Gold Denture Plate

[Chemeng]

Our property was a garbage dumpsite 100 years ago and I have found numerous silver items including coins and spoons. I recently told my wife half jokingly I would find her some gold. I did not expect what turned up with my search. I found a dental plate made of 16K or 18K yellow dental gold. The teeth look like they may be made of ivory. I was amazed how shiny gold can be after being buried all these years. I'm bitten (ha ha) by the gold bug now.

 

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[BLACKIE555]

wow...that's a find you can really sink your teeth into.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I'd be "chomping at the bit" to find something like that ! Nice find.

 

[ajaj]

Excellent find! Curious as to the weight of the gold.

aj

 

[park pirate]

Damn that's different ....

 

[Tony in SC]

Those probably didn't belong to a poor man!!

 

[Dirty Digger Doug]

That is cool. Congrats.

 

[Mud Hut]

That certainly is a palateable find!

 

[mike b]

You really can't take it with you.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Well that's one for the books - never seen one dug before - congrats on a unique find !

 

[mike b]

If you're interested, in 2008 or 09 we found a plate while scuba diving in Long Island Sound. It was missing teeth but the ones that were there were yellow and split. We didn't even know what it was until we got back to the boat because of the muddy bottom and almost 0 visibility. I'm pretty sure this is where we sent a picture and they identified as a type that was only made up until the 1840's. The teeth were yellow because they were ivory. Your plate is much larger, you can try to research if you like. https://www.dental.umaryland.edu/museum/visit-us/ . Its not the only Dental Museum, just do a search. By the way, two scrappers wouldn't take it because of what it was, in the end we removed the teeth and bent it up to disguise it.

 

[pepperj]

Now that's a really unique plate, usually it's just the god teeth, but this one is the plate being gold. Congrats on the recovery
I begs the question why were they thrown out, clean up of a estate/deceased family member and it was just thrown in the garbage ?Can almost hear them saying-eewww gross throw those disgusting things in the garbage.

 

[NC Digger]

Our property was a garbage dumpsite 100 years ago and I have found numerous silver items including coins and spoons. I recently told my wife half jokingly I would find her some gold. I did not expect what turned up with my search. I found a dental plate made of 16K or 18K yellow dental gold.

So is she wearing them?

Nice find!

 

[Rookster]

I'd have it tested. I've got a few caps that look gold but are tin. Hope it gold. Interesting find.

 

[winslow]

I'd have it tested. I've got a few caps that look gold but are tin. Hope it gold. Interesting find.

Testing with a magnet would be a good start.

 

[winslow]

Nice conversation piece for the ages. I love old dump sites ... lucky you to have one out the back door.

 

[Tibodoe]

What a great find!
And to live on 100 year old dump!!!

 

[Gaspipe]

I wonder here if it is gold . Gold is malleable enough to be formed to the palate but if thick would be heavy especially compared to the acrylic and alloys used today. If it is gold it is indeed a remarkable find and if not it is still very cool . As far as age my guess would be very general ; maybe 1700’s ?? . An online search reveals porcelain teeth were set in gold plates during that time period . If gold whoever had them made was well off. Into the 1800’s vulcanized rubber was used . So again a great find and if gold this should easily be considered a “ banner” find .

 

[PetesPockets55]

Now this is a unique find.

I can imagine someone setting them on the bed side table or vanity after a bender and them slipping into the trash can. The next day spent in recovery and sleep while everything gets cleaned up and tossed by the "staff". The owner may not have even remembered if they made it home with them.
(The movie "The Hangover" comes to mind for some reason.)

 

[mike b]

If you're interested, in 2008 or 09 we found a plate while scuba diving in Long Island Sound. It was missing teeth but the ones that were there were yellow and split. We didn't even know what it was until we got back to the boat because of the muddy bottom and almost 0 visibility. I'm pretty sure this is where we sent a picture and they identified as a type that was only made up until the 1840's. The teeth were yellow because they were ivory. Your plate is much larger, you can try to research if you like. https://www.dental.umaryland.edu/museum/visit-us/ . Its not the only Dental Museum, just do a search. By the way, two scrappers wouldn't take it because of what it was, in the end we removed the teeth and bent it up to disguise it.

This is where we got the info on a plate we found off shore at a 1800's swim platform site. I had some of the details wrong because so many years have past. This isn't my find, my dive partner found it on our first time out together.