As most of you who attend the FUN Show every year know, Dave Crooks has been the organizer of the Sunken Treasure Coin and Book Society yearly meeting which always occurred on Friday at 100PM during FUN. This year Dave informs us that he will not be able to attend due to family duties which require his attention elsewhere. He has however, reserved a room for the meeting and I offered to pinch hit for him for which he agreed. So, the meeting will be at the usual time at the FUN Show on Friday, January 10, at 100PM. As soon as we are assigned a room number, I will let everyone know. I look forward to seeing everyone there. Note that I will have some of these books at the Fllet Society table, number 352. Look us up.
Ben Costello
President, 1715 Fleet Society
Below, please find Dave’s email.
Unfortunately, I won’t be at FUN this year. My wife and I will be babysitting our 3 ½ year old granddaughter in Maine. BUT I HAVE RESERVED THE USUAL ROOM FOR FRIDAY AT 1 PM SO THE MEETING CAN GO ON WITHOUT ME!!
There are a number of new sunken treasure books on the market.
- “Old Treasure New Blood” by Terry Armstrong. It is about the 1715 Fleet and picks up where Ernie Richard’s left off when he stopped publishing “Plus Ultra”. Highly recommended. $28.50 on Amazon in the US.
- “Paper Diver – How the World’s Greatest Underwater Treasure Hunter Never Got Wet” by Gary L. Pinkerton. This scholarly study of Harry Rieseberg (a popular sunken treasure author in the 1950s and 60s) disproves his many claims to salvaging shipwrecks. In fact, there is no proof that he ever got wet. $40 on Amazon in the US.
- “Treasure Coast’s Treasures” by Terry Shannon. This is the story of the author’s success in metal detecting in Florida, including many finds on the 1715 Fleet. $19 on Amazon in the US.
- “The Lost Galleon of Wales” by William Edward Thomas. This book is about the author’s 20 years of metal detecting on a beach in Wales (UK) where the galleon, Ann Francis, was wrecked in 1583, and recovering over 1000 16th-century coins and artifacts. It’s also about his extensive research into the wreck and the 16th century times in Wales. $25 on Amazon in the US.
- “The Treasure of Aspy Bay” by Bob Mackinnon. This book chronicles the wreck and aftermath of the colonial-era cartel ship, the Auguste, lost in Aspy Bay, Cape Breton. This is only available from Boularderie Island Press in Canada. Note: There is a postal strike in Canada at the moment.
- Rumor has it that Sal Guttoso (Dan Sedwick’s auctioneer and Director of Operations at Queen’s Jewels LLC) is writing a book that should be publish imminently.
In case you haven’t heard, Ben Costello is planning a 3 day treasure seminar in Vero Beach following the 2026 Fun Show.
More details at: https://1715fleetsociety.com/forums/discussion/dates-chosen-for-next-fleet-society-conference/
