World War I - Signal Corps Ring - Ornate

DaChief

Bronze Member
Sep 16, 2007
1,035
36
Middle Tennessee
Detector(s) used
-------(Water)------- Garrett Infinium (Relic and Coin) Minelab Sov. Elite
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I found this very ornate WWI Ring a few years back. I consider it one of my very best finds, not by value but by the fact that it is military and unique and by the fact that my inital job with the Army was Signal Corps. My hunting buddy and I found an old abandoned training site that had been recently uncovered by construction. This was one of many finds that I made there in several days. I have seen many WWI Sterling Silver Rings but none as ornate as this one. It has the winged eagle band, US Army in a cross on the front, the phrase "War Against Prussian Autocracy", around the face, the symbols for each branch of the Army at the time in the corners of the Cross with, Crossed Rifles (Infantry), Crossed Cannon (Artillery), Crossed Sabers (Cavalry), Castle (Engineers) and finally the Crossed Flags (Signal Corps) which is in its own prominent place at the top of the cross. Due to the fact that the Signal Corps Flags are where they are, I assume that this was a Signal Corps member's ring. The ring also has the date 1917 just below the cross on the face. It is marked inside the band with "W.B.N.Y. Copyrighted Sterling". I have found nothing related to this manufacturer on the web. I am not sure what the W.B. stands for but the N.Y. I am sure means New York.

This ring was in an area occupied by troops from New York and Pennsylvania. The ring is in near mint condition after laying in that spot for nearly 70 years. This site was amazing. Over about a one week period, we found a double handful each of silver coins predating 1918, tons of buttons, collar brass, ID Tags, a bugle, one billion Prince Albert Tobacco Cans, Insignia, many other personal items, mess kits, metal Colgate Toothpaste Tubes and the list goes on and on. It was my first virgin site I had ever found and we literally could not take a step without digging a relic or coin.

Hope you enjoy.

DaChief
 

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Upvote 4
Sounds like the site of a life time . Thanks for sharing!!
 

A "UNIQUE" find it is!!!!! That's something I would never part with! Unless, by some miracle, you were to find a family of the person who owned it.
 

I found a similar ring in my grandfather's outer garage some 30 years ago. It is identical to yours except that it bears the USN insignia. If ever you find out anything about this ring, please update me. Mine appears to be plated as it has the same copyright and is gold in color, but there is no 'k' or 'ss' markings.
 

That ring is surely unique in its looks :icon_thumleft: Seems like you have a great site to hunt and will find old coins and cool relics. How much more of this site have you yet to hunt :dontknow:
 

Very cool ring.
 

Awesome ring find!
Not to many around my great uncle told me.
Congrats!
ChrisP
 

That is freaking cool. :hello2: It's my favorite and I didn't even find it. You should put it in a glass container on your mantle peice over the fire.
 

Nice piece of history. I wonder what happened to the gentleman that once owned it. That would be cool if you could find a family member to re-unite it with :-\
 

Navy ring

Hey folks I don't know if you will see this after so long but I found this on Gwynns Island in Mathews Va. I am also unable to find much info on it! Very pleasing find though! Happy Halloween!
 

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I would Like to make a mold of that ring and make some in Gold and silver, the detail can also be brought back to a high degree, Great find!!
 

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