Rick Lagina: I Have Found Something That Will Lead Me To The Treasure On Oak Island

The discovery of gold and silver on Oak Island marks a monumental breakthrough for the Lajanina crew, whose relentless hard work has finally paid off. Yet, this remarkable find raises a profound question. Are these discoveries part of the legendary treasure long whispered about? Or is Oak Island, renowned for its hidden riches, poised to unveil a golden mystery that could transform the lives of the Lajinina crew forever? Let’s dive into the details and explore this enigma.

The silver unearthed isn’t pure. It contains a trace of lead deliberately included because these elements show up vividly on scans. What the crew uncovered is a William III shilling, a silver coin with the same diameter and design as historical records, making it a significant find.

The crew’s progress accelerated when they partnered with Dumas Contracting Limited to reconstruct the centuries-old garden shaft, believed to be the original depository of the long-lost treasure. There were compelling reasons to suspect the treasure lay at the bottom of this shaft.

First, the team discovered a collapsed secret tunnel just below it. Second, this mysterious tunnel extended west toward an area known as the baby blob, a spot that tested extraordinarily high for traces of gold, silver, and other metals. The logical next step was horizontal probe drilling to pinpoint the treasure’s exact location.

However, this effort triggered an unexpected leak of ocean water, forcing the crew to abandon the tunnel. It became evident they had stumbled into an ancient booby trap, one of many scattered across the island. All their work up to that point was destroyed as they likely hit the flood tunnel system.

Though a major setback, this incident confirmed a critical truth. The science and traps together provide tangible proof that the legend surrounding Oak Island may indeed be real. The crew’s current goal is to recover solid pieces of the garden shaft for dendrochronology or tree ring dating to determine the structure’s precise age.

The speed and volume of flooding in the shaft, they concluded, could only have been deliberately designed to thwart treasure hunters before they reached what lies beneath. Jack, a crew member, noted that changes are occurring across the island.

Their first stop was Lot 5, where they uncovered a variety of new discoveries and clues, including ancient structures previously unknown, and artifacts dating from the 1200s to the 1700s. Coins and tokens have also surfaced in this area, growing more intriguing with each find. Leard and his team are now focused on exploring Lot 5, while the crew has expanded their search islandwide, seeking clues about who constructed this elaborate mystery.

The western portion of the island, particularly Lot 5—a 4-acre parcel purchased by Rick, Marty, and Craig from Robert Young’s estate—has become a hotbed of discoveries, leading to a list of new suspects who might have left the traps, secrets, and treasure buried here.

Among the finds are four Roman coins nearly 2,000 years old, authenticated as clearly Roman in design. These coins suggest someone with Roman origins may have visited the island long before modern records indicate. Additionally, an old barter token was linked to a lead cross found in Smith’s Cove in 2017, long associated with the Knights Templar.

Iron tools connected to Sir William Phips, a 17th-century English politician, were also uncovered, sparking speculation about a chest of Spanish silver buried in the money pit.

These discoveries made near stone foundations—one rectangular, the other rounded near the shoreline—prompted archaeologists to uncover a massive stone structure far larger than anticipated. This area earned a special designation allowing careful excavation to preserve the archaeological context.

The team observed that the structure varies in size, curvature, and construction quality, with newer sections indicating a deliberate long-term project, possibly spanning generations. The theory is that those who built the money pit may have lived nearby during its construction.

Meanwhile, Gary and Peter headed to Lot 4 to sift through over 10 tons of material collected from Lot 5’s shoreline using metal detectors. They found items spanning centuries, including a 14th-century barter token, 17th-century tools, and materials matching those found 100 ft deep in the money pit. Some materials also matched findings from a site in Locust Coney linked to an 800-year-old cross.

Gary’s discovery of a cut coin, possibly Spanish and made of silver, was particularly exciting. The clean, intentional cut suggested it was split to make change, a common practice in the 18th century when European nations like Spain, England, and France colonized the Americas. This coin could point to that era and potentially to treasure.

Gary and Peter took the coin to the Oak Island Lab where Rick, Marty, Jack Leard, and Emma studied it. A longer scan was needed, and while waiting, the team continued scanning the area for more finds. Rick gathered the team for a meeting with Marty and Craig joining via video conference to review the silver coins report.

Emma explained that the detailed scan revealed faint engravings and an XRF map scan showed the coin contained lead. The XRF scanner uses X-rays to highlight elements in different colors. The coin was identified as an English shilling from the 1690s with engravings marked “GV” and a ribbon design matching a William III shilling in composition and diameter.

Though not a Spanish silver piece, it proved Lot 5 could have been occupied in the 1600s. Disappointed it didn’t directly support the Spanish treasure theory, the team considered new possibilities. Perhaps a soldier or someone guarding something valuable was present.

Historian Doug Crawl recalled a book, Oak Island and Its Treasures, describing a covert British military operation to recover treasure left by Sir William Phips in the Money Pit. The English shilling could link to these failed recovery missions, aligning with gold and silver particles found in water testing. The clues suggest the treasure remains buried, waiting to be found.

This discovery has heightened the stakes, making Lot 5 critical. Each piece of evidence brings the crew closer to solving the centuries-old mystery with a growing sense they are nearer to answers than ever. Rick Lajinina’s breakthrough proves gold is present. But the question remains: did they find a hidden chest with a map to the real treasure?

Craig Tester, Steve Guptal, Alex Lajinina, and the crew launched a large-scale excavation to uncover a second shaft believed to be over 100 ft deep and built in the early 18th century just southeast of the original money pit. Their goal was to extract wood samples for dendrochronology to determine when the tree was cut, potentially tying it to 1805 in the money pit.

They retrieved a large rounded piece of wood from the outer tree section, ideal for dating. Marty, amazed at the early searchers’ engineering, noted the team’s need for creative thinking.

Gary found a well-preserved rose head spike used between the 1780s and mid-1880s, linking the shaft to that period. Wooden boards and beams, some matching the early 1800s, suggested this could be the first true discovery shaft on Oak Island.

The excavation was challenging, with the operator working blindly, guided by Scott’s instructions. A promising sample was lost to water, but Billy retrieved a massive wooden beam.

Gary’s metal detector found no metal, suggesting older construction before metal fasteners—possibly the first searcher shaft. The question of whether the shaft’s top was reconstructed after 1805 could pinpoint the money pit.

At the Oak Island Research Center, Marty met with the drilling team to focus on metals detected in the island’s water, narrowing to a 25,500 square ft area and its Golden Egg subsection with high metallic activity. They began well drilling in the Golden Egg Zone, and at nearly 100 ft, a core sample lacking wood suggested a void or structure.

Loud booms from the EN13 bore hole lasting over 30 seconds indicated a cavity or collapse. Dr. Spooner’s dark yellow-tinted water sample suggested buried wood and metallic traces, exciting Rick about a possible hidden chamber.

The next day brought another Roman coin, hinting at Viking descendants. The historian noted the Norse reached Newfoundland just 600 miles from Oak Island, making it plausible they visited earlier than records suggest.

The crew planned a research trip to L’Anse aux Meadows, a confirmed Viking settlement, taking artifacts like a centuries-old arrowhead, possibly linked to Viking craftsmanship. The settlement’s 1960s discovery fueled speculation that Vikings or Knights Templar reached Oak Island.

Marty noted that significant activity around the 1200s narrows suspects to groups like the Vikings. A Templar-Viking connection is gaining traction, and with each clue, the team feels closer to unlocking Oak Island’s secrets, though the treasure remains elusive.