1st and Last hunt of 2011- UPDATE on Gold Bar!

umrgolf · Jan 16, 2011

-Update on gold bar in reply 52

It's been a while since I've been out at all, but decided to head down to Arkansas to visit some family and gave Matt (peanut) a call. He took me to a couple of his sites that he and several others have hit real hard over the years on Friday and Saturday. I'll be leaving the country here in about three weeks for a year, so it was nice to sneak in one last hunt :headbang:

Friday, January 14

Matt sitting next to my freshly dug silver.. All we could see was the reeded edge sticking out of the clump.

short video of the silver, sorry about the wind ::)

Nice Arkansas sunset as we were leaving the field on Friday

Friday's Take

I believe the gold bar is solid gold. Nowhere on the piece is there any evidence of it being plated and I put a nice scratch on the side and it still looks gold. It's also very heavy for it's size. I think this could have been a personalized Lt. shoulder bar and I also believe that it's from the same period as the coin. There was literally zero modern trash in this field. This field has given up 30+ pre-CW silver coins and old gold jewelry over the years. Any input is appreciated.

1850-O halfdime (appears to have initials carved from 9-11 o'clock)

Continued

Woodland Detectors · Jan 17, 2011

Wow, that's awesome Jeff. Congrats buddy :icon_thumleft:

Here's a second Lieutenant insignia one from the CW. Confederate.

shaun7 · Jan 17, 2011

Stunning find Jeff

Have a safe trip :icon_thumleft:

augusthog · Jan 17, 2011

You be careful over there......

steelheadwill · Jan 17, 2011

Great Finds! Congrats :thumbsup:

peanut · Jan 17, 2011

Hey Jeff!!!
It looks like we might be on for Wednesday, call me and we'll work out the details. :headbang:

It looks like you might get one more hunt in.
Talk to ya soon bud! :blob8:

peanut

I got a new shovel I'm wanting to try out over there!! :laughing9:

romeo-1 · Jan 17, 2011

Yikes...looks like the jeweler cut a hefty slice off...or is that just the angle?

I think that you will be able to id this if it is a uniform item...lots of documentation out there.

peanut · Jan 17, 2011

Come on Wednesday!! :headbang:

CMDiamonddawg · Jan 17, 2011

Hi Jeff , I could tell it was gold from here ::)

the jeweler offered 100 bucks , say what ! Looks like he took enough for a test

Too much

Very nice CW finds and quite a hunt down in ARK . 8) pics ! You not MDing for more than 2 weeks seems impossible . A year ...no way

. Have a great trip :headbang:

and stay in touch . :thumbsup:

dawg

umrgolf · Jan 17, 2011

Woodland Detectors 4-H said:
Wow, that's awesome Jeff. Congrats buddy

Here's a second Lieutenant insignia one from the CW. Confederate.

thanks for the pic Mike.. I've researched some today with minimal luck. $:-\$

shaun7 said:
Stunning find Jeff

Have a safe trip

thanks shaun, good luck this year

augusthog said:
You be careful over there......

steelheadwill said:
Great Finds! Congrats

thanks guys

romeo-1 said:
Yikes...looks like the jeweler cut a hefty slice off...or is that just the angle?

I think that you will be able to id this if it is a uniform item...lots of documentation out there.

he didn't cut it.. he rubbed it on something :dontknow:

ive never seen an acid test performed but it seemed like he rubbed it on a rock and then dumped a couple different solutions on it, but yes i agree that he overdid it a bit ::)

peanut said:
Come on Wednesday!!

ya man! I'm ready :headbang:

CMDiamonddawg said:
Hi Jeff , I could tell it was gold from here the jeweler offered 100 bucks , say what ! Looks like he took enough for a test Too much Very nice CW finds and quite a hunt down in ARK . 8) pics ! You not MDing for more than 2 weeks seems impossible . A year ...no way . Have a great trip and stay in touch . dawg

Ya, he rubbed off a lil too much but it's not TOOO bad :laughing7:

thanks, I think peanut is inviting me out one last time on Wednesday so hopefully a couple more goodies :hello2:

I will def stay in touch with you man :icon_thumleft:

Gunrunner61 · Jan 17, 2011

Being new to the net, and you saying gone for a year....Sounds like a deployment. If so your one of my hero's. God bless and thanks for what you do. Great finds also!!!! :icon_thumright:

curbdiggercarl57 · Jan 17, 2011

That is one sweet gold find, Hell, all of it is sweet. Hope you can keep posting after you've split town, I'm sure you"ll dig some crazy crap there. You"ll be sorely missed.
Or just start trouble, somehow, somewhere, and keep us posted on that.
Carl

spitfire55 · Jan 18, 2011

umrgolf · Jan 18, 2011

Gunrunner61 said:
Being new to the net, and you saying gone for a year....Sounds like a deployment. If so your one of my hero's. God bless and thanks for what you do. Great finds also!!!!

thanks, just recently got out of the military so the last deployment was in '09 :icon_thumleft:

good luck this year :thumbsup:

umrgolf · Jan 18, 2011

CurbdiggerCarl57 said:
That is one sweet gold find, Hell, all of it is sweet. Hope you can keep posting after you've split town, I'm sure you"ll dig some crazy crap there. You"ll be sorely missed.
Or just start trouble, somehow, somewhere, and keep us posted on that.
Carl

thanks Carl, I'll still be on here from time to time but no detecting while I'm gone, just wont have time.. will be having a nice marathon dig in VA when I return

pepperj · Jan 18, 2011

Nice outcome on the bar, but the jeweller really took a slice. Having done the stone acid tests many times there will be a slight rub mark where a person takes the test from, not like that.
It has been said that some will try to mess something up just to make it worth melt. :dontknow:

DMN · Jan 18, 2011

The gold 'bar' is actually a pin. Gave one similar to that to a girl I was dating a number of years ago. They clasp on a collar (at the throat) or on a blouse, from what I know. It's a sweet find. Glad you're keeping it. Looks better as decoration than a lump of metal.

allen · Jan 18, 2011

old gold and sweet silver on the same trip is awesome :thumbsup:

umrgolf · Jan 18, 2011

pepperj said:
Nice outcome on the bar, but the jeweller really took a slice. Having done the stone acid tests many times there will be a slight rub mark where a person takes the test from, not like that.
It has been said that some will try to mess something up just to make it worth melt.

I would say thats a good possibility.. His whole demeanor from the time I walked in the door was that I was wasting his time (which I was) but really surprised to have a reputable jeweler in this area do that to a piece.. Is it ruined? no, but youre right he overdid it.. oh well, you live and learn :read2:

umrgolf · Jan 18, 2011

DMN said:
The gold 'bar' is actually a pin. Gave one similar to that to a girl I was dating a number of years ago. They clasp on a collar (at the throat) or on a blouse, from what I know. It's a sweet find. Glad you're keeping it. Looks better as decoration than a lump of metal.

very well could be, another guy had the same thought yesterday.. either way, it's likely part of an 1850's or 60's cache.. as I said earlier the only items to come from this area of the field over the years have been 30+ pre-civil war silver coins and gold jewelry that also wasnt marked.