Good end of year hunt!

[scratcher]

These are my keepers from this weekend. I wasn't expecting much but feel I ended the year very well. I was hot when I reluctantly had to quit today, but falling snow and my detector don't mix too well. My last target was I think my best, a Cruickshank cross! I'm thrilled to find this and it is among my best. He was a silversmith from Montreal, active between 1773 and 1809. The role these trade pieces played in the early history of the US and Canada make them special finds for me.

You will see some other tradesilver pieces(a couple brooches, beads, etc.) along with one of the most interestingly engraved pieces I have found. I believe it is a tinkler, hairpipe or bead. It is very small and incredibly detailed. I had to use a magnifying glass to make out horses, lions, a fleur-de-lis? and what looks like a makers mark and other perhaps initials. I'm wondering if the second larger initials are of the engraver? maybe Native? I don't see how this was accomplished without a loupe or magnifier of some sort. My pictures somewhat show the detail. This may end up being my favorite find of the day.

I also found a half reale(1783), another bullet mold, a poor-shape 41st of Foot pewter button, another pewter button that I would bet was at one time a good one(I can only make out the rim), some tacks, etc.....

If anyone has any input on the engraved piece, please let me know.

 

[acehunter]

Nice hunt. Looks like you ended 2009 in style. Best of luck in the new year.

 

[JimBeHuntin']

What a way to end the year ... beautiful fur trade items!!!

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Now that I wiped the drool off my keyboard, I can type CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I don't think it has registered with the T-Net family here that most of these finds are microscopic and would only be found by a dedicated individual like yourself. WTG!
You have a banner post here indeed. I have 2 crosses like yours, one is an "RC" and the other is blank, so the style may have been made by other silversmiths as well. I think the rolled silver jangler/hair pipe piece may have been cut from a manufactured jewelry piece and made that way by the Natives. This piece seems to be very busy with different motifs and if I was to make an educated guess, I would say possibly cut from a French gorget. I will look into my books for that one. I have found some really decorative cut silver pieces over the years, and they would be a small piece of an amazing gorget that I would only dream of finding! The silversmiths wouldn't manufacture tinkling cones like that unless it is the cone part of an ear bob. I'll have to look at the pics again. I believe you when you say it is best viewed by a magnifying glass!
You had an awesome hunt and to see all those bits there, indicates you are using the right detector as well as the skill of the hunter combined, creates a knockout!
Thanks for making my day. (in the dead of winter)
Dave.

I concur, MH! Probably cut from a French gorget...anyway, some superb finds!!
Dale

 

[scratcher]

Your title for this thread has to be the understatement of the year. Great hunt, great finds.
The cross is beautiful, and the tinkler has seen the hands of a skilled workman, whether Anglo or Indian.
Are you hunting in Canada or the U.S.? I couldn't get that info.
I was hoping for an end of the year hunt, something like that. But, end of the year in S. Korea is real snowy and cold, cold, cold. Won't be able to break into the ground until the spring thaw.

I'm in the US, hikeinmts, but have hunted in Canada as well. Good luck this spring...

 

[tymcmurray]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, 1812 41st and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

I am in COMPLETE agreement!!!

Ty

_________________
Tips, Techniques, and Tales at:


http://www.justgometaldetecting.com/

 

[scratcher]

Absolutely awesome! What a way to go out!!! I love the cross and butlet mold, hair thing, and any pewter button is a score considerng how darn fragile they are! Really, You must be on cloud 9 after a day like this. Thanks for sharing it!

Thanks johnnyi, your right about the pewters. I spend way too much time studying them from every angle trying to fabricate 'USA' or the like from random designs left after the surface flake....

Now that I wiped the drool off my keyboard, I can type CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I don't think it has registered with the T-Net family here that most of these finds are microscopic and would only be found by a dedicated individual like yourself. WTG!
You have a banner post here indeed. I have 2 crosses like yours, one is an "RC" and the other is blank, so the style may have been made by other silversmiths as well. I think the rolled silver jangler/hair pipe piece may have been cut from a manufactured jewelry piece and made that way by the Natives. This piece seems to be very busy with different motifs and if I was to make an educated guess, I would say possibly cut from a French gorget. I will look into my books for that one. I have found some really decorative cut silver pieces over the years, and they would be a small piece of an amazing gorget that I would only dream of finding! The silversmiths wouldn't manufacture tinkling cones like that unless it is the cone part of an ear bob. I'll have to look at the pics again. I believe you when you say it is best viewed by a magnifying glass!
You had an awesome hunt and to see all those bits there, indicates you are using the right detector as well as the skill of the hunter combined, creates a knockout!
Thanks for making my day. (in the dead of winter)
Dave.

I concur, MH! Probably cut from a French gorget...anyway, some superb finds!!
Dale

Thanks for the input guys, I will look at it again under magnification. Thanks for noticing the size of these finds, Dave. I watch members keeper piles, and have noticed that my finds skew more toward the small size. I think this is a combo of detector, coil size, and extreme patience. Many of these finds don't even register on a pinpointer...

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

very nice

 

[scratcher]

Absolutely awesome! What a way to go out!!! I love the cross and butlet mold, hair thing, and any pewter button is a score considerng how darn fragile they are! Really, You must be on cloud 9 after a day like this. Thanks for sharing it!

Thanks johnnyi, your right about the pewters. I spend way too much time studying them from every angle trying to fabricate 'USA' or the like from random designs left after the surface flake....

Now that I wiped the drool off my keyboard, I can type CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I don't think it has registered with the T-Net family here that most of these finds are microscopic and would only be found by a dedicated individual like yourself. WTG!
You have a banner post here indeed. I have 2 crosses like yours, one is an "RC" and the other is blank, so the style may have been made by other silversmiths as well. I think the rolled silver jangler/hair pipe piece may have been cut from a manufactured jewelry piece and made that way by the Natives. This piece seems to be very busy with different motifs and if I was to make an educated guess, I would say possibly cut from a French gorget. I will look into my books for that one. I have found some really decorative cut silver pieces over the years, and they would be a small piece of an amazing gorget that I would only dream of finding! The silversmiths wouldn't manufacture tinkling cones like that unless it is the cone part of an ear bob. I'll have to look at the pics again. I believe you when you say it is best viewed by a magnifying glass!
You had an awesome hunt and to see all those bits there, indicates you are using the right detector as well as the skill of the hunter combined, creates a knockout!
Thanks for making my day. (in the dead of winter)
Dave.

I concur, MH! Probably cut from a French gorget...anyway, some superb finds!!
Dale

Thanks for the input guys, I will look at it again under magnification. Thanks for noticing the size of these finds, Dave. I watch members keeper piles, and have noticed that my finds skew more toward the small size. I think this is a combo of detector, coil size, and extreme patience. Many of these finds don't even register on a pinpointer...

After looking at this tinkler again I agree that it was cut from a larger piece. I am including a closeup of what could be an engraved makers mark? If anyone recognizes this let me know. It might just be part of the engraving....

 

[scratcher]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I figured out the depiction on this tinkler cone. It is the right side of King George I or II coat of arms. The makers mark I asked about is actually a crown on it's side. You can see one of the hearts to the right in the picture in my preceeding post. The picture I have here shows it a bit differently with the cross, but some of the representations showed a crown without the cross. This is the only one I could get to download correctly.
I would love to see the original piece. No doubt it was cut from a gorget, but I haven't been able to find one or a replica with this coat of arms...

 

[Iron Patch]

Ok, they made me do it! (Banner monkey time)

A museum quality marked silver trade cross and no banner? Not only are these great artifacts that get displayed with trade items, they are also part of museum currency collections.... as in COINS... you know the stuff that sometimes makes the banner.

There's just too many keepers in this post to not push for the banner.

 

[seger98]

Outstanding finds, Congratulations.

 

[scratcher]

Ok, they made me do it! (Banner monkey time)

A museum quality marked silver trade cross and no banner? Not only are these great artifacts that get displayed with trade items, they are also part of museum currency collections.... as in COINS... you know the stuff that sometimes makes the banner.

There's just too many keepers in this post to not push for the banner.

Thanks for the push IP I'm glad I didn't hold my breath!

 

[Iron Patch]

Ok, they made me do it! (Banner monkey time)

A museum quality marked silver trade cross and no banner? Not only are these great artifacts that get displayed with trade items, they are also part of museum currency collections.... as in COINS... you know the stuff that sometimes makes the banner.

There's just too many keepers in this post to not push for the banner.

Thanks for the push IP I'm glad I didn't hold my breath!

Yeah that wouldn't have made 2010 much of a detecting year.

When you have value, rarity, eye appeal, and history, what else is there? ... oh a 16d date.

PS... I don't think my little cheap shots ever help so you're likely screwed now.

 

[scratcher]

Ok, they made me do it! (Banner monkey time)

A museum quality marked silver trade cross and no banner? Not only are these great artifacts that get displayed with trade items, they are also part of museum currency collections.... as in COINS... you know the stuff that sometimes makes the banner.

There's just too many keepers in this post to not push for the banner.

Thanks for the push IP I'm glad I didn't hold my breath!

Yeah that wouldn't have made 2010 much of a detecting year.

When you have value, rarity, eye appeal, and history, what else is there? ... oh a 16d date.

PS... I don't think my little cheap shots ever help so you're likely screwed now.

Hey that's OK it's worth the laugh

 

[romeo-1]

Good lord...why is this not on the Banner Amazing finds!

 

[romeo-1]

Bump for another look...that cross and tinkler are really museum quality!!!

 

[scratcher]

Good lord...why is this not on the Banner Amazing finds!

Thanks for the reply, romeo. It's too bad this kind of stuff doesn't get the blood pumping for many people. I'm going to keep pouring all my effort into finding it, though As for now, stuck in a big freeze.....

 

[jhenry]

sweet trade pieces no-brainer banner X 2 and I still don't know if it's right or not but I clicked report nominate and typed it in as 2 separate items big congrats awsome way to end the year PS please post close ups of engraved piece thanks Jeff

 

[scratcher]

sweet trade pieces no-brainer banner X 2 and I still don't know if it's right or not but I clicked report nominate and typed it in as 2 separate items big congrats awsome way to end the year PS please post close ups of engraved piece thanks Jeff

Jeff, I'll see what I can do. It's hard to get a good picture of this. My second picture of the tinkler above shows good detail. If you look closely you can see 3 fluer de lis at the top, the shield in the middle and the body of the horse below the shield. The first picture clearly shows the horses head at the bottom but the lions don't show well. The lion? standing on it's hind legs positioned to the right of the shield can be seen in the third pic(blurry). I'll see if I can do better.

The neat thing is this probably came from a gorget worn by a somewhat important native or an officer. I did manage to find a replica of a gorget with this coat of arms. Evidently, many were not silver but brass.

Thanks for the reply..

P.S. I added a couple of closeups as requested to this reply. You can see the two lions to the left of the shield better in the top one and the standing lion to the right of the shield better in the bottom pic.

 

[Iron Patch]

I think the banner hunters must also be froze up for Winter, and can't find this one.


Gimme a B! .... A! ....