For years now word has come from the Outer banks beaches and the team that hunts them with the unlikely name of "The Soda Pop Pirates". This team of dedicated beach and relic hunters have outdone themselves with the kinds of treasure that most hunters dream of. They stalk the cold and windblown North Carolina Outer Bank beaches and hunt in weather that most hunters would NEVER go out in. The following is only a small snapshot of a typical hunt for them. It consisted of only a couple of days finds and you can judge for yourselves.

Here you will see the core of the team and several others come and go from time to time and all seem to have a great time. It is now possible to order a amateur two hour video of these hunts that is definitely worth your time. Ray(Seaweed) Midgett produces this video which can be obtained from him at a low price. I only mention this because I have a copy and watch it frequently when I can't get to my beach to hunt.

With over 100 years of combined metal detecting experience, it is no wonder this gang of hunters from North Carolina are successful in their treasure hunting pursuits! Affectionately known as the Soda Pop Pirates, at least three or four of the group can be found on North Carolina's Outer Banks beaches on most winter weekends from October until March. And, when they are not on the beaches they are busy scurrying around colonial farm fields and civil war sites.

The Pirates' finds over the years have been impressive, to say the least. Consider this, gold and silver coins from the 1600, 1700, 1800's. Ray Midgett says his oldest beach coin is spanish and bears a date of 1601, not to mention gold guineas (and he won't say how many!!).

Midgett says, however, that the "pirates" have spent many years studying the winter-time erosion process on NC's beaches, researching shipwrecks, and many, many hours combing the beaches with their detectors. "Persistence pays!", says Midgett, "we feel we know the Outer Banks beaches like the backs of our hands".

On a recent hunt, following two back to back northeasters, Midgett, McNeely, Cage and Harris came up with a nice collection of spanish cobs from the 1680's, spanish colonial reales from the 1700/1800's, and a nice English Half-crown (silver) dated 1643 from the reign of King Charles I. When the beaches are "cut to perfection" says Midgett, the "pirates" forget looking for jewelry.. opting for the more remote regions of the Outer Banks...Where????...you'll have to ask the Soda Pop Pirates!! Visit their webpage at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3415.

18Karat gold bracelet