Detectingwales.com Rally 68 - Revenge of the Santas!

[Neil]

DetectingWales.com Rally 68 – Santa’s Revenge.

Todays rally was the annual institution that is the Christmas Santa Hats Rally.

I knew it was going to be a good day when as soon as the shadow of night lifted I was basked in the glorious golden sunlight of a beautiful Winters morning. Well they do say that the sun shines on the righteous and it wasn’t to be the only golden thing we would see today!

All manner of Santa hats were on display today and no one got away from not wearing one, as Proconsol had brought those left from the several hundred bought a few year ago. Well done Geoff.

Todays rally, raffle and token hunt was kindly sponsored by Minelab. Not only had they provided DW with caps, flasks and other item, but also donated  a spanking, new Minelab  Pinpointer.  A much coveted prize by all detectorists. A big thanks as well to the member who kindly donated a bottle of wine and of course Geoff’s wife who shops tirelessly throughout the year to make it an eclectic and sometimes bizzare mix of raffle prizes. Golfball in a snowdome anyone?

Into the fields which today saw a total of 160 acres of pasture, with a few stubbys thrown in for good measure. I briefly mention GOLD earlier, but I forgot to say a GOLD what. Well the answer is a man’s 22ct gold band that was found by the smiling Svaipa.  Her first gold find ever and a Hell of a lump of the Aurum. If you want to wear it, take it to a jewellers who will straighten it out for you easily.

The rumour mill was in overdrive with talk of Roman, Hammered, Fibulas and a rather long standing cherry being finally and stunningly plucked. Eighteen months, detecting on average a few times a week is a long time to wait. Thankfully that wait is finally over for Dryland due to him finding a Liizzy Sixpence (the 3rd from this farm). Well done Dylan – lots of the DW faithful were commenting how pleased they were for you mate.

Romans turned up next in the shape of six grots  to various members and a Roman child’s fibula to Dawson. His mate (sorry your user name escapes me) had found a particularly early Germanic example that was missing its lower half, but dates to around 70AD – 120AD. Of course a nod of the hat goes to the man who would give Hattatt a run for his money – Cheffy!

Landyman (he of the chip shop smelling Land Rover) has been a regular DW attendee for many years and in all that time oddly he has never had a sniff at a hammered coin. That changed today as he smashed his poor rally record with a cut half of Henry III of the Long Cross variety.

A coin rarely seen (I can’t remember one this good) is that of Williiam & Mary, particularly when it’s a  scarce and valuable tin version. It is a new member who unearthed it and I am sure we would all love to see a photo of it minus the soil. Just be careful not to clean it too much.

Davtec rocked up with a Lizzy three pence dated to 1573 and was quickly followed by Dave Ha with two hammereds. One being a cut half short cross and the other a penny of Edward. I also joined the finds at this point with a rusty Sheriffs badge (easy!) of Davy Crocket.

Milled silver was also paying its regular visit with numerous examples including: 1930 shilling (me), two 1870’s Vicky bun head three pences, a 1820 Bullhead sixpence, a 1696 William III sixpence (great portrait), two King Billy love tokens and several other post 1900’s sixpences, etc.

Onto the 2pm raffle and of the 90 tokens that Geoff and I planted, around 60 were found. One member found around 20 and at one point was laden down with prizes. So much so that he refused to accept any more – nice gesture mate – I am sure all appreciated it
The GRAND PRIZE of a Minelab Pinpointer  saw 42 of us entered, with Mrs Parki John picking the winning number from the warmth of her car. The winner was one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet in long standing DW member Viv aka Beachboy. The look on Viv’s face was a delight to see when he had found out he had won. He commented that it was the first time he had ever won anything – do the lottery on Wednesday Viv – you may be on a roll!

Shortly after this at 2.30pm I headed home as I had been up all night thanks to a dodgy wood pigeon I had eaten the night before. I am sure there are more finds out there waiting to be shown. Add them to the end of this report please.

Finally a huge welcome to all the new members who attended today, it was a pleasure to meet all of you. I hope you all found the Detecting Wales Experience to be an enjoyable and friendly one. We have been doing this for five years (annual report coming this week) and appreciate the continued support from members old and new.

Our next rally is one of the most promising locations we have found (that’s the kiss of death!) As always there are no guarantees, but we wouldn’t be going there unless the extensive research hinted strongly at the pasta lovers having been around the site for quite sometime.

I headed home to Cardiff after a great day out with the company of Tom Tom and JJ shadowing my every move in the car behind. We should have shared a car chaps!

Have a great Christmas everyone and may 2014 bring you the finds of your dreams.

Keep the Faith
Neil

[Neil]

Just a few more!

[Neil]

Ah, go on then:

[Neil]

Still more!

[Neil]

A few more!

[The Doc]

Great report and pics Neil. Some excellent finds there, well done all.

My favourite has to be the William and Mary tin halfpenny 

[The Doc]

The first short cross cut half is Henry III, around class 7b, moneyer Ilger, London mint.

The second short cross half looks like Henry II.

[parkijohn]

Enjoyed the day thanks for all that land and the raffle prizes especially my remote controlled car .lovely write up some great finds found a few coins myself but corroded.Ah and by the way neil mrs reckons you cut her out the picture because she didn't pick your number to win the  minelab probe ha ha only joking mate thanks again.

[Tafflaff (Rob)]

Guys I'm so glad that it turned out to be a cracking rally. Sorry I had to miss it but I will be back.

Well done Beachboy on winning the pinpointer, couldnt have gone to a nicer person. And congratulations to Dryland on his first hammered! Now they will come in thick and fast .

Cracking report Neil fair play, the rallies wouldn't be the same without them .

[WEBBER]

Another great rally managed a nice William sixpence that's silver every rally I have attended with you guys so far maybe I will break my gold duck on the next one !!

[rookypair]

Brilliant write up as usual Neil, it makes you feel you were actually there.  Well done to everyone who found things plus the token finders.

Hopefully will see you all at Old Sodbury

HH

Rookypair

[Val Beechey]

As always Neil an excellent write up on the days activities.  One of these days I just might get there myself.  In the meantime your narratives give me something to look forward to.

Well done every one on the finds, specially Dylan with his 1st official Hammered and Jo with the only gold of the day.

Val

[briggs1969 ( Dawson )]

Great day guys thought the weather was going to hold up coming over the bridge this morning but never mind managed a few roman grots a roman brooch and right at the end of the day a lovely bullhead shilling  

[gesza]

omg wish I could have made this one great finds all well done 

[Chef Geoff]

Excellent as usual Neil and a big congratulations to all those who found and I'm glad you managed to break the Tudor barrier that seemed to exist on this site.


Some people think we detectorists are weird!.....I can't see it myself