3rd Sept 2010 One day to go - more treasure info

I just received the British museum curators report on Toronto Boris's stunning silver seal matrix treasure find, very interesting. Colchester museum have shown interest in acquiring the item.

2009 T615

Silver seal matrix with figure of putto in front of a beehive complete with flying bees.

The interpretation of the scene is unclear, perhaps the putto has stolen honey from the hive or has been stung by the bees. Some kind of alegorical or moral reading is intended and engraved design resembles that of British prints of the 17thC and of tomb monument designs.

Probably late 17th century

As such due to its age and precious metal content this objects qualifies as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996

Award display

Just one day to go to the kick off to start the season. The whistle blows at 8am in the morning and the guys still have perfect weather for the first hunt of the season. Ground is moist and perfect , temps are still around 20C. Last night it was still 15C at 9pm so the guys will have their night lights on doing very late sessions.

All the awards are back from the engravers yesterday ready for presentation to the winners. Another 2 free trips are up for grabs this season again plus lots of trophies.

New for the coming season is a huge new updated laminated AO sized map pack produced by Canadian Rod our club historian. There is now an individual AO map per site so it is has massive detail. It includes all the new land boundaries so guys don't get confused out there. Included in the pack are the very early maps that detail the big manor houses etc that are no longer there. They are available to view and use by all the members.

I received the official coroners letters yesterday confirming all the items that went before the Coroners inquest on the 27th Aug have now been declared treasure.

I still have no word on the 500 + items we currently have with the museum for recording on the National PAS database. I think it will still be a while before they are processed. You can still take the bulk of your finds home from last season with their approved export license. If you mail me your export license back, when they are ready, I will send you your remaining museum recordings back to you or pick up next trip.

I am still waiting for a phone call from our goldsmith to let me know if your fixed hammered gold and silver coins are ready.

So everything is ready, bus is fueled up, chow hampers stocked to over flowing and the start of the season is finally here, good luck to all.

30th Aug 2010 Treasure Inquest results and disclaimed treasures - perfect weather

Only 5 days to the start of the new season and weather and land conditions are still the best I have ever seen for detecting this time of year. We have had lots of rain and the ground conditions are perfect. I was out visiting the sites again and another 2 dozen more fields have been ploughed and rolled and with this rain they are compressing really well. I went on to one of the fields to test the conditions and dug a hole, the moisture goes down to real depth. Normally this time of the year the ground is dry and baked hard by the summer sun. The average daily temperatures here have been around 18C so again perfect for detecting. New fields should come on line every day as the farmers take advantage of these easy ploughing conditions. We have a land portfolio of around 300 fields so new land comes on line from now to Nov. Check out the members forum as there are several free competitions the guys are running to guess the first target type dug etc.

There are still a couple of free slots in Sept/Oct if you want to join a hunt.

Ron's USA beach finds from last week

Chicago Ron has been posting more of his detecting video's on U- Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFtWyF4KK8o&feature

Check out his main site for all his video's - http://chicagoron.com/

Several of our treasures just had their coroners's inquests held on the 27th Aug at Chelmsford's central court. All of them were declared treasure as they are gold and over 300 years old. They will now go forward to the valuation committee stage of the Treasure process. Ill Joe has also received an improved offer for his medieval gold sapphire ring below by the committee at £3000. He and the landowner will have to decide if they accept this new offer as it is split 50/50 between the two under the treasure act. I have also received two letters from the British museum disclaiming two previous treasures we reported. They will be returned to the finder.

2009 T616 17thC Post medieval dress pin - disclaimed - Dennis
2009 T621 17thC Post medieval dress pin - disclaimed - Brad

Black Sapphire Medieval gold ring 21.93mmdia,2.51g - Ill Joe

The 4 items declared treasure were :

1300 BC Bronze age gold ring - 2009 T 523 - Org Ed
Medieval gold and sapphire ring - 2009 T 510 - Org Gary
Medieval gold finger ring - 2009 T 110 - Ill Gene
Medieval gold finger ring - Bily Mark

Medieval gold ring - full inscription inside and out - Bily Mark

Treasure Report:   2009 T579                                                                            
Parish/County:          ‘Tendring District’, Essex

A Medieval finger-ring of D-shaped section with inscriptions on the external and internal surface. The inscription on the outside of the hoop has seen much wear and is largely illegible. It appears to consist of the following letters:

SE  NA R  SE?L

The inscription on the inside of the ring is crisp and legible and spells

PENSETZ

This is a variation on the French word ‘pensez’, meaning ‘think’ (of me).  This single word is often deployed on rings with romantic inscriptions.

The ring’s proportions suggest that it may have been worn on the small finger of a slender woman or by a child.

The ring is gold and dates from the fifteenth century.

Dimensions: internal diameter 18 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
15th December 2009

Monster find -Circa 1300 BC Bronze age gold open backed triple banded gold ring

3.48g, 13.73mm dia x 6.74mm H

Medieval gold ring with sapphire - 24.12mm dia, 11.42g - report to Colchester museum as treasure

Medieval gold posey ring

Treasure Report:   2009 T110                                  JPR/EM                                              
Parish/County:          ‘Tendring District’, Essex

A Medieval finger-ring consisting of a single loop, flattened, with an inscription running along the narrow internal surface. Much of the inscription is illegible, but the remainder appears to read:

TOUT ??E ?E VOUS CE ??UE

The language is French and the disposition of the words characteristic of late medieval love tokens.

The finger-ring is gold and dates from the fifteenth century.

Dimensions: external 22 mm, internal 18 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
7th October 2009

23rd Aug 2010 Ready for the kick off - great weather - fields ready for searching

Last day to get you guess in for the free forum comp to win a free trip next season. Make sure your guess is on the entry sheet.

forum competition

Great new bit of kit arrived today to help speed up the cleaning process. It is a grinder/polisher with variable speed. There is an arbor extension included that goes on the side to mount the polishing wheels. Currently we use a soft head polisher on a Dremmel which works but can take a lot of time and is fiddly to use. The new large soft 5 inch cotton polisher will highlight the detail on a coin without damaging it.

Under two weeks now to the kick off to start of the 2010 season and the members are chomping at the bit to get started. I have been busy getting everything ready for the 4th Sept. I cleared out the back of the club bus and chucked away all the split spades/shovels and replaced them with the new long handled' Irish' type shovels. We have over 25 different types of shovels now to suit all tastes. Remember the club supplies all diggers so you don't have to pack one.

I have been out and about with the farmers again keeping them informed of the Treasure updates for finds found on their land and looking at the site conditions. Some of our best fields are like pool tables having already been harvested ploughed and rolled. The weather has been perfect for detecting, warm but not baking, great days of rain to keep the ground soft. It also really helps the farmers to get lots of ploughing done and compresses those fields that are not cropped. We do not hunt stubble here as it sucks !!

1361-69 Edward III hammered gold qtr noble - treaty period - quatrefoil in centre:cross over shield

1.94g, 19.10 mm

I dropped the last of the members coins to the goldsmith last week to be repaired including Can Rob's stonking Edward III noble. He does an amazing job at making our gold coins look like new. Check out our coin straightening page with before and after shots.

Coin straightening Page

Ron and Sal have been posting more of their detecting video's on the members forum so check out their sites for more updates.

http://www.treasureoutfitters.com/

http://chicagoron.com/

14th Aug 2010 Three half pence site - TV program porposal

Updated the new forum competition page to win the free trip for 2010/2011 with the latest guesses.

Archaeologists discover Britain's 'oldest house'

Archaeologists are claiming to have discovered the oldest house in Britain.

The circular structure, found at a site near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, has been dated as being made in 8,500BC.

Metal detectors uncover treasure

'The torc – a kind of necklace – was authenticated by Gillian Vandell at the British Museum who dated it to between 1300 and 1100 BC – more than 3,000 years old'

I have been approached by another television company to make a series of programs about metal detecting here. Over the years I have had most of the major TV companies approach us including the BBC but they have never been about the whole process from responsible detecting, Treasure laws, export laws, PAS recording of finds etc and the co operation between archeologists and metal detecorists to improve the history of the country. National Geographic, who are a very respected name in the industry, are proposing exactly that with input from the British museum .I have agreed that they have permission to film here which might even start in Oct.

1845 Victorian milled silver 1 1/2 pence

Great site that Joseph has on the history of the small denomination milled silver coin that we have found examples off. I have no copy right on pictures on our site so feel free to use them for improving history.

My name is Joseph A.Crespo, I have collected the 1½D for 3 years, which were intended to used in the British colonies, therefore, were never legal tender in England. But nevertheless, I have several reports in newspapers of the time, belonging to places where these tiny coins, were not supposed to be circulating.

After I visit your website, I noticed that the treasure hunters have found these small coins, maybe in England?. I would like to know more about these in particular, where they were found, because although this does not prove, that were legal tender in the UK, but if it demonstrates that they were used, regardless of they legal status, in the daily life of the Victorian era, at least until the approval of the Act of 1870.

This could be the subject of another chapter in the new website http://www.colonialthreehalfpence.com dedicated to the study of the British colonial three halfpence. So I invite you to visit the site now to learn more, to view valuable information about the interesting small denomination coin struck from 1834 through 1870.
Please forward this info to anyone who might be interested, to help me spread the word.

I would like to obtain your written permission to publish photos of the coins found with a caption, revealing the name of the person who contributed to the image as well as any brief story about each. We could have an agreement, I publish your website on my website and perhaps you would publish my website on yours, among other things. Looking forward to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Best regards,
Joseph A. Crespo - Administrator

9th Aug 2010 Under a month to the off - crop types - more members vids

Just over 3 weeks to the kick off to the start of the season and I have been out and about again with more of the landowners checking the cropping schedules and several more fields are ready now for searching. A great new Celtic/Roman area discovered by the Chicago Ron team was in potatoes last season so we could not pay a return visit. The landowner is lifting them next week so it will be very huntable shortly. A potato crop is excellent for detecting as the field has had a very deep plough and when the crop is lifted the field has small undulating ridges and is still compacted, you get great depth with your machine. You also get a second bite of the cherry as the field is ploughed and rolled later in the season for the new crop so you get a totally refreshed field twice in a season . Mitch Chris has posted a great new Archeology research site on the members forum and if you put in the location of this Roman hill is shows a massive ring ditch. He also did some research on our other new 66 field site and there is an abandoned Medieval village located on the land. Check out your own site with this link below.

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/

Another area now classed as a Roman brothel, by the type of finds we made , is going to put into potatoes this season so that will also get a very deep plough ready for next season.

All exports have been approved and I am now waiting for the 500 + items taken to the museum to be recorded and returned.

Updated the new forum competition page to win the free trip for 2010/2011 with the latest guesses. The closing date for entry is the 23rd Aug.

Sal has posted his latest video on the members forum. Also check out more great video of Sal hunting here and in the USA

http://www.treasureoutfitters.com/ - Latest Video - "Brass in the Grass"

More great member's video from Chicago Ron are posted on his own site. They include both England and UK finds.

http://chicagoron.com/

Latest video's of Ron's team March 2010 hunt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JV24faOI3w

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYYfR4yVfhc

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amFsX4U1Vhw

1st Aug 2010 Travis's ring goes on display - more updates

Updated our seal matrix page with some of their database entries

ESS-0F1F33 Seal Matrix

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

Script - NOLONIM ESDARI : U

Medieval (13th to 14th Century) cast copper alloy vessical seal matrix. The reverse has a central ridge along its length, with an integral loop at its apex. The matrix depicts a central standing figure, with hands clasped in front. The surrounding legend reads + NO HONI MESDONRI:' The matrix has a dark green patina. It is 31.75mm long, 18.22mm wide, 5.1mm thick and weighs 8.32 grams.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Finder applying for an export licence

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL

Period to: MEDIEVAL

Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1400

Dimensions and weight

Length: 31.75 mm
Width: 18.22 mm
Thickness: 5.1 mm
Weight: 8.32 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Complete

ESS-0C2DF2 Seal Matrix

Medieval, circular, lead seal matrix. The matrix has a central 6 petalled flower design, surrounded by the legend +SIGIL.RICARDI.FILL.RAVVLI 'The seal of Richard, son of Ravvli'. The reverse has an integrally cast suspension loop, and a central raised six petalled flower, surrounded by curved lines. It is 32.75mm in diameter, 4.39mm thick excluding the suspesion loop and weighs 24.56g.

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Finder applying for an export licence

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL

Period to: MEDIEVAL

Date from: Circa AD 1300
Date to: Circa AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Thickness: 4.39 mm
Weight: 24.56 g
Diameter: 32.75 mm
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Lead

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Complete

Mass Bruce's 850 BC Bronze age axe hoard display

Great to see Idaho Travis's medieval gold ring find now on display at the Colchester Castle museum for all to enjoy. Colchester museum is a fantastic place to visit and you can see all our previous treasures and hoards found. Check out our Museum page for details how to get there and a selection of our finds on display.

Colchester’s Festival of British Archaeology

'The exhibition contains a cross loaned from the the Royal Collections, a late medieval enameled gold cross which is still worn by the Abbot of Buckfast Abbey (Devon) each Christmas and several objects found by metal detectorists throughout the county including a gold finger ring (PAS record @  ESS-A3CCF3 ) and a copper alloy devotional badge depicting the crucifixion ( ESS-302D31).'

'Castle’s afternoon talk “The Public Contribution to Anglo-Saxon Archaeology” where you can find out how metal detected finds are helping to change our interpretations of the past.'

TREASURE CASE: 2008 T235 Medieval gold finger ring. The band has engraved decoration in the form of three flowers on stems with inscriptions in between. The internal band is plain and undecorated. There is no makers mark or hall mark. The band is 3.89mm wide, 0.46mm thick. The band is damaged and the shape distorted; in its current condition the ring has an external measurements of 19.45mm by 12.14mm, and internal measurements of 18.19mm by 10.82mm. It weighs 1.2 grams.

British Museum report for 2008 T235 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

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service
Subsequent action after recording: Purchased by museum after being declared Treasure

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2008 T235

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL

Date from: AD 1400
Date to: AD 1500

Dimensions and weight

Weight: 1.2 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Gold

Manufacture method: Cast

Completeness: Fragment

29th July 2010 - More exports approved - land news - treasure updates

A historic bronze cannon found near Sebastian contained gold and silver coins concealed inside, treasure on its way back to Spain before the shipwreck

Two more batches of approved export licenses have arrived and members names are posted on the forum.

Updated the new forum competition page to win the free trip for 2010/2011 with the latest guesses.

Celtic, early uninscribed coinage, (c.50-40 BC), AV Quarter-Stater, 1.12g, floral pattern on wreath, pellet in ring in centre, rev. horse running to right, curved ornament above, pellet in wheel ornament below (cf. BNJ 1998, coin register 14), extremely fine, very rare (approx.2-5 known)

Found recently in Essex, CCI no. 09.3512

There is just over a month now to the start of the new 2010 season and I have been out and about chatting to some of our landowners. I dropped off the farmers half share for the rare Celtic gold coin sold recently at Spinks. It made £1300 more than the estimated value and it was from a new field the farmer bought next to his existing land and ploughed and rolled for the first time last season. He owns one off our best Celtic village sites and is going to try and plough and roll this site first so it is ready for the start of the season.This site has so far produced 6 different tribes from 70 BC to 10 BC and was obviously a big trading area. Over 30 years ago the previous landowner ploughed up a Celtic gold torc and a large gold cross from this site but as of yet we have only found bronze relics.

I also dropped another landowners half payment for the disclaimed 17thC Charles II silver cufflinks. This was disclaimed by the British museum and returned to the finder. The museum have also now sent out final payments for Brad's gold statue and Ill John's medieval gold ring, both were purchased by Colchester museum.

I checked with the British museum treasure registrar this morning on the progress of our outstanding treasure cases. All the cases are awaiting for an inquest date from the Essex coroner to be set . Even our recent Saxon gold coin hoard has now gone forward for a date at the next hearing. I will post the date as soon as I hear anything.

22nd July 2010 More museum recordings and updates

Updated the new forum competition to win the free trip for 2010/2011 with the latest guesses. Closing date for entries is 23rd Aug so keep your entries coming.

I have received 2 large batches of export licenses back, list of names posted on the members forum. I have been going through our recorded finds on the PAS database like the silver bodkin needle that has been returned disclaimed. I have started a new sewing page with our needle and pin finds.

Medieval heraldic shield pendant - yellow and red enameling remaining - Cal Jim ID

Jean de Chalon "le sage" (1190-1267)
Count of Burgundy and Chalon (sur Saône). Count of Auxonne from 1230.
John was the son of Stephen III, Count of Auxonne. He took the name and the coat of arms of Chalon. In 1237, he swapped Auxonne and Chalon with the duke of Burgundy, for the lordship of Salins (and its valuable saltworks).
John married Mahaut, sister of Duke Eudes III of Burgundy, then Isabeau daughter of Robert I of Courtenay and finally Laure of Commercy.
He fought at Toulouse 1211 and Avignon 1226

Updated the harness pendant page with the latest finds

Treasure Case: 2010 T166 Dress Pin (Bodkin)

Date of Discovery: 1st March 2010

Circumstances of discovery: Whilst searching with a metal detector.

Description: Distorted and damaged cast silver dress-pin with incised decoration. The terminal is in the shape of a pineapple, formed of a cross-hatched oval with an upside down triangle representing the foliage. There is an incomplete loop at the apex of the pineapple. There are two rectangular 'eye' openings separated by a rectangular panel containing a flower motif. The upper opening has oblique lines to either side. The lower opening only has one edge surviving. The shaft has a rectangular cross section and it tapers to a point. A zigzag motif extends part way along the shaft on both sides. The pin it bent back on itself at the point of the second rectangular opening. The tip of the pin has several bends. In its current condition, it measures 69.92mm long, has a maximum width of 3.62mm, is 1.52mm thick and weighs 2.68 grams. If straight, the pin would be approximately 97mm long.

Date: Post Medieval - 17th Century

Disposition: Disclaimed

The object contains a minimum of 10% precious metal and is over 300 years old. Consequently it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996 in terms of both age and precious metal content.

Laura McLean Finds Liaison Officer, Essex. Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service. April 2010

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being disclaimed as Treasure

Chronology

Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1700

Thanks to Michael Whitworth for mailing me the correct ID of this army lapel badge that I thought was a Colchester regiment.

10th Manchester's a Great War unit from Oldham

Found one of our unknown widgets on the PAS database, ID'd a medieval buckle fragment

17th July 2010 Museum meeting and disclaimed treasures - Saxon mount paper

Stunningly beautiful - Romano bronze razor back pig/hog offering - red enameled eyes - 65.56mm L x 39.9mm H 148g

500 + finds from the 2nd half of the season are now safely with the local museum for further ID and recording. The Roman coins have been grouped together for their expert at the British museum to evaluate them as a whole. Our previously reported hoard of 100 + Roman coins from the same area have been disclaimed as a 'scatter' so these other coins will form a good picture of the surround area to the hoard. Several items handed in were commented on like Orv's Roman pig. Two other examples are on display at the Colchester museum but experts have not seen one with enameled eyes.

A couple of unknown widgets one of which looked like a Roman bell clapper were ID'd as a Roman lock latch key, great find.

I also picked up a huge bag of disclaimed treasures from the museum so the list below are those to be returned to to finder. Note: that if you find a plain gold ring, even if it appears to be Medieval from context, unless the British museum can date it with absolute certainty as older than 300 years old then it is disclaimed and returned to you. If the ring is just a bright yellow gold band with no markings or inscriptions then it will be disclaimed. Rings like the one above found by Bil Mark can be attributed as Medieval by the style of the inscription and therefore go forward for inquest.

Chicago Ron - Medieval gold ring - 2009 T 220
Bav Jeff - 17thC silver button 2008 T684
Ohio Jerry - Tudor silver clothing fastener - 2010 T37
Ohio Jerry - 17thC silver button 2010 T171
Ohio Gerry - Gold on silver jewelery fragment - 2009 T217
Cal Gail - Medieval gold ring - 2009 T500
Org Ed - Tudor gilded silver nount -2009 T521
Boston Beau - 19thC gold ring - not treasure
Jeff - Plain gold ring - 2009 T626 - not treasure
Mass Steve 17thC silver bodkin needle- 2010 T166
Can John - Medieval gilded silver fleur de lis mount - 2009 T520
Cal Sarah - Tudor clothing fastener - 2010 T38
Mass Bruce - Tudor decorated pin head - 2009 T523
Can Dave - Tudor silver clothing fastener 2009 T618
Texas Dave - Medieval silver figurine - 2009 T218
Min Robert - Medieval silver hawking bell - 2009 T365

2 - Late Saxon c10thC stirrup alloy terminals Class A Type 11a

Sub triangular mount depicts a Lion looking upwards with its front paw raised and tail curled between its legs and over the back

I received a mail from Michael at the BM on Can James's double Saxon stirrup mounts which is an area of a particular interest to him. He attached a very interesting pdf document he wrote on them with the background and find spread of this type. Click on the link below

Saxon Lion stirrup mount document

I managed to find my favourite diggers on the web which some guys previously brought over from NA, they are called Irish spades. They are those very long handled types with the sharp pointed nose that guys like. We are down to 2 now with breakages so I ordered up another 7 for the new season. We still have the other 2 dozen assorted spade/shovel types to pick from but these are my weapons of choice. Remember I supply diggers so you don't have to bring one with you especially now with the restrictions on baggage.

11th July 2010 More Roman hoard pictures

More pictures of the amazing Roman hoard find. That is what you call a pot of coins !!!

CNN video of 52,000 Roman coin hoard

Clay vessel containing 52,000 coins

8th July 2010 Jim's Magna Carta research - Monster Roman hoard found

I am still busy preparing the paperwork to support the 100's of finds to take to my meeting with the British museum experts shortly. Thanks to all the members for supplying the ordnance survey locations for all the recordings.

I have also received several letters from the British museum disclaiming the plain gold rings found and reported as potential treasure. Their findings are:

'the lack of inscription or markers mark on these rings makes it impossible to accurately date'

Caroline Barton

The British Museum

UK treasure hunter finds 52,000 Roman coins

LONDON – A treasure hunter has found about 52,500 Roman coins, one of the largest such discoveries ever in Britain, officials said Thursday.

The hoard, which was valued at 3.3 million pounds ($5 million), includes hundreds of coins bearing the image of Marcus Aurelius Carausius, who seized power in Britain and northern France in the late third century and proclaimed himself emperor.

Dave Crisp, a treasure hunter using a metal detector, located the coins in April in a field in southwestern England,

3rd July 2010 Mary wins the competition - Saxon gold hoard curator report - 3rd Sapphire gold ring valuation

The final tally of copper coins found during the season is 3906 and wins Ark Mary with her guess of 3900 the free trip next season. Check out and enter this coming seasons competition to win another free trip. forum comp.

A few more bonus do dads out of the export pouches including two very nice Roman cart fittings, both different styles. More export find lists and pictures posted to members forum

Medieval heavily gilded trefoil mount	Roman protected loop terret A fragment of a Romano-British protected loop terret. The loop through which the reins would have passed is missing and only the base of the object remains
Roman protected loop terret A fragment of a Romano-British protected loop terret. The loop through which the reins would have passed is missing and only the base of the object remains	1665 William Ferris of Colchester hammered copper trade farthing
1694- 1702 William III gold guinea coin weight	1500-1700 mount with single rivet fixing

(EMC 2010.0131) Merovingian tremissis of Coutances ----------------------------Merovingian tremisses unknown (EMC 2010.0130)

I have received a letter from the British museum confirming the Saxon gold coin hoard found in March is going forward for inquest as the location and type constitutes a hoard. The letter included Gareth Williams, the curator of early medieval coinage at the BM, report on the coins.

1.Merovingian gold tremmis, mint Coutances,moneyer'Piontus'

Obv Diademed bust,r. CVSTANCIA

Rev Cross on globe,above curved X, pellets in angle of cross.PIONTVS

Weight 1.25 Die axis 0

2. Merovingian gold tremmis, uncertain mint and moneyer

OBV Lopsided star, pellet in centre (distorted bust?) COMOTEHO

Rev Small cross pommee, in circle of pellets +C.NRODH_ (order uncertain)

Weight 1.36g Doe axis -

13thC Black Sapphire Medieval gold ring 21.93mmdia,2.51g

Il Joe's medieval gold sapphire gold ring treasure find is giving the treasure valution commitee real problems with setting the correct level so they asked for 3rd expert independant valution. Currently their experts have valued the ring from £1200 to £15,000. The 3rd valution estimateed the ring at £3000 so back to the commmittee again to make another offer.

Treasure Act 1996: 2008 T580 Medieval Gold Finger-Ring from Tendring District, Essex

At its 9 June 2010 meeting, the Treasure Valuation Committee decided to defer their valuation for the above find and commission a third provisional valuation.

The first provisional valuer suggested £1,200-£1,600; the finder & museum submitted comments. The Committee recommended £1,700 (10/12/09). The finder submitted a challenge; the Committee requested a second valuation (14/04/10). The second provisional valuer suggested £15,000, citing recent auction trends which have shown that unusual and rare rings are becoming increasingly desirable. The Committee was concerned over the discrepancy between the first provisional valuation, its original recommendation and the recently suggested figure. It also felt that comments about the recent upsurge in the market for such items could benefit from corroboration. For these reasons it felt the necessary course was for it to seek a third valuation for the finger-ring.

Once this valuation has been received it will be sent to all parties and the Committee will consider all provisional valuations alongside the find, which will be re-examined at the Committee’s next meeting.


Yours sincerely,


Caroline

Caroline Lyons
Assistant Treasure Registrar
The British Museum
Tel: 020 7323 8509

29th June 2010 Mike wins coin hunter of the year - Ed wins pouch of the year

More export pouch finds lists and pictures just posted to the members forum.

Updated the forum comp page with the latest coin count of 3846 milled coppers for the season so far. Keep your guesses coming for the new 2010/11 competition.

Mike has won the coin hunter of year again for the 2nd year running. His score of 96 coins in a week is a real tribute to his skill as Mike hunts in early Sept on restrictive field numbers and dry conditions . Mike is back in Sept for the first hunt again so can he make is a treble ?

Updated the awards page with the prizes up for grabs in the new season starting Sept 2010.

Atlanta Mike holds his shield from last season

Monster find -Circa c 1300-1150 BC Bronze age gold open backed triple banded gold ring - penannular

3.48g, 13.73mm dia x 6.74mm H

With the British museum as treasure

70BC Morini 'boat tree' type Celtic gold 1/4 stater 1.48g, 10.28 mm CCI 09.3450	1.20g, 12.12mm 600AD Saxon silver sceat Series C1 EMC 2009.0301

A new award this season is for the 'pouch of the year' , engraved cup and shield. This is not about the sheer bulk of a bag but historical, quality and rarity of the finds.

There were so many stunning pouches this season but the one that really sticks out in my mind is Oregon Ed's monster. Crisp Saxon silver, Celtic gold and the monster 1300 BC gold ring. The rest of his pouch was stuffed full of other really hammered silver and relics.

Oregon Ed

25th June 2010 More new land - More exports and finds

Click on picture for U Tube video

The world’s largest gold coin, measuring about 53cm in diameter and weighing 100 kilogram, is to be auctioned in Austria. The coin, made of pure refined gold, is a Canadian Maple Leaf, with a denominated value of $1,000,000. It is expected to reach over 4 million at auction. The coin will be auctioned on June 25, 2010, at Vienna’s Dorotheum.

More potentially good Roman new land has been added for the new season around Barn IIII and a potential 2nd plot of 1000 acres nearby. With this land you can walk out the front door and detect as late as you like.

Uploaded more export pictures and finds lists to the members forum. Several really nice bonus do dads in the guys pouches including what looked like a huge black lump I cleaned up found by Can Greg. Although worn this as rare as hens teeth and only our 4th ever William III milled silver half crown. Alaskan Geo had two really nice medieval mounts caked in crud that I soaked in distilled water. One of them is a face and shoulder hanging pendant.

1696 William III milled silver half crown (30 pence)		Medieval 'head and shoulder' pendant with thick gilding remaining
18thC bullion weight - Crown mark		Superb signed and decorated crotal bell 1770-1813 William Gwynn - Aldbourne
Roman plate brooch		Medieval beehive thimble
19thC livery button	Victorian Generic Military HQ Staff Officer Smith & Wright Birmingham 1840 -81	19thC livery button	Royal Engineer Department Officer & O/R's - 1837-1855
19thC livery button	'Still unrecorded, but I have it in my book as the below' Tim 13th Light Dragoons Officer - 1800-1830	Very early pewter button - The Royal Staffordshire Reg

17th June 2010 More exports, disclaimed treasures and new mount pages

I just got an e-mail from the museum and the following disclaimed treasures are ready for collection.

2008 T684

2009 T217

2009 T218

2009 T220

2009 T365

2009 T500

2009 T520

2009 T521

2009 T522

2009 T523

2009 T618

2009 T626  

2010 T37

2010 T38

2010 T166

2010 T167 – Early med strap end – donated

2010 T171

Updated the forum comp page with the latest coin count 3571

Still working my way through the export applications and I have a dozen more to complete yet. Some of these pouches are just so large that the investigation of the unknowns is very time consuming exercise . I already have our largest ever bag of finds e ready to take to the museum for recording at our next meeting. Cal Dan had a mega bonus find in his pouch caked with earth. I soaked it slowly in distilled water in case it had enamel underneath the crud and it turned out to be stunning. Cal Jim our club's heraldic expert has researched it and found the owner, Guillaume de Moncarvel

13thC heraldic shield mount - Gules three cinquefoils a chief or

I have been completely revamping the mounts page as it was far too large and I have broken a lot of them down into individual pages. It is work in progress as I still have a load more to catagorise yet on Mounts II page. I am also setting up a mounts index page to make searching for the type of mount easier.

Mounts II page

Mount Index

	Cast copper alloy mount or stud, in the shape of a bird		Quatrefoil, Cinquefoil Sexfoil, Octofoil mounts
	Early Post-Medieval (1500-1700) copper alloy belt mount in the form of an acorn,		Fretwork mounts
	Hooked mounts		Flower and Fleur de Lis mounts
	Oval mounts		Heart shaped mounts
	Triangular shaped mounts		Mounts all types

11th June 2010 More exports and updates

Beachcomber stumbles upon historical shipwreck

Vir John

Posted more export find lists and pictures to the members forum. Some great bonus do dads below out of the export pouches.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count which is now 3495.

19thC Army button - not deciphered lettering yet	92nd Regiment of Foot ( Highlander ) O/R's (Pewter) - 1798-1830 Officer (Silver) - 1798-1830	RN Capt / Commander - 1812 RN Lieutenant - 1812 RN Midshipman - 1812 RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1812 After this issue a Midshipman will have the Captain's style	19thC livery button
1770 - bullion weight - Westminster portcullis mark		18thC casket key
16thC serpent buckle		Medieval buckle
Roman decorated buckle		Navy Yacht Club button

4th June 2010 More exports and updates - 2010 competition launched

A couple of members can't make their 18th Sept weeks trip so there are now free slots for that week full board if you fancy a hunt. Drop me a mail if you can make it

colchesterhunter@colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk

Posted more exports find lists and pictures to the members forum.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count which is now 3318.

I have received several more letters back from the British Museum about reported treasures.

2010 T163 Gold bar fragment - disclaimed and returning to finder

2010 T170 Gold strip - disclaimed and returning to finder

Updated both the Roman silver and bronze coin pages with the latest finds

Roman silver coins

Roman bronze coins

I am now launching next seasons competition that will be counting Romano/British coins found here from Sept 2010 to April 2011 season . It will include both gold, silver and bronze coins and those entered will be added to the official entry sheet on the Forum competition page.

2010/11 Season's Free forum competition

Guess the number of Romano/British gold, silver and bronze coins found during the season

Approx Date range 200BC to 400 AD

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

30th May 2010 More Exports and Roman ID's back

1745 George II milled silver sixpence	Unusual date 1700 William III milled silver sixpence
2ndC Roman plate brooch - silvered with red enameling remaining	19thC Rifle Brigade button	Royal Engineer Department button In use by 1881

Still busy preparing export paperwork and researching unknown finds. Can James had some interesting pieces in his export pouch I did not see while the hunts were underway including an early George II milled silver which is rarer than hen's teeth to find, we have only found a dozen examples in 7 years of detecting. He also had a 1700 dated William III, first of that date we have found. I have posted more finds lists and pictures to the members forum. I sent off 4 Roman coins out of the pouches to Mark Lehman for his views and the ID's are very interesting.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count which is now 3246 coins for the season so far.

Now, as for the 2 you sent me last week - the 1st is still a CONSTANTINOPOLIS city commemorative of c. 330 AD. the mint mark is off-flan, so there's no certainty which mint made it.

Mark

The 2nd one, however - the one you call "the black one", is very interesting (and might, as you ask, retain traces of silvering). The obverse legend appears to name Diocletian and the reverse type seems to be PROVID or PROVI AVG or AVGG with Providentia standing left, pointing a wand at a globe at her feet and holding a cornucopia - this all sounds very pedestrian, but - the portrait appears to be laureate rather than radiate, the size is simply too large and the letters S - P in the reverse field make no sense at all.

Even checking the listings for Diocletian as Tetrarch, after his monetary reforms, this reverse type does not occur at all (although the S - P fieldmarks are used on folles at a couple of mints) and it really doesn't appear to belong to the Follis-based post-reform series at all, either.

Okay, then I might say "it could be a very rare issue of an As" (a denomination which was for all intents and purposes defunct at this time, although a few are known) and that would explain the size and lack of a radiate crown - but the combination of this reverse type with these field-letters simply doesn't occur anywhere that Asses were produced for Diocletian (Rome, mostly). However, while looking for confirmation for the piece I suspect is a Carausius, I noticed that S - P is a very common set of fieldmarks for the Camulodunum (Chester) mint for both Carausius and his successor, Allectus. There is a very famous coin of Carausius which, in an attempt to conflate his auctoritas with that of the 2 legitimate emperors, has a conjoined triple-portrait of Diocletian, Maximian and Carausius and a reverse type ending "AVGGG".

Now I'm wondering if this coin names Diocletian but was struck by Carausius - this being an effort to issue coins in the name of the primary emperor in Rome - Diocletian - in the attempt to further legitimize his own reign?

It's a very interesting puzzle - and I'll keep looking - there's got to be a reasonable explanation for this piece to exist.

Mark

16.05mm, 1.33g

This one is definitely a FEL TEMP REPARATIO - the soldier spearing the fallen horseman reverse-type. Although there isn't enough obverse legend visible to be certain, the overwhelming likelihood, given the size (and the date-range the size indicates - this was one of the shrinking-module series) is that it's Constantius II and in this size/weight range, you're looking, most likely, at around 255-360 AD for a date.

This is a pretty little example of this general type - probably the most common single coin type surviving from antiquity - and much more attractive than the average late specimen of this inflationary currency. There is also a possibility that the artwork is this good due to it belonging to one of the ubiquitous unofficial issues - which in this time-frame are as likely as not to have better quality engraving than products of the official mints. It's estimated by some that upwards of 50% of all the later, small-module FEL TEMPS's were contemporary copies circulating and being accepted alongside the regal issue with a wink. (Not wholly unlike the rash of homemade "round pounds" I hear are in circulation in Merrie Auld currently - the lack of confidence in the currency which might be aroused by implication by any assiduous attempt to remove them all from circulation would cause more of a problem than allowing the bogus "ones" to circulate freeely and merely removing them when they're spotted in a bank)

Mark

1.34g, 20.19mm

This piece is tantalizing - and a bit frustrating. The somewhat unusual obverse legend ending "...P AVG" (rather than P F AVG) supports my otherwise un-provable theory (based on the portrait - not a dependable determinator) that this is an antoninianus of Carausius - the late 3rd century Admiral of the Imperial anti-piracy fleet in the North Sea who decided his fortunes might fare better on the "other side" and subsequently created the secessionist "British Roman Empire" in c 287 AD. Of course, I can't prove this since all the important legend is missing. The reverse type appears to be SALVS AVG - Salus feeding a serpent rising from an altar. Since this type is known for Carausius from the mint at London, I think the chances are pretty good for it to be Carausius. Any reverse type other than the seemingly ubiquitous PAX AVG is at least somewhat scarce for Carausius - and his coins in general, while hardly rare, are enthusiastically collected in Britain, running their values up a bit.

Mark

25th May 2010 More updates and exports

Just sent off a couple of really nice Roman coins out of the export pouches to Mark Lehman for his ID and views. The black one could have been a washed Roman silver coin so it will be interesting to get his reply. Posted more export pictures and find lists to the members forum.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count.

Updated the individual pages below with the latest finds.

	Religious and pilgrims items		Mounts
	Jewelry page all ages		Romano/British silver coin page

18th May 2010 Joe's appeal valuation £15,000 - more exports uploaded

Just uploaded Chicago Ron's and Reid's export pouch to the members forum and his trip added another 140 coppers to the forum competition which now stands at 3153 for the season. They just knocked out 5 guys guesses on the forum competition page.

Updated more individual find pages below with the 2nd half of the seasons finds.

Just received more approved export licenses in the post - uploaded names to the members forum.

	Coinweights		Military badges
	Military buttons named regiments		Harness pendants
	Trade weights

Black Sapphire Medieval gold ring 21.93mm dia,2.51g

Ill Joe's initial offer from the Treasure valuation committee for his sapphire ring appeared to be incorrectly low, he appealed with examples of other rings worth considerably more which matched his find. He has just received another independent valuation paper commissioned by the committee. The find will now go back to the next valuation committee in June for revision.

PROVISIONAL TREASURE VALUATION

16th May 2010 More exports and the pound has tanked - More of Ron's vids

Great news for the members as the pound has dropped sharply against the dollar to just 1.45 today making these trips even cheaper . I have added a Google widget converter to this page so you can keep an eye on the rates and grab them pounds really cheap.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count.

Fantastic find 1stC BC Celtic bucket mount - The bird probably a raven would be one of a series used as decoration around the top of the bucket. The bucket was used in sacrificial or religious ceremonies

In Celtic mythology birds were represented as the messengers of the gods

Uploaded more export pictures and finds lists to the members forum including Ill John's 'find of the year' pouch. John managed the triple gold on this trip and one of the rarest Celtic artefacts ever found here, the Celtic bird bucket mount. What a great hunt with a treasure and a hoard reported to the museum.

Chicago Ron has posted the next two installments of his 2010 Barn hunt on u-Tube, check out the crazy gold dances and their trip to the British museum!!!

Ron still has a couple of free slots on his Oct trip so drop him a mail if you fancy joining one of our most sucessful Barn teams.

Just posted History's Dirty Secrets #13 Chicago Ron's 2010 England Hunt Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JV24faOI3w

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYYfR4yVfhc

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amFsX4U1Vhw

Enjoy

Ron

More paperwork in from the British museum issuing Treasure Case numbers and disclaims

Treasure Act 1996: 2009 T217, Silver fragment from ‘Tendring District’, Essex -disclaimed

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Treasure Act 1996: 2010 T254, 2 - Saxon gold coins from ‘Colchester District’ Essex (receipt No 4915)

Treasure Act 1996: 2010 T168, Medeival gold finger ring from from ‘Tendring District’, Essex(receipt No 06976)

Treasure Act 1996: 2010 T172, Post Medeival gold finger ring from from ‘Colchester District’, Essex(receipt No 06975)

Treasure Act 1996: 2010 T164, Silver snake handle from from ‘Colchester District’, Essex(receipt No 06980)

12th May 2010 More updates and exports

Fixed a couple of bad links and added more individual pages to the main finds menu.

Still busy working through the export pouches and posted more pictures and find lists to the members forum.

Updated more of the individual find pages below with our latest finds.

I have updated the Forum competition page with the latest copper count which is now close to 3000 coins for the season so far. It was a brilliant 2nd half of the season so the final total could be close to 4000 after I have processed all the export pouches and counted the remaining milled coppers.

	Lead bale seals		Livery and corporation buttons
	Jettons		Lead tokens
	Keys		Dress buttons

10th May 2010 Find of the year winner - other awards up for grabs

Big thanks for a fantastic voting turn out by the membership . The members voted for 15 separate this year so it was a very tough choice, the votes were spread wide. There was no landslide winner this season but the stonking Saxon gold was the clear favourite in the end. Big congrats to Ill John on a beauty find and he wins a free trip next season, name on the shield of honour and the Roman silver urn trophy to keep.

Result -

1st Ill John's gold Tremmis - 28% of the vote

2bd Idaho Orv's Roman bronze hog -18.5% of the vote

3rd Oregon Ed's 1300BC gold ring - 17% of the vote

Updated the awards page with the winners names of the other awards already won this season. The 'Prolific coin hunter' and the 'forum competition' winners will be announced after I have finished the last export application. For the up and coming season 2010/11 the same awards, where you can win two free trips, are up for grabs. There is also a new award added, 'Finds pouch of the year'. This is the best overall group of finds a guy makes in thier weeks tour, it is not based on size but the rarity of the coins and relics found.

Saxon Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century - part of a Saxon gold hoard with the British museum

1.26g,15.08mm

Stunningly beautiful - Romano bronze razor back pig/hog offering - red enamelled eyes - 65.56mm L x 39.9mm H 148g

Monster find -Circa 1300 BC Bronze age gold open backed triple banded gold ring

3.48g, 13.73mm dia x 6.74mm H

Reported to Colchester museum as treasure

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More news pages

March 2010 - May 2010

Oct 2009 to Feb 2010

July 2009 to Oct 2009

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

michelle@colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk