
monasteries but he was executed in 1540
before he could move into the stately home.

They revealed that it could have ended up in

the ground following a battle, and it was
given a minimum guide price of 20,000 at

Before You Buy That Metal Detector Handbook Check:

http://www.mdhtalk.org/articles/before-you-buy-hb/before-you-buy-handbook.pdf
Page 8

The News, September 2015

(Continued from page 7)

people finding gold bars around the peak, but that

could be hearsay.
Montezumas Treasure Utah
This one may already have been discovered, or
proven wrong, but there may by an Aztec fortune
somewhere in Utah. The story goes, following Aztec
leader
Montezumas death, his followers hid his vast treasure from Cortez and incoming Spaniard forces. Fastforward to 1914, a prospector named Freddy Crystal
found some etchings on a cliff, had them deciphered
by a Montezuma descendant and discovered a tunnel
and cave system that was heavily booby trapped. The
problem was the systems were empty, which lead to
speculation that the Aztecs likely moved their treasure
again. Or someone in Utah found it and had the right
frame of mine to not say a word about it.

The record low

temperature in the
United States was
recorded in Prospect Creek, Alaska
at -79.8 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Little Bighorn Treasure - Montana

Are the shores of the Bighorn River lined in gold?
Maybe. The site for a legendary battle between General Custer and Cheyenne and Apache Native forces
may have laid way to gold bars being buried along the
shores. Apparently, a captain of Custers was making
his way up river to meet the general, but before reaching the battle, he heard of Custers defeat. The need to
transport the injured and dead on the ship forced
him to ditch the goods and bury them along the
shores of the river. Theres debate as to whether the
captain went back to get them or not.
Sunken Galleon Treasure Coast of Key West
According to historians, in 1622, the Spanish galleon
Nuestra Senora de Atocha got clipped by a hurricane
off the coast of Key West and dropped $700 million of
gold, silver and gems into the water. But, no. There
isnt $700 million near Key West waiting to be
scooped up. Most of that already happened in the mid
-80s about 100 miles off the coast. But there is an
estimated $200 million in a variety of gold, silver
coins, jewels and emeralds still up for grabs if youre
looking for vacation down to the Keys that might pay
itself.

By Alex Ltourneau of Kitco News aletourneau@kitco.com

The News, September 2015

Page 9

Calendar of Events
September Meeting
Wednesday, September 2. We will meet at the Pulliam
Building in downtown Loveland at 6:00PM. Refer to
the adjoining map for directions.
Meeting Agenda
6:00 - 7:00 Social Hour & Finds Program
7:00 - 7:30 Business, Announcements & Find of
the Month Program
7:30 - 7:45 Break
7:45 - 9:00 "Crack & Crevasse Gold Recovery
By Bryan Morgan.

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At

http://rmpth.com

RMPTH DUES
RMPTH is an unincorporated Social Club with
no income generated. All
expenses are covered by
$25 annual dues. Members are requested to
consider minor donations
at each monthly meeting
to cover refreshments.

MAP TO THE MEETING PLACE

Pulliam Community Building
545 Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, Colorado

Directions:
The Pulliam Community Building is situated on the west side of Cleveland Avenue in Loveland,
Colorado. Park at the rear of the building (west side). Entry to the meeting room is from
the doorway on the south side of the building (not the main entrance on Cleveland Avenue!).
Page 10

The News, September 2015

September 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

11

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

Labor Day

13

14

15

20

21

22

12
2015 Coin & Prize
Hunt

16

17

18

19

23

24

25

26

Autumn Begins

27

28

29

30

October 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

10

15

16

17
24

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

11

12

13

14

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

18

19

20

21

22

23

25

26

27

28

29

30

31
Haloween

The News, September 2015

Page 11

Door Prize Donators For August

Darrell Koleber - NRA Pocket Knife
Darrell Koleber - Gold Fever DVD
Rick Mattingly - 2 Cigar Boxes
Tom Warne - Silver Dollar Holder
Rick Mattingly - Paracord Bracelet
Kevin Smith - 1904 Coin
Wolf Stumpf - Screen Spayer
Club - Club Patch
Club - 25 Treasure Secrets Book
Club - Colorado Lost Treasure Book
Club - 1904-V Nickel
Club - 1899 Indianhead Cent
Club - 4 Wheat Cents

Thanks to All!

RMPTH Field Outing Statement

NOTE: The Coordinators and participants stay in touch
and continue to review and plan upcoming presentations
and outings for the year on a monthly basis. Our editor
Rick Mattingly needs timely event information for each
issue of The News. Please get information about any particular event to him by the 15th of the month to meet the
printing deadline for the next issue.
Planned trips, outings, activities, and meeting programs
are in the newsletter and on line at the clubs website.
Planning is a work in progress and additional outings and
activities are added and sometimes deleted on an ongoing basis. Events planned in the upcoming month are
emphasized to the attendees at the monthly meetings.
Contact the Presentations Coordinators or Editor if you
have any suggestions or ideas throughout the year for
fieldtrips, outings, and programs.
The best made plans may change at the last minute due
to the illness of the Trail Boss, weather, land access, vehicles breaking down, wrong meeting sites, etc. Please
be understanding of extenuating circumstances and contact the coordinator or Trail Boss of a specific event if
there is any question of an event being cancelled or
changed at the last minute.

The Bird Feeder

bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and

filled it with seed. What a beauty of a bird feeder it
was, as I filled it lovingly with seed. Within a week we
had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous
flow of free and easily accessible food.
But then the birds started building nests in the boards of
the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.
Then came the shit. It was everywhere: on the patio tile,
the chairs, the table ... everywhere!

Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive

bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them
out of my own pocket.
And others birds were boisterous and loud. They sat on
the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the
day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low
on food.
After a while, I couldn't even sit on
my own back porch anymore. So I
took down the bird feeder and in
three days the birds were gone. I
cleaned up their mess and took
down the many nests they had built
all over the patio.
Soon, the back yard was like it used
to be ..... quiet, serene.... and no one
demanding their rights to a free
meal.
Now let's see...... Our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care and free education, and
allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.
Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly
our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families; you have to wait 6 hours to
be seen by an emergency room doctor; Your child's second grade class is behind other schools because over half
the class doesn't speak English.
Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to 'press
one ' to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people
waving flags other than ours are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.
Just my opinion, but maybe it's time for the government
to take down the bird feeder.
If you agree, pass it on; if not, just continue cleaning up
the shit!
The Best Maxine Ever

Page 12

The News, September 2015

2015 ANNUAL PAUL LANGE SILVER COIN & PRIZE HUNT

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
M. A. NOLL'S Property
8308 WCR 100 5 Miles East of Wellington Exit #278 Look for signs.
We want to thank Mike Noll for providing his property for this fun event!
Please follow the directions to the Mike's home provided and remember that bathroom facilities will be limited:
I-25 North to Exit #278
Turn Right at stop sign
Turn Left immediately onto North Frontage Road
Go 1/2 mile and turn Right on Nunn Rd/WCR 100
Noll property is 5 miles ahead on right
A fun event like this with good friends is hungry business! The club will provide Burgers & Brats, please bring a
side dish. Please bring lawn chairs and a canopy, if you have one.
This detector hunt is open to all members in good standing as of September 2nd. Cost for RMPTH members &
immediate family member is $20 each. Ages 12 & younger are $5 each.
8:00-10:00 Registration.
10:00 Whistle blows promptly to start event.
12:00 Whistle blows to end the Hunt.
LUNCH WILL BE SERVED RIGHT AFTER PRIZES ARE AWARDED.
The field will be planted with 1950s wheat pennies with numbers. The penny's will be exchanged for prizes. This
will be a hunt based purely on luck rather than skill,, easy to locate and recover targets for all.
Yearly membership dues WILL NOT be accepted at the Coin Hunt. If you want to participate, dues must be paid
in full by the September 2nd Club Meeting.
NON-MEMBERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE

MIKE NOLL PROPERTY

The News, September 2015

Page 13

Stinkun Lincolns
Please bring your worthless
found Lincoln pennies to the
club meetings. We will gather
up quantities and return this
trash back to the U.S. Mint
for real money which will go
into the Club treasury.

Page 14

The News, September 2015

7 Mysterious Treasures The

World Is Still Looking For
2014-09-02 mashable.com

ime to channel your inner Jack Sparrow. Buried treasures aren't

just pirate myths. While there are a few legendary pirate booties
still allegedly floating around, troves of valuable items still await
claim. From stolen Aztec gold to missing European art work, here are
seven antiquated treasures at large around
the world.
1. The Treasure of La Noche Triste
Location: Beneath Mexico City
In late June 1520, the Aztecs finally had enough of Hernan Cortes and
the Spanish conquistadores. As the indigenous army drove their Spanish
conquerors out of the capital city of Tenochitlan, Cortes commanded his
men to gather as much gold and treasure as they could, stuff it in their
armor and bolt for their Ships.
There were two big problems though: Tenochitlan was in the middle of a
lake, and gold is really heavy. This made it easier for the Aztecs to throw
the Spanish over causeways and bridges, then drown beneath the weight
of armor and gold.
The events of "La Noche Triste" (The Sad Night) submerged a massive
amount of Aztec treasure in the waters around Tenochitlan, but Mexico
City now sits on top of the dried basin.
2. The Treasure of Lima
FOUND!
Location: The Coco Islands
In 1820, English Captain William Thompson had a basic task: Take a
treasure trove from Lima, Peru and bring it to Mexico intact. The haul
never got there, though; Thompson is believed to have stashed it somewhere in the Coco Islands, 350 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Treasure seekers have been hunting it down for ages even former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt took a shot with friends in 1910.
The collection of gold coins and statues, jewels and jeweled swords,
crowns and bars of gold and silver is worth $269 million today.
3. Col. John Singleton Mosby's Loot
Location: Somewhere near Haymarket, Virginia
With his Partisan Rangers, Confederate Col. John Singleton Mosby pulled
off a risky raid on Union forces at the Fairfax Courthouse on March 9,
1863. Not only did he and his troops capture 42 union soldiers, but
Mosby also looted the quarters of Union General Edwin H. Stoughton.
There, Mosby found a slew of family heirlooms for Virginia families that
Stoughton and his forces took. But as Mosby and company bailed, they
encountered a large contingent of Union troops west of Haymarket, Virginia. Mosby gave the treasure to his most trusted sergeant to bury so
Union forces couldn't grab it in battle. The treasure still hasn't been
found.
(Continued on page 17)

The News, September 2015

Gold Glossary
Hard Rock Mine - A hard rock mine is
a tunnel that is dug into solid rock for
the sole purpose of finding valuable or
precious rocks, minerals, or metals.
Gold originates deep within the earth
in places called Pockets. The pockets
are filled with gold, heavy ore, and
quartz..

Gold Facts
Symbol: AU
Atomic Number: 79
Atomic Weight: 196.967
Melting Point: 1063 (1945 F)
Specific Gravity: 19.2
MOHs Scale of Hardness:
2.5 - 3
Karat
24K = 100% Pure Gold
18K = 75% Pure Gold
14K = 58% Pure Gold
10K = 42% Pure Gold
Troy Weights
1 grain = 0.0648 grams
24 grains = 1 penny
weight (DWT) = 1.552 grams
20 DWT = 1 ounce =
480 grains = 31.10 grams

YOUR
ADVERTISEMENT
COULD BE HERE!
Call Rick Mattingly
at 970-669-1205
or rickmatt@q.com
Page 15

Trading Post
FOR SALE: Jewelers propane/oxygen torch, many cabochons, beads and tools. Contact Ann at
(970) 6667-3705.
FOR SALE: A "MUST HAVE" T-Shirt for every Prospector
and Treasure Hunter. Quality 100% cotton tees. See and
order from:
http://BestBlackandGold.com.
FOR SALE: Minelab SD2200 Gold Nugget Metal Detector:
10-1/2" Mono Super Coil, 10-1/2" SD Series Super Coil, two
batteries w/wall & car charger, headphones, backpack,
waist battery pack, signal enhancer, extra lower stem, instruction booklet & video, carry case. Ready to go for the
gold. New Price: $1625. Contact Paul at (970) 482-7846.
FOR SALE: 5HP pump motor, Gold King 3" Hi-banker with
dredge attachment w/adjustable stand, Gold Grabber Hibanker, 125 feet hose, Rock net and steel cable, misc. fittings and valves & large metal bucket. Prefer to sell all together for $1,350 but negotiable. Call Eric Stickland at
(303) 833-6848 or
estick@live.com.
WANTED: Used lapidary equipment. Call Kathie 970-2211623
WANTED: Federal or state duck stamps; mint or used. Contact John Hart at (307) 778-3993.

NOTE:
Purchase arrangements are between the buyer and
seller only and involves no financial benefit to RMPTH.

About Trading Post

The News runs classified ads in Trading Post
for three consecutive issues. Trading Post ads
for topic related items up to 10 lines (or 70
words) long are free. To place an ad in Trading
Post contact Rick Mattingly at (970) 613-8968
evenings
or e-mail at: rickmatt@q.com
Commercial Advertising
Specifications
(Monthly Donation Rate)
Full Page (8 1/2" X 7")
Half Page (3 1/4" X 7")
One Third Page (3" X 4")
Business Card (2 3/4" X 1 1/2")

$30
$20
$15
$ 5

Ads must be received by the 15th of the

preceding month. Contact Rick Mattingly for information on this service at
(970) 613-6968 evenings or e-mail at:
rickmatt@q.com.

All mistakes and

misspellings were
intentionally made so
that you could have the
pleasure of finding them.

Colorado School of Mines

Geology Museum
Golden, Colorado
Contact us: 303-273-3815 or
geomuseum@mines.edu
Identification of specimens is performed
between 10 a.m. and noon, Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
Page 16

The News, September 2015

WEEKEND & SMALL-SCALE

MINERS CODE OF ETHICS
I WILL respect other prospectors claims and not work
those claims without the owners permission
I WILL have on-site all necessary permits and licenses
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only, and
in accordance with current State and Federal guidelines
I WILL be careful with fuels and motor oils and be cognizant of their potential destructive effect on the environment
I WILL remove and properly dispose of all trash and
debris that I find - I will not litter
I WILL be thoughtful, considerate and courteous to
those around me at all time
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, fisheries and private property, and
respect all laws or ordinances governing prospecting
and mining
I WILL NOT remove stream bank material, destroy
natural vegetation or woody debris dams, nor discharge
excess silt into the waterways

(Continued from page 15)

4. Nuestra Seora de Atocha's Lost Cargo

Location: The Florida Keys
Part of this treasure has already been found (and more
each year), but that doesn't mean you can't get a little
piece of the action yourself.
On September 6, 1622, a Spanish treasure ship La
Nuestra Seora de Atocha, or, "Our Lady of Atocha"
got caught in a hurricane near the Flordida Keys on the
way back to Spain. The ship slammed into the shallow
coral reefs about 35 miles from the islands, submerging
almost all the crew and the entirety of the fortune 55 feet
deep.
Part of the treasure was found on July 20, 1985 by
American treasure hunter Mel Fisher. He claimed $500
million of lost cargo, but 17 tons of silver bars, 128,000
coins, 27 kg of emeralds and about 35 boxes of church
gold are still missing, according to the ship's manifest.
Now, Fishers people runs a treasure diving company
that take patrons looking for the remainder of the riches.
Divers frequently find coins, but no one has found the
whole hidden trove yet.
5. Treasure at the bottom of Lake Guatavita
Location: Lake Guatavita, Colombia
When gold ends up under water, it's usually an accident.
But a tribe of indigenous people in modern day Colombia had their priest cover himself in gold dust and toss
gold into Lake Guatavita as an offering to its water god,
as the tale goes.

I WILL NOT refuel motorized equipment in the stream

I WILL NOT allow oil from motorized
equipment to drip onto the ground or into the water
I WILL NOT prospect in areas closed to prospecting
and mining

There have been several attempts to drain the lake and

dig for the gold, but the Colombian government now prohibits anyone from trying.
6. European Treasures Stolen by the Nazis
Location: The bottom of Lake Toplitz, Austria
As Nazis terrorized parts of Europe throughout the
1930s and '40s, they often plundered the homes of the
people they conquered for art and other valuable objects.
When the tide of World War II turned against them,
many Nazis began destroying and hiding what they took.
They eventually dumped a great deal of it into Lake Toplitz, in neighboring Austria. Austria rarely lets anyone try
to find what was sunken in the lake.

Offer Your Assistance To Any

Of Our Program Coordinators
The News, September 2015

7. Lost Confederate Gold

Location: Near Washington, Georgia
The Confederacy was crumbling toward the middle of
1865, and as the South prepared to surrender, the Confederate government had to figure out what to do with
the remainder of its treasury. There's a long, convoluted
history of how the different Confederate banks were liquidated, but there's allegedly a stash of
gold buried somewhere near Washington, Georgia, then
worth about $140,000.

Page 17

Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club

2015 Schedule of Events
Month

Meeting Program

Trip/Activity

January

Cheyenne War: Indian Raids on the

Roads to Denver, 1864-1869
By Jeff Broome

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

February

Cache Hunting
By Rick Mattingly

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

March

Setting Up A Gold Sluice Box

By RMPTH Members

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

April

Metal Detecting
By Tom Warne & Rick Mattingly

Local Detector Hunt

Map, Compass & GPS Clinic

May

Gold Nugget Shooting With Detector

By Rick Mattingly

Prospecting & Detecting Clinic at Lions Park

Denver GPAA Show
Lets Go Gold Panning On The Arkansas Event GPOC

June

Gold Dredging
By RMPTH Members

Clear Creek Gold Outing

State Annual Gold Panning Championships

July

Map Reading for Prospectors

by Wayne Sutherland WSGS

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

August

Surface Finds
by Tom Warne

Vics Gold PanningBlackhawk

September

Crack & Crevasse Gold Recovery

By Bryan Morgan

Local Detector Hunt

October

Gold, Silver & Gem Recovery

by David Emslie

Local Detector Hunt

November

Annual Show & Tell &

Silent Auction

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

December

Annual Find of the Year Awards &

Christmas Party

Flatirons Mineral Club & Model Train Show

Good Hunting in 2015!

Page 18

The News, September 2015

Rocky Mountain
Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Contact List
RMPTH Coordinators
President

Tom Warne

Vice President

Home

E-Mail

1-970-635-0773

goldigger48@msn.com

Treasurer

Dick & Sharon French

1-970-482-2110

dickyf99@centurylink.net

Secretary

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Finds Program

Dave Landes
Betsy Emond
Joe Johnston

1-720-985-4186
1-970-218-0290
1-303-696-6950

midnightoil45@aol.com
bemond@fcgov.com
cjoej1@peoplepc.com

Presentations

Rick Mattingly

1-970-669-1205

rickmatt@q.com

Club Historian

Volunteer Needed

Club Meeting Greeter

Barbara Schuldt

1-970-407-1336

Club Librarian

Joe Johnston

1-303-696-6950

Club Photo Librarian

Volunteer Needed

Meeting Setup

Jim Friedricks

Door Prize

Volunteer Needed

Zinc Penny Project

Tom Marschall

1-970-396-0133

tmarschall47@gmail.com

50/50 Drawing

Woody Hogdon

1-970-667-5010

ftcolwoody@juno.com

Coin Raffle

Woody Hogdon

1-970-667-5010

ftcolwoody@juno.com

The News Staff

Editor-in-Chief
Internet Web Site
Web Master
Volunteers/Coordinators

cjoej1@peoplepc.com

1-970-590-9183

General Information Contact: Rick Mattingly at 1-970-669-1205

Visit RMPTH on the Internet at: http://rmpth.com

Lets Go For The Gold !

The News, September 2015

Page 19

The News
Rocky Mountain Prospectors &
Treasure Hunters Club
278 Sierra Vista Drive
Fort Collins, CO. 80524

SEPTEMBER, 2015 ISSUE