Captain Kidds Treasure 'silver' (?) ingot

Jim McDougall · 10th January 2025, 09:51 PM

In 2015, Barry Clifford who had been diving in the harbor in the Isle of St. Marie in Madagascar since 2000, by 2013 claimed he had found several wrecks associated with pirates.
While it seems the 'Fiery Dragon' of William Conden has been authenticated as well as the wreck of the Great Mahomet, the true search was for Captain Kidds ship the ADVENTURE GALLEY.

Most accounts claim that this ship though built in 1695, was literally a leaking wreck by 1698, and said to have been scuttled in 1698 in or around the harbor in St. Marie.

In 2015, allegedly found in the remains of a vessel and ballast mounds, a notably large INGOT was found, and with markings that suggested those found on ingots of precious metal, in this case silver.
The ingot was large and heavy (110 lbs) and without testing etc. Clifford announced this was PROOF he had found Kidd's Adventure Galley.

Within months UNESCO who had taken the ingot for analysis, noted it was over 95% lead, and probably a large ballast 'pig' . The debris assumed to be of a ship, was probably pilings and material from a dock situated in a location where ships were careened.

There are countless media reports throughout 2015 heralding this most important pirate find, both pro and con toward the curious ingot.
After that NOTHING!
There is not a single note in any medium or venue I can find so far that says what became of this mysterious bar.

While the ingot does seem like various types of lead ballast products, which were apparently largely produced in England.......WHY the markings, which seem to concur with the control and assay markings on Spanish treasure bars. WHAT WOULD THESE BE DOING ON LEAD BALLAST BARS?

Despite all the hyperbole creating the quintessant pirate treasure hunt since virtually the day Kidd was hung in 1701......there has never been any evidence he ever buried any great treasure (beyond the small sum found just after his death).

So AFTER the year of hyperbole on this supposed silver bar announced as Kidds treasure in 2015......WHAT BECAME OF IT?
Was any further investigation or discussion ever done?
No follow up on the archaeological activity in Madagascar since 2015?

Any info, insights, suggestions?

The first bar is the Clifford example....
Next a Spanish bar with noted marks of controller, assay bite, marks date

10th January 2025, 09:51 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,991	Captain Kidds Treasure 'silver' (?) ingot In 2015, Barry Clifford who had been diving in the harbor in the Isle of St. Marie in Madagascar since 2000, by 2013 claimed he had found several wrecks associated with pirates. While it seems the 'Fiery Dragon' of William Conden has been authenticated as well as the wreck of the Great Mahomet, the true search was for Captain Kidds ship the ADVENTURE GALLEY. Most accounts claim that this ship though built in 1695, was literally a leaking wreck by 1698, and said to have been scuttled in 1698 in or around the harbor in St. Marie. In 2015, allegedly found in the remains of a vessel and ballast mounds, a notably large INGOT was found, and with markings that suggested those found on ingots of precious metal, in this case silver. The ingot was large and heavy (110 lbs) and without testing etc. Clifford announced this was PROOF he had found Kidd's Adventure Galley. Within months UNESCO who had taken the ingot for analysis, noted it was over 95% lead, and probably a large ballast 'pig' . The debris assumed to be of a ship, was probably pilings and material from a dock situated in a location where ships were careened. There are countless media reports throughout 2015 heralding this most important pirate find, both pro and con toward the curious ingot. After that NOTHING! There is not a single note in any medium or venue I can find so far that says what became of this mysterious bar. While the ingot does seem like various types of lead ballast products, which were apparently largely produced in England.......WHY the markings, which seem to concur with the control and assay markings on Spanish treasure bars. WHAT WOULD THESE BE DOING ON LEAD BALLAST BARS? Despite all the hyperbole creating the quintessant pirate treasure hunt since virtually the day Kidd was hung in 1701......there has never been any evidence he ever buried any great treasure (beyond the small sum found just after his death). So AFTER the year of hyperbole on this supposed silver bar announced as Kidds treasure in 2015......WHAT BECAME OF IT? Was any further investigation or discussion ever done? No follow up on the archaeological activity in Madagascar since 2015? Any info, insights, suggestions? The first bar is the Clifford example.... Next a Spanish bar with noted marks of controller, assay bite, marks date Attached Images