I purchased some replica coins from http://www.jastown.com/coins/coins.htm just because they looked so cool. Some of them are gold plated. You could do some very interesting things with treasure hunting, or pirate plots. The larger coins were all silver colored, but I'm sure you could find some great gold plated pirate coins to add a bit of the unusual to your routine.

Enjoy,

Mike

I would love to use gold coins, but it seems as if they are harder to find and a lot more pricey.

RE: "I agree with Mr. Townsend wholeheartedly, and am attempting to get my hands on some coins that have been taken out of the sea from Spanish wrecks"

If you'r referring to the coins that have recently gone on sale from some wreck that happened in 1857... specifically, the gold coins from that wreck, you're talking about some VERY expensive coins. Not only the gold value, not only the numismatic value, but also the added historic value of them being part of a documented ship wreck, and then recovered.

I saw an ad in Discover Magazine for the $20 Gold coins from that wreck, going for something like $1500 each.

Mike

Be very careful when buying gold or silver coins from wrecks. In some cases, and they usually state it in the fine print, the coins are newly minted from the bullion that was on this ship. They did that with much of the gold from the Atocha.
I have an actual gold Dutch ducat from 1724 which was recovered from the Akerendam which was a Dutch ship that sunk about that time in a storm and was discovered by amateur divers in shallow waters off a Norway wildlife preserve. The coin is in a gold mount and and hangs from a chain. I bought it in Grand Cayman from a rare coin dealer about 15 years ago. I'd never use it to perform magic with. Read about this amazing discovery at: http://www.vocshipwrecks.nl/out_voyages7/akerendam.html