Rare Coin Uncovered on Nantucket Beach Sparks Treasure Hunter's Elation
A metal detectorist has struck gold – or rather, silver – after discovering an 18th-century Spanish coin on a beach in Nantucket. Travis Nichols, a well-known hobbyist with over 300 coins in his private collection, made the remarkable find last week.
According to sources, Nichols was searching for historical relics when he stumbled upon the rare coin – a 1782 silver one-reale – buried along the south shore of the island. The find is significant not only because of its rarity but also due to its potential connection to Nantucket's rich history as a bustling seaport in the 1700s.
Nichols, who has gained a reputation for helping others locate lost items on the beach, revealed that he initially thought the coin was from Mexico City before it sailed to New England. His remarkable discovery has sparked curiosity among historians and enthusiasts alike.
"This coin came from Mexico City, somehow sailed to New England, and then probably took another ship to Nantucket," Nichols said in an interview. "What was it doing on the south shore?" His comment hints at the intriguing story behind the rare coin's presence on the beach.
The find is part of a larger trend of unusual coin discoveries made by metal detectorists worldwide this year. In May, Marius Mangeac from Romania unearthed 1,469 ancient Roman coins, while in Poland, a group of friends stumbled upon pots filled with coins and hundreds of grams of gold during a search for German V-2 rockets.
For Nichols, the discovery is more than just a remarkable find – it's a testament to his dedication to uncovering Nantucket's hidden treasures. As he continues to scour the island's beaches, it remains to be seen what other secrets lie beneath the surface.
A metal detectorist has struck gold – or rather, silver – after discovering an 18th-century Spanish coin on a beach in Nantucket. Travis Nichols, a well-known hobbyist with over 300 coins in his private collection, made the remarkable find last week.
According to sources, Nichols was searching for historical relics when he stumbled upon the rare coin – a 1782 silver one-reale – buried along the south shore of the island. The find is significant not only because of its rarity but also due to its potential connection to Nantucket's rich history as a bustling seaport in the 1700s.
Nichols, who has gained a reputation for helping others locate lost items on the beach, revealed that he initially thought the coin was from Mexico City before it sailed to New England. His remarkable discovery has sparked curiosity among historians and enthusiasts alike.
"This coin came from Mexico City, somehow sailed to New England, and then probably took another ship to Nantucket," Nichols said in an interview. "What was it doing on the south shore?" His comment hints at the intriguing story behind the rare coin's presence on the beach.
The find is part of a larger trend of unusual coin discoveries made by metal detectorists worldwide this year. In May, Marius Mangeac from Romania unearthed 1,469 ancient Roman coins, while in Poland, a group of friends stumbled upon pots filled with coins and hundreds of grams of gold during a search for German V-2 rockets.
For Nichols, the discovery is more than just a remarkable find – it's a testament to his dedication to uncovering Nantucket's hidden treasures. As he continues to scour the island's beaches, it remains to be seen what other secrets lie beneath the surface.
. The idea that it sailed from Mexico City to New England and then landed on the south shore of Nantucket is just wild - what was its journey like? Did it get lost or was it hidden away for safekeeping? Anyway, I'm glad Travis got to share his excitement with us 
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I'm obsessed with these metal detector finds!!! It's like, who knew there was so much history on those beaches?! Travis Nichols is a total legend for stumbling upon that 1782 Spanish coin - I mean, can you even imagine what it must be like to hold something in your hand that was used by people centuries ago? 
And the fact that it might've sailed from Mexico City to New England is just mind-blowing. Has anyone else got any info on the history of Nantucket's seaport back in the 1700s? 
I'd love to learn more about this!
i'm literally dying over here thinking about all the other treasures that might be hiding on those beaches 
As a parent, I love seeing kids (and adults!) excited about learning and exploring their surroundings. Maybe this find will inspire some young treasure hunters to get into metal detecting too 
! And can you imagine the stories that coin could tell? 
. I mean, who would have thought that something from Mexico City ended up on Nantucket shores? It's like the island has secrets hidden beneath its beautiful beaches... and I'm all about uncovering those secrets 
. This just goes to show how much history is still waiting to be uncovered, and metal detectorists are the unsung heroes of our time 
!
- The Beatles