Started 05 with Silver!

Ocean7

Bronze Member
Apr 15, 2004
1,775
1,390
SE, PA
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
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Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800
Minelab Explorer II
Garrett MASTER HUNTER 7
Garrett ADS DEEPSEEKER
Compass X100
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Started '05 with Silver!

today was perfect for MD'ing. Found 2 more buckles, a 1945
merc dime, milk glass jar with metal lid, a disk with a pattern
about quarter sized (rosette?), and a nickel sized disk slug
(no idea what it was).

Due to the age of things dug where I was MD'ing, when
I saw the silver glint and size, thought I had another reale
because it was so deep in ground (8"). But seeing silver
made me happy!

I am always amazed at how bad Large coppers can look
and how good a piece of silver can look coming from
the same exact ground. Another reason I love silver!

HH!

pics deleted by O7
 

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Re: Started '05 with Silver!

Congrats Ocean7..looks like you got the first silver of the year for the contest!!

WTG
Dave
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

NICE OCEAN. that Rosette/Button looks like Pipes all the way around it. I'd be curious to know more about it.
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

Got some cool news on my token!

someone sent me this - looks like it is a hand-made token. Probably very rare!

Ocean . . . I sent an e-mail (hope you don't mind) with the pic of your token to an expert in the history of clay pipes in England and this is what she had to say about your find . . . "I have personally never seen one of these before but I think I know what it is...

My own observations are that the pipe icons appear to have been stamped into the metal token individually since they are not quite aligned in perfect symmetry and therefore the item was not meant for artistic delight. The style of pipe certainly looks English of about the period 1690-1740 which fits right in with your site, although the icons indicate a forward projecting heel on the pipe which I think this is more artistic licence by the person who made the stamp for creating the image rather than accuracy of the clay pipes used. The pipes certainly look more English to me than say Dutch pipes of that period.

In mid-17th century England there was a serious shortage of small change. To ease the problem, the government allowed shopkeepers and other tradesmen to issue their own tokens, which could be redeemed only in their shops. Thousands of traders all over England issued such tokens; more than 100 were circulated in the city of Exeter where I live which was a major city over here at that time.
It's quite possible that this item is an English trade token for clay pipes.

I assume there is nothing on the other side of it???
Among the number of major exporters to the USA from England were the cities of Bristol, London, Portsmouth and Exeter so it could originate from here or have been made over there by settled traders in a similar situation. " jc
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

VERY COOL OCEAN, it's always nice to see a truly RARE item being found. looks like your new year is starting off right. HH ; Jeff
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

Great digs, Ocean7 8) The info on that token is very cool and its nice to learn new things about such items that i never knew about before. Nice job! 8)
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

Great start!,,, Cool story on the token...
I was thinking them looked like peace pipes, but couldn't figure out why they would be stamped into a disc.
Thats just another reason I love this hobby, all the history lessons...

May history come alive, for those who strive, in 2005... ;D <<< Spell check <<< Reality Check!!!
 

Re: Started '05 with Silver!

thanks all! The token with the clay pipes was one of those finds that when I saw it - said ahh no big deal and pitched in my pouch. then i found out that it was a fairly rare find. Ya just never know but you're always learning something new about history. and that makes it really interesting!
 

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