17th Century English Relic Discovered?! (Season 12) | The Curse of Oak Island

In the latest developments from Oak Island, the treasure-hunting team, led by Rick and Marty Lagina, has made intriguing new discoveries that may bring them one step closer to unraveling the centuries-old mystery surrounding the legendary Money Pit. Craig Tester, along with metal detection expert Gary Drayton, arrived on Lot 4, located on the western side of the island. The team has been painstakingly sifting through more than 10 tons of spoils removed from a mysterious rounded stone feature on Lot 5. This feature, which the team believes may be connected to the Money Pit, has been a focal point of their investigation for years. The spoils, which were excavated a year ago, have yielded significant artifacts that could provide key insights into the island’s history and the identity of those who may have hidden treasure there.

Among the most remarkable finds to date are a 17th-century English silver coin and a 14th-century lead barter token. These artifacts, particularly the lead token, have led the team to speculate that they could be linked to the medieval Knights Templar, especially in light of the discovery of a similar lead cross at Smith’s Cove in 2017. As Gary continued to metal detect the area, a promising signal led to the discovery of an unexpected find: a well-preserved, round button, which could date back to the late 1600s or early 1700s. The button, which still had its loop intact, was identified by Gary as possibly being part of a military tunic or garment, raising the possibility that it belonged to a person of high rank rather than a common laborer.

This button’s discovery added another layer of intrigue to the mystery. If the button indeed dates to the 17th century, could it be related to the cut English coin found recently in the spoils from the round feature? And more importantly, could it help identify the group or individuals who may have been involved in the creation of the Money Pit? The potential connection between these finds could be a breakthrough in the hunt for the treasure, offering new clues about the people behind the mystery.

Not long after finding the button, Gary and Craig unearthed another potentially significant artifact: a lead coin weight. This item, which measures 26.2 grams, is believed to have been used in the past to verify the weight of coins, as merchants would often use coin weights to ensure the coins they received were of proper value and not counterfeit. Gary recognized the coin weight immediately, noting its distinct shape, which was commonly used for weighing large coins. He suggested that the item could have been used by someone involved in managing a payroll or other financial activities. Coin weights, especially those made of lead, were common as far back as Roman times and continued to be used until the 1700s. The discovery of such an item added another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation.

The question now arose: Could the lead coin weight be connected to the treasure that the team believes lies somewhere on Oak Island? If it is, could it have been used to divide up sums of treasure, perhaps pointing to the high concentration of precious metals that have been detected in the Money Pit area in previous years? If the item is indeed a coin weight, it would support the idea that the Money Pit contains valuable treasure, possibly linked to the lost wealth of the Templars or other historical groups.

As the team continued to examine these finds, archaeologist L. Nen and archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan joined the group in the Oak Island lab to provide their expertise. Emma, who had scanned both the button and the lead weight using advanced technology, revealed some fascinating results. She used a Skyscan 1273 CT scanner, a device that uses X-ray radiation to produce highly detailed three-dimensional images of objects. She also utilized an X-ray fluorescent spectrometer (XRF) to determine the elements that make up the composition of the artifacts. The analysis of the button indicated that it was made from a copper-iron alloy with a high content of lead, which suggested that it was likely from the 1700s to early 1800s, making it a valuable historical artifact. The button’s composition also indicated it may have belonged to someone of higher rank, such as a gentleman or military officer, rather than a common worker.

Emma’s scan of the lead weight also revealed intriguing details. Although Gary had speculated that it was an old coin weight, Emma noted that the phosphorus content in the lead was extremely high, which typically doesn’t appear in lead alloys until the mid-20th century. This modern component led her to suggest that the lead weight may be a more recent find than previously thought. However, she also acknowledged that lead was used for coin weights in earlier times, and the artifact did appear to be very old, which left the team in a bit of a conundrum. The fact that the lead weight didn’t show other modern indicators made it difficult to definitively say it was a recent item.

Despite the uncertainty around the lead weight’s age, the team agreed that the object might still hold valuable information about the treasure hunt. If it is a genuine coin weight from the past, it could shed light on the type of coins or treasure hidden on the island, potentially offering more insight into the origins of the Money Pit. However, if the object is more modern, it could point to more recent efforts to recover or hide treasure.

Emma proposed a potential solution to the dilemma: laser ablation. This technique uses a high-powered laser to remove a microscopic sample from the surface of an object, which can then be analyzed for isotopic content. This could provide more precise information about the artifact’s age and origin. The team agreed that this was an excellent next step in determining the true nature of the lead weight.

As the team awaits further analysis, the recent discoveries on Oak Island have raised more questions than answers. The button, coin weight, and other artifacts discovered in the spoils from Lot 5 may hold the key to understanding not only the Money Pit’s origins but also the individuals or groups who may have hidden treasure there centuries ago. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the exact age and origins of some of these artifacts, the team remains hopeful that they are on the right track. The combination of archaeological expertise, cutting-edge technology, and sheer determination could soon reveal the truth behind Oak Island’s centuries-old mystery. As the hunt continues, the team’s commitment to uncovering the treasure remains as strong as ever, and new discoveries only fuel the excitement for what may come next in the search for the elusive Oak Island treasure.