LIVE OAK

The Live Oak was a wooden sailing ship or sloop. On October 20, 1769 she was en-route, under the command of Captain Foy, from Santo Domingo to New York when she ran aground on Squan Beach. The Live Oak was transporting $20,000 in specie. To date no one has located or positively identified the Live Oaks final resting place. She is most likely buried beneath New Jersey's ever shifting sands. According to John Potter's Treasure Diver's Guide " The money is still there, some where under the beach or just off it in shallow water."

After the nor-easter of 1992 several silver Pillar Dollars all dated 1767-1769 were located. The coins which ranged from 1-8 reales were found scattered over more then two miles of beach. It seems that the wreck is completely buried and only the power of Mother Nature occasionally uncovers or washes up a portion of her sunken treasure.

This was the first Spanish coin I ever found. My wife had it made into a ring for me. Just an example of artifact presentation.

My friend Mike McMeekin found this coin on the same beach as posted above. Coin is in excellent condition especially considering be submerged in a salt water environment. We were hunting the beach after a winter storm. This coin was found high and dry in the sand. Mike actually spotted it before his metal detector had a chance to sound off.