Three year old discovery, never totally figured out

[Crispin]

Three years ago I took my dad out for a fun hunt in Virginia Beach oceanfront. Mostly dug around for coins, but popped this sucker out in between waves at low tide. This is what it looked like raw...I had a feeling it was silver:



I spent A LOT of time cleaning it. Determined that it was definitely silver. Obviously in the shape of an eagle, but no idea where it came from. So much history in that area I figured nobody would ever be able to ID it. But, you guys are good...REAL good. What do you think of the cleaned up images:



I placed it next to a thin dime that somebody ID'd for me because I was documenting it for my archives. I can take more photos if people need them. I obviously didn't throw it out.

Crispin

 

[Reed Lukens]

If it looks like chicken and tastes like chicken...
It must be little chicken somewhere

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Crispen you seem like a great person and you have been a good sport with all the joking you have received. And I apologize again for my jokes on another thread. Step 1 would be to test the metal with a silver test kit, which you are doing and then we can go from there. But even if it is an eagle badge, its damaged so much that its worthless. Melt down value only. But the hobby is not about money, its more about history, so we will wait and see the test results..

 

[G.I.B.]

I've watched the videos of how to test with the acid.

How to watch the color change.

But none of the videos address how to clean the acid off of the coin?

Wipe it on my shirt tail, rinse it in the sink, soak it in something? What gets all the remaining acid off of the coin?

 

[worldtalker]

I've watched the videos of how to test with the acid.

How to watch the color change.

But none of the videos address how to clean the acid off of the coin?

Wipe it on my shirt tail, rinse it in the sink, soak it in something? What gets all the remaining acid off of the coin?

 

[releventchair]

I've watched the videos of how to test with the acid.

How to watch the color change.

But none of the videos address how to clean the acid off of the coin?

Wipe it on my shirt tail, rinse it in the sink, soak it in something? What gets all the remaining acid off of the coin?

Raise it's PH to match what you normally dispose of for waste water..by adding a soda ash or similar compound or by dilution with your supply of water.

(Disclaimer follows.)
Only in very small quantities of acid(s) as some generate heat or other reactions when mixed with each other.
Know your chemicals and their reactions before ever mixing or changing any amounts.
Well ventilated areas(air flow, not bullet holes) required,wear all required safety equipment.
Keep out of reach of and do not use near pets,kids, anyone not aware of hazards,ect. or store where accessible to them....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

In my experience it will stain the coin. On Crispin's item, I didn't think it mattered.

 

[Crispin]

Crispen you seem like a great person and you have been a good sport with all the joking you have received. And I apologize again for my jokes on another thread. Step 1 would be to test the metal with a silver test kit, which you are doing and then we can go from there. But even if it is an eagle badge, its damaged so much that its worthless. Melt down value only. But the hobby is not about money, its more about history, so we will wait and see the test results..

You hit the nail right on the head! My friends ask me all the time...Why do you do it? "Do you realize how much money you can make at work in the time you waste driving out there and digging up trash?"

They just don't get it. I've never sold any of my finds and I never will. There is nothing more peaceful then walking down the beach as the sun rises. I've had dolphins, rays, manatees, and all manner of fish swim right past me as if I belonged to the ocean. You can't find that kind of solace and peace of mind at a five star spa! Back massage, no thanks, I'll take the waves. Digging things up has some immediate gratification (rings, etc..) but the real fun comes in trying to figure out what you got. I take pictures of everything throughout the process so I can go back and look if I need to. I analyze every piece of metal and throw 99% of it away. I'm excited for the silver kit to come, I'm glad I broke down and bought one. It was just pure stubbornness on why I have not bought one before. I totally understand why you guys keep calling them fire nuggets. The only reason I hold so strongly to it is because they pass the muriatic acid test, the bleach test, and bubbles come off them in the oxidation reduction pan. I've never seen Aluminum do this and I know that an Aluminum nugget will not exchange electrons with Al tin foil. Now that being said, there are many different alloys of metals out there that will do the things I've mentioned before. It wasn't until somebody mentioned solder that I realized this. I kept going over the periodic table looking at elements and ruling out all the metals. (Slap! Hand to head.) Anyhow, it will be here soon and I will post all the pics regardless of results. If they end up being silver I'm sure a lot of you will rethink what you have been throwing away. If they end up being Al then this thread will make a great reference to people in the future. Either way, we all win.

Cheers mates, and Happy 4th of July,

 

[G.I.B.]

I'll help check the periodic table, I've started on the top left if you want to start on the lower right.

Can't wait for the silver test solution to arrive.

I'm so EXCITED!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

What temperature is needed to melt silver?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

View attachment 1182317Thanks for the ID on the dime. Okay, I am being serious on this one. I found this piece of metal outside the Virginia Beach Life Saving Museum in between 33rd and 34th street. It was low tide, there had just been a storm, and I found it in knee deep water. I think it looks like an eagle. There is a perfectly circular hole in the middle and then on the other side a perfectly circular protrusion. I think that is where it was attached to a badge or a buckle or something. How in the world could this be caused by a fire? I looked up badges from the coast guard and this is what I have come up with. Please take a close look at the circular and protrusion I am talking about. If you still think it is an Al can I will definitely drop it. I am not trying to upset anybody.

View attachment 1182315

See the back. I think that is where the protrusion is on my piece of metal...

View attachment 1182316

I actually found one of these hat badges at the dump. It was complete with the hat and I removed it from the hat and tossed the hat back in the trash. I should have saved it. Mine is from WWII. Anyway as I recall the eagle is very thin metal.

 

[Crispin]

What temperature is needed to melt silver?

Silver melts around 1600F, Aluminum melts around 1200F, and lead melts around 600F. Most silver alloys melt under 900F. Basically, the more impurities, the lower the melting point. My soldering iron heats at a max of 900F, probably more like 800F unless a brand new tip and perfect conditions. So, the heat test is useless to determine between the two, but it does rule out lead and low melting alloys.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was just wondering what would be needed to melt silver. I guess it depends on the percentage. All I can say is I have tested the numerous melted and partially metal blobs of metal that I have found and none have yet tested a high percentage of silver. I find blobs of lead, lead sheathing from shipwrecks, melted pieces of cans, window frames and lawn chairs. I have found blobs of solder. Some were actually 10-15 percent silver solder blobs from A/C repairs. I used to do A/C work so I know what silver solder looks like. I have found silver cookie coins on the beach and even a few Spanish reales. I have found melted metal from the Everglades plane crashes. I think someone found some melted space shuttle metal and posted it here..Also pieces of shrapnel. But never a silver blob. But I guess its possible.

The next time we have a hurricane, head for the beach. You need to be there at the first low tide. After that the waves are just piling up sand. I found a few interesting items on the Treasure Coast but there is just too much beach re-nourishment to find anything old on most of our Florida beaches. I just got my DetectorPro repaired. Maybe Ill head out to the beach Monday.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hey Crispen. Check out this interesting item I found after a hurricane on the Treasure Coast. It has a name and 2 dates hand engraved on it ('43 and '44), but I am not able to determine the century. I understand these things can drive you crazy. I still am not sure of the ID. Its at least 90% silver. It passed the acid test. Its very thin. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/17078-she-only-3-days-old.html



Jo-Ann L. Hall
12-30-43--1-2-44