Plumbata
Bronze Member
Despite the frozen ground and 20 degree temperature, a long-awaited return to one of my favorite bottle dumps was in order. After over 3 months away from my cratered and shard-filled slice of heaven, I was back in the area and salivating at the thought of penetrating the rock-hard frozen shell of clinkers, pottery and glass in order to access the relatively cozy and temperate layers beneath.
I quite enjoy winter digging, as one can dig cavernous tunnels beneath a roof of structurally sound frozen material reinforced with roots and irregularly shaped bits of old garbage. Even if it is unacceptably cold on the surface, the protected and confined space underground is very pleasant.
Anyway, while scratching at a productive layer of bottles and other detritus in such a tunnel, a square metal item rolled down and almost immediately I predicted that it was Sterling silver. Over the years, I've made it a habit of collecting all the nonferrous metal bits, wire and flatware that comes out, as the items add up fast and make for a welcome payout at the scrapyard every once in a while. Sometimes, while inspecting the flatware, crusty pieces would stand-out due to the lack of any significant deposits of greenish copper compounds, instead being covered with "fuzzy" looking ashy grey material and flaky black deposits. Upon further scrutiny the items proved to be Sterling, which made for an exciting new angle to pursue while bottle hunting. It's likely that I've overlooked other silver items prior to the realization that high grade silver could look like such utter garbage after decades of chemical attack in ash dumps, and have found a couple pieces washed out in creeks adjacent to dig spots, pieces which I'd inadvertently discarded in shovelfuls of ash tossed away in years past. After consciously examining enough of these pieces the relationship between a fuzzy ashy and black flaky surface with high grade silver seemed strong enough to rely on, and I'd suggest that all of you closely inspect any similar items you may come across. Even if ugly, silver is silver!
Sterling Silver cigarette case with "H E C" monogram. It weighs 86 grams (~2.5 troy ounces pure silver).
Case adjacent to a couple sterling spoons found in similar chemically harsh environments.
The inside remained rather lustrous. "Sterling Bens (Rens?)"mark at far left, lower half of rear cover (was hidden by rust from degraded spring which had to be scrubbed off).
Keep your eyes peeled, there be silver in them thar garbage hills!
I quite enjoy winter digging, as one can dig cavernous tunnels beneath a roof of structurally sound frozen material reinforced with roots and irregularly shaped bits of old garbage. Even if it is unacceptably cold on the surface, the protected and confined space underground is very pleasant.
Anyway, while scratching at a productive layer of bottles and other detritus in such a tunnel, a square metal item rolled down and almost immediately I predicted that it was Sterling silver. Over the years, I've made it a habit of collecting all the nonferrous metal bits, wire and flatware that comes out, as the items add up fast and make for a welcome payout at the scrapyard every once in a while. Sometimes, while inspecting the flatware, crusty pieces would stand-out due to the lack of any significant deposits of greenish copper compounds, instead being covered with "fuzzy" looking ashy grey material and flaky black deposits. Upon further scrutiny the items proved to be Sterling, which made for an exciting new angle to pursue while bottle hunting. It's likely that I've overlooked other silver items prior to the realization that high grade silver could look like such utter garbage after decades of chemical attack in ash dumps, and have found a couple pieces washed out in creeks adjacent to dig spots, pieces which I'd inadvertently discarded in shovelfuls of ash tossed away in years past. After consciously examining enough of these pieces the relationship between a fuzzy ashy and black flaky surface with high grade silver seemed strong enough to rely on, and I'd suggest that all of you closely inspect any similar items you may come across. Even if ugly, silver is silver!
Sterling Silver cigarette case with "H E C" monogram. It weighs 86 grams (~2.5 troy ounces pure silver).
Case adjacent to a couple sterling spoons found in similar chemically harsh environments.
The inside remained rather lustrous. "Sterling Bens (Rens?)"mark at far left, lower half of rear cover (was hidden by rust from degraded spring which had to be scrubbed off).
Keep your eyes peeled, there be silver in them thar garbage hills!
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