A team led by Rick and Marty Lagginina announced the recovery of five ancient coins from Lot 5 on the island’s western front, a cluster of finds that has reignited debate over Oak Island’s earliest visitors. The coins, recovered during a focused metal‑detecting sweep by Gary Drayton and subsequent excavation work, include pieces identified as Tudor era British, multiple Roman coins dating between 100 and 300 AD, an Indian coin from the 6th to 8th centuries, and a smaller Chinese piece. The variety and age of the coins have left the crew and outside specialists grappling with how such disparate artifacts came to rest in one location.
The finds follow earlier discoveries on Lot 5 and nearby sites this season, and come amid renewed interest in theories linking Oak Island to transatlantic voyages, medieval missions, and even Knights Templar activity. The team has engaged numismatic expert Sandy Campbell to authenticate and date the coins, and archaeologist Leard Nan to advise on context and stratigraphy.
WHAT WAS FOUND ON LOT 5
Summary of Key Artifacts
- Five coins recovered in close proximity; identified types include Tudor British, Roman, Indian, and Chinese.
- Metal fragment possibly a lock or river spike detected by CT scans; may connect to historical English treasure‑seeking accounts.
- Lead barter token discovered by Gary Drayton; potentially related to a 14th century lead cross found at Smith’s Cove in 2017.
- Two mysterious stone structures near Lot 5 that may predate the 1795 Money Pit discovery by more than a century.
- Submerged artifacts found by diver Tony Samson including a hand‑carved timber plank and blue‑decorated earthenware.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Coins, Context, and Competing Theories
Numismatists say the Tudor coin’s portcullis motif points to 16th century British minting. The Roman coins, ornate and well‑preserved, suggest circulation from the classical world and have been described as potentially the most valuable of the lot. The Indian and Chinese pieces complicate straightforward narratives of a single origin.
Researchers and team members note three possible explanations: the site is a long‑used deposit point accumulating items from different eras; the coins are residual from shipwreck cargoes; or they are evidence of deliberate, organized activity on the island by visitors from multiple regions and centuries. Zena Halpern’s controversial research linking Oak Island to Templar maps has resurfaced in light of the Roman finds, though experts caution that stylistic similarities across distant sites do not alone prove direct Templar involvement.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE ISLAND
Stone Paths, Swamp Finds, and Maritime Clues
Recent seasons have produced a string of discoveries that broaden the island’s historical footprint. A stone path uncovered in the swamp and dated to the 16th century suggests deliberate landscape modification. Iron remnants consistent with bullshoes and ship spikes have been found along routes leading from the swamp toward the Money Pit area. In the marsh, a copper coin and a silver ring with 18th century European characteristics were recovered, and a charred ship brace hints at a violent maritime incident.
These finds support two working hypotheses: that Oak Island contains material from shipwrecks and maritime salvage, and that some features reflect long‑term human engineering on the island. Investigations continue with a mix of geophysics, CT scanning, targeted excavation, and underwater survey.
LOCAL HISTORY AND LEGACY STORIES
From Samuel Ball to Nolan’s Cross
Lot histories and past ownership add layers to the mystery. Lot 24 yielded artifacts near the former homestead of Samuel Ball, an 18th century landowner whose life story intersects with post‑Revolutionary settlement patterns. Earlier treasure hunter Fred Nolan’s 1981 discovery of a large cross of boulders and a carved stone with a face and sword motif remains a touchstone for Templar‑related speculation. The lead cross found near Smith’s Cove and similar religious iconography discovered in European sites continue to fuel comparative studies.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Ongoing Work and the Search for Answers
The Oak Island team plans further excavation on Lot 5, expanded CT scanning of metal finds, and continued collaboration with numismatists and archaeologists. Underwater surveys will press on for additional submerged artifacts. The discoveries have already shaped the narrative of the current season and will likely influence future fieldwork priorities.
For now, the island yields more questions than answers. The coins and associated artifacts form a tantalizing puzzle: a small cluster of metal and stone that may yet rewrite parts of Oak Island’s history or reveal a complex story of maritime traffic, settlement, and deliberate concealment spanning centuries.
