Colonial wedding band?????

[mainer]

Hello all. Have been out at the colonial site for a few hours this morning. Got a ring. I think it may be a mans brass or copper wedding band. Can anyone tell me if it is infact a wedding band? And if so if it is as old as I think it may be? Thank you so much for the help. Going to post it in the what is it forum aswell see if I can get a positive ID on it. Thanks for looking.

Mainer

 

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[BuckleBoy]

what do you mean that they did not make things out of copper almost all the stuff i find is made of copper buttons, pans ,jewlry, i got cuflinks, i can go on

The vast majority of 19th c. finds are brass. Brass cooking pots, plates, brass buttons (excepting those made from coins), brass jewelry--weddding bands, brooches, etc... I don't know about cufflinks because I have not recovered many of them--but the ones I've found were gilded brass as well.


I would like to see photos of all this copper stuff. Could you start with photos of the copper buttons, please?



Regards,



Buckles

 

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[John (Ma)]

Very nice find!

 

[Bavaria Mike]

I would say yes it is a wedding ring. I have found several just like it in the fields here in Germany, also smaller rings probably for the women. Nice find and HH, Mike

 

[WheatbackDigger]

what do you mean that they did not make things out of copper almost all the stuff i find is made of copper buttons, pans ,jewlry, i got cuflinks, i can go on

The vast majority of finds are brass. Brass cooking pots, plates, brass buttons (excepting those made from coins), brass jewelry--weddding bands, brooches, etc... I don't know about cufflinks because I have not recovered many of them--but the ones I've found were gilded brass as well.


I would like to see photos of all this copper stuff. Could you start with photos of the copper buttons, please?



Regards,



Buckles

I could be wrong, for I am not an expert in metal compositions, but isn't brass an alloy of 70% copper, 30% zinc?? Or somewhere close to that. That being said, if you are digging old brass, you are digging old copper.
Copper wasn't used for coins exclusively, sorry to rain on your parade

 

[blurr]

Brass is composed of copper and zinc, with copper being the primary component. 30% seems to be a common number for the zinc content. Rings were and are made from every metal people get their hands on. Copper is one of these. Brass is also. I have seen steel, silver, gold, platinum, and different alloys of each. My point was to say that we shouldn't be so quick to "tell" someone what they have. I have never dug a copper ring, nor a brass one for that matter. The original poster seemed excited that he had found an old possible wedding band. Metal composition didn't seem high on the list. Maybe someone can post some copper rings that they have found, it should do a lott to settle things down.

John

 

[BuckleBoy]

what do you mean that they did not make things out of copper almost all the stuff i find is made of copper buttons, pans ,jewlry, i got cuflinks, i can go on

The vast majority of finds are brass. Brass cooking pots, plates, brass buttons (excepting those made from coins), brass jewelry--weddding bands, brooches, etc... I don't know about cufflinks because I have not recovered many of them--but the ones I've found were gilded brass as well.


I would like to see photos of all this copper stuff. Could you start with photos of the copper buttons, please?



Regards,



Buckles

I could be wrong, for I am not an expert in metal compositions, but isn't brass an alloy of 70% copper, 30% zinc?? Or somewhere close to that. That being said, if you are digging old brass, you are digging old copper.
Copper wasn't used for coins exclusively, sorry to rain on your parade

I know that copper is an alloy. I do know that copper is more valuable than zinc, so the reason brass was very widely used might be the expense of copper--but it might have to do with malleability or some other reason. I am not a metallurgist. All I know is what I have dug.

Post the Copper suspender clips. Post the Copper heel plates, harmonica reed plates, and buttons. Post away. All I would like to see is some examples, because I am "only" speaking from experience. I have never dug them, if they exist.

Rings were and are made from every metal people get their hands on. Copper is one of these. Brass is also. I have seen steel, silver, gold, platinum, and different alloys of each. My point was to say that we shouldn't be so quick to "tell" someone what they have. John

John, you have seen a mid-19th century Platinum ring? I'd love to see a photo of that one! If you have never dug a brass or copper ring, then perhaps you should not be so quick to tell me that I am wrong about this one.


-Buckles

 

[CRUSADER]

From a UK point of view, I've never found a pure copper ring but many, many copper-alloy, mostly brass types. These I believe mostly date to the late Victorian period.

 

[CRUSADER]

I meant what I said. If you want to argue, go for it. Life is too short, I'm going to decline. My only points were that you can't possibly tell what the ring is made from just by a picture. It sure looks to be some sort of copper alloy. Brass? Maybe. I don't know, and neither do you. The only one that mentioned anything about a coin was you. I think it is a nice find that is probably over 150 years old. Maybe it is just the way you word your posts buck, but you many times come off sounding very arrogant. "Well, I will tell you that your ring is Brass, not copper." I doubt that I am the only one that notices these things. This surely isn't the only instance. Maybe I am just not reading you right. Maybe you could have said something like, "To me, your ring looks like it is made from brass, or another copper alloy. This is the reason why......"

John

I understand what your saying, but if Buckles experience comes across the wrong way, thats just because he is being matter-of-fact about things. I have been accused of the same. We don't mean to sound arrogant, only mean to help & spread knowledge. What use is knowledge without being able to share it, & if that sometimes comes across wrong, then so be it. Can't please everyone.

I could tell you what metal things are without a picture & just a good description, does that make me a liar, crazy, arrogant or knowlegeable?

 

[Mainedigger]

I have seen many copper pieces made into jewelry...not sure if any date back to colonial times, but I have seen many copper bracelets and rings dug. The oldtimers believed the copper jewelry helped with arthritis and I have seen bracelets and rings made from the copper funnel hoops out of lobster traps. The guys would take some of the broken hoops and pound them onto shape for either bracelets or rings. I;ve only dug one copper ring and it has designs on it, but I do know alot of custom copper rings and bracelets were made by the fishermen around here and alot of the guys I fished with wore them constantly, so they do exist.

 

[muleskinner]

Hey BB, I'm no metallurgist or chemist either. But copper is not an alloy, it is a metal of a singular identity. The native Indians of long ago in Michigan found it in abundance laying on the ground right here in Michigan. They were able to form tools from it.

 

[blurr]

Hey BB, I'm no metallurgist or chemist either. But copper is not an alloy, it is a metal of a singular identity. The native Indians of long ago in Michigan found it in abundance laying on the ground right here in Michigan. They were able to form tools from it.

I'm no chemistry professor, but copper is an element. I'm sure bb knows that too. My point about the different metals is that people back then used what they had, or could get their hands on. Platinum wasn't a good example for back the the 18th century, my bad. And to the whole "matter of factly" thing, I guess it just really does look arrogant when things are said that way. Sorry that I take offense, but there is a way to spread your knowledge around without sounding like the computer geek who knows everything. Take care everyone.

John

 

[CRUSADER]

I have seen many copper pieces made into jewelry...not sure if any date back to colonial times, but I have seen many copper bracelets and rings dug. The oldtimers believed the copper jewelry helped with arthritis and I have seen bracelets and rings made from the copper funnel hoops out of lobster traps. The guys would take some of the broken hoops and pound them onto shape for either bracelets or rings. I;ve only dug one copper ring and it has designs on it, but I do know alot of custom copper rings and bracelets were made by the fishermen around here and alot of the guys I fished with wore them constantly, so they do exist.

I would not disagree that copper jewelry & rings exsist. Over here they are mainly new age hippy items & I have found no evidence that they pre-date 1900 (yet). I find many brass rings (don't even keep them), if copper rings were popular I would have found at least 1 but I have none.

Anyway, this is all going a bit of subject, the poster wanted to know the following (I believe):
Was its a Wedding Band? - Very possible, and as others say, it could have been a replacement for a gold or silver one during times of War.
Is it Colonial - I would argue - No, but it has some age & is likely late 1800s.

I hope this helps the poster in his quest for info

 

[mainer]

Would like to thank everyone again for the replies. Crusader Thank you for your previos post. I now know that is probably not colonial, but want to thank you and the others for narrowing down a date range of when it probably is from. So much knowledge on this site. And i enjoy learning. Thanks again and good luck on all your hunts.

Mainer

 

[CRUSADER]

Would like to thank everyone again for the replies. Crusader Thank you for your previos post. I now know that is probably not colonial, but want to thank you and the others for narrowing down a date range of when it probably is from. So much knowledge on this site. And i enjoy learning. Thanks again and good luck on all your hunts.

Mainer

Excellent attitude to hunting

No doubt you will find countless other interesting things to post in the future, keep hunt & learning, its what make this hobbie endless

 

[woody50]

i've have found more than a few brass wedding bands at early 1800's sites and some at colonial ones too one in particular cough up this nice little brass and copper band which is most unusual .i believe its for a woman as it is pretty small , anyone ever see one like it??
Dan

Dan, if you want to know more about this ring put it on "What is it", with details (measurements). Someone will answer your question there, that is the better place for this photo... Greetings....Earl

 

[CRUSADER]

i've have found more than a few brass wedding bands at early 1800's sites and some at colonial ones too one in particular cough up this nice little brass and copper band which is most unusual .i believe its for a woman as it is pretty small , anyone ever see one like it??
Dan

Dan, if you want to know more about this ring put it on "What is it", with details (measurements). Someone will answer your question there, that is the better place for this photo... Greetings....Earl

Its already in the What Is It.

 

[woody50]

i've have found more than a few brass wedding bands at early 1800's sites and some at colonial ones too one in particular cough up this nice little brass and copper band which is most unusual .i believe its for a woman as it is pretty small , anyone ever see one like it??
Dan

Dan, if you want to know more about this ring put it on "What is it", with details (measurements). Someone will answer your question there, that is the better place for this photo... Greetings....Earl

Its already in the What Is It.

OK thanks, did not see it...