(**Video**) BIG Gold! My Hands are Still Shaking!

KYshooter

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Would you believe a half-inch wedding band from the late 1800's?!!

Let's just start with the video ... :icon_thumright:
[youtube=425,350]RO0OVLllgCM[/youtube]
[size=10pt][size=10pt][size=13pt][size=10pt]
**Size Update - Ring weighed in at 14.1 grams, or 10.575 grams of pure gold ... .339994441295 Troy Ounces (just over 1/3 ounce).
**Melt value is $458.51 at the current spot price!
[/size][/size][/size][/size]

So, as usual, I made my way back to my old mineral springs hotel site yesterday afternoon. I only had three hours to hunt, but I wanted to get some dirtfishing time in because bad weather is moving in tonight.

I decided to hunt near the top of the hill where the building sat. I actually focused on an area slightly behind where the "later" part (built in 1885) stood. I worked near a small cluster of trees.

I had only been at it for about fifteen minutes when I got a solid, repeating VDI of 74 on my MXT. Looked like a solid penny, so I dug, expecting an old wheatie. I cut a nice, big plug ... and my head almost exploded when I saw this staring at me out of the bottom of the plug ...
Gold in Hole.png

Holy Shamoley! That's gold! And not just any gold. It's BIG Gold. Here's a shot fresh out of the dirt that I captured from the video.
Gold Fresh Out.png

It is so HEAVY! I mean, it's the biggest gold ring that I have ever, personally, seen. Just a little under a full half-inch in width ...
02.04.11 18k Gold Ring Ruler.jpg

Here it is in my lovely wife's hand ...
02.04.11 18k Gold Ring Kim.jpg

It is 18k, and bears the mark of, "Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry Co."
02.04.11 18k Gold Ring Makers Mark.jpg

I did some research on the mark, and found this information on a site describing some art deco silver pieces made by this company:
The "Mermod, Jaccard" mark is that of a company that was founded in St. Louis in 1829 by Louis Jacquard. He was joined by A.S. Mermod in 1845 and Goodman King in 1865, and the company became Mermod, Jaccard & King Jewelry Co.
So ... the company existed under the names of "Mermod & Jaccard" only between the years 1845 and 1865. That means this ring was manufactured just before or during the Civil War!!

The ring has a fancy script-inscribed name inside, but I cannot make it out due to what appears to be heat damage. Indeed, even if the ring were an inch or two deep in the ground when the building burned, it was close enough to incur some damage from the intense heat.

Needless to say, I am seriously stoked about this find. I hope to be able to find someone nearby with a scale tomorrow so I can get an accurate weight and calculate the exact gold content. I weighed it on a small scale at the hospital where I work a part-time job, and it totaled it at exactly 0.5 ounce, but I don't trust that measurement ... seems a wee bit hefty (but close!).

Honestly, I'm not sure if this ring will have more value in its gold, or in the fact that it is a 160 year-old antique. From that perspective, I'm not even sure how to get it checked out.

I also found some other whatzits and a 23mm flat button that had me thinking "half cent" for a while ... but only left me broken-hearted.
02.04.11 Finds.jpg

Thanks for looking, and enjoy the video. And give some thought to hitting up my Youtube channel and subscribing.

Blessings,

Geoff
 

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Upvote 0

willie d

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Awesome find!

Any idea of weight on the ring?
 

nova treasure

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Mar 2, 2008
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1840's to 1860's 18 kt gold Ring and from Kentucky is a banner find in my book :notworthy:.

Bill
 

ANTIQUARIAN

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Great gold find there Geoff! :o Great video too! :icon_thumright:
I think you'll be really surprised when you get an accurate weight on it! :notworthy:

Dave
 

70monte68

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Beautiful gold... Keep hitting that dirt, there has to be more surprise's!
 

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KYshooter

KYshooter

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nick.foltz said:
Did you weight it yet?
:headbang: BANNER!

I have to track down a scale someplace ... we don't even have a jewelry store in my small town. Gotta make a few phone calls after the snow lets up.
 

treasurepirate1

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that is one cool ring especially after that 1805 silver, (that will look good on the banner) :notworthy:
 

Goes4ever

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That ring is AMAZING! Congrats!
 

Chug And Red

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That ring Is going to look Great up on the "Banner" Chug!!!! Congratulations on the find and thanks for the Video!!
 

gold nuggets

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That is one huge gold ring KYshooter.....congratulations on
a really neat find. You don't find 18k gold rings that large
and that old everyday. I vote BANNER for this gold ring.
Gold Nuggets :hello:
 

thrillathahunt

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Jul 24, 2006
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Another banner ring find! Amazing.

The Mermod & Jaccard Co were prolific producers of gold jewelry of all kinds and silverware.
Their markings are always very clear and detailed.

Great find! :thumbsup:
 

Bill D. (VA)

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Nice vid, and congrats on an absolutely tremendous find

That may be the biggest and heaviest gold ring I've ever seen dug. And 18kt to boot. Super find!!
 

Deepdiger60

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Fantastic ring :icon_thumleft: that place is a treasure trove , please get a weight of that ring , Banner find for sure :thumbsup:
 

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KYshooter

KYshooter

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Nov 28, 2009
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Deepdiger60 said:
Fantastic ring :icon_thumleft: that place is a treasure trove , please get a weight of that ring , Banner find for sure :thumbsup:

Trying to get in on a scale today.

And thanks for all the banner nods, friends. Means a lot to me. You guys are great. I'm just glad to have this type of "community" where we can share our finds!

I'll try to get some better daylight pictures today ...
 

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