Detectingwales Rally 47 - Sticky Mud & Sovereigns!

[Neil]

Detectingwales Rally 47 - Sticky Mud & Sovereigns.

An early start saw Mark and I heading over the bridge by 7.30am towards the Polden Hills. The threats of Arctic conditions had all but disappeared and by the start of the rally over 60 members had decided “Snow – what snow?” and had joined us for a days detecting in glorious sunshine. This pleasant and serene surrounding was frequently interrupted by colossal explosions as the farm’s bird scarer was working in overdrive. The first time it went off was comedy gold as people seemed to dive for cover all around the place!

Usual start to the day, complimented with an excellent historical overview of the area by Chef. A big thank you by the way to Chef who had volunteered the farm for the rally, and as always I stress that this does not make it an open invite for anyone to return there.

Loads of DW newbies today and a hearty welcome goes to: Balaclava, Eyeballs, Hoover G, Ken Comet, Old1, Robby W, Jamie, Audi Man, I Like Cake, Tor and anyone else I have missed. Hope you enjoyed the day guys and you are obviously all welcome back anytime.

First find of the day bizarrely fell to TaffLaff who for once was not nattering away, and had managed to find a nicely designed Roman fibula. It had lost its spring and catch plate, but is a great addition to Rob’s growing fibula collection. A well deserved find.

The pastures had all been ploughed over the past few years and I think combined with the heavy layer of frost overnight, it led to some serious sticky mud! I personally think it was a close competition between Ozzyhead Jo and I as to who was the muddiest, although muddy nods must also go to Benny and The Ferret! Some people – notably Melonhead and Stan seemed to have completely avoided the mud – I have no idea how you managed to do that guys and need to take some lessons off you!

Next find came from I Like Cake, aka Rambo’s daughter who was busy out finding her dad yet again and produced a very battered George III sixpence which may have been responsible for bringing on her severe case of the hiccups! I even convinced the pair of them to pose for a potential father and daughter cover shot – although that said Rambo didn’t need much convincing! That man loves the camera lens!

A beaming John Talbot appeared on the horizon next with the bezel of a gold ring – well done on your first bit of Aurum! John also later found a very unusual fibula. Its missing its enamel and quite possibly a ladies variant – but it’s a real cracker.
A half groat next turned up for and this was quickly followed by news that the Rookypair had broken their hammered duck. They certainly had, with a Tudor coin that needs a bit of work to decide its monarch.

More golden news arrived with word spreading around the farm that a certain Mike the Fob had found a full sovereign in one of the furthest fields. I duly trudged off to find him, only to be intercepted en-route with similar news that Searcher had also found a sovereign. I presumed that this was the “jungle drums” getting confused as it is unusual to find one sovereign, let alone two on a rally (with one obvious exception). The “drums” on this occasion were right though and I soon happened upon a beaming Rod with a beautiful Queen Victoria in his hand looking all young and golden. I don’t think she’s ever looked finer.

Nearby was Mike The Fob who had his full sovereign clutched in his hand and bearing the head of George IV – it’s a bit of a scarcity dating 1825 and oddly Mike was modelling the same hair cut as George IV! I think we may have to change his name to Mike The Sov now!

Other finds throughout the day included Debbie and a muddy Brewster with a 1920’s shilling. Beachboy with a counter stamped Cartwheel penny stating - W Bowen. You may want to have a look Viv at a current article in Treasure hunting about them. A member called Hammered who had a  George III shilling.  Doddy10 with a Lizzy penny.

I can’t remember the user names (I’m great with faces) of who found them but also the following turned up: William III shilling, Vicky sixpence and three pence, another fibula, a silver Albert chain fob and part of the chain, Roman folis, hammered halfpenny, couple of tokens, medieval buckle, plus the usual buckles Georgian onwards copper coinage, musket balls, buckles, thimbles and the like.

I think everyone enjoyed the day and well done to all who braved the elements – It was worth it in the end and I’m glad we decided after numerous conversations not to postpone.

We have another rally lined up in a few weeks, so keep checking back for the date. As always – thanks go to Rob and Chef for all their hardwork and you lot for making it a memorable day out in the mud and sun.

Keep the Faith
Neil  

P.S. Photos to follow at 6pm on Monday – Sorry I am having a few computer issues at the moment.

[Neil]

Reserved for photos

[Neil]

Reserved for photos

[Neil]

Reserved for photos

[Neil]

Reserved for photos

[Neil]

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[Neil]

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[Neil]

Reserved for photos

[Neil]

Here comes the gold!

[Neil]

The Golden Boys!

[Roman (Ray)]

hi all.
im glad everyone who attended the ralley enjoyed themselves.some lovely finds to say the least.welldone on the gold.fibula.s hammereds everyone.im missing the ralleys myself.it must be alot quieter without roman ray.lol.
welldone again all..hope im able to join you in the next one..
raymondooo

[ysbytymike]

hi all.
im glad everyone who attended the ralley enjoyed themselves.some lovely finds to say the least.welldone on the gold.fibula.s hammereds everyone.im missing the ralleys myself.it must be alot quieter without roman ray.lol.
welldone again all..hope im able to join you in the next one..
raymondooo

Tell you what Ray. Its probably better you didn't attend. That mud was 'stickier' than I've ever come across before.. You'd have probably ended up breaking the other ankle mate..

[beachboy (viv)]

neil,what can i say another great write up on another brilliant rally a great crowd and nice to meet more new members,thanks to you, rob and geoff (cheff) for finding a really interesting farm and look forward to seeing everybody next time thanks again.viv

[Chef Geoff]

It was a really good day and the weather helped, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, even though I'm sorry to say, I was wrong on the Roman finds being in abundance. Back to the drawing board on that one as all the fibula's came from between 50-120AD, with as far as I know not a sniff of anything later, which is surprising as the Shapwick hoard and thus the Villa is dated to 224AD
Anyway for my part I wandered and searched in vain, I did get the usual Georgian and Vicky bronzes, but the silver nearly alluded me until just before the end and came in the form of a  well to be honest it's got me stumped. OK it's a love token but it's not the usual Billy III sixpence as it's too big, it's also not a shilling as it's too small, strange.

I also had a tiny trade weight from the reign of George I plus a lapel badge which dates to between 1900 and 1910 and depicts the Michelin man under his proper name of Bibendum, only Silver plated but a nice unusual find.
Here's to the next one, bring it on.

[handyman [Alan}]

Hi geoff

i can see VL in the 7 o clock position which suggests GVL and billy ... however, my brain is telling me there was someone else with such an inscription but i cant recall who at the moment