Gary Drayton and Jack Begley Unearth Lead Shot and Cut Silver on Lot 5 (Season 12, Episode 7)

In The Curse of Oak Island Season 12, Episode 7, titled “It’s All Your Vault” and aired on January 9, 2025, metal detection expert Gary Drayton and treasure hunter Jack Begley resume their meticulous search through spoils excavated from the stone foundation on Lot 5—a site increasingly tied to pre-Money Pit activity. What starts as a routine sweep quickly escalates into a revealing sequence of discoveries.

Gary and Jack first uncover a damaged but unmistakably old button, continuing the ongoing pattern of button finds in this area. Moments later, they extract a lead shot, and soon after, what appears to be a cut piece of silver, possibly from an old coin. The silver’s distinct edge and weathered patina spark immediate interest, prompting Jack to summon archaeologist Helen Sheldon, who tentatively confirms it appears to be silver and potentially very old.

The next day in the lab, Emma Culligan runs tests using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and CT scans. While the hammered silver is ultimately determined to be modern—due to high aluminum content—the lead shot proves far more intriguing. Not only is it made of pure lead, but it also appears intentionally shaped, possibly as a carved object from a bored soldier, or a decorative artifact. The composition rules out modern manufacture, and Emma confirms it could plausibly date well before 1700.

Emma, Rick, and the team reflect on the unusual clustering of pre-18th century artifacts on Lot 5: the starburst button, the scalloped lead barter token, and now the mysterious lead shot. While the silver piece doesn’t add up to treasure, the collective evidence suggests Lot 5 may have hosted treasure-related activities before the Money Pit was even discovered in 1795.

The episode deepens the team’s conviction that Lot 5 is more than just a footnote in the Oak Island saga. With each discovery, the site seems increasingly likely to hold clues about who was on the island in the late 1600s—and what they may have hidden there.

Cast Featured: Gary Drayton, Jack Begley, Rick Lagina, Helen Sheldon, Emma Culligan, Craig Tester, Laird Niven