Biggest Crotal Bell EVER and My Oldest Marked Military Button!!

romeo-1

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Jul 29, 2005
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I had two hours this evening to hit a site I haven't detected in 2 years...I was not disappointed! The plough has moved a lot of targets around and I was surprised at the number since the last time I was here I got skunked!

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The Crotal bell is without a doubt the biggest I've ever found and it is completely intact!

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Also picked up the usual assortment of crusty coppers...a couple are identifiable...

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The last target of the night as I was heading to the car is what I am positive is an early British navy Tudor Rose! It's pewter and in great condition. Please chime in button experts...UPDATE...I've heard back from Tim Burt at Hamwic House who states that in his opinion it is a 1748 Royal Navy LT. button. This particular button was either silver or pewter.

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That's an awesome hunt…that bell is huge! plus a dirty ole pewter lol love those military buttons….gotta love this hobby…congrats
 

There should be a number cast into the top half of that bell--probably a 5 or 6. I found part of a #3 recently. Post a pic when it's cleaned up.
 

nice crotal!!, that's one of the bigger ones ive seen posted!
 

HI; The Crotal Bell is a Cows Bell 1820's = 1840's. The Button is a Tudor Rose Button dating to the mid 1600's. Great Find. I need to see the back ok. PEACE:RONB
 

The bell is a class act!
The coins are the meat of the potato, and the navy is gravy!
Nice hunt, I'm sure that site will go into regular rotation now that the AT is doing you proud
 

SAY WHAT ?? I TELL U WHAT !!THATS A BIG BIG BELL AND THE ROSE TUDOR AINT SO SMALL EITHER,NICE,VANZUTPHEN
 

Awesome bell, that it the biggest one I have seen one here. I wish I could metal detect at a site like that. I'm guessing that the Tudor Rose very is rare too,

Funny, what are the chances, I bought the same Nova Scotia Provence 1843 Halfpenny Token on Saturday, 25 cents from my coin dealer's junk bin.
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Coin is on bottom right.
 

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The tudor rose buttons have been BLOWN way out of proportion for British naval use. 90% of the ones I see posted are nothing more than a common design of the time present on a button. That being said, yours looks like one of the more common ones I see found in camps and also listed as actual naval buttons (1750s-1780s) if I were to guess by the button construction. This is not one i would 100% say was developed for a uniform, but better than 90% sure...(there are really only two styles that I have seen consistently enough dug and on period uniforms and they are gilted 23mm ones)

Love the bell!

HH

Dan
 

The bell is a class act!
The coins are the meat of the potato, and the navy is gravy!
Nice hunt, I'm sure that site will go into regular rotation now that the AT is doing you proud

I know it must be more than the detector but I'm sure I would have missed some of these targets with my Fishers. That's not a slight on Fisher but I'm definitely more comfortable behind the AT Pro. I know the plough had a lot to do with the new abundance of targets.
 

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Great job bud. Monster of a bell!! The Rose Tudor button, in my opinion, is the find of the day. Killer site!
 

That would be my largest intact one as well - congrats on that one! But believe it or not I've seen much larger ones for sale! (they sell well as well, £100+)
 

Awesome bell, that it the biggest one I have seen one here. I wish I could metal detect at a site like that. I'm guessing that the Tudor Rose very is rare too,

Funny, what are the chances, I bought the same Nova Scotia Provence 1843 Halfpenny Token on Saturday, 25 cents from my coin dealer's junk bin.
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Coin is on bottom left.

Yours is in slightly better condition...lol!
 

Great digs, I am skeptical regarding the naval button as the Tudor rose is 8 petals and yours appears to have 10. Still a stellar early pewter find regardless.

I'm pretty confident that it is what I think it is but I am waiting to hear back from the expert. My confidence comes primarily from context and location..,the site where this was found would be where one would expect to pick up an early Navy button...but I'll say nothing more on that topic....lol!
 

I'm pretty confident that it is what I think it is but I am waiting to hear back from the expert. My confidence comes primarily from context and location..,the site where this was found would be where one would expect to pick up an early Navy button...but I'll say nothing more on that topic....lol!

The Bond makers mark would have given you a definitive yes, and without, I'm guessing a most likely. For the ones that are a no-go there's usually something that stands out, either design or the construction, but yours looks pretty consistent in what to expect. The only one I know of that was dug here was found on a little Loyalist site that gave up... RPs, 3rds, 42nds, & 80ths.
 

Sweet!!

Big coppers, pewter and an Awesome Crotal bell, great hunt!! Wish I could find a Crotal bell that size, Crotal bells are my top favorite finds.

Congrats on a Sweet hunt!!
 

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