UPDATE on my colonial signet ring find from Friday

[Bill D. (VA)]

Please scroll down the thread to see the new info.

Original post:

Went back yesterday to check with the farmer with my friend Chuck about plowing a small but very productive early colonial site in this huge field we've been hunting on and off for the last 10+ years. He had promised he would do that and had us flag the area a couple weeks ago, and we had agreed to pay him for his time and fuel. But he has not been responding to phone calls or texts, so we stopped by his house yesterday. He appeared to be home but wouldn't answer the door, so guess he's changed his mind. That was pretty disappointing as we've recovered quite a few pieces of early silver here, including a cut piece from a pine tree shilling, but guess we'll have to move on. While there we decided to wander in the fields a bit and weren't having any luck so I decided to hit another small colonial site we had stumbled across 5-6 years ago about 300-400 yards from the other site. The first pic below is the stuff I found back in May 2007 in this spot with my old MXT. I slowed down and hunted hard in the iron patch trying to coax out a few more keepers. The first decent signal I got was a deep high tone, and I was surprised to see a very old ring come from about 10-12" down. It has some unusual markings on the front and its quite heavy. Not sure if this dates to pre-1800 or not but its definitely a cool find. The next hour or so I dug a boatload of tacks and a couple buttons and buckle pieces. Still have a lot of ground to cover so a return trip is in order. Only one piece of cut silver came from here before, but I have a feeling there's more.

 

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[Silver Searcher]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)



With out doubt I would put that ring in the 17th century date range, it could even be earlier. Another great find

SS

 

[hdmech71]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Cant wait to find my first colonial relics. Awesome pieces!

 

[TheDane]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

With out doubt I would put that ring in the 17th century date range, it could even be earlier. Another great find

SS

I agree, 17th century, most likely a signet ring.
Could have belonged to a craftsman. It is a guild or house mark on it.

Very nice find !!!

 

[kuger]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Incredible EARLY ring!!!I like that Dragoon button too!!!!

 

[CASPER-2]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Nice - looks like a seal ring

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

With out doubt I would put that ring in the 17th century date range, it could even be earlier. Another great find

SS

Agreed 17th C written all over it

 

[VB Sanddigger]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

LOL - Rode down there out of curosity today around 1 PM. Saw the flags and a nice bunch of turkeys.

Great finds!

 

[looking4largecent]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Cool artifacts.

 

[Ken in Georgia]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Nice ring some needs to be dated !!!

 

[cntrydncr1]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

awesome ring!! great find.

 

[oldcoon]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

Great finds there, Bill D. Continued success.

 

[Ifoundit69]

Re: Revisited an old site and recovered a colonial ring(?)

I have to say ,you find some awesome finds !!!! I always look forward to your post's !

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

More on the early colonial signet ring

A good and very knowledgeable friend of mine from another forum saw the ring I found on Friday and thought it was similar to one that was discovered by archaeologists in Jamestown in 1996. You can see a number of similarities in its design. Its made of the same material (brass), is of about the same size, has a groove around the perimeter of the ring face, and has some type of heraldic crest or seal on it. This appears to definitely be a signet ring used as a wax seal and almost certainly dates to the 1600s. My friend suggested I contact the "College of Arms" in London as they may be able to identify the design or crest on the ring. I've already sent a note to them through their website but have to wait on their response so I can be given an email to forward pics to, and hopefully they'll be interested in helping me. So this is getting a little more interesting, and this may end up being a fairly significant find. The pic below shows the Jamestown ring along with similar views of mine. I'll post an update when/if I get more info as to its identity and age. Any other ID help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ..... Bill

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Re: More on the early colonial signet ring

I smell banner!
Carl

 

[umrgolf]

I really hope they can get you a definite ID on the ring.. It certainly resembles the example recovered at Jamestown. Well-done, keep us updated on what you hear.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: More on the early colonial signet ring

A good and very knowledgeable friend of mine from another forum saw the ring I found on Friday and thought it was similar to one that was discovered by archaeologists in Jamestown in 1996. You can see a number of similarities in its design. Its made of the same material (brass), is of about the same size, has a groove around the perimeter of the ring face, and has some type of heraldic crest or seal on it. This appears to definitely be a signet ring used as a wax seal and almost certainly dates to the 1600s. My friend suggested I contact the "College of Arms" in London as they may be able to identify the design or crest on the ring. I've already sent a note to them through their website but have to wait on their response so I can be given an email to forward pics to, and hopefully they'll be interested in helping me. So this is getting a little more interesting, and this may end up being a fairly significant find. The pic below shows the Jamestown ring along with similar views of mine. I'll post an update when/if I get more info as to its identity and age. Any other ID help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ..... Bill

You will get little info on the design, as its a 'fleur-de-lis' & quite a popular & generic design used on many rings, seals etc

Therefore its a 17th C Seal ring with incised fleur-de-lis design. Thats your max but what more do you need

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showrecords.php?product=845&cat=all
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/58073
See similar 17th C example, can't find a fleur-de-lis but I have seen them before.

 

[bclark]

Nice find. I would have loved to find at least a ring but my time will come soon enough. I just finished my MBA so I plan to be hitting it hard this year. Congrats again on your find.

 

[johnnyblaze]

Very sweet find


We really never find colonial rings around here at all


Rare find



Blaze

 

[Silver Searcher]

The Ring with out doubt is made of Bronze,(copper alloy) not brass, to me it depicts two letters JC or perhaps even JTC..it's not fleur-de lis. The Ring is proberby a personalised Seal Ring, or a Crest of some sort...but it definitely needs more study.

SS