Booty Makes Big Discovery On Treasure Coast Wreck Site. (17th century) Gold Pyx.

Treasure Beaches Report ^ | July 31, 2014

[NYer]

Shown below are two parts of the same item found 25 years apart.  The front part (on the right) was found 25 years ago, while the back (left) was recently found by the crew of the Booty.



Treasure Coast Finds.
Photo source: Video from Orlando Sentinel link below.

A truly great discovery was made this summer by a Treasure Coast salvage crew.  In fact a lot of discoveries were made, but the one I want to focus on today isn't a gold coin or even a bunch of gold coins, but something more important.

25 years ago a very intricate gold hinged frame was found, or at least that is what they thought it was.  This year, last month in fact, another very intricate piece of gold was found by the Schmitt family who operates the salvage vessel Booty.  It appears that the new find is the back of the item that was found 25 years ago.

The item appeared to be a frame before, exciting enough by itself, but having the additional part, they now believe the item is not just a frame, but it could be a pyx.  A pyx is a small, flat, clamshell type of container made of brass or other metals but lined with gold used in Catholic services. 

In the Catholic church a pyx would be used to hold the Eucharistic Host.  It would sometimes by carried in a fabric or leather pouch with cords and worn by a priest, deacon or minister of Holy Communion along with a monstrance.  When not carried, it would be kept in the church tabernacle.

This pyx would have definitely been owned by someone important.  It reminds me of the Pelican of Piety, which was also found on the Treasure Coast, and which I believe could be associated with the pyx.  Certainly both are very impressive gold religious artifacts.

I've posted about the Pelican of Piety in this blog back in 2012, and Laura Strolia, researcher and author, sent me a couple of excellent articles on the Pelican which I posted. 

You might want to go back and look at my 11/4/12 post, for example.

You can always use the search box on the main page of this blog to look for particular items or topics.  Enter either "Laura Strolia" or "Pelican of Piety" as search terms.  That should get you there. 

Here are two links about the recent find of the back of the pyx.   Cool video showing the discovery.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-sanford-family-finds-sunken-treasure-20140729,0,1244901.story

http://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie-county/fort-pierce/fort-pierce-booty-salvage-discovers-centuries-old-spanish-treasure-off-coast


Congratulations Booty!!

[NYer]

I've posted about the Pelican of Piety in this blog back in 2012, and Laura Strolia, researcher and author, sent me a couple of excellent articles on the Pelican which I posted.

Appraised at $885,000

The following article is well worth the read. It delves into the transport of relics.

11/4/12 More Revealed on the Pelican in Piety Story from Laura Strolia

Ping!

[Islander7]

That ain’t a pelican.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks NYer.

[livius]

Wonderful! Thanks for this post - the Spanish sent tons (literally) of liturgical and religious ornaments to the Spanish territories, of which Florida was one, and actually the indigenous peoples got so good at making them that the New World actually shipped things back to Spain.

It would be a pelican, btw. “Pie Pelicano” was a phrased used to refer to Our Lord, because in the middle ages, pelicans were thought to feed their young with their own blood by piercing into the chests. This was because pelicans feed their young mouth to mouth and they actually regurgitate the food, but they dip their heads in a way that must have looked to mediaeval naturalists as if they were plunging their beaks into their own breasts. Hence the sacrificial connection.

The pelican was frequently used as a Eucharistic symbol throughout Europe and the New World.

[GreyFriar]

this booty is too valuable to shake.

[bunkerhill7]

The left image`s center shows a monstrance used to hold the Host at benedictions and to display the Consecrated Eucharist at 40 Hours Devotions.

[Organic Panic]

Big Booty Found

[Bigg Red]

OMW! What an exquisite work.