Shore things

This is my idea of fun, searching a rocky shoreline at low tide for old coins and artifacts. 

Searching uninhabited islands is always interesting because you know back in the day, there was only two ways to get to an island, either by boat or swimming.
Beaches around islands are great places to recover old coins and artifacts lost by people attempting to get on or off the island.
The rockier the beach the more chance you have of recovering something interesting, I wear my big boots with good grip because of slippery rocks.
I can not imagine trying to get in or out of a boat back in the day, probably having to carry a weapon or two wading over slippery rocks. 
No wonder musket balls are common finds on island beaches, either lost by people wading ashore or lost by people hunting along the shoreline. 
Other common finds on island beaches are buckles, buttons and coins, along with jewelry.
If you slip and fall you are going to use your hand to stop your fall and probably kiss goodbye to your ring if you push your hand into sand. 
Coins roll out of pockets as people pull themselves into boats or jump out of boats into the water. 
Once you are ashore, buttons and buckles snag, pop or snap off jackets & pants, as you brush past branches or bushes on the edge of the island.
Eventually a regular crossing or landing site may be established, perhaps a wharf or dock is built and camps are made for extended stays on an island.
Unusually high numbers of old coins or artifacts in one area are perhaps a sign of an old crossing point, landing site or inland camp. 
All of these things make island beaches an excellent record of visitors to the island over the years.
Whenever you see an offshore island you can be sure someone back in the day took the time to check the island out, it is just human nature to see what is out there.
Not all artifacts you find on island beaches were taken and lost there, a lot of really cool old objects are put there by Mother Nature during storms.
One of my favorite things to search for is old glass bottles and you will find plenty of old glass around islands, including old glass fishing floats from far away.
Ironically, unless there is a causeway to an island you are going to have to do the same thing they did back in the day to get there, swim or take a boat.
Although jet skis and kayaks make scouting trips to offshore islands fun, just make sure you are not trespassing and following local laws. 
It is island o'clock somewhere if you want to check some place different to search.