Oldest find to date for me?

[EasternShoreMetal]

Hi all;
I found these cufflinks a few weeks ago. (Sorry for the lack of size reference given in the pics. Each oval is only a touch less 3/4" long and 3/8" wide)
Interesting digger's story:
I dug the signal, which indicated a probable brass button, but not as clear as a single signal.
I removed first one oval with a loop on the back.
At first, I thought I had a button, but I have never found an oval button from the colonial era, which this obviously was.
It was pretty pitted and dark for most brass pcs. around here.
As always, I rechecked the hole before covering and got another very clear signal. I gently dug the second oval pc. and the large oval loop. I put them all in my hand and WOW ! I knew then I had one sleeve cufflink. I could barely see that it had a design on the plates, I was excited to say the least.

When I researched it online, I found that generally, it seems the fewer the joining links, the earlier the pc. Also, the more ovular the links, the older.
The plate and loop definitely fit button designs of early 1600's to early 1700's. But now putting it all together. I am thinking that it matches a mid to late 1600's design, even down to the hand engraved design on the plates.
I began to think this may be the oldest find I have to date.

 

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[CoilyGirl]

Oh wow,those are finnne!

 

[terpfan]

Sweet looking cufflinks, they definitely have some age to them. I hope someone can help you narrow down the time period. Have you recovered anything else therer that might indicate you have an early site?

 

[park pirate]

Awesome...

 

[screwynewy]

Love the cuff links. I think that they are more likely in the range of mid to late 18th century. There are some members on tnet that are pretty knowledgeable about these and I am sure they will chime in. Congrats on a great find!

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Love the cuff links. I think that they are more likely in the range of mid to late 18th century. There are some members on tnet that are pretty knowledgeable about these and I am sure they will chime in. Congrats on a great find!

Could be, but they don't match those I have seen from that date so far. Most of them from mid 1800's have more complicated joints and the button and loop, the shanks, if you will, are usually attached differently. They more match the colonial button attaching ways more. But that's whats so hard about dating jewelry! lol

Sweet looking cufflinks, they definitely have some age to them. I hope someone can help you narrow down the time period. Have you recovered anything else therer that might indicate you have an early site?

So far I think I have found a trash area of some sort, so I 'm finding a whole range of artifacts Several ranging from late 1800's on up. No older coins except more modern, Buffalo, merc, & IH's. The IH are both later 1800's. But I have some brass parts that are fairly old and it's next to an Inn that is colonial. (Wish I could get permission for THAT!) But so far, it's a no-go.

Oh wow,those are finnne!

Thanks CoilyGirl.

 

[screwynewy]

Check out this post and link from Bill D, our resident relic hunting expert.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...nial-cuff-links-linked-buttons-check-out.html

 

[Cross Potent]

Great find. Those look like 1700s to me. I could easily see those coming up at one of my real old sites.

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Check out this post and link from Bill D, our resident relic hunting expert.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...nial-cuff-links-linked-buttons-check-out.html

Well they were really good links! I am always looking for more good research links. The one thing I didn't see there though, is that while it did show the shapes and relative dates, which was great, the focused on the more fancy stamped designs whereas this one has a simpler and earlier engraved designs typical of the earliest buttons. I had found only a couple that were similar online and they gave a very early date, so that's what I was basing mine on. It's always such a puzzle. But those links had tons of good information I'll be using in the future.. Thanks so much! Love the research end of all this. It makes many of our old finds "mysteries".. what's not cool about that? HH

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Great find. Those look like 1700s to me. I could easily see those coming up at one of my real old sites.

I agree too. These definitely go with my oldest button finds of the same designs. Thanks for responding.

 

[Garrett424]

Congrats on an awesome find from a fellow Marylander.

I hope to get down to the Eastern Shore in the spring. I hear there are many fantastic places to hunt down there.

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Congrats on an awesome find from a fellow Marylander.

I hope to get down to the eastern Shore in the spring. I hear there are many fantastic places to hunt down there.

Hey Bob, Thanks for the kind word. There are definitely lots of old places, the trick I'm still trying to learn is finding the ones not picked out! lol

 

[Garrett424]

Hey Bob, Thanks for the kind word. There are definitely lots of old places, the trick I'm still trying to learn is finding the ones not picked out! lol

I know what you mean. I've dug up SO many pre 1964 coins but only rarely hit silver quarters or dimes. Looks like someone beat me to 'em in some of my spots.

Gotta' keep diggin' though. I've been sick with Lyme disease (caught while MD'ing of course!!) for a while now and haven't been out at all lately but I'm really getting better now and hope to be out swinging again soon. Can't wait 'til spring though.

90 days from now things will be looking real nice again. The days start getting longer again Monday.

 

[Metal Illness]

Regardless of the age, that is a super cool find. You assembled all the pieces, imagine only finding one of the cuff links or just the joining loop thingy and never knowing what it was all put together. Nice save and a big congrats! The uniqueness and history of our finds is what makes this hobby so damn addicting!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't what it any other way!

 

[BARKER]

HI; I believe your cuff links are dated to 1720 - 1740. This is based on the style of pattern and especially the joining clasp which is very crude in design. If it were Pewter I would place at 1680's or so. They are also very typical for that time period. I base this on my own 46 years in the field and my many encounters with this type of cuff links and other Relics from that period ok. I'm in Boston. Suggestion: Search that are real slow and dig even thev slightest whisper of a signal. I think you will be amazed at your results ok. PEACE:RONB

 

[g-olden years]

Super find!

After you've dug several more good historical items from that area, you could make an informative little display case of them, show your case to the inn's manager, offer to show him how carefully you could detect his property, and offer him half of the good inn finds if he'll permit you to detect. Such "show-&-tell" could improve your chances of getting permission to hunt the inn grounds Have Fun! Andi

 

[Inspector]

That is a beautiful find, I would have been doing summer-salts. WTG on the saves

 

[Padiggers]

Wow....nice!! When I seen them I was thinking would they just be for Sunday....What would the shirt look like...I had to look that up.

 

[CRUSADER]

This type was never constructed in the first half of the 18th C, they fall squarely into the late 18th-early 19th C:
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Can't find the exact design but it makes little difference because all the reference books agree on date range.
What is nice is its remained complete since the 1790s.

Oval:
Diagnostic Artifacts - Small Finds

 

[Old Dude]

Regardless of the era, you have a nice find and I'd surely like finding them!