What if one of America’s most famous historical artifacts wasn’t a hoax after all? For decades, scholars have maintained that the Plate of Brass, a marker allegedly left by Sir Francis Drake in 1579 claiming California for Queen Elizabeth, was a forgery.
But what if the real hoax was the story told to make people stop looking?
This is the bold and disturbing question raised in Robert L. Stupack’s eye-opening book, Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake. Through tireless research and dangerous firsthand discoveries, Stupack challenges the narrative we’ve all been led to believe. He suggests that the original Plate of Brass may have been real, and that its exposure threatened individuals and institutions with much to lose.
The controversy began when the Plate of Brass was discovered in Marin County in 1933. It was long sought after as proof of Drake’s claim to “Nova Albion,” his landing site on the west coast of North America. The artifact was hailed as genuine after six months of scientific testing and proudly displayed by the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley. But just decades later, it was suddenly declared a clever hoax.
According to Stupack, the reversal was not the result of new scientific findings. Instead, he alleges a quiet but coordinated effort by those with influence to change the story. His book details how individuals tied to the Bancroft Library and the Drake Navigators Guild may have realized the plate was more than symbolic—it could point to real treasure. Stupack claims these parties quietly removed the original plate and replaced it with a fake, then publicly discredited the entire artifact to cover their tracks.
To support his claim, Stupack presents startling metallurgical evidence showing that the known “hoax” plate differs from earlier descriptions. He also reveals that some key experts who once vouched for its authenticity later changed their positions under suspicious circumstances. His investigation includes firsthand interviews, archival discoveries, and unsettling encounters with those who may have wanted him silenced.
What’s at stake here is more than one artifact. Stupack discusses that the Plates may have served as a map or a marker tied to the treasure Drake buried before he sailed back to England. If true, the disappearance and discrediting of the real Plate of Brass was criminal.
After reading this story, you’re left with unsettling questions. What percentage of our accepted history is shaped by convenience or greed? How many facts are buried below powerful interests? And if someone was willing to risk their reputation or even their life to hide the truth, how far should others go to bring it back into the light?
If you’ve ever doubted the official version of history or longed for a story that peels back the polished surface of academic consensus, Nova Albion and the Treasure of Sir Francis Drake will leave you thinking long after the last page.
So, read the book and discover the truth about the Plate of Brass. Is it a hoax? Or is it the smoking gun in a cover-up bigger than anyone imagined?
Order your copy Paperback, Audible or Kindle version on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917238312.