Large Ingot found in my yard

[djm of PA]

took the kids outside to play a little bit, so i decided to swing the detector. didn't get much detecting in, but did manage a Schwinn SpitFire tag, a '76 penny, a bolt of some sort with a spring in it and then the interesting find, a large ingot with SJ stamped into it. I'm grounded enough to think lead...but I dream enough to hope silver
Took a knife and knicked the top, shiny inside, but lead would do that too from what I understand. Either way, not what I was expecting at 8inches in the yard!~

 

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[worldtalker]

Yep chunk a lead,keep swingin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Nice finds!

 

[jeff of pa]

considering the amount of Lead in your yard no Surprise.

the SJ On it means a Keeper though

Congrats !

Schwinn SpitFire

 

[wwwtimmcp]

I think the sj might be US inverted. maybe somebody used a bucket or mess kit to melt lead and had to leave it, then the bucket or mess kit rusted away.

 

[NaturalJWL]

Jeff you should know a historical artifact when you see one.

That lead was earmarked S J so Teddy's Rough Riders could cast more bullets for San Juan Hill.

Well it sounds better than plumbers lead.

 

[Jeep]

Lead's at $1.24 a pound today

 

[Tuberale]

I've never seen an ingot shaped like that. I can't identify the content by scratch alone. Have you done a streak test? Or, better yet, a specific gravity test?

 

[High Plains Digger]

Absolutely a lead ingot, occasionally called a pig. Almost a "standard" shape, with up to 5 "linked together 0-0-0-0-0 to make 25 lbs. I think. I am not a plumber. But I have seen these around, as well as smaller ones cast the same way
o-o-o-o-o. Try to check out the writing. I have one with a dutch boy on it with company name and all. It appears that the mine went out of business in 1940, supposedly ran out of ore. These can be somewhat collectable. One similar sold on ebay for $80. And that was cheaper lead prices some time ago.

 

[nuggy]

I guess you are totally "getting the lead out" lol. Not far off treasure at todays prices too, good post. Nuggy

 

[IAhunter]

Plumbers lead....used back in the days when plumbers used it to join copper pipe for plumbing.

 

[djm of PA]

Thanks for all the posts guys I should also state, that while this looks rusted, it is not, it is covered in a layer of clay that I haven't scrubbed off yet. The end of the "J" is sharp and true so I'd say inverted u s won't stand, it is indeed S J. I have no concept of weight this small, but my guess would be between 2.5 & 5lbs. Yeah I know, broad range

 

[texjim]

I had a Schwinn bike just like the one in Jeffs pic. lol If anything you can melt the lead down and make your own fishing sinkers or jig heads and sell them. hope we can get out soon or try too.

 

[djm of PA]

man Tex, I can see you now cruising down the road on your spitfire

fishing weights would be great if I didn't already have 150lbs of them thanks to a local lake draining and an uncle who digs everything

 

[DKinPA]

Interesting find Den!!

You may never find everything in your yard....LOL!!


Dave

 

[djm of PA]

DK, 18 acres and an old owner who was a scrap hauler...........and a blacksmith before that.......and a farmer before that..........you're right I'll never run out of targets here

 

[worldtalker]

Yep chunk a lead,keep swingin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Nice finds!

Yep,ya got a lot more lead to go,how old 's the place ur in?

 

[djm of PA]

built pre 1879 but we just redid the whole place.

before and after pics, this is what I've been doing on my spare time over the last year, professionally framed, but all finishing work done by me, the wife and friends/family.

 

[lookindown]

I like the old house.

 

[worldtalker]

I like the YARD at the old house!

 

[CRUSADER]

good scrap value on that