Oldest find to date for me?

EasternShoreMetal

Hero Member
Nov 21, 2014
751
633
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro w/DD coil.
also, still have a Fisher F2
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
cufflinks front.jpgcufflinks back.jpg

Hi all;
I found these cufflinks a few weeks ago. (Sorry for the lack of size reference given in the pics. Each oval is only a touch less 3/4" long and 3/8" wide)
Interesting digger's story:
I dug the signal, which indicated a probable brass button, but not as clear as a single signal.
I removed first one oval with a loop on the back.
At first, I thought I had a button, but I have never found an oval button from the colonial era, which this obviously was.
It was pretty pitted and dark for most brass pcs. around here.
As always, I rechecked the hole before covering and got another very clear signal. I gently dug the second oval pc. and the large oval loop. I put them all in my hand and WOW ! I knew then I had one sleeve cufflink. I could barely see that it had a design on the plates, I was excited to say the least.

When I researched it online, I found that generally, it seems the fewer the joining links, the earlier the pc. Also, the more ovular the links, the older.
The plate and loop definitely fit button designs of early 1600's to early 1700's. But now putting it all together. I am thinking that it matches a mid to late 1600's design, even down to the hand engraved design on the plates.
I began to think this may be the oldest find I have to date.
 

Upvote 18
I know what you mean. I've dug up SO many pre 1964 coins but only rarely hit silver quarters or dimes. Looks like someone beat me to 'em in some of my spots.
Gotta' keep diggin' though. I've been sick with Lyme disease (caught while MD'ing of course!!) for a while now and haven't been out at all lately but I'm really getting better now and hope to be out swinging again soon. Can't wait 'til spring though.
90 days from now things will be looking real nice again. The days start getting longer again Monday.

Oh man! I was digging in the woods summer before last, and when I came out, I must have had 50 deer ticks all over my legs and tee shirt! I had myself tested later, but the tests were inconclusive. I hope you get through that alright, it is miserable! Then when you go out again... LOADS of bug spray! lol
 

HI; I believe your cuff links are dated to 1720 - 1740. This is based on the style of pattern and especially the joining clasp which is very crude in design. If it were Pewter I would place at 1680's or so. They are also very typical for that time period. I base this on my own 46 years in the field and my many encounters with this type of cuff links and other Relics from that period ok. I'm in Boston. Suggestion: Search that are real slow and dig even thev slightest whisper of a signal. I think you will be amazed at your results ok. PEACE:RONB

Since I'm getting so much feedback from those on this forum more informed than I am, I am inclined to agree with the later aging..
I really didn't find but only 2 examples online of that style or type, and that's not very much proof of age.. Esp. since so much stuff online can be a little contradictory.
Thanks for the suggestion too! HH


Regardless of the age, that is a super cool find. You assembled all the pieces, imagine only finding one of the cuff links or just the joining loop thingy and never knowing what it was all put together. Nice save and a big congrats! The uniqueness and history of our finds is what makes this hobby so damn addicting!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't what it any other way!

Oh, I know.. when I first found just the little oval, and it looked like a button, I was stumped! If that's all I had found, I may have stayed stumped. I don't know that it ever would have occurred to me to search out cufflinks, unless or until I found another one. thanks for the encouragement. HH
 

After you've dug several more good historical items from that area, you could make an informative little display case of them, show your case to the inn's manager, offer to show him how carefully you could detect his property, and offer him half of the good inn finds if he'll permit you to detect. Such "show-&-tell" could improve your chances of getting permission to hunt the inn grounds Have Fun! Andi

I've done something similar, It IS a really good idea, but I didn't think about trying it on a "no".. that's a great idea!
 

Wow....nice!! When I seen them I was thinking would they just be for Sunday....What would the shirt look like...I had to look that up.

Cool, I'd wear em!


That is a beautiful find, I would have been doing summer-salts. WTG on the saves

Thanks Inspector. I was/am excited. Something new and different and sends me to do research, I love!


This type was never constructed in the first half of the 18th C, they fall squarely into the late 18th-early 19th C:
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Cuff-Link - UK Finds Database -
Can't find the exact design but it makes little difference because all the reference books agree on date range.
What is nice is its remained complete since the 1790s.

Oval:
Diagnostic Artifacts - Small Finds

I'm led by irrefutable evidence on this forum to agree.. lol BUT, that's O.K. because that's one of the very reasons I joined this forum. And thanks for the extra research links, the more the better. I appreciate everyone's willingness to get things right thru information. Love it.
Actually, I'd be tickled if they were early 1900's - lol - they just wouldn't be my oldest find anymore. Haha


Regardless of the era, you have a nice find and I'd surely like finding them!

That's what I say.. thanks Old Dude! Yours are in the dirt.. anyday now.
 

Complete as they are & a good chance of being circa 1790 is good in anyones books, congrats on being open minded & a good find.
 

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