Here's a very interesting read about metal detecting for gold in Zimbabwe.
Showing posts with label Topics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Topics. Show all posts
Valletta Convention.
Have you ever heard of 'The Valletta Convention on the protection of the Archaeological Heritage'
I never, but this morning I have, and its not good reading for the future of our hobby of metal detecting. If you ever wondered where a ban for our hobby of metal detecting may come from, it could be from this.
As the author of a blog post I came across puts it:
Should the ‘Valletta Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage’ be elevated from ‘convention’ status to become law in the UK, the hobby of metal detecting along with amateur archaeology, will be snuffed out overnight forever.
I never, but this morning I have, and its not good reading for the future of our hobby of metal detecting. If you ever wondered where a ban for our hobby of metal detecting may come from, it could be from this.
As the author of a blog post I came across puts it:
Should the ‘Valletta Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage’ be elevated from ‘convention’ status to become law in the UK, the hobby of metal detecting along with amateur archaeology, will be snuffed out overnight forever.
European Jack-Boots...A Warning! You Are Next!
You can read about this Valletta Convention by clicking the link above.
Friday 17 April 2015.
Cleaned a few metal detecting finds.
Please note any cleaning of metal detecting finds can seriously reduce their values, so think carefully about how you tackle your cleaning.
Due to work and working silly hours at silly o' clock I've not been out detecting for a while now. All I've done hobby wise is cleaned a few objects I've found. To be honest most of the objects looked better before I cleaned them. Maybe I went to far by taking them back to their base metals thus removing that old look. After this episode I strongly urge you to think again about such drastic cleaning.
On the other hand there might be a few of you who think the items look better cleaned so harshly, we all have our preferences.
The first pic above shows some military badges and buttons I cleaned. Of all the objects I cleaned I like these the most. Cleaned back to the base metals clearly shows a lot of detail I couldn't see before.
Now these buckles I'm not to sure of. When I first cleaned them I thought wow, lovely, but as I looked at them more they seemed to look to new. That old look had gone and am now wishing I never cleaned them so harshly.
Also these odds and ends I wished I had left as they were. Totally ruined that thimble and bronze ring. That Victorian medal looked a lot better when I had it just cleaned with soap and water.
Also I do like these bullets and cartridge cleaned back, really transforms them. It also looks impressive putting the bullet into a cartridge. I know that's not the right cartridge for the bullet, but it sure looks a good talking point when left on the mantelpiece when visitors pop round.
Sunday 5 April 2015.
Hey!!!!!...We do make a difference.
Lately I have been reading a few negative remarks about our hobby of metal detecting and I have to admit I began to have concerns about the future of our exciting pastime.
So it was refreshing to stumble on a blog post this morning on John Winter's blog. After reading John's post I instantly felt that we as detectorists do make a difference and people in higher places have noticed.
So it was refreshing to stumble on a blog post this morning on John Winter's blog. After reading John's post I instantly felt that we as detectorists do make a difference and people in higher places have noticed.
Read John's post here,,,, Bazza Thugwit : still a National Treasure!
Thanks for an inspiring post John, I'm proud to be a Bazza Thugwit.
Sunday 15 March 2015.
Is there a new breed of Archaeologist emerging?
An outstanding Anglo-Saxon pendant found by a first year archaeology student.
We as detectorists are always being told by an anti-detecting blog near you that we are "only in it fer the munney". Yet, here is an emerging story of a first year archaeology student who is also a detectorist, that made a find on an archaeology dig and gets to keep a share of the profits from the find with the landowner and a few others at the dig.
Don't get me wrong, good luck to the lad I say, a really excellent find and just wish I could find such a lovely relic for the world to enjoy, and he deserves a reward for it. I only hope that this student when he becomes qualified that he does not look down his nose at us detectorists as 'only in it fer the munney' and not the history as he was the same before he became qualified, thus interested in history and a reward for a treasure find.
(source: dailymail.co.uk)
Sunday 1 March 2014.
***UPDATE***
As the saying goes, 'Never believe anything you read in the press'. It turns out that the lad in question is NOT an archaeology student at all. He studies landscape history. A more accurate account of this discovery can be read by 'clicking here'.
Sunday 1 March 2014.
***UPDATE***
As the saying goes, 'Never believe anything you read in the press'. It turns out that the lad in question is NOT an archaeology student at all. He studies landscape history. A more accurate account of this discovery can be read by 'clicking here'.
Looking for a good read?.....
Friday 27 June 2014.
Popped out again this morning for a couple of hours and all I could find were some decimal coins and a button,,, oh, and what I thought was a musket ball but turned out to be a fishing weight.
I really need some new land, the oldest thing on this land every time I go there is me.
Earlier this week I added another link to my 'Other Blogs and Websites I Like to Visit' column on the right hand side of this page. The link I am referring to is entitled, 'Past Times and Present Tension', a blog by John Hooker.
Every day for the last few days John has been writing a series of posts he calls, 'In Praise of Metal Detecting'. There are 9 posts on this subject so far and I believe he is writing number 10 today which will complete the series.
I found the posts very interesting and believe you will too. For those who have not read John's posts I share the link to his blog with you here: PAST TIMES AND PRESENT TENSION.
Popped out again this morning for a couple of hours and all I could find were some decimal coins and a button,,, oh, and what I thought was a musket ball but turned out to be a fishing weight.
I really need some new land, the oldest thing on this land every time I go there is me.
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Looking for a good read?....
If I'm not out detecting and I have a bit of time on my hands, one thing I love doing is surfing the net looking at different metal detecting sites and blogs. Always something new and interesting to look at and read and I always come away with a bit more knowledge.Earlier this week I added another link to my 'Other Blogs and Websites I Like to Visit' column on the right hand side of this page. The link I am referring to is entitled, 'Past Times and Present Tension', a blog by John Hooker.
Every day for the last few days John has been writing a series of posts he calls, 'In Praise of Metal Detecting'. There are 9 posts on this subject so far and I believe he is writing number 10 today which will complete the series.
I found the posts very interesting and believe you will too. For those who have not read John's posts I share the link to his blog with you here: PAST TIMES AND PRESENT TENSION.
Treasure Hunter Who Struck Gold.
Sunday 25 May 2014.
There's an excellent article that has appeared in the Daily Telegraph today about David Spohr, the chap who unearthed the 3,500 year old gold lunula, which is a chest ornament worn by a Bronze Aged Chieftain. Its a great read and written in a way we detectorists can relate to. It also I think shows detectorists in a good light and the good that we do for our heritage, so a story that needs to be shown all over to let people know what responsible metal detectorists can achieve, and do achieve. Have a read of the article yourself and you will see what I mean, this is what metal detecting for the majority of detectorists is all about. Here's the link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/
Metal Detecting News.
Thursday 01 May 2014
I've just come across two great news stories about metal detecting.The first one is about a bloke in England who dug up dozens of silver Roman coins dated more than 1,700 years old. He's a charity fund raiser and only just recently took up metal detecting so he could search for items to sell and raise more money for charity. Good on him and I hope he raises a tidy sum.
You can read the full story here on the Telegraph & Argus news site.
The other great story is from Denmark about two blokes who after searching for hours through mud with metal detectors made the discovery of their lives. an ancient Viking treasure, 250 gold and silver coins.
WOW...what a find, The local museum reckons they were buried in the ground in the 1080s.
See, hard work does pay off. You can read the full story here on the Copenhagen Post news site.
Two great stories to wet all you treasure hunter's appetites. Why not take a look at a load of other recent metal detecting treasure finds made in the last couple of months on my page above called 'Treasure in the News.
Just For Laughs.
A collection of links and jokes showing a funny side to detecting. If you spot any others out there please let me know and I can add them.
View from their source and many thanks to the people who gave us these laughs.
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JOKES....
What did the old coin say to the metal detector? …. Don’t take that tone with me!
- You can never be sure of the sexual orientation of a metal detector…. because it swings both ways!
BBC News headline: A haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure recently unearthed in Staffordshire has been valued at £3.285m. The money will be split between the detectorist and the landowner.
Metal detecting: what a sad pathetic hobby. Loser…..
In the world of metal detecting, my uncle's at the top of his field.......all alone.
So a 50 year old man finds millions of pounds worth of Anglo-Saxon gold using his metal detector in a field. The government declare the find as 'treasure' but will pay him a reward for its discovery.
Why didn't he keep his mouth shut and send it piece by piece to Cash 4 Gold?
I thought I'd hit the jackpot when my metal detector started beeping in the back garden.
But I was disappointed when I realized that it just my wife's wedding ring...
I like to tape tin foil to the base of my grandad's metal detector using black tape.
It's hilarious!
My last girlfriend was such a gold digger, She constantly humiliated me and I finally had to break up with her.
I'm not going to be seen with anyone who brings a metal detector every time we go to the beach.
'Boy, Three, Strikes Gold with Metal Detector'. I, myself made headlines like this once.
''Man, 27, Strikes Wife with Metal Detector''... She didn't have my car keys after all, just a bottle top and a kit kat wrapper.
What did the old coin say to the metal detector? …. Don’t take that tone with me!
- You can never be sure of the sexual orientation of a metal detector…. because it swings both ways!
BBC News headline: A haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure recently unearthed in Staffordshire has been valued at £3.285m. The money will be split between the detectorist and the landowner.
Metal detecting: what a sad pathetic hobby. Loser…..
In the world of metal detecting, my uncle's at the top of his field.......all alone.
So a 50 year old man finds millions of pounds worth of Anglo-Saxon gold using his metal detector in a field. The government declare the find as 'treasure' but will pay him a reward for its discovery.
Why didn't he keep his mouth shut and send it piece by piece to Cash 4 Gold?
I thought I'd hit the jackpot when my metal detector started beeping in the back garden.
But I was disappointed when I realized that it just my wife's wedding ring...
I like to tape tin foil to the base of my grandad's metal detector using black tape.
It's hilarious!
My last girlfriend was such a gold digger, She constantly humiliated me and I finally had to break up with her.
I'm not going to be seen with anyone who brings a metal detector every time we go to the beach.
'Boy, Three, Strikes Gold with Metal Detector'. I, myself made headlines like this once.
''Man, 27, Strikes Wife with Metal Detector''... She didn't have my car keys after all, just a bottle top and a kit kat wrapper.
Cleaning Coins.
I've had a couple of people lately asking me how I clean my coins. First of all I will say its not wise to clean valuable coins. They are best left alone as by cleaning them it devalues them right away. But, if your like me and like those non valuable coins to look as near as possible to the day they were minted, so you can see the detail, then I will share with you how I go about cleaning them. I just use one product, its cheap, and can be picked up anywhere. All you have to do is use a bit of elbow grease and polish them up.
The product I use is SILVO METAL POLISH WADDING. You just tear off a little piece of the wadding, and rub the coin until you have the desired effect. Its a bit messy on the fingers as that black tarnish comes off. Once you think the coin is how you like it, finish the coin off by buffing it with a clean dry cloth. I use an old towel for buffing. As far as I can see it does not scratch the coins, leaves a nice smooth shiny finish.
That's all I use, simples.
I stress again its not a good idea to clean older valuable coins as it renders then undesirable to collectors if ever you decide to sell them.
Below is a picture of pre-decimal Florins, Shillings and Sixpences I'm working on. The top batch I have cleaned, I've yet to do the bottom batch.
Also while going through my grot bucket what I thought were just Georgian grots a couple have turned out to be something else after a bit of cleaning. Below are two coins I'm working on. The one on the left is a Nova Scotia Halfpenny Token dated 1840. The one on the right I'm still trying to ID. It shows a figure standing with a large shield to the right of the figure and what looks like a large sword/cross to the left. On this coin I can make out a near date of 179?..maybe 1796 or 1798.
The product I use is SILVO METAL POLISH WADDING. You just tear off a little piece of the wadding, and rub the coin until you have the desired effect. Its a bit messy on the fingers as that black tarnish comes off. Once you think the coin is how you like it, finish the coin off by buffing it with a clean dry cloth. I use an old towel for buffing. As far as I can see it does not scratch the coins, leaves a nice smooth shiny finish.That's all I use, simples.
I stress again its not a good idea to clean older valuable coins as it renders then undesirable to collectors if ever you decide to sell them.
Below is a picture of pre-decimal Florins, Shillings and Sixpences I'm working on. The top batch I have cleaned, I've yet to do the bottom batch.
Also while going through my grot bucket what I thought were just Georgian grots a couple have turned out to be something else after a bit of cleaning. Below are two coins I'm working on. The one on the left is a Nova Scotia Halfpenny Token dated 1840. The one on the right I'm still trying to ID. It shows a figure standing with a large shield to the right of the figure and what looks like a large sword/cross to the left. On this coin I can make out a near date of 179?..maybe 1796 or 1798.
Garret Pro Pointer Cover.
Here's a handy metal detecting accessory I recently picked up off Ebay. Its a Garret Pro Pointer cover. Must say its a lovely bit of kit. Fits well and keeps the pointer dry and stops sand or mud clogging the speaker holes up. At a cost of £8 and free delivery, money well spent I say. Was a little bit long so I just snipped the end off with scissors.
Metal Detecting 2013.
With 2013 now gone and at the start of a brand new year I have had a look back at my metal detecting experiences and finds for the past year. First thing that comes to mind when I think back is the amount of new people I have met through this wonderful hobby. Either in real life or on the internet, these people have helped and encouraged me in my times of learning and also have been great fun. So at this point I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year and Happy Hunting.
Looking at my finds I am very pleased. Yes I have drooled over the amazing finds I see others have dug on the internet forums and looked at my days finds which are normally run of the mill, but seeing what is still being found on the beaches and out in those fields fills me with hope and excitement. Mind you, I have had the odd brill day and really when I think about it any metal detecting day is brill when I find a button, copper coin, a buckle or some other weird and wonderful object. Its all history and to find and hold something that was lost years ago and being the first person to see and feel it is a great feeling that's hard to beat.
This Gold 1903 Five Dollar American coin has to be my favourite coin to date. I found this coin here in the UK on pasture only 3-4 inches deep and it was laying on its edge. Found it using my Nokta Velox One metal detector. My only gold coin I have found so far and the thrill when I dug it is still with me now as it was the day when I found it. To find this coin out in the middle of nowhere makes me think of just how many gold coins are out there waiting to be found. Hoards aside, just look how many gold coins get dug up here in the UK and around the world. Every week someone posts up on the detecting forums of another gold coin found. Sometimes many are found in a week by different detectorists. They are out there, thousands of them just waiting for us to find them.
My second best coin found last year using my Ace 250 metal detector was this Silver Hammered Charles the Bold 1467 - 1477 Double Patard. A French coin found here in the UK. I did read somewhere that these coins were imported because a lack of our own coins at the time. Hard to believe that my best two coins to date are from outside of the UK but found here. The only other silver heammered coins I have found have hardly any detail on them and are mainly known as love tokens which you can see on my 'Best Finds' page.
Seeing the amount of silver hammered coins found by others with good detail I feel confident that's its only a matter of time, and luck, that I will find one.
As I had some time this morning I got out all my containers and had a bit of a count up. I have containers with Buttons, Buckles, Musket Balls, and containers with odds and ends in like Coin Weights, Thimbles, Tokens, Horse Bosses, and a host of finds made from all sorts of metals. As you can see, if the object I find is coin or artifact of any sort, I keep it, the scrap I will cash in.
Here is a photo of all my Pre-1947 Silver coins found last year. As you may know, from 1947 to 1971, some
denominations of British pre-decimal coins issued for circulation were
"silver-colored," these coins were made of copper-nickel, and
contained no silver. There are a couple of hammered there also a couple of Victorian and a George III 1820 Bullhead Sixpence and of course my Charles the Bold. Total Milled Silver: 2 half crowns: 7 florins: 5 shillings: 18 sixpences: 2 silver threepences.
Just out of curiousety I had a count up of all my other coins I found last year. They are mostly what we term 'Grots' what a few detectorists throw away. As I said, I keep everything but unrecognizable junk objects. Top pile and bottom center of coins in the photo are all pre-decimal pennies, half pennies and farthings, Total of 459 coins.
Bottom left are post 1947 florins shillings and sixpences, Total 38.
Bottom right are threepenny bits, Total 41.
For entertainment purposes I am going to keep a note and try and beat those totals by this time next year, so will pack away all these coins and start again.
Looking at my finds I am very pleased. Yes I have drooled over the amazing finds I see others have dug on the internet forums and looked at my days finds which are normally run of the mill, but seeing what is still being found on the beaches and out in those fields fills me with hope and excitement. Mind you, I have had the odd brill day and really when I think about it any metal detecting day is brill when I find a button, copper coin, a buckle or some other weird and wonderful object. Its all history and to find and hold something that was lost years ago and being the first person to see and feel it is a great feeling that's hard to beat.
Seeing the amount of silver hammered coins found by others with good detail I feel confident that's its only a matter of time, and luck, that I will find one.
As I had some time this morning I got out all my containers and had a bit of a count up. I have containers with Buttons, Buckles, Musket Balls, and containers with odds and ends in like Coin Weights, Thimbles, Tokens, Horse Bosses, and a host of finds made from all sorts of metals. As you can see, if the object I find is coin or artifact of any sort, I keep it, the scrap I will cash in.
Bottom left are post 1947 florins shillings and sixpences, Total 38.
Bottom right are threepenny bits, Total 41.
For entertainment purposes I am going to keep a note and try and beat those totals by this time next year, so will pack away all these coins and start again.
Here is my last years finds of jewelry. I did find a few junky items of jewelry but here are the gold and silver. Always a pleasure finding these and most of them are beach finds but a couple were found inland.
8 gold and silver rings: 6 pendants: cufflinks. The top left ring has a gold face on a silver band and was found same day as my gold five dollar coin was found. What a day that was, my best ever metal detecting day.
So here's to 2014 and I hope to do better this coming year. Its all down to luck mostly and good research and permissions. Saying that, I have no good permissions of my own. All the above finds came from the couple of permissions I did have, but have now really fished them out and hardly finding anything decent there now. A lot of finds came from club digs, the odd rally and invites to other peoples permissions, and of course the beaches.
So maybe my New Years Resolution this year should be, 'FIND NEW PERMISSIONS'.
Spotlight on my favourite Metal Detecting sites.
When I have spare time on my hands and for some reason I can't get out metal detecting I boot up the computer and do some what I call indoor detecting by surfing the net looking at different metal detecting sites which abound the internet. All these sites are interesting and have something to offer and by visiting them your sure of a good find. You may not walk away with a silver hammered or a gold brooch, but you will find treasure in knowledge.
Here on this page I have put a spotlight on four of my most favourite metal detecting sites and I am proud to be linked to them. Some of you may have already found these sites but for those that haven't let me tell you they are really worth a visit.
This is an online forum full of detectorists from all walks of life. Here you will find some very experienced people who have been detecting for years and are only to willing to share their knowledge. You can browse most of the site without registering, but to get the full benefit its simple to register and then you can ask questions, upload photos and show the detecting world your own detecting experiences.
A large and professional site full of all sorts of interesting articles relating to and covering all aspects of metal detecting. This site is growing large and is bringing the metal detecting community together. Here you can also get involved by writing articles yourself and even opening your own blog there.
A blog by Dick Stout. A collection of letters, articles and personal entries. His site tells the world what the hobby of metal detecting is all about and he holds no punches. An interesting and sometimes amusing read.
Lovely site with interesting topics and info. I also like this site as it shows how our American cousins go about their metal detecting, their conditions, sites, finds, etc.
You can visit these sites by clicking the headings and believe me, you will have hours of enjoyable reading.
Here on this page I have put a spotlight on four of my most favourite metal detecting sites and I am proud to be linked to them. Some of you may have already found these sites but for those that haven't let me tell you they are really worth a visit.
This is an online forum full of detectorists from all walks of life. Here you will find some very experienced people who have been detecting for years and are only to willing to share their knowledge. You can browse most of the site without registering, but to get the full benefit its simple to register and then you can ask questions, upload photos and show the detecting world your own detecting experiences.
A large and professional site full of all sorts of interesting articles relating to and covering all aspects of metal detecting. This site is growing large and is bringing the metal detecting community together. Here you can also get involved by writing articles yourself and even opening your own blog there.
A blog by Dick Stout. A collection of letters, articles and personal entries. His site tells the world what the hobby of metal detecting is all about and he holds no punches. An interesting and sometimes amusing read.
Lovely site with interesting topics and info. I also like this site as it shows how our American cousins go about their metal detecting, their conditions, sites, finds, etc.
You can visit these sites by clicking the headings and believe me, you will have hours of enjoyable reading.
C.Scope CS4PI and Land Detecting.
Working out my work rota this morning I found I had a long gap in between two jobs. Right I thought, I've not been out detecting for ages and worked it out that I could go for 3 hours. I didn't want to go far as to waste time traveling so I came up with an idea on a local spot I detect on.
Have you ever read on a forum or in a mag about how a PI metal detector is no good on land because it has no discrimination which means you will have to dig everything. Or, it may be ok if you have a very quiet field or you have cleared all the top junk away and just want to check if you missed anything deeper. Well, I have read that often and always thought it wouldn't bother me, I mostly dig everything anyway so a bit more digging won't matter.
Anyway, my idea this morning was to take my newly bought C.Scope cs4pi which I got from an auction for a good price and give it a go detecting a land site I have been detecting on for ages. I arrived there full of anticipation of some good deep finds as this machine is supposed to go deeeeeeeep. This was only my second time with this machine and the first time was just an hour in my garden.
So I set the machine up as best as I knew and started swinging. Was far too noisy so played around with the settings a bit. Nope, to much noise so played with settings again. This went on for like 20 minutes and was starting to do my head in. I switched the machine off, sat down for a ciggy and thought, 'ell, what have I bought.
Then it dawned on me, could all this noise be targets, after all, it wasn't a consistent noise. wasn't like BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP, more BEEP BEEP BEEEEP BEEPBEEP BEEP.
I got up and had another go this time trying to isolate a signal which I did. Dug it and boy it was deep, easy 10" to a foot. It was a bit of flat iron. WOW I thought, they are targets and started digging more. Some of these targets were over a foot deep and were hard going. After the first few inches of topsoil it was hard packed and I was struggling to get through it.
After about an hour I had had enough, was sweating like a pig and thought at this rate I won't be fit for work later. I had only covered a few square feet. So knocked it on the head and came home. Everything I dug was trash. I didn't realize how much trash we discriminate out on our detectors.
So take it from me, next time you read about how a PI machine is not really fit for land, belive it.
But will say how a PI machine must come into its own on the wet sand where contamination is sparse. Just can't wait now to try it on the wet, plus digging sand is a lot more easier than compact clay soils.
Right, that's it, just wanted to get that off my chest, hopefully next time you read of my experience with this machine its about some decent finds I have made from the wet sand.
Off to get ready for work now....dam.
Have you ever read on a forum or in a mag about how a PI metal detector is no good on land because it has no discrimination which means you will have to dig everything. Or, it may be ok if you have a very quiet field or you have cleared all the top junk away and just want to check if you missed anything deeper. Well, I have read that often and always thought it wouldn't bother me, I mostly dig everything anyway so a bit more digging won't matter.
Anyway, my idea this morning was to take my newly bought C.Scope cs4pi which I got from an auction for a good price and give it a go detecting a land site I have been detecting on for ages. I arrived there full of anticipation of some good deep finds as this machine is supposed to go deeeeeeeep. This was only my second time with this machine and the first time was just an hour in my garden.
So I set the machine up as best as I knew and started swinging. Was far too noisy so played around with the settings a bit. Nope, to much noise so played with settings again. This went on for like 20 minutes and was starting to do my head in. I switched the machine off, sat down for a ciggy and thought, 'ell, what have I bought.
Then it dawned on me, could all this noise be targets, after all, it wasn't a consistent noise. wasn't like BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP, more BEEP BEEP BEEEEP BEEPBEEP BEEP.
I got up and had another go this time trying to isolate a signal which I did. Dug it and boy it was deep, easy 10" to a foot. It was a bit of flat iron. WOW I thought, they are targets and started digging more. Some of these targets were over a foot deep and were hard going. After the first few inches of topsoil it was hard packed and I was struggling to get through it.
After about an hour I had had enough, was sweating like a pig and thought at this rate I won't be fit for work later. I had only covered a few square feet. So knocked it on the head and came home. Everything I dug was trash. I didn't realize how much trash we discriminate out on our detectors.
So take it from me, next time you read about how a PI machine is not really fit for land, belive it.
But will say how a PI machine must come into its own on the wet sand where contamination is sparse. Just can't wait now to try it on the wet, plus digging sand is a lot more easier than compact clay soils.
Right, that's it, just wanted to get that off my chest, hopefully next time you read of my experience with this machine its about some decent finds I have made from the wet sand.
Off to get ready for work now....dam.
Got myself a C.Scope CS4PI.
This machine completes my arsenal now, well, for the time being. I have my Ace 250 with standard coil and 13" Ultimate coil as a back-up machine, my Nokta Velox One with the standard coil and the large coil as main land machine, and now the C.Scope 4PI for the beach machine. All I need now is some time to get out there detecting.
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New Metal Detector released by C.Scope.
Looks like C.Scope has a new starter metal detector out known as the Bill Wyman Signature Detector.
Bill Wyman is a former Rolling Stones bass player and has put his name to this new machine.
Selling in the UK for £119 it certainly is cheap enough, just wonder how it performs. Maybe an ideal child's first detector.
Read about it here on C.Scope's Website.
Looking at it, reading about it and putting it up on a detecting forum for others comments it don't sound like a good buy, as stated, maybe ok for a child to learn on but seems its best to spend just a little more and go for a garret Ace 150 or 250.
Bill Wyman is a former Rolling Stones bass player and has put his name to this new machine.
Selling in the UK for £119 it certainly is cheap enough, just wonder how it performs. Maybe an ideal child's first detector.
Read about it here on C.Scope's Website.
Looking at it, reading about it and putting it up on a detecting forum for others comments it don't sound like a good buy, as stated, maybe ok for a child to learn on but seems its best to spend just a little more and go for a garret Ace 150 or 250.
Metal Detecting Finds
I started metal detecting in August 2012, so after one years detecting I thought I would have a look at my finds for the year. I've put up a few photos here and am not sure if its been a good or bad year find wise compared to other detectorists, but I will say I have enjoyed this first year and am proud of what I have found. Looking back the highlight of my year had to be the finding of a Gold Five Dollar Coin which you can read about in my best finds section on this blog. I've had a few silver hammered, the best one being the Charles the Bold which again you can view in my best finds section. This post is mainly about all the more common finds one makes while detecting. The finds that keep us going and inspire us.First of all what to do with all the 'grots' one accumulates over time. I like to keep mine in a 'grot' bucket. After all they are all coins from a bygone era and its just nice to see them mounting up. All those pennies, half pennies, farthings, three penny bits etc. Sometimes I will sit down and go through them, trying to identify some of the better ones, you never know, under all that crud there might be a little gem sitting there.
One common find that keeps turning up are shells and bullets. The picture shows empty shell casings, bullet heads and musket balls of all sizes. With these finds please be careful as I have found live shells and are very dangerous. With live ammo, either take to the police or bury them even deeper. Treat them as they might go off as they can possibly do.
As you can see in this picture, you just never know what may turn up. At first it may look like a pile of junk, but in amongst it are some old finds of interest. There's a lead weight, a jew's harp, a barrel tap to name a few. All a part of the history of our ancestors showing how they lived and worked.
This picture shows some modern finds that can turn up. few badges there, pidgeon rings, lead animals and bits and pieces. Always nice to find to keep the interest going.
Believe it or not, all these lead fishing weights came from one metal detecting session. They just kept popping up everywhere, if it wasn't for the tide coming in I reckon I could have doubled that lot.
Now, this is what metal detecting is mainly all about, the Treasure. This lot were all found in this my first year. As I said before, my best find is that gold coin. There are a couple of hammered in there as well as a few milled silvers. Some gold and silver rings and silver pendants.During this year I have had one treasure find that is still with the FLO. It is a silver spoon dated 1712, still waiting to hear on that one.
Well, I've really enjoyed my first years metal detecting, and hope you all have had a good year yourselves. Its all out there, as the saying goes you just have to walk over it first. Right, lets see what this second year brings.
Richard III: Return Of The King.
It looks certain now King Richard III will be laid to rest, a second time, in Leicester Cathedral as work is well under way to accommodate the King. The inside of the cathedral will go through a series of changes to create 'space' with new lighting, stained glass windows and a new floor. The decision to lay Richard to rest in the cathedral was challenged by a group called The Plantagenet Alliance, which includes distant relatives of the king. But last month it was decided the king would be laid to rest beneath a raised tomb inside a remodelled Leicester cathedral.
The remains of the king, who died in battle in 1485, were discovered by archaeologists under a city car park in September. There have been many reports in the press and news channels so just in case you missed some here are the news articles as they unfolded to bring you up to date on proceedings.
Richard
III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in
1485 in the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House
of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Born: October 2, 1452, Fotheringhay Castle, Fotheringhay
Died: August 22, 1485, Ambion Hill
Buried: Leicestershire
Spouse: Anne Neville
Children: Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales, John of Gloucester, Katherine Plantagenet
Parents: Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York.
Source: BBC History
Digging Up The past.... And The Dead.
I have always loved subjects to do with the past, where we come from, how we lived, worked, etc, since I have been metal detecting I have delved deeper into this subject with great interest. When I find an old coin one of the first things that pop in my head is about the loser of the coin, what did he/she look like, how they were dressed, how they felt when they discovered they had lost it. So many things come to mind from that coin. One thing is for sure, if that coin is over 100 years old, you can bet the person is dead now, gone forever. It could even be that the person is totally forgotten and by finding that coin you have brought their memory back into existence. Don't we all want to be remembered after were gone.
The example above is good, that dead person is remembered for a little while and if that coin is a good one it may be displayed in a case for all to see and admire. Nothing at all wrong with that. Even the finding of hoards and treasures are exciting and we all love reading about them, better still if we find one. Of course, we must not forget the history we learn from all these finds and how we can understand our past. One of my greatest joys here on this blog is keeping the Archaeology and Treasure news up to date, I just love reading about any new finds and discoveries.
Since I have been creating this blog a niggling doubt has entered my head about some of the ways we learn about history. The question I have in my head is 'Is it right to disturb tombs'. How long must a person be dead before we can raid their resting place and I have to say it, 'Rob them'. We hear about grave robbers and how we think its wrong and shouldn't be done. The picture above shows resting places of deceased people, now if I was to go armed with a pick and shovel and dig them up to see what I could find I'd be thrown in prison and called all sorts of names. The families of these deceased people would want to string me up. Yet, isn't this what Archaeologists do, they dig up the graves and disturb the resting places of dead people and take away their belongings of things that had been buried with them. Some of these dead people not only have their resting places disturbed and their after life possessions taken away, but they themselves are also taken away to be experimented on and some end up in boxes on a museum's shelf for god knows how long.
I suppose one of the difference between grave robbing and archaeology is that one is legal and the other isn't. Looking into it I can't help feeling they are both the same. They both profit from it. The grave robber by selling to collectors and the archaeologists by being paid for their work. You can argue that grave robbers are selfish and do it for their own gain and that archaeologists publish their work so we can all learn, that's all well and good but at the end of the day, isn't it still 'looting' the resting places of the dead.
Look at headstones of today, many have the words 'Rest In Peace' inscribed on them. Surely digging up these graves in say a 1,000 years is disturbing their peace. maybe an inscription like 'Rest In Peace, Please do not disturb me for 1,000 years' may be in order.
One thought that had crossed my mind is are graves only important to the surviving members of the family, a place to mourn their lost one. Once time has passed and no one mourns the grave anymore do the grave and occupant become objects, just dust and bones so can be exploited.
I suppose this has always been an ongoing argument and will continue to be.
The example above is good, that dead person is remembered for a little while and if that coin is a good one it may be displayed in a case for all to see and admire. Nothing at all wrong with that. Even the finding of hoards and treasures are exciting and we all love reading about them, better still if we find one. Of course, we must not forget the history we learn from all these finds and how we can understand our past. One of my greatest joys here on this blog is keeping the Archaeology and Treasure news up to date, I just love reading about any new finds and discoveries.
Since I have been creating this blog a niggling doubt has entered my head about some of the ways we learn about history. The question I have in my head is 'Is it right to disturb tombs'. How long must a person be dead before we can raid their resting place and I have to say it, 'Rob them'. We hear about grave robbers and how we think its wrong and shouldn't be done. The picture above shows resting places of deceased people, now if I was to go armed with a pick and shovel and dig them up to see what I could find I'd be thrown in prison and called all sorts of names. The families of these deceased people would want to string me up. Yet, isn't this what Archaeologists do, they dig up the graves and disturb the resting places of dead people and take away their belongings of things that had been buried with them. Some of these dead people not only have their resting places disturbed and their after life possessions taken away, but they themselves are also taken away to be experimented on and some end up in boxes on a museum's shelf for god knows how long.
I suppose one of the difference between grave robbing and archaeology is that one is legal and the other isn't. Looking into it I can't help feeling they are both the same. They both profit from it. The grave robber by selling to collectors and the archaeologists by being paid for their work. You can argue that grave robbers are selfish and do it for their own gain and that archaeologists publish their work so we can all learn, that's all well and good but at the end of the day, isn't it still 'looting' the resting places of the dead.
Look at headstones of today, many have the words 'Rest In Peace' inscribed on them. Surely digging up these graves in say a 1,000 years is disturbing their peace. maybe an inscription like 'Rest In Peace, Please do not disturb me for 1,000 years' may be in order.
One thought that had crossed my mind is are graves only important to the surviving members of the family, a place to mourn their lost one. Once time has passed and no one mourns the grave anymore do the grave and occupant become objects, just dust and bones so can be exploited.
I suppose this has always been an ongoing argument and will continue to be.
Silver Content Of British Coins
These 5 sixpences I found with my metal detector, and they all came out
the ground looking as they do in the picture. All I used to clean them
with was a soft toothbrush and water. You can tell the one with no
silver content.
A quick guide to the silver content of British coins.
Prior to 1920, British silver coins contained high purity, 92.5% Sterling silver.
From 1920 to 1946, British silver coins contained 50% silver.
From 1947 to 1971, British coins contained no silver, just silver coloured.
From 1971 - Present, British decimal coins were issued and contained no silver.
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