I am not sure what this is

[sseth]

This is my first post to the forum.

I found an object that I am just not sure about.

These are a couple of pictures of a metal object I found over the weekend in low mountains of northern Utah. We were metal detecting in Cache county and this was buried about 2 feet deep. It is about 4 oz. in weight and 3.5 inches long. It is quite heavy and is mostly gold in color with copper hues.
The picture does not do a great job capturing the color, as it was dark when we got back and I took the picture on my iphone.

I will try and get some better pictures today or tomorrow. I am not sure what it is made of, or what it is. I am also unsure of what the marks are. Could it be something from the pioneers?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Breezie]

Wooooo-Hooooooo! Congrats on the ingot! Welcome to the forum; you sure know how to come in with a BANG! Breezie

 

[timekiller]

One more thing:

If the ingots are authentic and the marks are real, they would have been considered gold bars rather than silver. Gold and Silver assay markings are different. Gold Bars are marked in Karats and Silver Bars are marked as a part of 2400 (i.e. 2380/2400).

Karat markings are "X"s equal 10 karats, and the dots are 1/4 of a whole. Looks like they were assayed at 20 3/4K Fine.

Those are two different bars, aren't they?

Best-Mike

As far as I know It's the same bar in two pics. At least that's what he led me to believe today when he was on here

 

[Newt]

If this is a spanish bar and you found it, I congratulate you.
This would top my list of want to find objects.

Those maker marks get the blood pressure goin'.
Newt

 

[JW]

Hope you don't mind I did some work on the photo...


Very interesting find... Nice work!

HH

JW

 

[cactusjumper]

Mike,

I believe you are correct and it looks like we are looking at two different bars.

I did look closely, and it does not look like the backside of the first photo.

I'm no expert, so I could be wrong.

Nice find in any case.

Take care,

Joe

 

[DrGrip]

It for sure looks like a silver bar called a finger bar!And those marks on it would go with that! At first I about how it would be in utal but this might explain it.Talk about a Banner find! Start on page 259 -260 you will see some like it made of gold the silver ones in this aution is not marked that way but I have seen them like it.
http://www.sedwickcoins.com/treasureauction6/catalog.htm

Wow! Cool site. This might be even better than I thought. We have always heard rumors of the Spanish in Utah looking for gold and silver, and even of part of the "Old Spanish Trail" running through the state. We mostly just dismissed the stories as just stories. Very cool.

Is there any way to tell what the symbols mean? These are the symbols from the other side.

He said this pic is of the "other side". He posted inside of the quote above... Just one piece.

Grip

 

[timekiller]

Looking at the front & back as far as I know even bent the same.And by what he posted.But maybe he will come back and let us know for sure.

 

[gollum]

Those are two different bars, aren't they?

Best-Mike

As far as I know It's the same bar in two pics. At least that's what he led me to believe today when he was on here
[/quote]

No TK. Unless they are two different sides of the same bar, they are different. Look closely. On one, the Mexico City Mint Mark is next to three dots. In the other, it is by itself. On one, the Mexico City Mint Mark is on the fat end, and on the other it is on the skinny end. If it is one bar with all those stamps on both sides, I would have to call fake (too much of a good thing).

Best-Mike

 

[timekiller]

Those are two different bars, aren't they?

Best-Mike

As far as I know It's the same bar in two pics. At least that's what he led me to believe today when he was on here

No TK. Unless they are two different sides of the same bar, they are different. Look closely. On one, the Mexico City Mint Mark is next to three dots. In the other, it is by itself. On one, the Mexico City Mint Mark is on the fat end, and on the other it is on the skinny end. If it is one bar with all those stamps on both sides, I would have to call fake (too much of a good thing).

Best-Mike
[/quote]It's not mine to argue about All I know is what he said! In my opinion it is a front shot and a back shot. From there it's anybodies guess as to real or fake.I don't dig these up everyday so I'm not saying either way. Not many I know do. But I hope for him it is real I'm not gonna say it's not when i don't know him from adam. But I will wish him the best til he comes out to be pulling a leg just how I am.

 

[Breezie]

Here's a comparison of the 2 pics side by side. Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

This is my first post to the forum.

I found an object that I am just not sure about.

These are a couple of pictures of a metal object I found over the weekend in low mountains of northern Utah.

I think he says he found one object so it must be different sides of the same bar.

 

[gollum]

TK,

NOBODY digs these up every day! HAHAHA Luckily we have many examples of treasure bars from shipwreck recoveries to learn from. Markings are markings.

Spooky,

They can't be silver. The fineness stamps on them indicate they are gold bars. Silver bars would have COMPLETELY different markings.

Best-Mike

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It is quite heavy and is mostly gold in color with copper hues.
The picture does not do a great job capturing the color, as it was dark when we got back and I took the picture on my iphone.

He says its a gold color. It just looks silver in the iphone pic.

 

[Oroblanco]

Congratulations! <2 thumbs up!> For sure, search that area well for more to go with that one! Mike is correct about the karat markings being gold, not silver.

Gold can be silver in color, depending on how much silver or other metals are alloyed with it. "White gold" as in my 'handle' of Oroblanco.

 

[timekiller]

TK,

NOBODY digs these up every day! HAHAHA Luckily we have many examples of treasure bars from shipwreck recoveries to learn from. Markings are markings.

Spooky,

They can't be silver. The fineness stamps on them indicate they are gold bars. Silver bars would have COMPLETELY different markings.

Best-Mike

I do agree that the marks are for gold and not silver! I hope you guy's can figure it out tomorrow as I said hope him all the best.I'll check back when I get home from work to see what's up.Mike just having a little fun no hard feelings.And thanks for you helping him out as I would be going crazy myself if I had found it gold or silver wouldn't matter to me it's a great find either way.And one I hope for each time out.
Take Care,
All,
Pete!

 

[cactusjumper]

Breezie,

"Here's a comparison of the 2 pics side by side. Breezie"

What.........You didn't like my side by side pictures

Take care,

Joe

 

[Breezie]

Breezie,

"Here's a comparison of the 2 pics side by side. Breezie"

What.........You didn't like my side by side pictures

Take care,

Joe

Hey Joe, yes, I thought they were lovely. Now we have a vertical approach with yours, and a horizontal with mine. Actually, I didn't see yours because I was using my old Netscape browser instead of Mozilla FireFox. Sometimes Netscape will not show all the pics in a post. Breezie

 

[sseth]

TK,

NOBODY digs these up every day! HAHAHA Luckily we have many examples of treasure bars from shipwreck recoveries to learn from. Markings are markings.

Spooky,

They can't be silver. The fineness stamps on them indicate they are gold bars. Silver bars would have COMPLETELY different markings.

Best-Mike

I do agree that the marks are for gold and not silver! I hope you guy's can figure it out tomorrow as I said hope him all the best.I'll check back when I get home from work to see what's up.Mike just having a little fun no hard feelings.And thanks for you helping him out as I would be going crazy myself if I had found it gold or silver wouldn't matter to me it's a great find either way.And one I hope for each time out.
Take Care,
All,
Pete!

I would like to echo that "Thanks" . I had no idea what this might even be when I found it. I have not locked it away in a secure place as per the recommendation of several of you.

I never would have dreamed that things like these could be found.

You all now have me hooked to the forum.
Seth

 

[sseth]

TK,

NOBODY digs these up every day! HAHAHA Luckily we have many examples of treasure bars from shipwreck recoveries to learn from. Markings are markings.

Spooky,

They can't be silver. The fineness stamps on them indicate they are gold bars. Silver bars would have COMPLETELY different markings.

Best-Mike

I have one more dumb question for you if you don't mind. How did they go about making these? I tried to do a little research but have not been too successful.
Seth

 

[Old Dog]

seth,
The usual method for making finger bars is still used by some, I have seen it done.
Make a bed of wet sand and pack it down until it seems quite solid.
using a finger put some similar depressions in the wet sand, pour the metal into the depressions.

What you have is the result of this process. Notice the coarse look of the exterior of the bar.