Victorian Era Leather purse inside of an iron concretion w/silver jewelery

[riverdiver]

Here is my story, I had read in W & ET about other divers recovering iron nodules u/w that upon drying out sometimes produced gold and silver items. The areas I dive have similar iron nodules/concretions on the bottom up to 2' in diameter. On my last dive in August I saw one at 28' with a clay Ink embedded into the top of it. I recovered it and upon bringing it to the surface I observed a small ornate silver necklace coming out of the block. I took it home and let it dry for a day in the sun. I put the block on my bench and set to removing the necklace with a dremel tool, the whole front of the block popped off and exposed a leather purse containing an Indian Head Penny with 18** for a date, 2-Silver Brooches with glass inlay designs a silver mourning pin and some other items cemented into the block. 3-days later and several recharges of the dremel produced a lock, 2-hair/clothing pins?, 2-brass earrings and some small links that deteriorated. The original iron source turned out to be a small gauge RR spike. I was diving in a river near a RR Bridge looking for bottles when I found it.
Enjoy the photos!

[worldtalker]

riverdiver,Now that indeed is a find,any part of Jimmy Hoffa in there? God Bless HH Chris

[curbdiggercarl57]

That is just too cool.
All the parts of purses I dig are devoid of any coins.
Way too cool.
Carl