1953 10k class ring.....now what?

[WheatbackDigger]

A little help from anyone. First things first. I am very new to this. This was my third or fourth trip out. Maybe 8 or 9 hours of detecting. To my surprise, I found this 10k gold class ring from 1953 along with a few wheat pennies from the late forty's early fifty's. The park was established in the mid 50's (no big surprise here). Now back to the ring, it has the initials of the school and the person it belongs to. Now the school is in the adjacent town and it appears to belong to a female. (Quite small in ring size). If my calculations are correct, this female would be around 70 and most likely have a married last name. I am going to make my best effort to find the original owner. My question to you guys, would you go the extra mile to return this? Or just let things be?

New guy is who just curious

Well heres my "today's find" (sorry the pic is blurry, maybe I can find a better camera

 

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[Getty]

Yes ,I would do everything that I could to return it.Kharma does exist.Just imagine the joy it it would bring you if you were in her shoes and she retuned it to you after a long absence.Thats just my 2 cents.

 

[WheatbackDigger]

Northwest Illinois, I've read stories where schools won't give out information. ?It's a private school also, so I am sure that avenue is out. ?I've lived in this community for 39 years, so finding a 1953 yearbook shouldn't be a problem. ?The problem is, it would be her maiden name, so more research would be the involved to find her married name. ?She may even have passed on. ?52 years is long time to be out of school. ?

 

[jopher]

Doug, If you can locate and return that ring to the owner or her survivors it will definitely bring more joy than keeping it ever will. With that kind of beginners luck Im sure youll have many "impersonal" treasures in the future. .....HH......JO

 

[hollowpointred]

i agree with jimmy and jopher, try to return it.if you cannot contact her then i would keep it,but only after i tried to contact her. nice find by the way!!

 

[jopher]

P.S. If you do make the connection call your local small town? paper. People love a story like that and it will give the locals a positive image of MDers.Who knows ,it may even open a few doors for you (other sites to hunt)!!.....JO

 

[allen]

try classmates.com. might be of some help. yes try to most definetily return the ring.

 

[da Hobo]

Illinoisdoug, you anywheres near Freeport or Rockford? ?I'm over near the Rock myself. ?And like you, only been MDing for about 6 weeks now and lovin it.

Congrats on that ring and it may not be as difficult as you think to find the previous owner, I'd give it a good try.

Hobo

 

[WheatbackDigger]

Hobo, down in the Rock Falls/Sterling area. The class ring, I believe is from the catholic high school. I will find the owner. May take a little time. Its been sitting in the ground for fifty years. In a park I played in as a child in the earlier 70's. Apparenty, its never been detected. I found about five or six wheat pennies pretty close to the ring. No silver though. Think I may go back tomorrow and look some more.

 

[Gold Digger]

Monetary value can't be much on 10k, the reward of seeing the smile on her face would likely be worth MUCH more, and knowing you did the right thing would seal the deal... Good luck in your search to find the owner...

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

That's a great find if you can keep it or not. If it can and should be returned then do so. Plus, If your not into all the sentimental stuff and you want cash. I am sure a woman of that age will happly give you a reward. (Don't ask for one)

Keep up the good work, HH!!

 

[bigrig40]

I found one earlier this year and was able to return it and I barely got a atta boy.But for the next month I found a lot of cool stuff incl nice keeper coins and misc jewelry,so I believe good karma will follow you.

peace,bigrig

 

[Neptunus Rex]

Very nice find whatever you decide to do about returning. I have only found one class ring in 26 years of hunting. I have a cousin who hunts swimming holes and has a jewelry box shaped and fashioned like an old pirates chest and it overflows with his fortune.

 

[dfxdude]

The school may have an Alumni group that keeps track of addresses for reunions. Or find a yearbook with some other names from that class and check with some of them. There is usually someone in each class that organizes class reunions. Shouldn't be hard to find. If you arent far away, go to their school library and they should have a copy of the annual from that year. Go to the school office and see if they can help identifying the individual.

 

[Masonlid]

I returned a class ring that had been lost for 48 yrs(class of'44).Try writing a letter to your local paper,that's what helped me find the owner.