6th July 2009 More database entries and ID's - Tom & Gene back from Ganes

Two of our most successful Senior club members, Washington Tom and Idaho Gene have just come back form their great trip to Alaska gold hunting. Tom posted his story on the forum and is offering up a great prize in a free competition. Log onto the members forum and have your guess.

More of our items recorded by the museum on the National Finds.org database ARE posted below. If you make any interesting metal detecting finds then report them to your local Finds Liaison Officer who will also ID and log them onto the database. I have another series of finds currently recorded on the database but are not released for public viewing yet as the write up on them is not yet complete. One of our finds I was really hoping to read the report on is the simply stunning medieval vessica seal matrix below which is currently with the BM's seal expert. It has been assigned an ESS number 0F1F33 but if you try and display the item is says not found. The FLO will let me know when this and the other finds undergoing research are released for public viewing.

Circa 13th C bronze Vessica seal matrix - 31.48mm H x 18.48mm wide - 8.45g

Script - NOLONIM ESDARI : U

Gene, Buzz and I had a great trip up to Ganes Creek, Alaska. Gene and Buzz arrived a week before I did, which turned out to be an awesome week for all that were there. Over 22 ounces of gold was recovered by that group, Gene and Buzz coming away with over eleven ounces of it. Most of this came from one small area.

The day I arrived (Sunday) Gene met me at the plane. He had with him a nice little nugget he’d just found out in front of the cabins. That afternoon we went out and hit some old pushes without much luck. It did allow me to get a feel for things, having never hunted gold nuggets before.

The next day we hit a fresh push Dan had done with the Cat and all four in the group found at least one nugget. Gene was on fire with his X-Terra 70, out hunting the MXT’s during both weeks. The X-Terra was picking up many little nuggets that the MXT would not or could not.

By the end of Tuesday I figured out my 12 inch Super Coil had gone bad, finding no nuggets that day. Gene had two of these coils go bad on him early, which is why he went to the X-Terra. I tried my Explorer SE this day and found that it sucks as a gold nugget machine.

Wednesday I got my MXT going again with the stock coil. I moved away from the settings I’d been using (the common Ganes Creek settings) to some I’d read about. These worked great! Immediately I began banging nuggets, both small and large. Between Wednesday and Friday I banged nine more nuggets, ending the hunt with over 1 ½ ounces.

Gene ended up with over three ounces of gold during the week I was there, with a couple of very nice nuggets. One weighed almost a full ounce. I ended up going down the push row that he’d recovered this nugget in and found his hole. As I ran my MXT over it I got a signal. I yelled out to Gene, asking if he’d checked his hole. He told me he had. I dug the target and ended up with a 1/3 ounce nugget out of it. After I teased him about it (many times) he claimed that he’d left it for me as a gift. I told him he could do it again. Unfortunately Gene checked his holes very well after this, leaving none behind.

Below are a few pictures of us hunting and nuggets we found. Long story short, we had a great time, found lots of gold and shared many, many laughs. Anybody interested in machines used or settings information I’d be happy to share, just ask.

One last thing, one picture below shows a nugget with a quarter next to it for scale. Gene and I thought it would be fun to sponsor a competition. The person that guesses the nuggets weight (per Gene’s scale), or closest to it, will win the silver Ganes Creek coin pictured that we bought just for this purpose. All guesses must be in ounces (i.e. 4.87 ounces). In the event of two winning guesses the first one in wins. The competition ends on July 11th and I’ll let everyone know who won on Sunday (12th).

Good luck to all!

ESSEX, England: ESS-117FF5 Roman buckle

Dates

LATE ROMAN (Probably), Circa 300 AD - Circa 410 AD

Object Type:	Buckle
	Possibly a crude late Roman (4th to 5th century) cast copper alloy buckle. Less than half of the frame survives. It is a zoomorphic type formed by what appear to be two dolphins. It is 39.05mm long and the dolphins are 7.24mm wide and 4.55mm thick. It weighs 5.67g. The buckle has a dark green patina with small patches of light green corroson including over the breaks.

ESS-0F4281 Medieval weight

Dates

LATE MEDIEVAL (Certain), Circa 1400 AD - Circa 1500 AD

Object Type:

Trade Weight

A complete late Medieval cast copper alloy trade weight. The weight is circular, measuring 61.05mm in diameter. It is 9.42mm thick and weighs 222g. The upper surface has a central dot with crown above, with two incised concentric lines around the edge of the weight. The reverse is plain. File marks can be seen on both faces. The weight has a dark green patina and light green corrosion At 222 grams, the weight is 2% off eight ounces, the equivilant of half a pound. This type of weight has been dated to the 15th Century, see Biggs 1992, 48.

ESSEX, England: ESS-E724C7 Medieval strap fitting

EARLY MEDIEVAL to POST MEDIEVAL, Circa 1230 AD - Circa 1700 AD

Object Type:

Mount Strap Fitting

Medieval to Post Medieval cast copper alloy mount. It has an integral suspension loop which is 18mm in diameter. The top has two rivet holes on each face. The upper rivet on one face contains traces of a copper alloy rivet. Part of one side knop is missing. The object is 33mm long and 4.38g in weight. The surface is mid green in colour with much light green corrosion. This could be a loop end for a strap guide, a bar mount, a belt mount or sword belt hanger. See Read nos. 17 and 369.

Dates

BRONZE AGE (Certain), 2150 BC - 800 BC

Object Type:	Casting Waste
	Bronze Age cast copper alloy casting waste; it is trapezoid in plan with a rectangular cross section. The surface is worn and pitted. It is 27.12mm long, 29.51mm wide, 13.59mm thick and weighs 45.56 grams.

Dates

UNKNOWN (Certain)

Object Type:	WEIGHT (Probably)
	Cast copper alloy weight of uncertain date. The object is onical with a hole at its apex. There is a countersunk circle on the base. The object is 26mm in maximum diameter and weighs 53.3g. It is very corroded.

4th July 2009 More database entries - Free forum comp entries

Check your entry for this years forum competition has been added to the master list, closing date has been changed to the 23rd Aug as we have a special early 'weed wacking' hunt this season.

http://colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/F/forumcompetition.htm

I spoke to one of our new landowners and he is cropping early this season in late July so his 10 fields are well worth a hit during this period.

More museum recorded and ID'd items below including a really nice Roman military buckle that I could not find in my books. All Roman coin finds are also recorded on the PAS database. http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/

ESSEX, England: ESS- D33B53 Roman coin; denarius of Faustina II

Dates

EARLY ROMAN (Certain) to EARLY ROMAN (Certain), 179 AD

Object Type:	Coin
	Roman silver coin. A denarius of Faustina II dated AD179. Reece period 8. Minted in Rome. RIC Vol. III, page 271, no. 713.

ESS-E2AD42 Medieval figurine

Object Type:

Figurine (Probably)

Medieval to Post Medieval cast lead human head. The face is three dimensional and is 33mm long and 22mm wide. It is very worn. Below the neck the object flares out to form what looks like a stopper, with a slightly convex underside. No definate function or date for this object can be deduced. Another database record (LIN-6FC6B7) for a lead head suggest a knife stop or part of a tobacco casket. Alternative interpretations are a mount, a stopper or a weight.

Dates

MEDIEVAL (Probably) to POST MEDIEVAL, 1400 AD

Object Type:

Unidentified object

Cast copper alloy mount or terminal. It is circular in cross section and triangular in plan forming a cone with a cast spiral design around it. The object is very corroded and has burnt-on accretions, making it difficult to identify. It is 34mm long and 19mm in diameter at its widest point. Its weight is 21.44g. There is a trace of a cirular projection on the underside for attachment. Due to the consdition of the artefact, it is difficult to be assertain a date

ESS-F7E490 Roman military buckle

Dates

EARLY ROMAN (Probably) to EARLY ROMAN (Probably), Circa 43 AD - Circa 200 AD

Object Type:

Buckle

An early Roman cast copper alloy buckle. A 'pelta' style buckle associated with the military equipment of the 1st and 2nd century AD, typically used on sword belts. The buckle frame is oval (30.43mm wide), with the terminals curving back in on themselves forming a decorative swirl. The bar is obscured by the pin which is iron and has rusted onto the bar. The remainder of pin has broken off. Attached to the oval frame is a smaller (20.17mm wide) rectangular frame with a grooved pin rest. The colour of the buckle is dark green with rusting around the pin. Cuddeford pages 8 and 9 has parallels, the closest of which is no. 4 on page 9.

2nd July 2009 Database entries and more exports

Just finishing the last of the exports which means Atlanta Mike wins the 'coin hunter' of the year award. He got 96 coins in the first week of a 2 week hunt and overall
he got 22 silver coins including two full medieval groats. Congrats to our clubs ' senior chow hound' and now coin hunter for 2008/9

Mike is far right of the team

I have posted a large list of approved export application names to the members forum. I will be posting out finds back to guys next week. I had a meeting with the museum this morning to drop off the final batch of finds for recording and picked up the previous batch that have been completed around 80%. I will be posting all the database entries and ID's but currently the finds.org database is running painfully slow for me to get up the details. I have posted 3 below.

I have the last of the coins for repairing ready to be taken to the goldsmiths next week including a really nice Saxon Coenwulf silver penny sent to me by John Cross. I will be sending it off to the Fitzwilliam museum for inclusion into the early medieval corpus national database.

ESS-FA8D68

Dates

ROMAN (Certain) to ROMAN (Certain), 43 AD - 410 AD

Object Type:

Terret Harness fitting

An incomplete cast copper alloy covered loop Roman terret mount measuring 39.44mm in surviving height. The circular loop, through which the rein would have passed, is complete. It has a roughly circular cross-section and is 5.85mm thick. The loop measures 25.68mm in external width and 16.38mm in internal width. There is a transverse moulding where the base of the loop meets the top of the flaring 'skirt.' The underside of the 'skirt'is hollow and covers the now all but missing very corroded iron loop. The 'skirt' measures 20.98mm in width. The height of the 'skirt' and the transverse moulding is 14.5mm. The skirt is incomplete due to wear.

ESSEX, England: ESS-11BF24 Roman headstud brooch

Dates

EARLY ROMAN (Certain), Circa 80 AD - Circa 200 AD

Object Type:

Hull Type 148 Headstud Brooch

Incomplete (late 1st to 2nd century) cast copper alloy headstud brooch. Only the head and part of the bow survives. The wings are short (16mm wide in total) and each is decorated with three incised lines. The circular headstud is formed of two moulded concentric circles. The bow has three remaining square cells which would have contained enamel.The rear of the bow is plain. On the crest of the head is a forward hook. The rear of the head is hollowed and has a rearward lug as if designed for a spring. It is 25.51mm long, and weighs 7.33 grams. This brooch has the remains of a a dark green patina but is mainly covered corrosion. For a parallel see Hattatt, Brooches of Antiquity, page 122 to 123, no. 944.

Dates

LATE EARLY MEDIEVAL (Certain) to EARLY MEDIEVAL (Possibly), Circa 1000 AD - Circa 1200 AD

Object Type:

Harness Strap Fitting

Early medieval (11th century) cast copper alloy horse harness fitting, strap distributer. One half is missing. There is a square convex central boss with two rounded triangular side knops, and one arm extending from the central boss with a worn break on the opposing side. The arm has a lozengiform terminal with a large openwork oval. There is a rounded knop at each angle of the terminal. This would have been a double terminal bar but the other arm and terminal are missing. Length 47.48mm, width 22.84mm and weight 15.74g. The colour is dark brown with remains of a mid green patina and some light green corrosion. Read illustrates an almost identical artefact on page 50 no 474, which is dated as 11th to 12th century.

25th June 2009 Foundintheground - ID requests - Great stories

More export pictures and find lists posted to members forum. I got an e-mail from export duty yesterday and and the first batch of export applications have been approved, more details on members forum.

Two amazing stories posted by members on the club forum as we excitedly wait for Tenn Brad's gold statue find from last season to go for inquest shortly.

The beep that made me leap: Housewife discovers £250,000 gold treasure after seven years of hunting with a metal detector

At 2.8cm by 2.3cm, the treasure is barely larger than a postage stamp, but its importance is exciting experts

Jewel consists of engraved gold with cabochon sapphire - click picture to enlarge

In 1985, Ted Seaton had been metal detecting near Middleham Castle, as he was about to pack up and go home he detected a faint signal and from about 15" down he unearthed what appeared to be an old compact. It was only when he got home that he realised what he had found. After cleaning it turned out to be a gold pendant weighing 68 gm together with a 10 ct blue sapphire stone. A scene of the Trinity  is engraved on one side of the diamond-shaped pendant and has a border of burnished gold surrounding a raised panel which gives a cameo effect and highlights the engraving. The border carries a Latin inscription showing the pendant to be a charm against `falling sickness` (epilepsy).  The discovery was adjudged not to be Treasure Trove. This wonderful find was sold at auction where it realised the incredible sum of £1.3 million. The Yorkshire Museum, in York, has since raised £2.5 million to acquire the now world-famous Jewel and keep it in this country – it is one of the most exquisite pieces of English Gothic jewellery found this century. 

I received 3 treasure receipts form the Treasure registrar at the British museum yesterday, list posted on the members forum. Chicago Ron's gold ring find was looked at by a Continental ring expert and is not dated pre 1709 so it will be returned to him.

http://foundintheground.com/

I am still getting dozens of requests for ID help via e-mail with large attachments and I cannot answer them by this method as I cannot risk viral attacks by opening them from unknown e-mail addresses. If you want ID help then post them on our forums on our foundintheground database. All our unknown buttons, artefacts etc are posted there as a log and if you post them there also with pictures I will help ID your finds. You can also take them to your local Finds liaison officer in you county for recording and ID. The link below takes you to their locations.

http://www.finds.org.uk/involved/regional.php

23rd June 2009 Great videos and more exports

Roman or Saxon solid gold hanging pendant ? - 2.65g, 11.95mm H x 10.68mm dia x 11.68mm W - still awaiting curators report

I am still busy preparing export licenses with more pictures and finds lists being posted to the members forum. I spoke to the Treasure Registrar at the British museum on Friday to get an update on outstanding treasures. Those that have not got an inquest date yet are still with the experts being evaluated so curators reports have not been produced yet. We are anxious to get the report dating the solid gold 'bell shaped' object found on new land last season on a potentially exciting Roman/Saxon settlement area the guys discovered.

Chicago Ron has just posted a new compellation video of his teams best finds on the forum, click this link to watch as it is a fun video.

Barn house team video

Ron has his own web site under construction ChicagoRon.com and has posted a load more of his teams video's on a single page. I have uploaded some of his videos to our members video page. Video Page link

http://www.chicagoron.com/englandvideopage.html

One video I found very interesting is Ron going through his pouch at the end of a mornings hunt and showing all the coppers, lead and do dads.

Mornings hunt pouch

Ron is running two weeks at the Barn House in Oct if you want to join his very successful team. He has a page on his site where he discusses the trip .http://www.chicagoron.com/englandtours.htm

18th June 2009 More exports posted - Out and about - Free slots

I have been out seeing the landowners and getting cropping schedules for the coming season. A new farmer intends to crop in July so there will be harvested land ready for the early 'weed wackers' August hunt. There is one free slot on the 23rd August if anyone fancies an the warm weather.

Chicago Ron also has a free slot on his Oct 'Barn hunt' as a guy has had to drop out due to illness. You can either do a one week or two week hunt, dates are on the Barn page.

More export pictures and finds lists posted to the members forum including ILL Mark's monster pouch where he found 29 pieces of silver and his first ever Celtic gold, he was seriously on his game this last hunt. I managed to find his Celtic wode grinder pestle in a reference book, great find

Boston Beau had an interesting military button in his pouch which is not in my reference books and appears to be a 12th Regiment of foot one piece with the word 'Reserve' under the regiment number.

12th regiment of foot ?

Celtic wode grinder pestle

I have a meeting with the museum shortly to take in more finds for recording and to pick up the last batch I left with them. I have added the two very interesting double stuck early milled silver coin finds out of the export pouches to see what their experts make of them. I am not certain how rare these double strikes are for that period of minting.

Double struck 1690's William III milled silver sixpence - early harp large crown, first bust

This coin has me totally stumped !!

First 1645 Charles 1st hammered silver three pence we have found - double struck coin which has obscured the mint mark. The coin has been rotated and double stuck and the combination of oval shield with this legend does not match. It is possible that it is a half groat and that the III behind bust is II. It could be a Tower half groat Group D, North 2254 but the crown is not that of a bust 4.

I suspect this is a very rare coin as I cannot match it in JJ North's ref book. The normal Tower legend is IUS THRONUM FIRMAT and most have the CHRISTO legend. Some coins had the IUSTITA written in full.

Is this an overstrike of a Ashby de la Zouche mint trying to cover the declaration coins in 1645/6 ?

Rev IUSTITA THORNUM FIRMAT

14th June 2009 More export and ID's - interesting stories

Min Mindy posted a great link to the Museum of Wales shop where they are selling some really finds.

'Here's an ebay store that has lots of interesting surplus coins, artifacts, fossils, etc. they're selling off to fund some other projects'.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/museumofwalesantiquities__W0QQ_armrsZ1

'Dismembered skeletons discovered'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8094935.stm

Still busy preparing the export paperwork and have just uploaded more find lists and pictures to the members forum, check them out including Boston Beau's monster sized pouch. How anyone can dig that many keepers in a week amazes me.

Boston Beau also had a great bonus find in his export pouch I missed photographing on his last day of his hunt. It is the first ever Henry VIII hammered silver half penny found here and it is tiny at only 11mm in dia, great find.

Tiny 1547 -51 Henry VIII Posthumous coinage - hammered silver half penny - Canterbury mint

0.33g, 11.81mm

Some real nice buttons and do dads I just cleaned up out of the export pouches. The 38th Regiment button in not in the reference so I have sent pictures off to our button expert for his views.

Romano/British twisted wire fastener

I have updated the British Numbered regiment button page

61st Regiment of Foot ( South Gloucestershire ) O/R's - 1855-1881	1704 Queen Anne trade weight - Crown A London hallmarks
19thC Titled family livery button	Capt / Commander - 1774-1787 RN Master & Mate - 1787-1807
18thC 38th Regiment of Foot - not in ref books - derivation of the buttons on the right we have found that are 19thC examples ( 1st Staffordshire ) 38th Regiment of Foot ( 1st Staffordshire ) O/R's - 1855-1881

9th June 2009 More ID's and exports - Treasure inquests

I spoke to the Coroners office this morning to check on the process of our treasure finds currently in the system. The following finds and paperwork are now ready for the next inquests to be held at Chelmsford Coroner's court shortly. While we went through the paperwork there is more information on Ill Joe's 12thC sapphire gold finger ring which I have just been sent a copy of by the FLO at Colchester museum, very interesting how they determined it was a sapphire and the gold content of the ring.

REPORT FOR THE CORONER ON THE ANALYSIS OF
A FINGER RING FROM TENDRING, ESSEX
ITEM OF POTENTIAL TREASURE 2008 T580

(submitted via The Department of Prehistory and Europe)

Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of a finger ring from Tendring, Essex, indicated a gold content of approximately 60%, a silver content of approximately 20%, and a copper content of at least 19%. The dark blue stone was identified by Raman spectroscopy as corundum, which for this colour is known as sapphire. The ring weighs 2.48 grams.

Department of Conservation and Scientific Research
The British Museum                                    
                   
File No. 7419-27 jr
21st January 2009

I have updated the treasure and hoard page with latest info

Treasure case 2008T453 16thC Tudor rectangular headed fastener with a raised central box section . Complete and undamaged with much of the original gilding 2.24g, 25.02mm
Treasure case 2008T575 Post Med silver gilt pendant PAS no: ESS-481232 Gilded silver item - possible rosary hanger - 22.34mm L x 19.57mm w, 3.29g
Medieval gold figurine PAS no: ESS-49E265 Treasure Report:   2008 T581                                                                             A medieval figure of John the Baptist. The saint is shown not in his usual attribute of a camel skin, but in the robes of a prophet. He gestures with his right hand to a salver, which he holds in his left. This was originally designed to carry a lamb, signifying the Lamb of God. A scroll issues from the Saint’s left hand and is inscribed with the words : ECCE +ANGUS+DEI (Behold, the Lamb of God) The figure stands on a small plinth with a finished base. It is designed to be seen in the round and on its back there is a loop for attachment to an object. It would probably have been entirely enamelled, but no traces of enamel survive on the figure. The figure is gold and dates from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. Dimensions: height 33 mm, width 11 mm, depth 10 mm.
Treasure Report:   2008 T580   A Medieval finger-ring with a simple wire hoop and a symmetrical hexagonal bezel set with a sapphire. The finger-ring is gold, and dates from the late twelfth or the thirteenth century. Dimensions: diameter 21 mm Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of a finger ring from Tendring, Essex, indicated a gold content of approximately 60%, a silver content of approximately 20%, and a copper content of at least 19%. The dark blue stone was identified by Raman spectroscopy as corundum, which for this colour is known as sapphire. The ring weighs 2.48 grams.
Treasure Report: Case 2008 T235 Date: 15th century A medieval gold finger-ring in the form of a flattened band, now distorted. The ring is engraved with a black letter inscription which reads: +de le bien(?), probably an amatory phrase meaning ‘of, or for, the good’. Each word is separated by motifs of flowers and sprigs. Dimensions: Max diameter: 20mm. Width: 4mm.
Treasure Report:   2008 T236 Post medieval silver clothing fastener, 17.34mm H x 18.04 mm W, 1.66g -
Treasure Report:   2007 T495 17thC silver cufflink

It took me two years to finally get an ID this copper coin find of Mass Bruce's thanks to the guys on the French lefouilleur.com forum. Even with the ID I still can't find it's entry in the World Coin books of that period.

I have uploaded more export find lists and pictures to the members forum.

It is a Ardit or double denier of the last pretender to the throne of Spain Don Carlos III of the workshop in Barcelona. In fact it is a great counter mark made earlier on currencies (often Felipe IV of Spain) from Barcelona. In the centre, this is not a character that you see quickly, but the "pattern", a circle with a curved center line. The example on the left dating from 1708, diameter 18 mm:

I found a modern version of the calendar pencil for sale on the web similar to the one I posted on the 6th

6th June 2009 Saxon exhibition - Saxon donation and more ID's

The 2,000-year-old gladiator's helmet discovered in Pompeii's ruins

I dropped off and picked up more of our finds from Colchester museum yesterday. While I was waiting for the meeting I was pleased to see one of our previous finds featuring on a brochure for the Saxon exhibition currently on at Ipswich . The gold Saxon dagger pommel is normally on permanent display in Colchester but has been lent to Ipswich museum for a brilliant free Saxon exhibition on there from 6thMarch to 5th Sept, get along for a visit if you can.

Saxon exhibition details

Saxon (c.550-650AD) dagger pommel found by Ohio Bud

A couple of years ago Cal Shawn found this stunning Anglo Saxon/Viking silver decorated strap end. It was reported as treasure but eventually disclaimed by the British Museum as being under 10% silver by weight , a treasure item has to be over 10% by weight under the terms of the Treasure Act. The British museum wished to acquire it for their collection but where not offering him a sufficient reward. I therefore bought it so that members could get to see during their trip but now it is time it should be in the local museum in their Saxon collection. Saxon finds are the rarest category so I have now donated it to Colchester museum for all to enjoy

9thC Viking engraved silver strap end 5.82g, 44.44mm L x 11.91mm W.

More of our finds recorded on the PAS Finds.org National database

ESSEX, England: ESS-6BE383 Roman vessel: patera handle

2nd C

Roman cast copper alloy patera handle. The handle is sub-rectangular in plan, with concave edges which expand out towards a sub-oval terminal and a 'tanged' end. The tang is located towards the end which would have been attached to the body of the vessel. There is a worn break across this end. The handle is 144.54mm long, 53.09mm wide across the terminal, 25.75mm wide across the main section, 55.76mm wide across the tang and it is 3.22mm thick along its whole length. The handle weighs 102.36 grams. It has a mid-green patina. The surface is pitted due to corrosion

Silver find returned ID'd from the museum yesterday. Pencil calendar

'It would have had a hollow shaft where a pencil sat and the top had a rotating arrow to indicate date, Georgian period.

What a neat find'

While processing the export pouches I noticed a very similar lead mount to one that Min Mindy found in Feb, looks like they are from the same casting.

Updated the following individual pages below with the latest finds

	Jettons		Toy cannons
	Clothing fasteners		Watch winders

3rd June 2009 More exports and ID's - coin straighteners

I have just posted more guys find pouches to the members forum. Idaho Travis had some real nice bonus unrecorded buttons (posted below) and do dads in his pouch including another really nice 4th C Roman bronze I sent to Mark Lehman for ID. He has just send back it's ID and the other 2 Roman coins I sent him on Friday. I have sent the unrecorded buttons off to Tim to see if he can shed any light on their ID's and dates. The unknown 'Hon. Artillery Com.' is an amazing button.

I have a large batch of bent hammered silver coin finds and Idaho Jerry's 18thC mourning ring to take to the coin straighteners this week. It will be first time we have asked the goldsmith to try and fix a gold ring so it will be interesting to see what kind of repair he can do on it.

Gold mourning ring of Richard Wall aged 80 died in 1797 - some black enameling remaining

Legend reads - OB 21st OCT 1797 // E 80 RICHD WALL

4th C Roman bronze sent for ID 4.30g, 24.65

This one is a follis of Constantine I, Mint of Trier. It dates to 307-308 AD and is part of the first issue from Trier for Constantine as Augustus. The reverse type is GENIO POP ROM or "(to the) Genius (which means something like "spirit" or "inspiration" in this usage) of the Roman People" and shows the personification of Genius standing left, pouring an offering libation from a patera and holding a cornucopia. It threw me for a little while since the mark S in the reverse left field at first appeared more likely to be the S of the S - C in field on an As, which would also be about the same size.
Eventually, I pinned it down from the exergual letters, which while unclear, make more sense as "PTR" Trier, 1st officina or workshop than anything likely to be in the exergue of an As.

Mark

I'm afraid I can't be very sure about what this one is. The "reverse" (I guess it's the reverse) resembles (but not at all closely) 2 different very common types, (and a highly unlikely 3rd) - 1 of which is common for British lots and the 2nd of which is not. It really doesn't look much like either one, however. I suppose it could be a "GLORIA EXERCITVS" 2 soldiers flanking 1 standard type - in that case, the lettering in the exergue would be the mint mark - for Sirmium (?) maybe? "SIRM". If this is what it is (and I have serious doubts) the 1-standard GLORIA EX's date to 335-337 AD, mostly and were struck for all the living male members of the family of Constantine.

The second possibility would date to the era of the later Severans and Gordian III - approximately 220-250 AD. These coins from the Provincial mint at Nicaea in Bithnyia travelled a lot farther away from their source than did most Provincials - I've never seen one found in Britian, but it's not impossible - these have an aquila or legionary eagle, or a standard, between two other standards, variously topped with wreaths, leaping rams, eagles, etc, with letters of the ethnic: NIKAIEOWN arranged variously between the standards and continuing into the exergue.

The major issue I see at the moment is that I have no idea what's supposed to be on the obverse - and it looks nothing at all like a portrait to me - both of the aforementioned types would only be paired with portrait obverses.

There is a very distant third possibility - again from a Provincial mint - the relatively common coins of Augustus' time with a Winged Victory on globe obverse and 3 standards on the reverse, issued in commemoration of the decisive battle at Philippi at which the final remnants of Brutus' and other anti-Caesarean faction's forces were defeated, clearing the way for Augustus' ascendency.

It's just that I cannot make anything at all of the obverse, so I can't be any more specific than these 3 guesses - none of which I have much faith in being correct.

Mark

This piece is a fragment of what's commonly called a "campgate" reverse. More likely a fort's watchtower, or a city gate. The most common of these date to 2 different eras - the 1st group date to the 320's AD and were minted for all of the male members of the Family of Constantine - and a few for the Licinii as well. These typically have a reverse legend of PROVIDENTIAE AVGG or PROVIDENTIAE CAESS depending on whether the portrait was of an Augustus or a Caesar. They were struck at mints all over the Empire and are quite common. The 2nd group date to the 380's and were issued only from European mints - these later ones are a lot scarcer - At Thessalonica only they were struck only for Theodosius I, and at several other more Westerly mints for the usurpers Magnus Maximus and his son, Flavius Victor. Since one of their power bases was in Britannia, this is a possibility, but the style of the brickwork is more reminiscent of the Constantinian campgates.

Unfortunately my website's server is down at the moment, or I'd send you links to examples of both the AE3-sized Constantinian and the AE4-sized later CG's.

Mark

17thC clothing fastener	Unrecorded 33rd regiment of foot button	16thC clothing fastener
Unknown Hon. Artillery Com. *ch Dien	Interesting military button ?	O**** Regiment - Harp design

29th May 2009 More exports and updates

Hidden treasure trove of gold to be auctioned - Great story link

More export pics and lists just posted to the members forum. The latest free forum competition entries received have been posted to the Forum Competition page, amazing range of numbers from 500 to 5000 already !! Make sure you get you entry in for a chance to win a free trip next season.

I have updated the following individual pages with the latest finds.

	Georgian milled coinage		Modern milled silver
	Early milled silver		Victorian milled coinage

26th May 2009 Lots of paperwork and ID's - Early hunt request 23rd Aug

Meteorite hunting - Interesting article posted by Can Ed of the forum

'Here is a link concerning a meteor shower that hit Saskatchewan last winter. The main impact was about 90 miles west of me. All on private land and has been overrun with primarily university people looking for pieces. Could not find the article in the Saskatoon paper, but a 13 kg piece (30 lbs) was found by the owner of the land. Valued at $250,000. He donated it to the University of Calgary. More than likely he had more smaller pieces.
Might be a good place to check after all the University people have given up on it.
Who knows what one could find still. One article has stated that they had found close to 2000 fragments already'.

Some of the guys have requested a special early hunt 23rd August to 5th Sept as it fits in to school holidays. Normally the season starts on the 5th Sept but I have opened up slots on those dates if anyone else wants to join. Drop me a mail if you are interested.

Still banging on with preparation of the export paperwork and have had a marathon session filling out all the application forms. The latest batch posted to the members forum have now been submitted to export duty. I got an e-mail in from the museum and Ron's suspected sword handle find from march has between ID'd as a 3rd to 4th Century AD military pan handle, what a neat find.

'This piece is from a large bronze military pan or Patera (as it is commonly referred to) '

Interesting that it was near where one of Ron's team, Chicago Reid, found that really crispy silver Roman coin I cooked up. This is from a new site so it worth another look this coming season after a fresh plough.

Roman silver as dug and 'cooked' to reveal the detail

Yes, of course this is Faustina - that's pretty obvious. However there were 2 Faustinae, the wives of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius respectively. This is the 2nd, also known as "Faustina Junior". She and Marcus Aurelius were married in 145 AD. while he was still Caesar under Antoninus Pius and raised to the rank of Augusta in 147. So her coinage exists in several phases: those struck by Antoninus Pius before, then after becoming Augusta, those struck by Marcus Aurelius during her life, and those struck in her honor posthumously. she and Marcus evidently had a closer relationship than that enjoyed by most Imperial couples - Faustina accompanied or visited him throughout his military career in far-flung outposts while fighting the Germans. For this, she became known as "Matri Castrorum" - "Mother of the Camps". This piece was struck by Marcus Aurelius while she was still living, sometime between his elevation to Augustus in 161 and her death in 175. The reverse type, which is a bit hard to read in its present condition is "SALVS" - the allegorical personification of Salus ("health", but as in "the Health of the Empire" or "of the body-public", etc.) seated left feeding a serpent arising from a low altar at her feet. This is a pretty obscure reference for us at this remove in time, but it was full of important symbolism for the Romans. Whether at that point in time it was still occurring that the Vestals and/or other faithful Roman women fed actual serpents in ceremonies from which all men were banned, I don't know. Ceremonies of this type were important well into the Imperatorial era. However, the image of this ceremony remained a part of the Roman psyche and symbolized the "Purity" or "Virtue" of the Empire to the extent that it could interact with serpents and not be harmed.

Catalog - RIC III, 714 (of Marcus Aurelius), RSC 195, SR 5262.

Mark

146mm L x 59.96 mm W x 3.51mm T

Roman military cooking pan - More pics and write up at the link below



http://www.roman-artifacts.com/Military%20Accessories/Military%20pan%20or%20Patera/Roman%20Patera.htm

A couple of Romans out of Chicago Reid's export pouch had some detail showing so I have posted them to Mark Lehman for his views

Roman bronze sent for ID - 3.35g , 16.71mm

Roman bronze sent for ID - 0.71g, 10.96mm

22nd May 2009 More iD's and exports - Forum competition launched - Hard core slots

More export find lists and photo's posted to the members forum

We try and run these tours to suit the different requirements of the guys coming here. Normal detecting hours are 8am to when the guys decide to finish normally 6 or 7pm. There are however serious hard core guys that hunt until 10pm with nightlight's and we have a Barn house week running with Louisiana Sal that will be 7am to 10 pm, giving the guys 14 hours searching per day. Sal's hunt filled up instantly and we opened up another hard core slot hunt in Oct designated 'hard core' and that also is now full. Idaho Orv is going to put forward a date in Spring 2010 that we will again designate 'hard core'. Keep an eye on the availability page if you think you are 'hard enough' to join.

The prize this year is another biggy - free week, full board holiday, totally inclusive, you just have to get here !

This years free forum competition is to guess the number of milled copper coins, both English and Foreign found here from Sept 2009 to April 2010. More details on the Forum Comp page

Thanks to the guys at the French and Italian forums for ID'ing two of our outstanding continental silver finds from March. The hammered coin is an early 1500's Portuguese 20 Reais, my earliest World coin book starts at 1600 which is why I could not find it, nice find.

Sebastian I., 1557-1578. Vintém (20 Reais) o. J., Lissabon. Gekrönte Initiale / Gekröntes Wappen. Gomes 12. 02. Sehr schön

1786 French 1/10eme d'ecu dit aux branches d'oliviers" for Louis XVI

20th May 2009 More updates, ID's and exports

I have updated the individual pages below with the latest finds. I have posted more export find sheets onto the members forum. The next meeting with the museum to pick up outstanding disclaimed treasures and drop off more finds for recording is early June.

	Foreign milled coins		Foreign hammered coins
	18thC tokens		Base metal milled British coins

I have just got some more ID's on our outstanding button finds below. I still have a bunch of unknowns I have sent off to Tim for his views.

	1st West India regiment - Princer Consort's own - 1855-1888		28th (North Gloucestershire) regiemnt of foot 1855-1881
	Burgoyne family livery button		Brown family livery button
	Earl Cadogan 19thC livery button		Follett family livery button

16th May 2009 More updates and exports

Updated all the button pages below with our latest finds. I have a whole bunch of our military and navy button finds I can't see in the reference books so I have sent off to Tim our button expert for his views.

Unrecorded buttons sent off for ID

15th May 2009 More ID's and exports

Still busy working through the export applications, more find sheets and photo's posted to the members forum. I just cleaned up some neat buttons out of Ohio Steve's bag including a really nice 70th Regiment of foot button.

I got a great e-mail in from a badge collector Stuart who has sent us ID's on badges we have found. Some appear to be rare finds.

161 Athletes Volunteer force badge

September 20, 1914, Sunday

LONDON, Sept 19. -- The English soccer players have got together and formed an organization called "The Athletes' Volunteer Force" for home service, which enables them to keep their engagements with their various clubs during the football season. Many well-known players are already at the front, and they have been followed this week by Lintott of Leeds City, Crab-tree of the Blackburn Rovers, Evans of Aston Villa, and Kelsall of Sunderland

Hi.

Thank you for your fascinating website, it never ceases to amaze me the range of items found. The Athletes Volunteer Force badge is a super rare find and in good condition this would be a very valuable badge. May I please suggest a couple of identifications for some of your badges?

Teddy Tail League badge is probably 1930s, the two main makers of these badges were J R Gaunt of London and Roden of London. (I have a write up on my Flickr account if you are interested – account name is ‘retro stu’).

'Teddy Tail the cartoon mouse and main character of the Teddy Tail League delighted children with his stories for 40 years. He is distinguished by the suit he wears and always shown with a knot in his tail. A somewhat mischievous guy he loved the occasional prank, parties and getting into all sorts of adventures with his friends. Teddy Tail lived in the little village of Whiskertown whose friend included Dr. Beetle, Piggy, Kitty Puss the cat and Dougie the duckling amongst others.

Teddy Tail’s main claim to fame is that his is the first cartoon strip regularly featured in a British newspaper. His first appearance was in the Daily Mail on the 5th April 1915 and continued until 1962. He disappeared in 1942, a victim of wartime paper shortages and post-war austerity but was revived in 1949 to the delight of his so many fans'.

Stormy Weather was a promotional badge for the song made famous by Lena Horne in 1943. This is quite a rare badge and in good condition can sell for about £10. Another super find!

For Empire – showing the Union Jack and St. George Cross – a ‘Junior & Imperial Conservative League’ political badge. This one likely 1920s or 1930s.

League of Youth – a 1930s children’s club badge issued by the Daily Sketch newspaper.

WW1 Flying badge – The Biggles Club, probably 1920s or 1930s. Quite scarce.

Regards.

11th May 2009 Roman bronze coins - Record book - more updates

Archived half of this page to speed up load times

Article of UK detecting in Washington post

8,000 year-old axe head discovered on Inch Island

I have updated the Elizabeth 1st coin page with the latest finds and split the page in 2 as it is far too big. The coins are split in to small and large denominations now to speed load times.

I have updated the club record book with Rod's new entry, the 136 BC Roman find - Record book link

Cal Jim just sent me a picture of a grotty Roman coin find he cleaned up from his last hunt, I just got back Mark's views.

There is a great 4 Meg colour free download Roman cleaning book available on our finds database - click here

2nd C Roman copper coin sent off for ID - 7g, 26mm

Unrecorded one piece military button - sent off to Tim for his views

'1st L Essex'

I am still waiting for feedback from the manager at the local hotel on a better discount members price for a weeks B&B and evening meal deal. The hotel option is new for this season if guys want to hunt when the other accommodations are full. It includes all the available 250 fields, ID, recording and exporting of finds as normal.

It would also suit members that want to bring a non detecting spouse or want a 'softer' detecting option by hiring a car and coming and going as many hours as they please. More details posted on members forum or check out hotel link.

9th May 2009 Oldest coin ever found here 136 BC - Another 'cooked' Roman

More completed export find sheets and pictures posted to members forum, Washington Tom is a silver magnet and found our first ever Charles 1st milled silver halfcown find, more of his sheets posted to the forum.

1. 18thC decorated silver clog fastener
2. 1631 - 32 Charles 1st milled silver half crown (30 pence)
3. 1422-27 Henry VI hammered silver groat (4 pence) annulet issue - incurved cross
4. 1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny
5. 1272 Edward 1st hammered silver penny - class 9b
6. 1204/5 King John hammered silver cut half penny Class Vb2
7. 1327 Edward III Medieval hammered silver half groat -
8. 1199 King John hammered silver short cross penny qtr
9. 1592 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence - Tun mintmark
10. 1696 William III milled silver sixpence love token
11. 1842 Victorian milled silver sixpence
12. 1943 George VI milled silver sixpence
13. 1927 George V milled silver sixpence
14. 1679 Charles II milled silver 3 pence
15. 1696 William III milled silver sixpence love token
16. 1939 George VI milled silver sixpence
17. ** Blue glass ring fragment with lead insert
18. 1696 William III milled silver sixpence love token
19. 1696 William III milled silver sixpence love token
20. 15thC lead long cross token - type 2

Ohio Jerry found the top chunk off a Roman silver coin and amazingly found another chunk off it that was lurking in his finds pouch. It was thick with 'horn' crust so I 'cooked' it up and it is the bottom half of the same coin, great find. This is why we are very strict here with not 'chucking' any tiny relic found during the hunts until it has been looked at closely during the export process later on. I have sent the coin off to Mark to see if this changes his initial ID on the coin now he has another segment.

This find is very interesting as I have discussed with Mark before what appears to be cut halves of Roman silver coins we have found in the past. We assumed they had been cut for small change which was prevalent in the medieval times with hammered silver. However as you can see below with Rod's coin it has a huge stress crack running down the obverse. This broken Roman of Jerry's is clearly not broken by the plough as it has no impact mark. I think that the freezing and heating of this coin in the ground over 2000 years has opened up any flaws that were produced during the hammering process.

Could be Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina the Elder (Latin: Faustina Major; born September 21 about 100, died 141), was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. -

I have stopped cleaning Rod's silver Roman coin as there is a huge stress crack on the reverse after the crud was removed. It did however reveal the outline of horses similar to Can Bill's 132 BC find from last season. I sent it off to Mark Lehman thinking it was match to Bill's but his reply amazed me as it is now officially the oldest coin we have ever found here at 136 BC. Unfortunately Rod has no idea on which of our 250 fields he found it as he just thought it was a thick copper at the time. He think's it could have been from the East side of our Bronze age village site whereas Bill's came from the NW side of the village and he never searched those fields during his tour.

Bill's silver Roman

Rod's silver Roman - note the huge stress crack on Reverse

6th May 2009 Very rare button update - more ID's and exports - 100BC Roman silver

Uploaded more export find lists and photo's to the members forum.

I am still 'cooking' Rod's surprise Roman silver coin find. The crust on this coin is starting to soften but it is an 1/8 inch thick so it will take a lot more cooking to get the final crust off. The bust so far revealed is that of a Roman Republican silver so probably 100 BC plus, what a great bonus find in Rod's copper pouch !!

You can clearly see the thickness of this crust in the latest shots I took of the coin as it cooked. Remember if you try this method to clean Roman silvers then patience is the most important aspect and the process can take up to 3 weeks. Check out the cleaning page for the 'mix' I use to 'cook' them.

Before and during 'cooking' shots of 1 2ndC Roman silver coin.

Daryl has written to me about his research in to his unique 16th Regiment button find and he going to donate it to them, very generous offer.

Hi ,

Tim has sent me ID's on two of our unknown buttons finds

King William IV, 1830-1837.

Servants and officers of the King at Court or Palaces.

3.56g, 23.34mm.

Mark Lehman has just sent this ID on Van Brent's earlier Roman coin find

3rd May 2009 More finds, exports, treasures and Roman silver

The latest issue of the annual treasure report is just out and quite a few of our previous treasure finds are detailed in there. I will be posting more of our treasures over the next week or so. It can be viewed on line now at the link below, 400 pages of amazing treasures reported year ending 2006.

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/TAR2005_2006pt1.pdf

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/TAR2005_2006pt2.pdf

431. North of Colchester, Essex: Medieval gold iconographic finger-ring (2006 T445)
Date: Late 15th–early 16th century
Discovery: Found by Mr D Bailey in September 2006.
Description: A finger-ring of iconographic type, the bezel is hexagonal and contains a depiction of God the
Father holding the figure of Christ on the Cross. This
was the conventional way to portray the Trinity in the late Medieval period, though the dove representing the Holy Spirit seems to be absent.
The hoop of the ring is twisted. The twists closest
to the bezel are engraved with seven five-petalled flowers and possibly a lupin. The five-petalled flower
is a recognised reference to the five wounds of Christ and the number seven may be an allusion to the seven
sorrows of the Virgin Mary. Diameter: 18.9mm; weight: 2.96g.
Disposition: Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service.

1046. East of Colchester, Essex:
9 Iron Age gold staters (2005 T146 & 2005 T462)
Date: c. 20 BC–AD 10
Discovery: Found by Ms L Cook, Mr G Cox, Mr R Guinazzo, Mr D Harvorson, Mr R Metz, Mr B Purpura &
Mr T Rushing while metal-detecting in March 2005 & October 2005.
Description: The nine coins are all ancient British gold staters. They are all inscribed with the name
of Addedomaros, a king who seems to have ruled a territory in Essex and Hertfordshire. He is only known
from the coins made in his name. The coins are of a known type (VA 1620 = BMC 2396).
Disposition: Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service.

572. Tendring Area, Essex:
Post-Medieval silver hat badge (2006 T482)
Date: Early 16th century
Discovery: Found by Mr E Zschernitz while metaldetecting in October 2006.
Description: A circular hat badge, gilt front and back, with the remains of a pin on the back. The
badge comprises a pinked backplate with thick cable decoration at the edge and a band of pinked decoration enclosing a built-up cast element at the centre with the Virgin and Child sitting on a crescent moon. There are sun rays behind the figures. Diameter: 19.9mm; weight: 6.54g.
Discussion: The form and iconography indicate that this is a hat badge, as fashionably worn by men on the upturned flap of a hat around 1500–25. See for example a Crucifixion scene from Raydon, Suffolk (Treasure Annual Report 2003, no. 240), which indicates the original shape of the hook, i.e. with two sharp Ubends and sharp tip.
Disposition: Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service.

Tim our button expert has sent back dates of that 16th Regiment button I cleaned up out of Daryl's pouch. It dates as 1744 to 1812 and is the 16th Warwick militia, great find. Tim will include it in his latest button book.

I was preparing Can Rod's export pictures and while laying out his copper coins in his pouch I instantly 'felt' this Roman silver which is completely covered with 'horn crust' I rubbed an edge to reveal a grey colour so I put it is instantly in the 'cooker' to remove the crust, hopefully there is some detail underneath to ID it. Rod also had a really nice Tudor period decorated thimble l missed while the hunts were in full swing.

I have posted more export sheets and pictures onto the members forum. Mike Lehman has just sent me back the ID of one of Rod's legible Roman coin finds.

4thC Roman bronze coin sent off for ID 17.04mm, 1.28g

2nd C Roman silver - cooking to remove crust

16th/17th C Tudor period decorated thimble

1st May 2009 FOTY winner announced - Wayne Otto Memorial cup - more exports

I have posted more export pouch find lists and pictures on the members forum. Those finds with the ** in the legend are due for museum recording on the National database. Here is a picture of the button I cleaned up out of Daryl's pouch a couple of days ago. It is an unrecorded one piece pewter 16th Regiment of foot Warwick button. I have sent it off to our button experts for his views.

Unrecorded 16th Warwick Reg button

The voting turnout by members for the 'find of the year' was almost 100% this season, thanks for all the members support. It was a landslide victory for Brad's Medieval gold statue find with 82% of the votes. Big congrats to Brad for such a stonking find and he wins the free weeks trip, the silver Urn trophy and more importantly his name on the shield of honour. Brad statue is currently going through the treasure process and is at the British museum awaiting the valuation committee stage. Below is the curators report on the find.

Treasure Report:   2008 T581                                                                            
Parish/County:          Tendring District, Essex

A medieval figure of John the Baptist. The saint is shown not in his usual attribute of a camel skin, but in the robes of a prophet. He gestures with his right hand to a salver, which he holds in his left. This was originally designed to carry a lamb, signifying the Lamb of God. A scroll issues from the Saint’s left hand and is inscribed with the words
: ECCE +ANGUS+DEI
(Behold, the Lamb of God)

The figure stands on a small plinth with a finished base. It is designed to be seen in the round and on its back there is a loop for attachment to an object. It would probably have been entirely enamelled, but no traces of enamel survive on the figure.

The figure is gold and dates from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century.

Dimensions: height 33 mm, width 11 mm, depth 10 mm.

Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

         
J P Robinson
Curator of Medieval Collections
30th March 2009

Billericay Mark (right)- Wayne Otto Memorial cup from last season

There are some really great hunters that come here that were in the running for the Wayne Otto Memorial cup. This is for the club member with the best attributes and an ambassador of the hobby during the season. Mark wins the award for the 2nd year in succession as he is just an amazing guy out there, always positive rain or shine, mega helpful and the patience of a saint, he can never do enough for the guys. Everyone likes Mark as he always spares time to help guys and give solid advice.

28th April 2009 More updates, treasures and exports

I have made a start on the latest export paperwork. Every find over 50 years old must have a valid export license and they are prepared on a numbered sheet with a finds list to be supplied to export duty with the application form. All finds lists and pictures are posted on the members forum so guys can see what their fellow members are finding. The finder also gets a full set of coloured Word docs mailed to him as their application is made . It is a long process but very important as some significant finds are missed while the hunt are underway. Part of Min Daryl's pouch is posted below and he had a crusty looking pewter button I cleaned up to reveal an unrecorded Napoleonic period 16th Regiment of foot - Warwick Regiment button, I will post pics of it later.

I have just received the latest 6 treasure case numbers from the British Museums treasure registrar for our most recent treasure finds, I have just posted details on the members forum. An example is below.

2009 T218 for

Date of discovery:    5 April 2009

Circumstances of discovery:  Whilst Searching with a metal detector

Finder's or Finders' first and last name/s:  Mr David Glover

Parish:   Wix      

County:  Essex

Grid ref:  ***********

TBKA (if applicable): Tendring District

Coroner’s name and District:  Mrs C Beasley-Murray (Essex)

Object type and number:  Silver figurine

Other info about the object (speculative or otherwise): ?Post Medieval

PAS find id:  ESS-C71F62

1. 1634-5 Charles 1st hammered silver half groat - Tower mint under Charles 1st - Bell mintmark - Type 3a1, no inner circles
2. 1572 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny - Ermine mint mark 4th issue
3. Antonio Venier (1382-1400) AD hammered Soldino silver Venetian coin
4. (1501-1521).
Venetian Soldino hammered silver coin 0.26g,12.08mm  Rev: LAVS TIBI SOLI (Thee Alone be Praised). Haloed figure of Christ holding a cross. Obv: LE LAV DVX S M V (Leonardo Lauredan, Doge. St Mark of Venice.) Doge kneeling before Saint Mark.
5. Italian milled silver coin - Gian Gastone de'Medici, 1723-1733. Democracy,
6. Medieval beehive thimble
7. Medieval bronze open topped thimble (a)21.89mm dia, 6.59g
8.** 2nd C Roman plate brooch - 27.39mm H x 21.16mm W
9. 1578 Dutch low countries Antwerp hand coin weight - Cornelis Jansen 1564- 1604 - 4.98g, 15.37mm sq
10. 1634 Charles 1st hammered copper rose farthing
11. 1649 Commonwealth hammered silver penny
12.** 4thC Roman buckle - very unusual type with central iron mounting - separate bar for attachment of belt 34.81mm L x 30.76mm
13.Georgian 'cupid' watch winder
14. 18thC 88th Regiment of foot button
15. 16thC mount with 2 integral lugs
16. **1250 - 1500 buckle
17. 16thC mount with 2 integral lugs
18. 17thC mount with 2 integral lugs
19. 15th C lead token - Type 220. 17thC mount with 2 integral lugs

I have updated the following individual find pages with the latest finds

	Trade weights		Numbered military buttons
	Mounts		17thC hammered copper tokens
	Lead bale seals		Coin & Apothecary weights
	James 1st silver coins		Buckles

26th April 2009 Updates to finds pages - Find of the year vote and forum comp entry

Keep your votes coming in for your favourite find of the year 2008/9, closing date for voting is the 30th April. Members have decided on the forum that those who do not vote this season will not be elible for next years forum competition to win a free weeks holiday.

Updated the following individual find pages with the lastest finds

	Jewelry		Charles 1st & Commonwealth
	Bells		Romano/British coins
	Tudor coins		Edward IV
	Lead tokens		USA & Canadian finds
	Seal Matrix		Edward III

24th April 2009 Celtic gold's recorded - Finds recorded

Keep your votes coming for you favourite 'find of the year' - closing date is 30th April

I have been out and about showing farmers their latest treasure finds prior to them going into the museum yesterday . I also dropped off copies of the recent curators reports for those currently going through the treasure process. I picked up the latest finds now recorded on the National database by the museum but have been unable to post them here yet as the National database is being upgraded. I cannot get it to display the data when I enter in the ESS Id.

http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk

I finally got back the ID's and the Celtic Coin Index record numbers from our last two Celtic gold finds. John Stills has now taken over from Dr Phillip De Jersey and you can get your Celtic coins recorded by sending him a mail on ja.sills@btinternet.com. Interesting to note that the last qtr Celtic is another North Thames type and the first Celtic gold ever from a new site we just started searching. This site is around a dozen fields so hopefully the guys have found a new Celtic area worth more serious hot spotting in Sept.

I posted the last of the guys end of the season finds to the latest finds page 2009 March III finds

North Thames British Qc type as CCI 09.3075

14.32mm, 1.36g

10 to 40 AD Cunobelin 1/4 gold stater - note the blocked horse. 0.83g, 11.84mm CCI 09.3076.

I am about to start the latest round of exporting paperwork and will be posting guys find sheets and photo's shortly

20th April 2009 Curators report, Mindy wins the NS Greg award and more finds

I have just received the report from the curator at the British museum dating the medieval gold ring find earlier than I thought at 12thC and the black stone is actually a sapphire, great find from Ill Joe. I have meeting this week with the museum to drop off more finds for recording and ID and to pick up the last batch that have now been entered onto the finds.org national database.

I have uploaded more finds from last week to the latest finds page 2009 March III finds.

Treasure Report:   2008 T580                                                                            
Parish/County:          Tendring District, Essex

A Medieval finger-ring with a simple wire hoop and a symmetrical hexagonal bezel set with a sapphire.

The finger-ring is gold, and dates from the late twelfth or the thirteenth century.
                                                             
Dimensions: diameter 21 mm

Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

         
J P Robinson
Curator of Medieval Collections
30th March 2009

Min Mindy wins the clubs NS Greg 'dedicated detectorist' of the year award 2008/9

Boston Beau found this neat medieval spur rowel

Rowels probably originated in France or Spain in the 10th Century A.D., they are first recorded in Britain in Henry III's reign - two seals from 1240 depict the king - on one he wears prick spurs, and on the other rowelled.

In the following centuries spurs became associated with rank and chivalry. We speak of "earning one's spurs" - a disgraced knight would have his spurs and sword broken as part of his punishment. A knight would wear gold or gilt spurs and an esquire silver .
Through the fifteenth Century rowels became smaller and spur necks became longer. This was so that the spur could reach around the flanchards ( horse armour or barding ) The mediaeval horseman who rode with legs extended forwards also needed spurs with longer necks which could still reach their horse's sides. Over the following centuries, rowels changed shape and size, some developed "jingle-bobs". In seventeenth Century Germany spurs developed multiple necks and rowels, but these were probably for ceremonial or dress use only.

17th April 2009 Fantastic last day of the season - Mike & Gary win free trips - Find of the year voting

Mass Mike wins the free weeks holiday next season by guessing the number of milled silvers found this season. The actual number found was 262 and Mike guessed 263, congrats on a great win. Next years win a free trip comp will be announced shortly on the site. Keep an eye on the forum comp page for more details.

Ark Gary wins the club members 'history heathen' quiz with a score of 47 out of 54 and gets the 1/2 price trip next season. Impressive knowledge of history, treasure laws and ID'ing finds.

It is also voting time for 'find of the year' again to win another free trip. Closing date for votes is the 30th April. Check out the other awards here

At the end of the season every guy that comes here gets to vote for his personal favorite find throughout the season (not his own finds of course) The find with the most votes gets the holder a free weeks detecting next season and the engrave Roman jug, not forgetting his name on the role of honor shield ! Send me you votes by mail please.

1526- 32 Henry VIII milled silver half groat - Cross patonce initial mark

WA by shield Archbishop William Warham - Ref JJ North 1802

Obv HENRIC VII DI GRA REX AGL Z FRA

Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

1.26g,19.39mm

Boston Beau had a brilliant last days detecting of the season with two excellent hammered silver coins in the morning and a beautiful gold cufflink. In the afternoon he pulled up two stonking relics, a crisp seal matrix and what could turn out to be a very rare find of a miniature early medieval pilgrims ampulla. I cannot find anything like it in my reference books so it will going off to the museum next week for recording and they hopefully will be able to ID it. I have uploaded more finds and still have a load more to post yet to the latest finds page

This is a very rare find - Miniature lead Ampulla which measures under an inch in length - 5.20g, 24.08mm L x 13.33mm W

Generally pilgrim ampulla date from the AD 1250 to 1400's but his type is not in Mitchener's Ref book. I have a feeling this is very early medieval perhaps even Edward the Confessor period - one for the museum

Pilgrim ampullae - holly water bottle made of lead 12th to 15thC,

These ampoule were brought from pilgrimage places as a souvenir

Mitchiner suggests that many ampullae were used in the annual springtime ’Blessing the Fields’ ceremony, in which the Holy Water they contained was sprinkled on the ground to give prayer for a good harvest. Having served this purpose, Mitchiner suggests that the ampullae were discarded. Others have suggested that the ampullae were buried along with their contents for a similar purpose.

19thC solid gold cufflink	16th/17thC seal matrix - DW

16th April 2009 Lots of tiny hammered - Last day of the season

The final day of the season is finally here and the guys have had a great week finding some amazingly tricky small hammered silver coin finds. You have to be right on your game to find 10mm dia medieval silver coins. Boston Beau pulled out the first complete medieval book clasp with both the hasp and clasp portions, it also had one of the original pins still attached. I have added it to the Book Clasp page which has more examples of the books they were used on. I have posted more finds to the latest finds page.

The forum comp is coming down to the wire and Mass Dave is now in the lead with 1 day to go to the end of the season. forum competition page

1369 -77 Edward III hammered silver farthing - Post treaty period with Crown type 9 - Type 10a - rare no neck or drapery type

Obv EDWARDVS:REX:ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

0.30g, 10.29mm

1361-9 Edward III hammered silver farthing Treaty period -

New crown intermediate jewels -

Obv + EDWARDVS REX

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON

10.13mm, 0.22g

Tiny 1422-61 Henry VI hammered silver half penny - Henry VI neck 0.30g, 11.59mm

Stunning medieval decorated book clasp parts - includes one rivet in situ

17thC William III trade weight

14th April 2009 Stunning Tudor pin - ID's and Britsh museum feedback

A simply stunning find from Ten Brad is this complete decorated Tudor pin. I have reported it to Colchester museum as treasure. I have posted a load more great finds to the latest finds page including some interesting hammered silver coin. 2009 March III finds. I have a bunch more to post yet including more early milled silver and a really neat toy cannon.

Stunning 16thC Tudor gilded silver pin

Pin dia 10.88mm, 4.68g

Tiny 1422-61 Henry VI hammered silver half penny - Henry VI neck 0.30g, 11.59mm

I just got feedback from the British museum on Idaho Travis's gold ring currently going through the treasure process, neat find.

Treasure Report: Case 2008 T235

Parish/County:  Tendring District

Date: 15th century

Finder: Mr T McMullen

Date of discovery: 15 March 2008

Circumstances of discovery: While searching with a metal-detector.

Description:

A medieval gold finger-ring in the form of a flattened band, now distorted. The ring is engraved with a black letter inscription which reads: +de le bien(?), probably an amatory phrase meaning ‘of, or for, the good’. Each word is separated by motifs of flowers and sprigs.

Dimensions:
Max diameter: 20mm.
Width: 4mm.

The find therefore qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content and should go forward to inquest.

Beverley Nenk
Dept Prehistory and Europe
British Museum
17th December 2008

Tim our button expert has sent me back ID's on the unknown buttons I sent him, he has added them to his latest book. Tim has also had some more books published, a four volume book on Railway Buttons @ £ 34:00. Contact Tim for more details info@hamwichouse.com.

106th Ipswich Volunteers   Officer (AR/Gilt) - 1794-1813	Capt / Commander - 1774-1787 RN Master & Mate - 1787-1807 RN Surgeon - 1787-1805 RN Purser - 1787-1807 RN Warrant Officer - 1787-1860 RN Midshipman - 1787-1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1787-1812 RN Instructors - 1727-1842 RN Engineer 1st Cl. - 1837-1841

19thC Percussion revolver wedge with serial numbers

12th April 2009 Another gold ring

Boston Beau found a neat mans gold ring, probably late Victorian in date and also half of what would have been a stonking medieval lead papel badge. I have just posted more do dads and milled silver to the new finds page.

The forum comp is coming down to the wire and Mass Bruce is now in the lead with 5 days to go to the end of the season. forum competition page

19th/20thC gold ring with diamond

Medieval lead papel badge

16thC Elizabeth 1st lead token 2.75g, 17.85mm - Portcullis with E at centre

Obv ***** ERIXE.DEI

Rev XXIIII

11th April 2009 New Club anthem uploaded

Brad's vid of his 'Jesus holding a pancake' find

Tenn 'gold statue' Brad Crisler is a well know singer/song writer and has written a song for us to use as a club anthem ' I want it all', click the link below to download and play it with pictures, real catchy song.

I want it all

10th April 2009 News finds page halved - New hunt page

I have halved the size of the quick news page to speed up loading times. Use this page if you want to read the full news.

The 2009 March II finds page is too big so I have also created a new one March 2009 finds Page III link and halved the previous page to improve loading times.

2nd half of the season finds pages

Feb 2009 Finds link

March 2009 finds Page 1 link

March 2009 finds Page II link

March 2009 finds Page III link

9th March 2009 Another monster find - museum feedback

This is a weird weeks hunt, new freshly rolled land gave the guys almost a total skunking again apart from a nice German milled silver and then Canadian Bill pops a monster find again with this simply stunning medieval religious seal matrix. It is Jesus Christ's bust with a hallo. The legend is probably latin so the experts at the British museum will be able to decipher it while it is being recorded.

Initial feedback from the museum on Chicago's Ron's bronze age sword handle find is it could be a 'Ballintober' type.

More info on Ballintober swords

Virginia John posted this link on the members forum on the huge silver Viking hoard Video link here. Great find

I have posted more nice do dads to the latest finds page

I have also updated the forum competition page with the latest milled total. Just one more week to go to the end of the season and then the winner gets the free trip next season.

1771   German  1  SCHILLING   COURANT milled silver coin

Stunning Circa 13thC 'bust of christ' medieval seal matrix -

MARTT NUE :PEVOSM

What a neat relic - 1916 POW service military cap badge

Unknown Continental silver coin - not checked ref books yet - if you can ID it please send me a mail.

8th April 2009 Another monster find

The guys were spread out over 3 huge sites and getting totally skunked then suddenly Texas Dave pops a monster find on a new site, it is the first Celtic gold we have found there so we will need to do a lot more work on this area. It appears to be the first of that tribe we have ever found here but there is not a certain match in the Hobbs reference book. Dr Philip at the Celtic coin index will be able to supply us with the confirmed ID. I have lots of nice do dads to post hopefully tomorrow.

50 BC 1/4 Celtic gold stater 14.32mm, 1.36g Similar to a Southern Commios tribe - Sent to the CCI for recording and ID

7th April 2009 Cal Gail pops a stonker - Members forum up and down again

Cal Gail has been hunting here twice a year for nearly 5 years and in all that time has witnessed dozens of gold coins being found but never ever found one herself. Patience certainly paid off as she found an absolutely gorgeous rarer George III full sovereign. This is Gail's first ever gold coin find and man is she stoked, big congrats. This is the first George and the Dragon type obverse Sovereign we have found in over 5 years, stunning coin.

The members forum has been down again for most of the day, check the status here for server 7 http://www.forumer.com/status.php to see when it is back up. Weather out there is stunning at 60 F and the guys have been finding some real interesting do dads. Texas Dave got this really neat engraved silver coin with a rabbit etched on it , difficult to date but probably mid 1700's. I have uploaded a load more do dads to the latest finds page.

I have also updated the forum competition page with the latest milled total.

1817 George III full gold sovereign - 8.04g, 22.16mm

Really neat 18thC silver rabbit etched onto a sixpence coin of the period

Medieval lead apothecary weight 2.38g,11.87 mm sq - Ref Rogers

Medieval annular buckle

5th April 2009 Ron's 1st gold ring sitting in the dirt video - Figurine found

Great find by Texas Dave is this really tiny medieval silver jester mount that I have reported as treasure to Colchester museum. The guys are finding some great do dads which I will try and upload after I have finished last weeks finds. I just uploaded more silver to the latest finds page 2009 March II finds.

Medieval gilded silver jester mount - reported to the museum as treasure

17.11mm H x 9.12mm W, 1.80g

Ron's 1st medieval gold ring video when he eyeballed it in the dirt

You can also download the vid here, right click save as

Ill Marks Celtic gold vid find on Chicago Ron's site

1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross penny - Class 3a

Obv HENRICVS REX

Obv HE(N/RIO/NVL/VNDE -Moneyer Henri of London

1421-1471 Fleur de lis gold half nobel coin weight

3rd April 2009 Members forum down - Video's from the field

The members forum has been down for most of the day, check the status here for server 7 http://www.forumer.com/status.php to see when it is back up.

I have started to upload a load of Ron's videos he took of the guys finds from the field this week. The one where he found the Victorian gold is really funny as he is jibbering LOL. Reid's gold dance after he found his gold guinea is a must see. You can download them or watch them on our streaming server.

Uploaded 2 types of vid of Ron's Vicky find

Our streaming video server and High Quality download and play from your PC

You can also download the vid here, right click save as

Go to Ron's March 2009 Video page to view

Reid gold guinea find

You can also download the better quality vid here, right click save as

Go to Reid's March 2009 Video page to view

Chicago Ron's 2nd gold ring of the trip

Ill Mark's Celtic gold dance

2nd April 2009 Guys end their trip on a high

Chicago Ron finished his trip on a high finding a Victorian gold coin right next to an old Barn today. Ron took videos of all his 'Barn' team's great finds during the week as they were dug out in the fields, I will upload them to the forum tomorrow. I still have loads of great finds to upload yet to the latest finds page including some nice hammered silver I have not photo 'd yet. A new team arrives on Saturday to keep the hunts rolling along. More fresh land just came on line and I rang the farmers to see what crop they are putting in this late in the season and it is peas which is why the fields are rolled like billiard tables.

I have updated the gold finds page which now stands at 19 for the season so far.

1844 Victorian gold half sovereign

Mark Lehman has sent an ID of the Roman bronze found by Chicago Reid.

Tenn Brad has been conversing with the expert at the British museum on his gold statue report and has received further interesting feedback on his find. Brad is currently studying a MA in Historical Archaeology at Leicester and has a particular interest in medieval artifacts.

'the salver would almost certainly have
carried a small figure of a lamb'.

'The figurine will undoubtedly attract museum interest since it is quite
a rare survival (hence the difficulty in finding comparable types).  The
most closely comparable survivals are probably the figures attached to
early 16thC apostle spoons. It's not entirely clear to me how your find
was attached to the object which it decorated.  It seems to be almost
free-standing and might have been mistaken for a spoon terminal but for
the attachment loop on the back'.  

1st April 2009 Celtic qtr stater- Rare Charles 1st silver

The guys are making some startling discoveries this week including our first ever broken Celtic gold coin found by Ill Mark. This is our 74th Celtic gold coin find and none of them have suffered plough damage before. The break on this coin is very old and perhaps it was damaged before it was lost as there does not appear to be any impact marks on the coin. I have sent it off to Dr Philip at the CCI for his views as the die type is very unusual and not a match in my Hobbs Celtic coins reference book. Ill Mark also had a great day with 8 silver coins, one of which is this perplexing and potentially very rare Charles 1st double strike 3 pence. Another favourite of mine is the first tiny 1690 William and Mary milled silver one pence we have ever found. Unbelievably Chicago Ron found his 4th example of those unrecorded 5th Dragoons guards buttons and this one is probably an officers gilded example, stunning find. I have posted a lot more great silver to the latest finds page.

Stunning find, 5th Dragoons guards buttons - Crimean war period - unrecorded in any ref book - that's our 6th find of this button including the 1st cuff example and now our first gilded example.

Very interesting die type of a 10 to 40 AD Cunobelin 1/4 gold stater - note the blocked horse. Sent to Celtic Coin index for recording and more information on type 0.83g, 11.84mm

This coin has me totally stumped !!

First 1645 Charles 1st hammered silver three pence we have found - double struck coin which has obscured the mint mark. The coin has been rotated and double stuck and the combination of oval shield with this legend does not match. It is possible that it is a half groat and that the III behind bust is II. It could be a Tower half groat Group D, North 2254 but the crown is not that of a bust 4.

I suspect this is a very rare coin as I cannot match it in JJ North's ref book. The normal Tower legend is IUS THRONUM FIRMAT and most have the CHRISTO legend. Some coins had the IUSTITA written in full.

Is this an overstrike of a Ashby de la Zouche mint trying to cover the declaration coins in 1645/6 ? I will let the museum experts have a look when it is being recorded.

Rev IUSTITA THORNUM FIRMAT

1690 William and Mary milled silver one pence

31st March 2009 Early sword handle - Roman silver ID and Capped liberty dime - Gold statue report

I have just got in the British Museum's expert report on the Medieval gold statue find by Tenn Brad, fascinating. Another possibly amazing find is this Bronze age sword handle blank, the classic rivet holes are missing so was this a blank that failed and was never used ? I have sent details and pictures off to the Colchester museum for their views. Mark Lehman has sent back a great ID on the 'cooked' Roman silver find from yesterday. Ill Mark was jumping up and down and we thought he had found Celtic gold, it turned out to be a USA 1835 Liberty milled silver dime his first ever !!! I have posted more great finds to the latest finds page

Stunning medieval gold statue pendant - C15th judging by the Lombardic script on the scroll . This is probably to do with the Catholic church (DEI) and one of the members suggested FRCO is St Francis

Script reads ECCE +ANGUS+DEI - reported to Colchester museum as treasure

32.80mm H ,11.46g

Treasure Report:   2008 T581                                                                            
Parish/County:          Tendring District, Essex

A medieval figure of John the Baptist. The saint is shown not in his usual attribute of a camel skin, but in the robes of a prophet. He gestures with his right hand to a salver, which he holds in his left. This was originally designed to carry a lamb, signifying the Lamb of God. A scroll issues from the Saint’s left hand and is inscribed with the words
: ECCE +ANGUS+DEI
(Behold, the Lamb of God)

The figure stands on a small plinth with a finished base. It is designed to be seen in the round and on its back there is a loop for attachment to an object. It would probably have been entirely enamelled, but no traces of enamel survive on the figure.

The figure is gold and dates from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century.

Dimensions: height 33 mm, width 11 mm, depth 10 mm.

Consequently, in terms of age and as the object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996.

         
J P Robinson
Curator of Medieval Collections
30th March 2009

Bronze age sword handle blank - 146mm L x 59.96 mm W x 3.51mm T

1835 Liberty milled silver half dime 5C

Id on the silver Roman find from yesterday

Yes, of course this is Faustina - that's pretty obvious. However there were 2 Faustinae, the wives of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius respectively. This is the 2nd, also known as "Faustina Junior". She and Marcus Aurelius were married in 145 AD. while he was still Caesar under Antoninus Pius and raised to the rank of Augusta in 147. So her coinage exists in several phases: those struck by Antoninus Pius before, then after becoming Augusta, those struck by Marcus Aurelius during her life, and those struck in her honor posthumously. she and Marcus evidently had a closer relationship than that enjoyed by most Imperial couples - Faustina accompanied or visited him throughout his military career in far-flung outposts while fighting the Germans. For this, she became known as "Matri Castrorum" - "Mother of the Camps". This piece was struck by Marcus Aurelius while she was still living, sometime between his elevation to Augustus in 161 and her death in 175. The reverse type, which is a bit hard to read in its present condition is "SALVS" - the allegorical personification of Salus ("health", but as in "the Health of the Empire" or "of the body-public", etc.) seated left feeding a serpent arising from a low altar at her feet. This is a pretty obscure reference for us at this remove in time, but it was full of important symbolism for the Romans. Whether at that point in time it was still occurring that the Vestals and/or other faithful Roman women fed actual serpents in ceremonies from which all men were banned, I don't know. Ceremonies of this type were important well into the Imperatorial era. However, the image of this ceremony remained a part of the Roman psyche and symbolized the "Purity" or "Virtue" of the Empire to the extent that it could interact with serpents and not be harmed.

Catalog - RIC III, 714 (of Marcus Aurelius), RSC 195, SR 5262.

Mark

30th March 2009 Roman silver cooked - Huge uploads

The guys are finding such a great range of do dads and silver and I have just posted a huge bunch to the latest finds page 2009 March II.

Chicago Reid's crispy Roman silver find 'cooked' up a treat and even I can ID this one as the legend is as crisp as a bell, great find. Reid also found another first for us with a Henry on the throne hammered silver penny. Chicago Ron made a remarkable discovery of three 5th Dragoon guards button which are unrecorded in any reference book, he got the first cuff button example we have found. Tim the button expert ID'd them as Crimean wars period. Ron also made another unknown military button find which has '1st L Essex' on it, I just sent it off to Tim for his views.

Roman silver coin before and after 'cooking ' to reveal the detail. Even I can ID this coin as it is Favstina on the legend - sent off to our Roman expert for his views - 11.77mm, 2.65g

1485 Henry VII hammered silver penny - York Archb Rotherham. Key below shield , no pillar to throne.

1477 Edward IV hammered silver half groat - Rose mintmark, C on breast

Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANCE

Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR Canterbury mint

3- very rare 5th Dragoons guards buttons - Crimean war period - unrecorded in any ref book - that's our 6th find of this button including the 1st cuff example

29th March 2009 Pretty gold ring find - Couple of free slots

Some great new fields just come on line having been ploughed and rolled late this season, there are around 230 fields available for hunting at the moment. There are a couple of slots free on the last hunt of the season starting 11 April if anyone is interested in one last swing before we close until Sept. Drop me a mail if you are interested.

Chicago Ron found his 2nd gold ring of the trip so far and a really crisp early jetton of a type we have not found before. The guys had a great day yesterday and found a real mixed bag date wise of hammered silver including a rare plum type Charles 1st half groat, only the 2nd of that type ever found here. They are posted to the March II latest finds page. I have also updated this seasons gold page.

Pretty 18 carat gold ring - Continental hallmarks I have not seen before - no idea of date so reported to Colchester museum as potential treasure

.750 *18 AA CP

20.44mm,1.27g

Stunning 1488 'Four fleur de lis in a lozenge' type French jetton

Nicolas de Russage dies at Paris mint

Obv Four fleur de lis in a lozenge: trefoils outside the lozenge:

+VIVE.LE ROI.VIVE.LE ROI

Rev Cross pattery feuilly with flowered in eacg angle

Mitchiner Ref 599b

C14thC Medieval lead knights head mount

28th March 2009 Rare milled silver finds - more uploads

Two amazingly rare silver coins made, the first is this double stuck William III milled silver sixpence and the second is a fragment of a 1651 Commonwealth milled silver half crown (30 pence),great finds. I have posted a load more coins and relics to the latest finds page including some real rare military buttons not recorded in my reference books.

Double struck 1690's William III milled silver sixpence - early harp large crown, first bust

1651 Commonwealth milled silver half crown

Rev The Commonwealth of England

33.87mm, and the chunk weighs 6.71g

1.62mm thick (223)

Huge 1792 Louis XVI Double Sol of France copper coin - Paris mint mark

Obverse: Bare-headed and draped bust of Louis XVI left, privy mark (lion passant) below.
Legend: LOUIS XVI ROI DES FRANCOIS . 1792 . A

Reverse:Fasces surmounted by Liberty cap, 2 S across field; all within wreath; date in exergue.
Legend: LA NATION LA LOI LE ROI / L'AN 4 DE LA LIBERTE *

1664 Joseph Gleson of Dedham hammered copper trade farthing

26th March 2009 Another gold ring and treasures

Chicago Ron found this really nice medieval gold ring which has been reported to Colchester museum as treasure. I have updated the hoard and treasure page with the latest reported treasures including Tim's medieval silver hawking bell. Michigan Chris found 3 very interesting milled silver coins and the first Bristol shilling token I have seen.

I just posted a load more finds and hammered silver to the latest finds page.

Updated this seasons gold finds page

Medieval silver hawking bell

Medieval gold ring - missing stone 1.01g, 18.99mm dia - reported as treasure to Colchester museum

Bristol silver shilling token. Obverse: A circular view of the castle and a ship (left) within an inscription, buckled band, crest above. On buckled band: 'VIRTUTE ET INDUSTRIA'. Legend: 'BRISTOL TOKEN FOR XII PENCE'. Reverse: Inscription, 'Bristol shilling silver token issued Royal license' Legend: ' H Morgan licensed maker 22 Rathbone Place London AUGT 12 1811	19thC Continental milled silver coin - not checked world coin books yet
1806 Prussia (Poland) bullion silver milled coin 3 Groschen

24th March 2009 Unusual hammered silver find - more uploads

Very unusual hammered silver found by Chicago Ron, which the guys on the French forum ID'd for us a 1601 AD Portugal 20 Reis silver coin. Another interesting find is the first Egidius Krauwinckle rose orb jetton we have found, the bulk of the German jettons we find are made by Hanns Krauwinckle. I have updated the 17th hammered copper token page with the last finds. The 1660 Francis Arwaker of Chelmsford hammered copper trade farthing is the first one of that tradesman we have found.

I have uploaded more finds to the latest finds page

1216 Henry III hammered silver penny - Class 6b2 SALE(MVN.ON.CAN - Salemvn moneyer of Canterbury mint 1.26g, 17.11mm	1216 Henry III hammered silver penny - Class 6c2 Ornamental letters IOhAN.ON.CANTOR - Iohan moneyer of Canterbury mint 0.82g, 15.84mm

1601 AD Portugal 20 Reis silver coin

Obverse : IOAN... In the field : I / X.X (I for Iohannes, XX for valor)
Reverse : ...GA... coat of arms of Portugal.

1570 Egidius Krauwinckle Rose orb jetton

1656 John Lambe of Colchester hammered copper trade farthing	1660 Francis Arwaker of Chelmsford hammered copper trade farthing

23rd March 2009 Roman votive offering found- more finds uploaded

Great find by Dakota Dennis is this really neat Roman bronze votive offering statue Circa 1st to 4thC AD, great find. A votive deposit or votive offering is an object left in a sacred place for ritual purposes . I have just uploaded more finds to the latest hunt page March II 2009.

I have also updated the forum competition page with the latest milled total.

Roman bronze votive offering statue - 33.03g, 43.68mm H x 24.27mm W

Thanks to ' wisigoth' on the French forum for ID'ing our unknown hammered silver find for us. Very interesting coin.

Lowlands. Duchy of Brabant. Jean III, the Triumphant. 1312-1355. AR esterlin (18 mm, 1.41 g). Brussels, from 1317/8 onward. + I DVX DE BRABANTIA, castle with two towers / MON-ETA BRV-XEL, cross cantonnée with trefoil of pellets in each quadrant.

Silver "esterlin" from Brabant's duchy

A/ +IDVX.DE.BRABANTIA
R/ MON / ETA / BRV / XEL

Mint condition decorated 16thC Tudor button

Stunning condition 1674 Charles II milled copper farthing

22nd March 2009 Reid pops a stonker - unknown silver penny

Great find by Chicago Reid is this rare 1762 George III gold qtr guinea, this is the earliest date of a gold coin issued for King George. The guys also found a bunch of great finds including some real interesting hammered silver I have just posted. They got a whole bunch of interesting do dads including 2 medieval seal matrix's and some great early milled and hammered copper coin in fantastic shape for their age. I have posted a few to the latest hunt page March II , I will be uploading more during the day.

1762 George III gold qtr guinea 2.10g, 15.55mm

Fascinating medieval hammered silver penny found by Clarence, not one I have seen before, possibly French - needs more researching - anyone who knows of this coin please drop me a mail. It has an initial cross like an Edward 1st

Obv MOR/ET+/BRV/+*C

Rev IDV+.DE( BRA NARTIA

17.99mm, 1.19g

Early medieval seal matrix with man standing arms outstretched - this type in not in the ref books but is of Saxon style - probably early 10th/11th C - one for the museum

2 - 17thC gun powder measures - both are of slightly different design, one has a ridged edge and both have the hanging loops intact

Cap for the powder horn and measure for the gunpowder

20th March 2009 Back on line - Treasure report - New team makes a great start - New finds page

Finally back on line with the new monster PC in place so I will be posting loads of great do dads and finds including Oregon's Clarence's fascinating Medieval hammered silver coin find. It has the reverse of a long cross and pellet penny but the obverse has a castle. It might well be French but is not one I have seen before, will photo and upload tomorrow. Oregon Mary found a very neat dice with different letters on each side. It appears to be 17thC in date so I will be researching it further. I have started a new 2009 March 2 finds page as the March 1 page is getting tool large.

17thC copper gaming dice ?? T H C F P A - needs more research

Georgian 'flintlock' pistol watch winder

The farmer and the finder have been paid the reward for the medieval seal matrix bought by the museum under the treasure act. It is a fascinating relic and the lettering means 'secret seal', and at the centre is a Roman intaglio of 1st to 3rd Century in date, what a great find by Idaho Gene.

19th March 2009 New PC - Added more accommodation and slots

I have just taken delivery of a new fast PC with 12 Gig of RAM to help process the pictures and this site quicker. We are currently at 120,000 files and 1 Gig of pictures so this new PC will help. I will probably be off line with updating for a couple of days while I am transferring files etc.

Ramada Hotel Colchester

I have scrapped the use of the self catering trailers as none of the teams want to use them in preference to the Barn house with it's Jacuzzi and Sauna.

I have added 2 new local hotels to the accommodation alternatives as we have no free slots left between Sept to late Oct and guys like Atlanta Mike are wanting to extend their weeks hunt to a 2 week trip. A load of the guys have used the Ramada the night before their hunts and it is a clean modern hotel/motel. We have not tried the Premier Inn across the road but it is new and looks OK. I have added a page to the accommodation site with links to both hotels. It works out quite cheap if guys want to share a twin bedded room or bring their non detecting partners especially as the pound is still low at 1.42 to the dollar today.

16th March 2009 More great finds - Seal ID ? - More database entries

Ohio Eric has made a stab at ID'ing the medieval vessica seal's Latin legend on the members forum and posted the monks rules.

'Sweet find!
I'm most likely wrong.

nolomin = nolo : nolle : nolui : to be unwilling, wish not to, refuse.

Possible translation: "Refuse desire" (The desire part makes more sense). That monk needed to be in the Abbey brewing beer. Suffering and doing more penance.

St Benedict's Rules For Monks

* Once you have entered a monastery, you must stay there until you die.
* All monks must take turns working in the kitchens, and waiting at table.
* Monks must remain busy, either with manual work, or in study and prayer.
* Monks must remain silent, unless they have to speak.
* The Abbot must be a father to his community.
* The Abbot must hold meetings with all the monks to decide monastery business.
* The Abbot's orders must be obeyed without argument.
* Every monk must take a vow of chastity.
* No one should own anything.
* Monks must pray together seven times a day.
* At every meal, there must be a reading from the bible.
* Great care must be taken of those who are sick.'

Eric

Oregon Clarence found this very crisp Henry VII sovereign penny which is a very pretty coin. Guys have been really on form this season at finding tiny silver hammered coins including cut qtr's , the one found below by Ohio Gerry is another really crisp strike.

1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross penny Class 3a

Obv HENRICVS REX

Rev HEN/RIO/NLV/NDE Moneyer Henri of London

Database entry ESS-6C5EF1 Roman cosmetic mortar

Object Type:

Cosmetic Mortar

Incomplete late Iron Age to early Roman (1st to mid 2nd century AD) cast copper alloy cosmetic mortar. In its present condition, the mortar is an elongated ‘S’ shape in profile, with a ‘V’ shaped cross section, which changes to a solid triangular cross section at one end. Both ends have worn breaks. The more solid end would have extended into a suspension loop, which would have attached to the base of the bow - the remains of this loop are visible on the base, in the forms of a sub-rectangular projection. The ‘V’ shaped recess is a red-brown in colour. It is 44.34mm long, 6.51mm wide, 6.92mm thick increasing to 10.72mm thick at the remains of the loop. It weighs 7.29 grams. It has a dark brown patina, however much of the original surface is missing.

LATE IRON AGE (Certain) to EARLY ROMAN (Certain), 1 AD - 150 AD

ESS-6CDE31 Roman buckle (fragment)

Object Type:

Buckle

Incomplete Roman (4th century) cast copper alloy buckle frame. Just under half of the buckle frame survives. There is a rectangular bar with a deep groove along its length. There is a incomplete hinge projection on one side, and two curved arms projecting from the other, forming part of the frame. The main projecting arm has a step in the frame, while the smaller arm curves towards the larger; the other half of the frame would have been symmetrical, forming a ‘heart-like’ design. It is 29.01mm long, 18.15mm wide, 4.93mm thick and weighs 4.66 grams. It has a mid-green patina. The breaks are worn, however the break across the hinge is more recent.

Dates

ROMAN (Certain), 300 AD - 400 AD

Just posted more hammered silver and do dads to latest hunt page

13th March 2009 Great end to the hunts - Treasure act tutorial - £ pound drops again to 1.37

NJ Ed was having a real drought of a detecting week and then in the space of few hours finds two stonkers, tiny Henry VII farthing and this magnificent 13thC Medieval bronze vessia seal matrix. This seal is absolutely mint with a complete hanging loop and the detail is staggeringly crisp, probably one the finest we have ever found. The script is probably Latin so if any one can decipher it drop me a mail please.

13th C bronze Vessica seal matrix - 31.48mm H x 18.48mm wide - 8.45g

Script - NOLONIM ESDARI : U

Recession is harsh out there but there is still some great news as the pound dropped to another low of 1.37 to the dollar yesterday making these tours 35% cheaper than last season and now over 58% cheaper per detecting hour than the cheapest other tour for a normal week and a massive 70% cheaper per detecting hour if you select the hard core option. We will always continue to be your best bang for your buck by a mile so you can get your detecting fix even in these hard times.

London - England's first large gold coin, the Edward III (1341-1343) Double Leopard, came up for sale today at Spink in London. The coin sold for a staggering £460,000 (US$841,800), against a pre-sale estimate of £100,000-150,000, making it the most expensive English Coin ever sold.

£460,000 gold coin sold

Virginia John posted this on the members forum to help understand the Treasure act.

'This link has an interesting, easy to read tutorial on the Treasure Act and Portable Antiquities Scheme in the UK. It would serve as a good introduction for some of the newer members. There are 9 pages total - start with this one and page thru the rest by using the "next" link at the bottom of each page'

Treasure act tutorial

The guys went home today having finished with two brilliant last days detecting with 14 hammered silver coins found . They even packed it in early yesterday to go to the Colchester museum to see the members finds on display there. Washington Tom kicked major butt again this trip with 16 pieces of silver including that monster Charles 1st milled half crown. Find of the week has to go to Idaho Gene with that stunning medieval gold posey ring now with the British Museum under investigation. I have posted a load more finds to the latest hunt page and will try and get a load more uploaded today.

Tiny 1485- Henry VIII hammered silver farthing - single arched crown, plain cross - very interesting coin thickly struck - size is within normal range but it weights twice the average weight of 0.19g

0.40g, 9.81mm -

Obv HENRIC [DI] GRA Rex

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1422 Henry VI hammered silver penny - annulet coinage - annulet at centre of pellets in two of the reverse qtrs

Obv HENRICVS REX ANGLIE

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

0.81g, 17.12mm

10th March 2009 More finds, 3 treasures and a good skunking

It has been an amazing week so far for interesting artefacts and do dads but yesterday the guys got almost a total skunking on both ancient and new land. There was just a lone Roman bronze and a couple of coin weights but luckily I still have a bunch of finds from the day before to play with including 3 small treasures reported to the museum. I have just posted a few more relics to the latest finds page.

I have also just updated the latest total of milled silver found to the forum comp page.

1490 -1504 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - - double arched crown - cinquefoil mint mark

Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR Canterbury mint

1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny

Ob EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON London mint

More of our recent finds entered on the National database with their write up's

Object Type:

Vessel Mount

Incomplete Roman cast copper alloy vessel or hanging bowl mount. The main body of the mount is semi-circular with seven semi-circular knops radiating out from the curved edge. It is slightly domed, with a concave semi-circle on the reverse. There is an arm projecting at a right angle from the straight edge of the mount, with a worn break across it - this arm probably would have extended into a hook. The arm has a square cross section. The mount is 31.74mm long, 42.41mm wide, 7.88mm deep, with the arm being 9.19mm wide and 7.69mm thick. Weight 36.85 grams.The mount is mid green in colour, with a dark green patina in a few areas.

ROMAN (Certain), 40 AD - 400 AD

ESS-820E06

Object Type:	Weight
	Medieval cast lead shield shaped weight. The upper surface has three lions passant guardant. The reverse is plain and undecorated. It is 56.32mm long, 48.52mm wide, 13.30mm thick and weighs 243.42 grams. It is cream-grey in colour, with areas of darker grey where it has been damaged. For similar weights see Biggs & Withers, Lead weights in the David Rogers collection, page 34 numbers 85 & 86.

Dates

MEDIEVAL (Certain), 1200 AD - 1500 AD

7th March 2009 More great finds and database entries.

Some more great relics and hammered silver turning up and I have posted a large bunch of them to the latest finds page March 2009. I have loads more to post later.

Medieval finger ring with lombardic lettering, star and cross hatched design -20.99mm O/Dia , 215g

Medieval bronze beehive thimble

Medieval badges Ref Mitchiner p244 939 - 941

'A badge for a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in bronze and dating somewhere around C13/14th possibly very slightly later . This is a very scarce item and it relates to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem being a Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. According to reliable sources in the Vatican and Jerusalem, it began in historical reality as a mixed clerical and lay confraternity (association) of pilgrims which gradually grew around the most central of the Christian holy places in the Middle East, the Holy Sepulchre or the tomb of Jesus Christ.This would have been a pin for a member of the order , there is a mark on the reverse where the original pin would have been fixed

ESS-6C4E00

Object Type:

Amphora Strap End

Incomplete Roman (4th century) cast copper alloy amphora strap end. The main body survives, the attachment end is missing. It is sub-oval in plan, with damage to all edges. The upper surface has moulded decoration along its length, in the form of a raised bar, 5.13mm wide, which is divided into squares separated by three grooves. It is 43.48mm long, 23.85mm wide, 3.71mm thick excluding the moulded decoration, 4.91mm thick including the moulded decoration. It weighs 17.02 grams. It has mid-brown patina, and is mid-green where the original surface has been removed from the edges.

LATE ROMAN (Certain), 300 AD - 400 AD

ESS-6DEAF4

Object Type:

Jewellery

Roman cast copper alloy jewellery fitting - possibly an earring or a necklace fitting. There is a circular suspension loop (4.37mm diameter) at the apex with a small groove below. The main body is rectangular in plan with a square cross section (13.49mm long, 4.88mm wide), tapering in thickness towards a narrow, incomplete projecting arm with circular cross section (2.07mm diameter). There is a small raised collar seperating the arm from the main body. Each face of the main body has two small circular depressions. It has a mid-green patina. It has a total length of 25.46mm and weighs 1.81 grams

Dates

ROMAN (Certain), 40 AD - 400 AD

6th March 2009 More great finds and serious hard core hunts - Monster silver found

Archived half of this page to improve loading times.

Washington Tom found the monster silver coin, 1631 Charles 1st half crown milled silver, 13g. This is known as Briot's coinage and was one of the first ever test milled silver coins made, superb find.

1631 - 32 Charles 1st milled silver half crown (30 pence)

Nicholas Briot's milled coinage - Group III cloak on shoulder

31.05mm, 13.01g

Serious hard core hunts are becoming very popular with the guys that want to get the maximum detecting time out there in the fields. Louisiana Sal's hard core barn hunt he is running in Nov filled up instantly so I opened up a hard core session in full board for the week of the 17th Oct 2009. That again has proved to be very popular and is now full so I have just opened up more slots for that week, there are only 2 slots free if you think you are hard enough. This is a 90 + hour week of detecting with night lights to get max detecting time out there. Don't apply unless you are serious hard core.

I had a meeting with the museum yesterday to drop of latest treasures and pick up a large batch of our recorded finds which have now been entered onto the National database at Finds.org , there is still one outstanding batch they have yet to be recorded. I will be posting the results of the ID's like this below during the week. I have posted a load more finds to the latest finds page March 2009. including some interesting hammered silver coins and an unusual 'Lusshebournes' . These are Circa 1280 and are Sterling imitations from Europe copying an Edward type coin.

	Object Type:	Vessel Mount
	Incomplete late Iron Age to early Roman (25-60AD) cast copper alloy rosettle brooch. The head is almost completely missing, with only part of the spring encasement surviving. The brooch has an incomplete lower plate with a short, pronounced bow extending along two thirds of its length. The bow terminates in an expanded semi-circle, and the plate has curved moulded ridges extending out from this point. The combination of the plate and bow give the brooch a 'P' shaped profile. The foot and catchplate are missing. The damaged edges are extremely worn. It is 31.49mm long, 16.76mm wide, 14.13mm thick and weighs 13.56 grams.

LATE IRON AGE (Certain) to EARLY ROMAN (Certain), 25 AD - 60 AD

ESS-E2A4B5

	Object Type:	FLAT AXEHEAD
	Possibly an extremely abraded Early Bronze Age flat axe, dating 2100-1500BC. It is trapezoid in plan with a curved cutting edge. It is 68.34mm long, 24.22mm wide, 4.45mm thick and weighs 29.74 grams. The surface is extremely pitted.

BRONZE AGE (Probably), 2100 BC - 1500 BC

Stunning early 1681 Dutch Zeelandia province copper coin	'Lusshebournes' Circa 1280 - Sterling imitation from Europe copying an Edward type coin - Pollard - bare headed bust -0.94g, 18.18mm

Thanks to Ron for ID'ing this military badge find - 'na h' Eireann means of the Irish Free State',

4th March 2009 Fantastic days detecting - Stonking Medieval gold ring

The guys spread on two huge farms yesterday and found 12 hammered silver coins including two full Medieval groats and a half groat. Some great relics were also found but the find of the day was a stonking Medieval gold posey ring found by Gene with a full inscription and in mint condition. I have reported it as treasure to the museum and I already have a meeting booked with them this week to pick up recorded finds so I will drop it off then to start the treasure process running. Stunning find.

I have started posting some of the silvers to the latest hunt page March 2009.

Circa 13th C Medieval gold posey ring with full Lombardic inscription and with the flower possibly representing the wound of Christ- working on the legend to dechiper it - Reported as treasure to Colchester museum 22.38mm O/dia x 1.64mm T , 2.77g

Legend reads : * CN IIS LK VUI CK LOOIJ

1422-27 Henry VI hammered silver groat (4 pence) annulet issue - incurved cross

obv HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLIE FRANC

Rev Outer POSVI DEVM ADITORE MEVM

Inner VILLA CALISIE - Calais Mint

3.68g, 26.85mm

1351-2 Edward III hammered silver half groat - Cross 1 - series E Closed letters C and B

obv - EDWARDVS REX ANGL D ****

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1.59g, 22.93mm

1592 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence - Tun mintmark

More news pages

March 2009 to July 2009

Feb 2009 to March 2009

Nov 2008 to Feb 2009

Sept 2008 to Nov 2008

Brad's gold medieval gold statue

June 2008 to Sept 2008

March 2008 to June 2008

Oct 2007 to March2008

Sept 1st 2007 to Oct 2007

English Saxon gold coin found

NEWS June 2007 to Sept 2007

NEWS March 2007 to June2007

Double Cunobelin Celtic gold

NEWS March 2007 to April2007

Chicago Reid's Roman gold ring

NS Andy's Saxon strap end

NEWS Nov 2006 to March 2007

NEWS Sept 2006 to Nov 2006

Medieval Iconic gold ring find

NEWS May 2006 to Sept 2006

First Celtic gold of the season

NEWS March to May 2006

Celtic Woad cosmetic grinder and Jeff Roman Pecker find

NEWS Oct 2005 to March 2006

Viking silver strap end- Rare Roman silver coin finds

NEWS Sept 2005 to Oct 2005

Great Saxon silver finds Offa Rex - Coenwulf - Hammered gold

NEWS March 2005 toSept 2005

Villa Dig - Roman gold - Celtic gold hoard found

NEWS Sept 2004 to March 2005

Can Majos and Mass Bills gold rings - Texas Dave's hammered gold

NEWS March 2004 to Sept 2004

Roman gold coin - Mass Bruce's axe hoard

NEWS Jan 2004 to March 2004

2000BC Axe - Boston Buds Saxon gold

More Archived News Pre 2004