Cellar Hole with Gold Ring

CladMoonRising

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Location
San Jose, CA
Detector(s) used
E-Trac
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I went out looking for the location of a long-gone cabin and was surprised to find the cellar hole plus some remaining timbers. Unfortunately the spot was easier to find than expected so it’s probably been detected before.

I was lucky enough to recover this beat-up 14k gold ring. It has some type of painted enamel on the surface with embossed letters F.O.E. No other markings but it tested 14k. Turns out FOE stands for "Fraternal Order of Eagles." No guess on age but I’m assuming 1920s-30s based on the age of the cabin.

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Upvote 36
Looks like copper or brass in the pics, but still a cool ring find.
 

Congrats. Keep at it that site holds more. Perhaps online for an old aerial view can give a better idea of the layout.
 

Good find, any ring is a keeper!
 

I think your ring is missing it's eagle. Most FOE had enamel and an Eagle on the ring.
 

FOE was founded in 1898, so may be 100+ years old.
 

Did you test the shiny gold part or the dull brown part. Looks to be gold plated but still a fun find. Grats!
 

Looks like copper or brass in the pics

I thought so too but the shiny inside part came out looking just like that. I haven’t cleaned it. Seems like brass or copper would have some tarnish or patina.
 

I think your ring is missing it's eagle. Most FOE had enamel and an Eagle on the ring.

Yeah, it might have been silver because there’s some silver remnants right below the FOE. I checked the hole and there was nothing else in there.
 

Did you test the shiny gold part or the dull brown part.

I have one of those acid test kits where you scratch the object on a piece of ceramic. I scratched the edge. Usually plated pieces turn green. This one dissolved fully with 14k but 10k had no effect. I’m pretty sure the dull brown color is just paint on the surface but it’s hard to tell.
 

Gold or not STILL a great historic find. Is there a chapter in your area? It would be awesome to told to some old timers there to get some history of it.
 

Good job I have some tiffany beat up rings lawnmowers I think but always cool to find well done. Tommy
 

F.O.E. could also be Fraternal Order of Elks , with regard to the acid test , if the gold streak dissolved in 14K ,as you described , then its not 14K , since it "had no effect at 10K " that is your Karat purity !
 

Cool find, congrats!
 

Nice location and nice ring. Good job.
 

if the gold streak dissolved in 14K ,as you described , then its not 14K
Crap, you’re right, I’ve been reading it wrong!!! I don’t have much gold in my collection but now I gotta retest everything. Thanks for the heads up!
 

Very cool find! Congrats! :icon_thumleft:
 

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