Jewelry box, spoon, and trade token!

[connorghabra]

Metal detected another site in southern Delaware that had a home until 1950s. Found using historic aerials and this site was just a few miles away from a site where I found another tiny souvenir spoon within the same forest tract!

First I found the small spoon which I believe is silver plated. I can't make out the stamp but attached zoomed pictures. Then I circled back about 3 ft and hit a target that turned out to be this silver plated jewelry box that says "JAPAN" on the back. The lid was snapped but compacted into the container. Unfortunately there was nothing inside, but seeing this ornate box in the hole after pulling the plug was an absolute shock. We were jumping with joy! - Can anyone recommend what I should soak the red liner in to help restore it?

Then about 20ft away I got this W.B. & Co trade token good for 3.5 cents. If anyone is familiar with W.B. & Co trade tokens or can narrow down the date any info is appreciated.

Super happy with this hunt and will be back to see what else there is!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on the excellent finds !

 

[Red-Coat]

Cool finds

The spoon is a standard tea/coffee spoon rather than a souvenir item. The ‘WMF’ mark is for the German company Württembergische MetallwarenFabrik, with a ‘G’ below for Geislingen, where their primary production facilities were located.

The company was founded in 1853 and used a series of ‘ostrich’ marks from 1903 onwards as a visual pun since the German word for ostrich is ‘Strauß’, which was also the surname of one of the company’s founders. Yours has the ‘second’ of the ostrich mark series, specifically used on silverplate between 1910 and 1925.

The ‘I/O’ mark is a quality mark, indicating the item to have been electroplated with 1 gram of silver per 100 square centimeters of surface area. Also known in the German industry as ‘Normalversilberung’ (Normal Silvering).

 

[billb]

Metal detected another site in southern Delaware that had a home until 1950s. Found using historic aerials and this site was just a few miles away from a site where I found another tiny souvenir spoon within the same forest tract!

First I found the small spoon which I believe is silver plated. I can't make out the stamp but attached zoomed pictures. Then I circled back about 3 ft and hit a target that turned out to be this silver plated jewelry box that says "JAPAN" on the back. The lid was snapped but compacted into the container. Unfortunately there was nothing inside, but seeing this ornate box in the hole after pulling the plug was an absolute shock. We were jumping with joy! - Can anyone recommend what I should soak the red liner in to help restore it?
View attachment 2264108View attachment 2264109View attachment 2264111View attachment 2264112

Then about 20ft away I got this W.B. & Co trade token good for 3.5 cents. If anyone is familiar with W.B. & Co trade tokens or can narrow down the date any info is appreciated.
View attachment 2264113


Super happy with this hunt and will be back to see what else there is!

Fantastic recoveries!!!!
Congratulations on your success..
Thanks again for sharing..

 

[Trezurehunter]

That jewelry box is a great find !

 

[Bart@Big Boys Hobbies]

Tokens are so cool to find!

 

[Relicific]

Very cool finds

 

[connorghabra]

Congrats on the excellent finds !

Thank you!!

 

[connorghabra]

Cool finds

The spoon is a standard tea/coffee spoon rather than a souvenir item. The ‘WMF’ mark is for the German company Württembergische MetallwarenFabrik, with a ‘G’ below for Geislingen, where their primary production facilities were located.

The company was founded in 1853 and used a series of ‘ostrich’ marks from 1903 onwards as a visual pun since the German word for ostrich is ‘Strauß’, which was also the surname of one of the company’s founders. Yours has the ‘second’ of the ostrich mark series, specifically used on silverplate between 1910 and 1925.

The ‘I/O’ mark is a quality mark, indicating the item to have been electroplated with 1 gram of silver per 100 square centimeters of surface area. Also known in the German industry as ‘Normalversilberung’ (Normal Silvering).

WOW! That's really fascinating. I really appreciate you looking into the history of this spoon and providing such a detailed backstory. I've seen you research the history for many other items so thanks for being the #1 Treasurenet historian lol. I've seen the 1/100 stamp on silver plated items other people have found but never knew what that meant until now!

 

[connorghabra]

Fantastic recoveries!!!!
Congratulations on your success..
Thanks again for sharing..

Thank you so much!!! Best hobby ever!

 

[oldmxrat]

Those are great finds, but I think your greatest find is that girl that's willing to get dirt under her nails with you!

 

[connorghabra]

That jewelry box is a great find !

Thank you!

 

[connorghabra]

Tokens are so cool to find!

Absolutely! I've only found 4 tokens so far but I've only been detecting about a year and a half, so those are the first of many! I'll be swinging the detector for the rest of my life. Actually, I recently upgraded from my X-terra Pro to a Manticore and I ordered the Manticore from you, so thank you so much!! You have the most reasonable prices for many different items. Really appreciate it and I'm really happy with my purchase.

 

[connorghabra]

Those are great finds, but I think your greatest find is that girl that's willing to get dirt under her nails with you!

Completely agree!! That's the treasure princess. She'll typically bring a good book and find a nice spot read, but the good targets always seem to pop up whenever she decides to walk and detect with me, so she's definitely my good luck charm!

 

[connorghabra]

Very cool finds

Thanks so much!!

 

[RatherBeDigging]

I really want to know how that jewelry box got burried?? Kids burying treasure chest in the yard and forgot about it Definitely not anything anyone expects to find detecting.