🥇 BANNER 19th century gold

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
9,039
Baltimore, Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75
Primary Interest:
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Here we are at the beginning of 2017, starting from scratch, nothing in the till. So how did the first hunt of the new year turn out?

As amazing and unpredictable as the finds of 2016!

First coin of the year was an 1893 V-nickel, very toasty but still readable. Next coin was silver, at least 35%, in the form of a 1943 P War nickel. After that came two wheats, a 1950 followed by a 1909. These first four targets were dug in an area of high EMI, so I had the sensitivity down to 70, still plenty of depth to get the V and the 1909. There was also a child's junk ring in the hole with the V-nickel and bears the raised letters "HONGKONG" inside.

I moved away from the EMI region and raised the sensitivity back up to 92 and dug a few square nails and then got another signal with a VDI over 90. Down about 6 to 7 inches I swiped away enough soil to reveal a golden edge. Got out the cell phone and recorded the extraction of an 1800s gold ring; it tests positive for at least 14K. The engraved onyx appears to have the bearers initials in reverse order as if the ring could also have been used as a stamp with ink.

Easy to have firsts on the first hunt of the year. Here in Baltimore it was cold and rainy, so I lasted three hours and then headed to the truck to get dry and check out that ring. BTW, this is the same park I hunted all of December.

Thx for checking out the pix!
Finds_02Jan2017.jpg

Here's link to video of ring find
 

Last edited:
Upvote 101

Tommy G

Bronze Member
Dec 5, 2015
1,575
1,564
Virginia
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AT Pro
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Beautiful ring! More likely used to imprint on wax considering its age and deep relief of the letters. Great find!
 

CRUSADER

Gold Member
May 25, 2007
40,812
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OP
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McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Thx Tommy! What a shocker to see that golden rim! Appreciate your addition of wax imprint use for this piece. Would you venture an estimate on age?
 

OP
OP
McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Fisher F75
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Thanks Crusader! I did raise a glass this afternoon once home and dry!
 

Tommy G

Bronze Member
Dec 5, 2015
1,575
1,564
Virginia
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AT Pro
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Thx Tommy! What a shocker to see that golden rim! Appreciate your addition of wax imprint use for this piece. Would you venture an estimate on age?

I've spent some time researching these as a result of my recent banner find, but I'm certainly not an expert, and couldn't even play one on TV. That said, the ring looks Victorian era to me, so early to mid 19th century would be my guess.
 

treblehunter

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Jun 18, 2013
9,675
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WOW !
Old gold, i love it. Way to go, way to dig it McDig
 

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McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
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Baltimore, Maryland
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A little research on the lettering does convince me that the letters are in reverse order and are Gothic in style. I am certain that the rightmost letter is a reverse "A" and the leftmost a reverse "M". The middle letter took some time to estimate, but it seems to be the letter "R" in reverse. This is most likely a lady's ring. If the "R" stands for the maiden name "Rogers" it would tie in well with the location of the find, being the old Rogers mansion, but that is a stretch at this point and more work needs to be done on the Rogers genealogy to see if there is a possible match.
See the attached Gothic capitals.
Gothic Alphabet.jpg
 

UnderMiner

Silver Member
Jul 27, 2014
3,764
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New York City
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Simply stunning ring! Looks to be of a very high karat! :occasion14:
 

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McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Thx Argentium! Acid test showed no vanishing of gold at 10 or 14K. 18K acid test did appear to dissolve metal, so maybe there's a middle ground for old gold.
 

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McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Thanks treblehunter! I think the best part of this find was that I'd been over the same ground, as had others, and today was the day it was discovered.
 

ARC

Gold Member
Aug 19, 2014
37,115
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Tarpon Springs
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Um... your ring...

IS beyond what your are thinking. IMO.

Heh... I vote banner BEFORE you answer (if you do) the following...

DID you only test out to 14 ? or did you test for 18 as well ?

IS there any markings whatsoever ?

Ehhh I will save the rest of the typing after you answer.

OH...

And PS...

THIS IS the ABSOLUTE BEST example I have ever seen... OF

Bloodstone.
 

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OP
McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
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Fisher F75
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Thanks Underminer! I hope to take it to the Club meeting at the end of the month and have our gold expert test it.
 

ARC

Gold Member
Aug 19, 2014
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130,673
Tarpon Springs
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Oh and...

This is a signet ring.
 

CRUSADER

Gold Member
May 25, 2007
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ENGLAND
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🏆 Honorable Mentions:
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XP Deus II v0.6 with 11" Coil
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I wonder who ABM was? Any clues from the location?
 

ARC

Gold Member
Aug 19, 2014
37,115
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Tarpon Springs
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DO NOT TAKE FOR SCRATCHING BY AMATURE GOLD TESTERS ! ! !
 

ARC

Gold Member
Aug 19, 2014
37,115
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Tarpon Springs
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REPEAT !...

DO NOT SCRATCH THAT RING !
 

OP
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McCDig

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
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Baltimore, Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
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Detector(s) used
Fisher F75
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Thanks AARC! I appreciate your input on this. There are no markings that are readily apparent. My initial test with the 18K acid did show it to remove the gold alloy. Certainly worth repeating. We did notice the red mottling of what was thought to be onyx.
 

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