A Handsome Woman & an Enigmatic Key

Erik in NJ

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The Garden State
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Detector(s) used
Minelab Explorer SE Pro & CTX-3030
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Short late afternoon hunt back at a site I’ve hit hard with the Explorer SE Pro. Again I was using the faster and lighter Equinox 800 with some more good results.

Found one of the nicer V-nickels I’ve dug—an 1890. Hand cleaned up with a toothpick quite nicely I thought. A handsome old gal!

Interesting recovery of this beautiful old key and a harmonica reed over a huge piece of iron the size and shape of a slice of pizza!

The key is about 2” long and has a gorgeous uniform patina. I’ve never seen one quite like it and perhaps it’s for a clock, music box, or secretary. You can see by the close-up of the smaller leading shaft that it has been well used. The lump of iron rust is the enigmatic part as I have not seen a piece of iron used as part of a key. The lines on the key are simple and elegant.

Two nice finds and I’ve yet to explore what that large and deeply dug (12+”) triangle of iron is. But again the 800 did its thing well with co-located iron.
 

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Upvote 15
I think mint engraver Charles Barber used his mother-in-law as a model for that coin. It's no wonder Teddy Roosevelt had all the coins upgraded when he got in office. Gary
 

That is a neat key. Nice hunt. :thumbsup:
 

Nice finds. She sure is a stern looking woman.
dts
 

Nice finds. That V Nickel did turn out very nicely.
 

I think mint engraver Charles Barber used his mother-in-law as a model for that coin. It's no wonder Teddy Roosevelt had all the coins upgraded when he got in office. Gary

I do love the Barber silver coins. Though yes the V nickel is not my favorite. Although for a dug one, this one is one of my better ones.
 

Anyone know anything about this key or why it apparently had an iron insert?
 

A very clean v nickel ,but I don't know how that key was used.
 

Curious type of a key there. I hope someone chimes in with some answers...
Congratulations on a nice V Nickel!
 

Great coin and Im still trying to find and old key like that. good job
 

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