In the quiet hills of Marin County, a historical enigma turned into a gripping true crime saga. Robert L. Stupack’s book, Nova Albion and The Treasure of Sir Francis Drake, unveils a shocking claim: the famed Plate of Brass, a 1579 artifact declaring Sir Francis Drake’s claim of Nova Albion for Queen Elizabeth I, may have been stolen and replaced with a fake. This isn’t just a tale of buried treasure. It is a mystery involving deception, hidden motives, and a shadowy cover-up that could rewrite history.
Drake’s proclamation and a sixpence coin hole were etched on the Plate of Brass. It is a renowned discovery made in 1936 close to Stupack’s home in Greenbrae Ridge. Hailed as proof of Drake’s landing in California, it was proudly displayed at the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.
But Stupack’s eight-year quest to uncover Drake’s treasure led him to a startling revelation. According to this revelation, the plate on display might be a forgery. His evidence? Through careful forensic examination, he discovered subtle imperfections in the plate’s inscription that didn’t match the tools he felt Drake’s crew used to make the original. When these instruments were cleaned and inspected in 2002, they showed marks that were exactly in line with the radio graph of the real plate, indicating that the actual artifact had been replaced.
However, who would take such a valuable piece of history? Stupack points to Robert Power, a researcher who, in the 1970s, raised alarms about discrepancies in the plate’s composition. According to Power’s notes, which are described in the book, he believed the Bancroft Library was involved in a cover-up to preserve its reputation or possibly hide a more significant secret regarding Drake’s treasure. Was the library involved, or did Power’s infatuation with the truth pose a threat to someone with more sinister intentions? According to Stupack, the theft of the plate might have been planned to hide evidence of Drake’s actual landing location at San Quentin, which would contradict the widely held belief about Drake’s Bay.
The motives are murky but compelling. A stolen plate could preserve academic credibility, protect valuable artifacts from treasure hunters, or even hide the location of Drake’s fabled hoard of gold, silver, and gems. Stupack’s encounters with the Drake Navigators Guild, particularly a tense meeting with president David Rosenthal, fuel his suspicion of a broader conspiracy. When Rosenthal was shown Stupack’s findings, his agitation suggested that the guild might be hiding something. Did they know the plate was fake? Were they protecting a legacy—or a fortune?
This true crime mystery captivates because it blends historical intrigue with modern deception. Stupack’s call for the California Attorney General to investigate the theft underscores the stakes: a lost piece of history and a potential crime still unsolved.
For true crime fans and history buffs, the stolen Plate of Brass is a puzzle wrapped in a riddle. Was it a desperate attempt to conceal Drake’s treasure or a heist to preserve academic honor? Stupack’s relentless pursuit invites us to dig into this Marin County mystery, where the past and present collide in a thrilling chase for the truth.
Read the book to know the full story behind this crime: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917238312.