Low hopes and an entry level detector but I still ended up finding an awesome relic!

[coinman123]

Anyways, Today I headed out to a place that did not look that good. I have tried with my T2 before but never found much but shotgun shells and pulltabs but gave it a try today. I decided to bring someone along and let them use my T2 while I used my old Fisher F2 from two years ago (did I mention that it goes crazy and will frantically beep due to the coil cable being lose). Anyways, I was not expecting much when I got a signal right in the middle of the biggest patch of poison ivy in the whole place. I figured it was worth it and dug. I battled through roots and leaves (which unfortunately were poison ivy leaves) after some digging the find was out. I let my hunting partner use the pinpointer which is already not much use considering it was a freebie that came with the metal detector (I'm getting my Pro-Pointer in the mail this Thursday ). Anyways, I dig out a weird piece of metal, I quickly can tell it's a sundial. I figure it's not much and probably 1930's garden. I finish the hunt with a handful of pulltabs, some shotgun shells, beer cans, a cool 1980's coke bottle which I kept , and a nice pair of hedgeclippers that were on the surface laying against a log that are sure to go to good use. Anyways, after I got home I saw that sundial looks to be colonial and made of pewter and made best relic of the year on some website. I was thrilled after reading that what looked like a poor find is really something great. I guess that what I have always told people I metal detect is true, it does not matter how bad a place is or how poor you may think your metal detector is, good finds can still pop up out of no where.

It's in very bad condition, to the point of where parts of the edge are crumbling in my hand but it is still all there.


Update: Here is a better photo

I just put the glue and water solution on it, it looks pretty good. I will post photos of it's

Here it is during elmer's glue cleaning...
display case soon.

[coinman123]

Roman numeral four proves it dates pretty far back, it is written as "IIII" instead of IV. Looks like the "WN" is a maker.

[DirtStalker]

Pretty dang good find CM. And if it keeps time its a great find. For all you youngsters no battery and doesn't plug in

[Iron Patch]

I think that's a very cool find. In 2009 I found an early lead toy one. It was one of my favorite relics for the year.

[ironhorse]

That's a pretty cool relic!
It's a winner in my books!

[coinman123]

I IDed the maker, NM, made by Miller! 1740-1780! Says that pewter sundials like this belong in museum! I am thrilled! Here is some info from Colonial Williamsbury, I found the same exact one made by the same maker on there!
https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw...0maker&f=false


I think this could be my best find ever...

[Erik in NJ]

Nice find! Can you please provide some indication of size?

[coinman123]

Nice find! Can you please provide some indication of size?

A little bigger than 3" on diameter

[Iron Patch]

I IDed the maker! 1740-1780! Says that pewter sundials like this belong in museum! I am thrilled! Here is some info from Colonial Williamsbury
https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw...0maker&f=false

That's what makes detecting great.... because I'm guessing you probably only had the thought you might find a Colonial sundial when you set out on the hunt. It's funny how we all make want lists but what turns out to be our better finds we never see coming.

[DirtStalker]

Great find and article and you were bashing that ole F2. I think it did an excellent job as you were saying badwords

[Erik in NJ]

Thanks for the dimensions. Depending on the rarity it could very well be a banner find. You may want to coat it with Elmer's Glue and water mixture to prevent any more flaking. Very nice find!

[Indian Steve]

Great Find! How bad did you get poison ivy?

[coinman123]

Thanks for the dimensions. Depending on the rarity it could very well be a banner find. You may want to coat it with Elmer's Glue and water mixture to prevent any more flaking. Very nice find!

I will have to try that method. Banner?... Not sure

[coinman123]

[Iron Patch]

I will have to try that method. Banner?... Not sure

I think it's definitely banner worthy. That's actually very good condition for something like that.