Detectingwales Rally 41 - The Thanks To Paulywow Rally

[Neil]

Over 90 members of Detectingwales.com from far and wide headed towards Hereford yesterday for our 41st rally. The fields were to consist of a miuxture of pasture and huge expanses of ploughed and rolled flat fields.

The day started as these events always do with a description of the fields, followed by an excellent overview of the area from Paul and a quick warning regarding Health & Safety (electric fences, lime and having a pee!)

The land for the day had been suggested by Paulywow and it was thanks to his help we were here. The members showed their appreciation with an impromptu round of applause. Cheers Paul - Much appreciated mate.

The first person I spoke to after putting up a few "No Entry" signs on seeded fields (which I am pleased to say everyone observed) was RJM (aka Spartacus - the Destroyer of Romans) - he was just commenting on how the fields were a tad quiet when a squeal came from GI Jan who was nearby, and had in her hand the first hammered coinage of the day. It was a tad battered and was a Lizzy that had fallen to her Ace250.

I left Jan and almost immediately heard of another hammered found by Dave Ha - it was to be his first of three for the day.

I shortly after bumped into Da Monkey who was "plodding the plough" with a newly purchased Fisher, that had rewarded him with a Vicky sixpence. I left Da Monkey happily swinging from the trees only to be summoned back to him 5 minutes later as he too now had a Lizzy hammered coin. A great start to owning a new machine! Well Done.

Next it was my turn and as I headed into the pasture I wandered over and briefly chatted to a new member, who was off as only the Brits do for a midday cup of tea. With my mind on tea and sandwiches I absent mindly swung my machine and the Explorer got a signal. About 6 inches down an Edward II coin saw the light of day for the first time in over 600 years! Wayno was nearby and came over to share the moment with me. The truth be told it would have probably been his had I not had the chat with the "cup of tea" member! Cheers - I owe you one.

Following a celebratory sarnie, TaffLaff and I wandered around the members letting them know that other potato fields were now open and just a short walk away.

On the rounds I saw a few more hammered coins including a whopper of a Lizzy sixpence falling to Mary Marks good lady. It was her first hammered coin and a beauty to open her account with - well done.

Onto the new fields and in the field on the right I saw flints that had been found by Radnor Bandit (who also had a lead stylus) and WBM, along with a nearby coin of Napoleon III found I think by Wayno.

In the corner of this new field, member Just1Hammered was in need of a name change as he had pulled out a cracking hammered groat of Edward and he was soon followed for finding in this area by someone else with a long cross penny.

Into the field on the left and I found the silver top of a walking cane, and I also bumped into a new female member who had found a Lizzy hammered coin, and saw another two milled sixpences.

Back at Base Camp Steven King had a lovely shilling of James 1st that was an interesting societal piece as someone had removed the profile of James showing their disdain for him. Steven also had a Godless silver florin in his hand that was battered around the rim. Tafflaff speculated that someone may have been hammering it ot try and make a ring out of it, and I think he was right.

In the parking field was also to be found Farmer Steve who was once agian doing very well with his Ace250, having found a Lizzy shilling that was as shiny as the day it was lost. Along with this was yet another Vicky sixpence found by Ben Watergent and a curious chained pendent found by the no longer Rooky Pair.

Roman Ray and his hareem were doing well, with Ray having found a James 1st (I call them pinapples) hammered half penny and Hellywelly had a Medieval pendent which should clean up well and hopefully with have the coat of arms left on it.

New father Richard of 16.5DD fame, had the smallest hammered I have ever seen on a rally with a portcullis fathing and a Roman fibula to supplement it. Dave Ha had now made it three hammereds, including another whopping James sixpence in fresh from the ground silver patina.

Rob, Proconsul and I left to the farmhouse field shortly after as the farmer had asked us to try and find a bunch of keys he had lost. Unfortunately we failed in our quest, although Geoff and I did have a very "Close Encounter Of The Beef Steak Kind" with a herd of 30 steers! Thank God the farmer was with us as these were big and lively boys, who looked like they wanted to mix it up with all non vegetarians!

Back for one final time to the car park and some of the Wrexham Crew had found a few silvers, including Ecopain who I think had 4 bits of silver all together (2 hams, part thimble and another sixpence). Not to be outdone two of the local Hereford boys also had a hammered each.

DW Rallies attract members from not just Wales, but all over the place - today I spoke to people from Wrexham, Swansea, Cardiff, The Valleys, Bristol, Bath,Swindon, Hereford, Birmingham, Chepstow and Newport.

A great day out in the sun with lovely company and at least 18 hammered coins found (we left with 30 people still in the field). Its becoming a bit of a habit for DW Rallies to produce high hammered numbers. We all know though that this can't happen every time, but lets just enjoy it while the lucky streak lasts.

A big thank you to a great farmer who said he was "Totally Stoked" to hear about our finds and would welcome us back in the future.

We have at least four more rallies lined up in the next 8 weeks, so keep checking in for details.

See you all in a field real soon.

Neil

[Neil]

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Theres a lot so get comfy!

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[nfl]

cheers guys n gals,fantastic day,i knew there was roman and medi on the site and im just glad you managed to find a fair bit of it ....cheers once again aka paulywow

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