Most amazing find in 38 years detecting.....and it's GOLD!

[doninbrewster]

I've been detecting for more than 38 years and even though I've found a gold coin, kettle points, Fugio, CT, VT, NJ coppers and a whole lot more, this easily ranks as my most interesting find ever. It's not just a gold ring, but a very interesting one. You see, the building that is engraved on the top is the Cathedral of Turin. That's not even the interesting part. The ring opens up. Inside, underneath a small piece of glass is a piece of fabric. Could it be a piece of the Shroud of Turin? I keep thinking about it and I can't figure out what else it might be. The ring was found about 5 inches down, not far from and at the same depth as an Indian head penny. My guess is it's been there for at least 100 years, but the ring itself could be much older. The side detail also looks like it was hand engraved, not just a casting. Like I said, I've found some great stuff over the years, but nothing compares to this. Thoughts?





Cathedral of Turin

 

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[Overseas]

Compartment rings are such interesting things. Reminds me of old movies or better yet...James Bond.

Seriously though, I see 3 options with this ring ranked from least to best:
3. Locket ring sold to (possibly religious pilgrim) tourists;
2. Pre-dates the norms of "hallmarks";
1. 1 of 1 ever made; never meant for resale; and thus not required to have markings of purity.

 

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[CRUSADER]

I would date it to the mid-19th C, nice looking hand-engraved workmanship. Congrats.

If its a pilgrims/tourist piece, its not going to be part of the shroud itself.

 

[ARC]

Locket Ring.

If interested in more detail.

Well done.

 

[ARC]

The Shroud has no "pieces" in circulation.

And the VERY few that have been removed for study are under scientific church lock and key.

 

[sandchip]

It's what appears to be a fantastic find, but we'd all love to hear more details of its discovery. Beautiful ring!

 

[Shakakka]

Beautiful, beautiful ring. CONGRATS!

 

[Worm-Slicer]

I would be looking into other buildings to see if there is a match. The photo you have posted, the tower may have been built upon (although the windows don't line up and no small lower windows.), but the white building looks totally different and doesn't look added onto, it appears that it was designed and built that way. Nevertheless, a wonderful find and will be interesting if more info is found out.

 

[slider66]

That is a wonderful find. You must be really Happy! Congrats to you and thank you for posting that.

 

[Arachnofreak]

Wow, Congrats man! Very nice find!

Charlie

 

[doninbrewster]

I would date it to the mid-19th C, nice looking hand-engraved workmanship. Congrats.

I would agree with your date. Workmanship appears to come from that era.

If its a pilgrims/tourist piece, its not going to be part of the shroud itself.

Hard to tell in the photo, but the quality of the workmanship I think takes it out of the tourist arena.

I would be looking into other buildings to see if there is a match. The photo you have posted, the tower may have been built upon (although the windows don't line up and no small lower windows.), but the white building looks totally different and doesn't look added onto, it appears that it was designed and built that way. Nevertheless, a wonderful find and will be interesting if more info is found out.

I agree, it's not a perfect match, but consider it was most likely done in a jewelers shop and the buildings are from the jewelers memory. Best guess is it's probably 150 years old. Not easy to take a quick photo to bring back to the shop. There may also be some artistic licensing. The actual part of the ring that has the building engraved is 9/16" x 3/8". It's a very small area to engrave so much detail which could also account for the differences. I've looked through hundreds of photos online and nothing else is close.

 

[Ken C]

Now that is AWESOME!

 

[The Patriot]

Certainly is an amazing find you got there...wont be long..it will be on the top!

 

[Worm-Slicer]

Hard to tell in the photo, but the quality of the workmanship I think takes it out of the tourist arena.



I agree, it's not a perfect match, but consider it was most likely done in a jewelers shop and the buildings are from the jewelers memory. Best guess is it's probably 150 years old. Not easy to take a quick photo to bring back to the shop. There may also be some artistic licensing. The actual part of the ring that has the building engraved is 9/16" x 3/8". It's a very small area to engrave so much detail which could also account for the differences. I've looked through hundreds of photos online and nothing else is close.

I respect your opinion and it's good for discussion to have differences, but I don't think if it was a ring designed for something of that importance it would be based on memory. I'm an artist myself and if I was commissioned for a piece of that magnitude, I would do lots of preliminary sketches of the buildings beforehand. That would be even more the case if it was pre-photography and they would strive for accuracy. This could still be an amazing find and could be a part of a cardinal's clothing or something similar. I'm just a stickler for facts is all and even though we may have different opinions, I still think it's a great find and hope you can get some kind of positive I.D.. That's why I mentioned I would search other buildings, as you might find an exact match and that in turn could lead to the exact person that wore this ring.

 

[DownNDirty]

Awesome find Don. Could you post some high resolution pics of the part that houses the cloth?

 

[achetadomestica]

WOW

What else is there to say. I am curious where you found it? I don't think it was mentioned.
If you want to keep that private I understand but even if you say a park or church or old neighborhood?
I hope you get a million bucks for it!

 

[CRUSADER]

Hard to tell in the photo, but the quality of the workmanship I think takes it out of the tourist arena.



I agree, it's not a perfect match, but consider it was most likely done in a jewelers shop and the buildings are from the jewelers memory. Best guess is it's probably 150 years old. Not easy to take a quick photo to bring back to the shop. There may also be some artistic licensing. The actual part of the ring that has the building engraved is 9/16" x 3/8". It's a very small area to engrave so much detail which could also account for the differences. I've looked through hundreds of photos online and nothing else is close.

Not really their are tourist with loads of money & some with very little. It is clearing a scene to commemorate an important or famous place. There is no reason why a wealthy person would not want to buy or commission a piece like it. In fact if it were an expensive commission, it would be a far better quality than this.

 

[chatterbait]

If it was found at a famous landmark could you search the history of famous people who were there?That could have worn the ring.Or a small mistake say like an eight year old ring bearer that left the rings for the wedding outside the church.

 

[Molewacker]

Plumbatas' info tweaked interest in this type of item, also the mystery of who what where -

Not shroud fabric for sure - too fine of thread, non herringbone



I have noticed on many relic items, there is a wax seal to authenticate the item and secure it.

Perhaps a jeweler could tell you if the glass insert is removable to check the back for wax or paper as Plumbata mentioned.

Thanks for giving me a fun search!

 

[Rookster]

Now we're metal detecting. Super Congrats.

 

[doninbrewster]

Awesome find Don. Could you post some high resolution pics of the part that houses the cloth?

I tried but it seems to be the best I could do. The glass is a little bit clouded around the edges.