April 2007 Archives

The coin that lost our interest

Posted by ricey on April 25, 2007 6:42 PM

As the Royal Mint puts the final touches to a re-designed one pence piece, do we really care any more about a coin that is so little valued more than six billion have been lost without a trace?
Once there was a time when the closest most of us came to royalty was carrying a coin bearing the monarch's head in our pocket.

Full Story

Hoard sheds new light on Bronze Age Northumbrians

Posted by ricey on April 25, 2007 3:26 PM

The discovery of the first ever Bronze Age razor to be found in
Northumberland suggests that at least some of the local men living in
the area between about 1000 and 800 BC were clean-shaven, according
to experts at Newcastle University's Museum of Antiquities.

The razor is part of a collection known as the Collette Hoard, found
by John Minns, of Arbroath, in April 2005, which has gone on public
display for the first time in the Museum of Antiquities.

Mr Minns initially reported the find to Philippa Walton, a Finds
Officer with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, based in the Museum of
Antiquities. Subsequently it was sent to Bronze Age expert, Stuart
Needham, at the British Museum, for analysis.

The condition of the objects in the hoard has astounded experts, who
believe the find has the potential to provide new and valuable
information about the late Bronze Age.

'Hoards from the late Bronze Age containing such a variety of objects
in such good condition are very rare in the North of England, so this
is an extremely important find', says Lindsay Allason-Jones, Director
of Archaeological Museums at Newcastle University.

The Hoard includes objects that would have been used for personal
adornment, among them six gold lock rings, believed to have been hair
decorations, as well as bracelets, rings and pins.

An analysis of the lock rings, which are made of very fine gold leaf
wrapped around a solid core, carried out at the British Museum,
revealed the substance at the core of the rings to be beeswax.
'It is possible that further analysis of the beeswax might help us to
understand more about the environment of the late Bronze Age', says
Lindsay.'

Also included in the find were several more practical objects,
including six socketed axes which could have been used either for
woodworking or as weapons, and the first socketed gouge - a tool
which would have been used by craftsmen - to be found in
Northumberland.

One of the axes was found to have part of its handle still remaining.
Analysis has shown that the handle was made of hazel wood, and
further carbon dating confirmed a date of 1000 to 840 BC.
An ingot among the objects in the hoard has been found to be made of
a bronze alloy, unlike other ingots from this period, which were
usually made of copper, suggesting that metal recycling was an
important part of the lives of late Bronze Age Northumbrians.

How the objects came to be buried together is also proving to be
something of a puzzle to Lindsay and her colleagues. 'This hoard
doesn't conform to what we already know from other similar finds',
says Lindsay. 'It was found in a shallow pit, and fragments of
pottery found around the objects suggest it might have been covered
by a pottery vessel of some sort. However, it is hard to know whether
it was meant as an offering to a deity, or whether it might have been
a Bronze Age founder's hoard, which the owner hid, intending to come
back for it later'.

The Collette Hoard will be on display in the Museum of Antiquities
until 30 June 2007. It is intended that it will go on permanent
display from 2009 as part of the Great North Museum project.

Beginner's luck as yoghurt pot leads to major find

Metal detectorist, John Minns says finding the hoard was 'sheer
luck', and describes the moment he uncovered the hoard as a feeling
that he was touching history.

While on holiday near Berwick upon Tweed in 2005, Mr Minns, who had
only recently taken up metal detecting, was given permission by a
local farmer to take the detector on to his land.

'At first I made a couple of small finds, a copper coin and a spindle
whorl, just odds and ends', said Mr Minns. 'The only reason I found
the hoard was that I got a nice signal from the detector, but when I
dug away the soil, all I found was a yoghurt pot with a foil lid!'

But, keen to follow good metal detecting practice, Mr Minns
re-checked the hole, and to his surprise found half an axe head,
followed by another axe.

When he spotted the gold rings, however, Mr Minns sensed immediately
that he had stumbled across a major find, and quickly contacted
Philippa Walton of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, who arranged to
visit him to assess the hoard. 'I think she was expecting tractor
parts!' says Mr Minns.
Philippa decided that the hoard was important enough to be given a
collective name. Traditionally, hoards are named after the area in
which they were found, but initially, to avoid giving away the
location of the find until the further excavations had been carried
out, Mr Minns suggested naming it after his eight-year-old daughter,
and so it became known as the Collette Hoard.

R.I.P. Alan Ball

Posted by ricey on April 25, 2007 8:54 AM

I know this is a detecting website but today is a very sad day for me. Just woke up and saw on the BBC news that an Everton great Alan Ball has died. I never actually saw him play but my Dad did. My era was more Kevin Ratcliffe and Peter Reid.

Alan will be remembered for his League Title Win and World Cup Win.

He will be missed by everybody but rest in peace mate. You gave so much pleasure to everybody over the years.

Regards
Steve

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Roman steelyard weight

Posted by ricey on April 21, 2007 8:34 AM

roman%20steelyard.bmp

Here is an excellent complete Roman steelyard weight in the form of a bust of a Roman soldier or emperor this has a small suspension loop on its head. Next is a Celtic Fastener. There is also a brooch and another unidentified fastener. They were all found in Yorkshire (unfortunately not by me) and would be great for anybodies collection.

A Petronel - what is one of those I hear you ask!!!

Posted by ricey on April 20, 2007 1:35 PM

Here is a toy petronel from the 17th Century.
It is 2.75" long and was found with other items from that era.
A Petronel is a 16th or 17th century firearm.
Found by a fellow detectorist.

Tealby Penny

Posted by ricey on April 19, 2007 10:09 PM

King Henry II ascended the throne in 1154. The cross-and-crosslets coinage in 1158 was introduced by Henry II as an attempt to regulate and replace the erratic and often sub-standard currency which had been the norm in the reign of Stephen.This was later referred to as the Tealby penny after a coin hoard was found at Tealby, Lincolnshire in 1807.

Here below is a fantastic cut quarter of a Tealby penny found recently. The original coin would have been in practically mint condition. However as those of you know I have special part in my heart for 'cut' coins. These are so difficult to find. Unless you have actually held one it is so difficult to appreciate how small they are. Thanks to Andy for letting me share this with you.

Reverse of Coin

Obverse of Coin

Gold Coin of Henry 111

Posted by ricey on April 19, 2007 10:34 AM

Over the years Metal Detectorists have found thousands of hammered coins going back to Saxon times. For those who are not familiar with the term 'hammered' these were coins made with a hammer and die - by hand. The vast majority of these are silver although some gold hammereds have been found. I have only ever found one gold hammered coin in over 25 years detecting at a low ratio to my silver coins.

Gold coins are known to have been struck by certain of the English Kings, previous to the Norman conquest; but it does not appear that there was any regular currency of gold in those days. Until the commencement of the 18th Century it was the generally received opinion that Edward 111 was the first English monarch who coined gold money in this country. About 1730 however attention was drawn to a passage in a manuscript chronicle in the city of London which states that in 1257, this king coined a penny of fine gold, of the weight of two sterlings(silver pennies of that time), and ordered that it should pass at twenty pence.

These coins nevertheless, do not seem to have been popular, as Carte in his history of England, says that the citizens of London made a representation against them on the 24th Nov., in the same year, and that 'the King was so willing to oblige them, that he published a proclamation, declaring that nobody was obliged to take it (the gold penny), and whoever did, might bring it to his exchange, and receive there the value at which it had been made current, an halfpenny on being deducted, probably for the coinage'.

By the proclamation of his 54th year, quoted by Snelling, the value of this coin was raised from 20 pence to 24 pence, or two shillings.

These gold coins are extremely rare, three or four specimens only being known. One of the two coins in the British Museum was purchased for £41. 10s. Another sold at Captain Marchison's sale in June 1864.

They bear

Obv. The king crowned, seated on his throne in royal robes, and holding in his right hand a sceptre, and in his left the orb HENRIC'.REX 111.

Rev. A long double cross, or cross voided, extending nearly to the edge of the coin; with a rose surrounded by three pellets in each angle. WILLEM.ON LVND.,LVNDE, LVNDEN The workmanship is much superior to that of the silver coins of the same period (See Fig.1)

Weight 45 1/5 grains
Fineness Pure or fine gold without alloy

Between the issue of this gold penny in 1257, and the first issue of Edward 111. in 1344, an interval of nearly 90 years, no coinage of gold is known to have taken place.

Camden conjectures that ignorance was the cause which so long prevented our monarchs from coining gold bur Ruding says that 'the true reason seems to be, that coins of gold were not wanted, when the price of the necessary articles of life was completely within the reach of an inferior metal. And in confirmation of this it may be observed, that the gold money which was struck in the early part of Edward 111's reign is nearly as fresh as it was on its first issuing from the mint; from whence we may reasonably infer that its circulation was extremely limited'.

I have asked the Museum of London to provide further information along with a photo, so I can show you the coin in all its glory. I await the reply.

Reply from museum:

There are seven surviving examples of the gold penny of Henry III to my knowledge. The British Museum has three of these and there is another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge - the others are in private hands.

Note: A pricely sum was required to provide a phot. Shame really!!

A lovely Gold Pencil Find!!

Posted by ricey on April 18, 2007 9:55 AM

It has been said before that perhaps the earliest type of pencil was in fact the ancient Roman stylus. This was a thin metal stick, often made with lead, for scratching on papyrus. Many of these have been found over the years by metal detectorists and archaeologists in the UK (and beyond).

During the eighteen hundreds many protractor pencils were made. In typical Victorian ornate fashion, many of these were made of gold or silver. I have been fortunate to find a silver one locally in Sefton Park. However a fellow detectorist has recently found a gold one. This was found in a farmers field and my guess is it dates to late Victorian. Whatever date it is, this is the actual condition it was found. In my opinion it is a beaut.

Bronze Age gold ring declared treasure

Posted by ricey on April 18, 2007 9:09 AM

I recently came across this article whilst surfing the net. The guy who found it is called Clive and I have asked his permission to show a picture of the ring. Upon his reply I'll post the image on here. However for now here is the story. Enjoy!!!

A 3,000-YEAR-OLD gold ring found in Buntingford has been declared as treasure.

The penannular ring from the Bronze Age has been dated by an expert as being from between 1150BC and 750BC.

Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas ruled on Wednesday that a panel will decide on its value and any reward for its finder.

The ring, weighing two-fifths of an ounce (12.7g) features stripes in two tones of gold on a base of copper alloy and is about one inch (2.5cm) in diameter.

Full Story

Stop Press: I have now received permission from Clive to show the ring

Medals of Unremitting R.A.F. Hero go under the hammer

Posted by ricey on April 11, 2007 9:57 AM

On 19th April 2007 Spink will auction the remarkable and unique Medal Group of Air Chief Sir Basil Embry, which is expected to fetch between £150,000 to £180,000. The sheer scale of his medal group, a total of 18, is truly a feast for the enthusiast’s eyes. They represent innumerable acts of heroism and are a symbol of daring deeds performed by Embry over the course of his spectacular military career. Described as “both charming and rude, prejudiced and broad-minded, pliable and obstinate, dedicated and human. Above all things he was a gallant leader of men.”

Embry Timeline of Events and awards:

· 28 February 1902 –Born in Barnwood, Gloucester and educated at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire.

· March 1921- Commissioned Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force

· August 1922 – Served for five years in Iraq, the majority of this time was spent piloting an Air Ambulance –on one occasion he had to transport a serviceman suffering from the plague!

· January 1926 – As a result of his service in Iraq he received the Air Force Cross, the first of many awards to follow during his glittering career.

· October 1937 – After several more years service in India and subsequent promotions he received the first of his four D.S.O.s for inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and exceptional flying ability.

· September 1939 – In command of No.107 Squadron at R.A.F. Wattisham, a Blenheim bomber unit, which had already begun operations and suffered casualties. On 25 September Embry led a formation of three Blenheims on a reconnaissance mission to Germany. They were attacked by German fighters and Embry’s aircraft suffered serious damage to wings and fuselage. He carried out a one-wheel landing on reaching Wattisham.

· With the German campaign in full swing Embry’s Squadron, detached to Scotland, carried out ten raids in eight days on the airfield Stavanager in treacherous weather conditions resulting in frostbite for Embry and the award of his first bar to his D.S.O.

· 10 May 1940, the German blitzkrieg invasion of the Low Countries erupted and Embry and his crews were in the thick of the battle to stem the German advance, each crew flying two or three sorties daily across the Channel to France. His leadership and personal gallantry at this time resulted in the award of a second bar to his D.S.O.

· 26 May 1940 – Due to the tremendous workload of flying missions that Embry had taken upon himself to lead, he was ordered to take a ‘back seat’ and given command of R.A.F. West Raynham with promotion to Group Captain. He could not resist, however, one last hurrah before relinquishing command. The next day he led his Squadron for the last time in an attack on German troops advancing on Dunkirk. His aircraft received a direct hit, killing the air gunner and sending the aircraft out of control. He and his navigator bailed out and Embry landed behind enemy lines near St Omer. He was captured by the Germans and marched away to a POW camp. En route he saw a road sign “Embry, 3 km,” which he took as a good omen. He rolled down a bank and successfully escaped and evaded the Germans for two months eventually making his way through France and Spain to Gibraltar. Nine weeks and five days after bailing out of his aircraft, Embry stepped ashore in the UK.

· After a brief flirtation with fighter command and a secondment to the Desert Air Force in North Africa, Embry was appointed Acting Air Vice Marshal with command initially of some 10 squadrons operating a variety of aircrafts.

· 18 February 1944 - Operation Jericho, the Mosquitoes attacked Amiens prison and liberated hundreds of French patriots, many under sentence of death by the Gestapo. Whilst Embry planned this raid, he was ordered by higher authority not to participate. Although, Embry did take part in several other equally successful precision attacks, often under the pseudonym ‘Wing Commander Smith,’ including on the Gestapo Headquarters in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense.

· 1945 – First peacetime appointment as Director General of Training

· 1947 – Promoted to Air Vice Marshal

· For the following four years he was an Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Fighter Command from April 1949 to April 1953, with the rank of Air Marshal from January 1951, and he was a representative of the R.A.F. both at the funeral of King George VI, and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

· July 1953 - Appointed to N.A.T.O. as Commander-In-Chief, Allied Air Forces Central Europe and was promoted to his final rank of Air Chief Marshal that December.

· February 1956 - Embry left his post at N.A.T.O. after frustrations with trying to revise the attitudes on vital importance of air power.

· April 1956 – Emigrated to New Zealand and wrote an auto-biography covering his experiences of the 35 years that he served, titled Mission Accomplished. He later moved to Western Australia where he took up farming and established a thriving farm out in the bush.

· 8 December 1977 – Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry dies.

Thanks to Spink for this press release.

Update 19th April 2007

Today Spink auctioned the remarkable and unique Medal Group of Air Chief Sir Basil Embry. After an intense bidding battle the group was sold to Michael Naxton, an agent, for £155,350.

Henry V11 Groat - Nice Find

Posted by ricey on April 11, 2007 8:42 AM

It is fair to say that metal detectorists find a fair amount of junk whilst on their travels. Although the days of finding lots of rusty iron whilst detecting is mainly over, due to the advance in technology, we still find a lot of crap lead, copper etc. Amongst all this junk there are however some lovely finds to be made.

I am often asked what is found in an average field. Well in all honesty there is no such thing as an average field. Every field is different. You will also find that fields vary depending on what kind of the country you live. For example in the North West we find more modern finds usually after 1700's. In the Eastern side of the country you find much less later finds but many more earlier ones. Many finds that are made have been buried in the ground for such a long time that they get damaged. This is usually due to being hit by a plough or damaged by farm machinery.
The larger the coin the less chance it has survived. This is why it is so nice to see some lovely large coins - especially hammered ones survive. These coins are a lot thinner than the milled ones.

Here is a picture of a lovely groat found recently by a fellow detectorist. It is a Henry V11 Groat

Henry V11
Born : Pembroke, January 28, 1457.
Died : Richmond, Surrey, April 21, 1509

Congrats on such a lovely find.

Cuerdale Hoard 1840 - the orginal view

Posted by ricey on April 9, 2007 5:10 PM

Whilst researching coins hoards I came across an account of probably the most famous coin hoard ever found in the North West

On the evening of the 15th May 1840 workmen, engaged in repairing the southern enbankment of the river Ribble, near Curedale Hall, and about three miles from Preston, were agreeably surprised by the discovery of hidden treasure, which had for many centuries laid inhumed in that delightful and secluded vale within three feet of the surface of the pasture , and about thirty yards from the edgeof the river. A portion of the earth, under the spot where the treasure lay, having been previously removed, the leaden case, which was in a corroded state, was crushed to pieces by the fall, aided by the weight of the superincumbent soil, and disclosed its extensive and varied treasures before the astonished gaze of the workmen, who immediately set up a simulataneous shout. The attracted the attention of the hind of Curedale Hall, who, hastening to the place, found the workmen collected around the treasure in the act of the general scramble, each endeavouring to obtain the greatest share of the booty.

Full article

Easter, Chocolate and Metal Detecting

Posted by ricey on April 9, 2007 4:58 PM

What a lovely couple of weeks weather we've had. No rain just nice dry weather. I've been off work for 10 days so have been busy in the garden and doing DIY. Also I've had the children to look after. I've also had an assignment for University to complete along with revision for an exam in a few weeks.

As many of you will know my mum and dad are both keen detectorists. They went detecting yesterday in Cheshire. They said the stubble fields were quite long but were just grateful to get out. They never found a lot. They also said the temperature was quite hot. I don't know - you just can't please some people. I believe they found a small lead seal along with a georgian coin. Normal run of the mill stuff.

It is at this time of the year that crops are now being planted so many farms will soon be out of action until August. By then I may have handed in my resignation to my present employer. Those who follow this blog will know how unhappy I am at work at the moment. Six years with the same employer is a long time this day and age. It really stops me getting on with things I enjoy like metal detecting. Maybe a part time job might be the answer or go self employed again. I'll let you know.

Beachgoers find artifacts and peace of mind

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:54 PM

BETHANY BEACH -- For some Delaware shore residents, bad weather is the best -- especially for those at Treasure Beach.

"We're here all winter long so we actually get to go out on the beach," said Jim Hall, the nature center manager for the Delaware Seashore State Park. "We get to go out after all those storms. That's when you get the cool stuff."

The Delaware Seashore State Park is offering a beachcombing program April 7. A class will be given by a naturalist who will teach people how to identify pieces of shells, flotsam and jetsam and even pieces of animals. Participants will also learn to identify the different types of birds and plants that make their home on the Delaware shore.

"It's for people who always wondered what that stuff was," Hall said, noting that a few lucky beachcombers could find some artifacts -- or at least some pocket change. "Typically you find a lot more stuff this time of year. The weather's a little rougher and anytime the waves are rough is usually when you find the best haul at the beach."

Full Story

1836 Haltwhistle Hoard

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:53 AM

In the mid 1830's while some workmen were quarrying stone for the
Directors of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, on the top of Boreum, a
high hill in the township of Thorngrafton and Parish of Haltwhistle in
Northumberland, one of them found a copper vessel containing 63 coins, 3 of
them gold and 60 copper.

Full article

Horseheath Hoard Circa 1841

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:52 AM

In an old book I have just been reading dated 1854 it referers to a hoard of
coins being found in Horseheath some years earlier.
It is particularly interesting to note that it was found quite accidentaly
by a waggon being struck in a rut.

The story goes as follows ' A curious discovery of coins, hitherto
unrecorded, took place about thirteen years ago at Horseheath, Near Linton,
Cambridgeshire.
A waggon in its course over the heath getting into a deep rut, was obliged
to be forced out by the aid of the driver, who saw adhering to the wheels
what he considered to
be abrass button. It was a Roman Coin; and when the wheels were moved he
saw another two, and on going back to the rut found that he had crushed a
jar in which there were about two hundred more. He sold them in Cambridge;
and from examination of a few of the number, they seem to have consisted of
the later Roman series; coins of Hadrian, Severus, Nerva Macrinus, and a
few legionary being among them'.

Talk about Metal Detecting in Cheshire

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:45 AM

It was quite a hectic day yesterday. With the children being on their Easter hols my Wife had planned for us all to go to Chester Zoo. This meant us leaving home at about 10.30am and getting back at 6pm. By this time I must admit I was feeling rather tired.

Walking for 6 hours tends to have that affect. The sun had also been out all day and this sapped my energy. As soon as I got home I had to get a quick change of clothes and 'shoot off' to our club night at South Lancs and Cheshire Metal Detecting Club. We had a guest speaker Mark Leah BA (Hons) MIFA, Archaeological Officer (Development Control). I had been waititing to listen to him for some time and he did not disappoint. His talk actively gained all our interest (approx 50 in all). The subject of archaeological excavations in Cheshire had us all on the edge of our seats. Add to that the interesting way he put it across made an excellent evening. We also had the normal competitions for coin/find of the month. This too was very interesting with some lovely finds on display. After the evening came to a closeI went back to one of the members (and close friends) house for a cup of coffee and a chat. We talked about the hobby as a whole and then it was time to come home. It is my turn to look after the children today so needed an early night - if you call 1.30am an early night.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Metal Detecting in the April 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

March 2007 is the previous archive.July 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.

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April 2007 Archives

The coin that lost our interest

Hoard sheds new light on Bronze Age Northumbrians

R.I.P. Alan Ball

Roman steelyard weight

A Petronel - what is one of those I hear you ask!!!

Tealby Penny

Gold Coin of Henry 111

A lovely Gold Pencil Find!!

Bronze Age gold ring declared treasure

Medals of Unremitting R.A.F. Hero go under the hammer

Henry V11 Groat - Nice Find

Cuerdale Hoard 1840 - the orginal view

Easter, Chocolate and Metal Detecting

Beachgoers find artifacts and peace of mind

1836 Haltwhistle Hoard

Horseheath Hoard Circa 1841

Talk about Metal Detecting in Cheshire

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