Thanks for the reply.As I mentioned in the first sentence of my thread I knew I would be opening myself up to criticism and I hoped it would generate some discussion and... I also knew that unless I find the Holy Grail I will likely never find something that makes the Banner

Having said that one reason I like this particular forum is because of the"Banner'. To me relying on the shear number of votes criteria to determine a banner at some point becomes a bit of people jumping on the bandwagon. I fully agree that that gold coins are great finds and to most are obvious banner finds( on my bucket list). However what initially and still attracts me to a banner find is that it gets special recognition and notice. No I'am not looking for a pat on the back . Rather I see it as a find that not only draws attention, but more importantly informs less knowledgeable members that there are great finds besides lets say a gold piece. Hell , I didn't even know what I had until Iron patch ID'd it for me( see original thread). And I can assure you that a lot of people would have looked more closely had it been "highlighted" and learned something. I love this hobby and my main argument against the archeology types is that we detectorist's save a ton of history ; look at my button, who knows in 20 years it may have crumbed away and be lost forever. This is where I think those with the final say need to step in . You moderator types know what is rare and important ; maybe not sexy like a gold coin but in a sense a much more exciting find. And no I still feel my button should have been highlighted and despite those neysayers, not to massage my ego, but to educate and enlighten people on significant and very neat finds. I think "vpone" and "against the wind" made excellent points in their respective posts. Change isn't always bad .
if you look at the post
Banners & How they work
You will see there are exceptions to the Vote numbers.
but Votes still need to come in.
If the item is book Rare or not makes little difference to me, sorry to say.
in most cases , I believe to have the Value & rarity quoted, the Item must be found in a Drawer, which unfortunately would disqualify it anyway. My point sharp Detail means everything to me. When I banner something on Member Votes & I look up & see a Blurry pic
it Breaks my Heart

so I prefer pics I'm confident are Clear, Sharp no Camera Flashes or weak Strikes.
to get me to over-ride the voting the item must be rare to the banner.
and make me, Or one of the other Mods say WOW Cool ! That should be up !
Still it must get My attention from someone first.
and I have to feel If the right members were seeing it, They would agree.
and it can't look like a twin to something up there at the moment.
Just because Member 1 gets his $20.00 Gold Piece on the Banner this morning.
Doesn't mean Member 2 gets his Gold piece Bannered if Member 1's is still up there
as 1 of the last 12 Bannered finds.
I see members say That's an Automatic Banner

Sorry to say,
I've seen No such thing yet. I suppose a 20 Million year old Flying Saucer
from an Unknown planet, dug by one of our members and hits every news Media in the World the same time it is posted here, & I see it.
I would say WOW That's an Automatic Banner
I know our Banner is important to Some. & personally I like to think my
attitude on what I will & will not allow up there has allot to do with it

Ego ya Know
Again I don't want to put down your find. It apparently deserved Banner.
and if it would have gotten the Votes on it's Merit, and had enough detail to
make me believe it would have shown detail on the banner. it would have been there.
keep diggin ! Hopefully one day you'll Get that find that Will Qualify.
& Don't be afraid to take Plenty of Pictures, From different Angles
and Light sources.
this is Not about yours; but One thing that would disappoint me would be one Pic
the words today's Find, & nothing else.
Not sure I'd personally banner it on a hundred votes.

Details Mon ! Details

if a Member is proud of a find.
They shouldn't be Speechless on the Forum.
That doesn't mean Coordinates, But it does mean
details on the Day. generally the type of site , other finds,
if you were alone or not etc. take us with you in spirit.
thoughts when you Dug it & when you realized it was special. etc.
other things to consider.
don't take pictures through display cases.
Insitu are OK but in most cases a reenactment is obvious.
don't tell us your only posting because it is special. (we like to know you like sharing, not a once a year poster.)
Don't broadcast you want banner.