mr_larry
Hero Member
- Jun 22, 2010
- 504
- 169
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Explorer SE Pro
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Lately my silver coin finds have not been particularly prolific, with an average of a coin every other hunt. On the other hand, I have been finding gold lately.
On a recent hunt this Tuesday with Chris (Nicasian), Jayson (StayDetuned), Mike in SF, and Montara Tom (MT), we were all searching for silver in The Enchanted Woods. Digging is easy here but there is a lot of trash with bottle caps and pull tabs sprinkled everywhere. I was not finding silver but I had found two silver rings on my previous hunt at this location so I thought if I dug some low tones I might get lucky and find a gold ring. About mid-way through the hunt I dug up this Caravaca Cross. It was attached to a very wimpy 12K gold filled chain.
Strangely there is no mark anywhere on this beautiful piece. I tested it with my gold testing kit and it easily passes the 14K test. It fails the 18K test but very slowly. It takes over a minute for the gold to dissolve. It weighs in at an impressive 15.65 grams.
The workmanship on this piece is very intricate. The Jesus figure was made separately and attached later. The cross is considered a good luck symbol with Spanish origins and is quite popular in Spain, Mexico and Central/South America. For more info on the cross: http://www.luckymojo.com/caravaca.html
I have looked all over the internet for a similar one and I am not able to find anything even close. When I look inside the loop where the necklace would be I can see wear marks that indicate someone used to have a much bigger chain inside than the one that was found with it. The origins are quite a mystery. My best guess is that it was made in Mexico or South America and arrived with an immigrant. The deteriorating gold filled chain that was found with it indicates it has been in the ground for at least some period of time.
I gotta say that when I found it, no one was particularly excited, but after getting it home and cleaning it up it has really grown on me. I may bring it to a jeweler for an opinion. I think it is too beautiful for the melt pile!
Thanks for looking! I'll post some other gold finds below.
On a recent hunt this Tuesday with Chris (Nicasian), Jayson (StayDetuned), Mike in SF, and Montara Tom (MT), we were all searching for silver in The Enchanted Woods. Digging is easy here but there is a lot of trash with bottle caps and pull tabs sprinkled everywhere. I was not finding silver but I had found two silver rings on my previous hunt at this location so I thought if I dug some low tones I might get lucky and find a gold ring. About mid-way through the hunt I dug up this Caravaca Cross. It was attached to a very wimpy 12K gold filled chain.
Strangely there is no mark anywhere on this beautiful piece. I tested it with my gold testing kit and it easily passes the 14K test. It fails the 18K test but very slowly. It takes over a minute for the gold to dissolve. It weighs in at an impressive 15.65 grams.
The workmanship on this piece is very intricate. The Jesus figure was made separately and attached later. The cross is considered a good luck symbol with Spanish origins and is quite popular in Spain, Mexico and Central/South America. For more info on the cross: http://www.luckymojo.com/caravaca.html
I have looked all over the internet for a similar one and I am not able to find anything even close. When I look inside the loop where the necklace would be I can see wear marks that indicate someone used to have a much bigger chain inside than the one that was found with it. The origins are quite a mystery. My best guess is that it was made in Mexico or South America and arrived with an immigrant. The deteriorating gold filled chain that was found with it indicates it has been in the ground for at least some period of time.
I gotta say that when I found it, no one was particularly excited, but after getting it home and cleaning it up it has really grown on me. I may bring it to a jeweler for an opinion. I think it is too beautiful for the melt pile!
Thanks for looking! I'll post some other gold finds below.
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