Found my first 18th century Indian trade ring!!

[Steve in PA]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.
UPDATE: Thanks to Peruna's input below, I think we now know what the letters DI stand for. "Domine Iesu" translates to "Lord Jesus" in Latin. As these rings are known to be Jesuit in origin, this makes sense.

My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?

 

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[Digger RJ]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio.
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Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Florida Finder]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio.
View attachment 2024478

That trade ring is awesome. Beautifully front design. Also the pocketful of musket balls. Congratulations on your discoveries!

 

[villagenut]

awesome ring find, looks like that axe would take a real Man Injun to swing.

 

[Fredneck]

Excellent find my friend.

 

[Steve in PA]

awesome ring find, looks like that axe would take a real Man Injun to swing.

The axe was most likely used for ceremonial purposes.

 

[grasshopper]

Great finds Steve! I can only imagine how long it took someone to make that axe!!

 

[Fentonian]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
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View attachment 2024475
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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?
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Awesome recoveries! That ring is unique and love your buddies native finds!!! Kind of jealous of that axe

 

[ArfieBoy]

Great collection of finds! Congratulations! The ring is a beauty for what it is and its age. Thanks for posting.

 

[lenmac65]

Such an interesting find. Congrats!

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
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View attachment 2024475
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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?
View attachment 2024478

Interesting find Steve. Do the markings on the ring have any significance? Congrats!!

 

[Steve in PA]

Interesting find Steve. Do the markings on the ring have any significance? Congrats!!

Thad, I would also like to know what the inscriptions mean. The lettering style on mine is similar to D above.

 

[Coinstar magnet]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
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View attachment 2024475
View attachment 2024476
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My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?
View attachment 2024478

Very cool! Thanks for sharing...

 

[vpnavy]

OUT·STAND·ING finds Steve in PA! Thanks for sharing...

 

[cannonball]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
View attachment 2024474
View attachment 2024475
View attachment 2024476
View attachment 2024477

My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?
View attachment 2024478

That a really interesting ring. Nice find.

 

[CRUSADER]

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Thad, I would also like to know what the inscriptions mean. The lettering style on mine is similar to D above.

I'm assuming the owner initials, remembering the D I was likely to be a D J in that period. eg. David Jones.

 

[Steve in PA]

I'm assuming the owner initials, remembering the D I was likely to be a D J in that period. eg. David Jones.

It is possible that a white man wore this ring, but it very similar to the Jesuit rings traded to the Indians, and there were a lot of Indians on this site when the trading post was active.

 

[CRUSADER]

It is possible that a white man wore this ring, but it very similar to the Jesuit rings traded to the Indians, and there were a lot of Indians on this site when the trading post was active.

Yeah, but I assume traded was pre-owned but if manufactured solely for trade its odd to put meaningless letters that meant nothing to a native.

 

[doninbrewster]

I had a family reunion at my cousin's house in Columbus, OH this past Saturday. Since I was heading that way, I made arrangements with my friend Greg, who lives an hour further west, to go out a day earlier and do a little metal detecting. The first site we went to was new ground near a small War of 1812 fort. Unfortunately, this site was a bust, so we went to plan B. Plan B was a historic farm that had an Indian trading post from 1769 to 1782, a 1790s US military outpost, and a War of 1812 encampment. The site has been hunted hard since the 1960s, but I managed to find a few things, including my first Indian Trade Ring (at least what's left of one). The site has also been a hotbed for native American artifacts for many years. Although the headhunters had already hit the property multiple times this year, I managed to find a piece they missed.



View attachment 2024473
View attachment 2024474
View attachment 2024475
View attachment 2024476
View attachment 2024477

My friend also has some killer Native American artifacts. and while at his house I got the opportunity to lay my hand on the largest grooved stone axe ever found in the state of Ohio. Can you imagine how long it took to shape and polish this axe?
View attachment 2024478

Fantastic Find! Those rings are rare and quite old.

 

[peruna]

Great recoveries...
Regarding the ring, if indeed it was a trade from Jesuit or any other Order, the latin for "Lord Jesus" would have been Domine Iesu, thus the possible letter link.

Just a thought. Not too many trade items in this part of Texas that come even close to yours. Hunting different areas of our nation gives some great items for other locations to look at.