🥇 BANNER 19th century gold

McCDig

Silver Member
Jan 31, 2015
3,753
9,039
Baltimore, Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Here we are at the beginning of 2017, starting from scratch, nothing in the till. So how did the first hunt of the new year turn out?

As amazing and unpredictable as the finds of 2016!

First coin of the year was an 1893 V-nickel, very toasty but still readable. Next coin was silver, at least 35%, in the form of a 1943 P War nickel. After that came two wheats, a 1950 followed by a 1909. These first four targets were dug in an area of high EMI, so I had the sensitivity down to 70, still plenty of depth to get the V and the 1909. There was also a child's junk ring in the hole with the V-nickel and bears the raised letters "HONGKONG" inside.

I moved away from the EMI region and raised the sensitivity back up to 92 and dug a few square nails and then got another signal with a VDI over 90. Down about 6 to 7 inches I swiped away enough soil to reveal a golden edge. Got out the cell phone and recorded the extraction of an 1800s gold ring; it tests positive for at least 14K. The engraved onyx appears to have the bearers initials in reverse order as if the ring could also have been used as a stamp with ink.

Easy to have firsts on the first hunt of the year. Here in Baltimore it was cold and rainy, so I lasted three hours and then headed to the truck to get dry and check out that ring. BTW, this is the same park I hunted all of December.

Thx for checking out the pix!
Finds_02Jan2017.jpg

Here's link to video of ring find
 

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Upvote 101
Not sure, Crusader. I agree with you that the middle letter is a reverse "B", though features could argue for an "R".
 

Thx Art! Hunt 1 of 2017 sets the bar high. Do we need to explain why we "dig it all"?
 

Thanks Dan! Accordingly, I really have no idea exactly what I have in this ring, but AARC is filling us in with some of the details. Thx for posting!
 

This treasure is actually really pretty, unique, and rare... not to mention the historical significance and the mystery behind the initials... so I say BANNER all the way! :goldtrophy::hello2:
 

Now, that is the kind of jewelry I love to find! OLD! Doesn't need to have much intrinsic value.
Be nice if it said from George to Martha W. though. ;)

Nice!
 

Thanks WHADIFIND! As a veteran of Baltimore parks, I knew you'd appreciate this find!
 

Gettin' tired of those Indians?? And, just had to upgrade your preferred targets?? :laughing7:
Holy smokes, McCDig, that's one heck of a way to start a new season of hunting.........a big congratulations on a great hunt!!
 

Very rare to see the bloodstone. It is my birthstone, but rarely seen. Mostly now you see the aquamarine for the month of March. Just beautiful.
 

Thx Chizzy! Really thought that 1909 wheat was an Injun; it green and deep enough! Got a text from a club member when I got back to my truck. He said I was slackin'; that someone else in the club was "on the board" with an IHC. I checked out the club website when I got home and, sure enough, an IHC had been posted for Jan 1. OK, guilty as charged.
 

Thanks very much, Becky, for the excellent information on the "old" birthstone. Your comment prompted a Google search on bloodstone and I see that it was supplanted in the early 20th century by aquamarine as the official March birthstone.
 

Wow & speechless at the same time, Mike that is a banner find
 

Hola mi amigo como estas! Gracias por gustarle mi post!
 

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Bien Señor, y usted como empeso el nuevo año?

Working in ur Spanish, good and ur also pulling great stuff from the ground.

Hola mi amigo como estas! Gracias por gustarle mi post!
 

Absolutely incredible ring! The condition and details are immaculate. The edging and details of the stone are perfect in detail. I definitely agree with AARC, you have something really incredible. You have my banner vote for sure.
 

Congratualtions on the beautiful ring find! :occasion14:
 

Wow!, old gold and some old coins, helluva start to 2017!
 

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