DetectingWales.com

We gathered bright and early this morning in Cardiff for a return to a farm we visited earlier in the month, and once again it didn't dissapoint.

The clocks went back last night and I expected a few early arrivals, but thankfully we all seem to have remembered. As with many of the rallies this year, there were plenty of newbies, who I hope we all managed to make feel welcome. This included the following Ben Creamer, Dkcrooby, IanJohn12, Marjie, Prism3, Joe, Welshbreed, and Troy Tempest. Welcome to you all and apologies if I missed anyone else out.

Following the usual chat we were let loose on a range of pastures (some new to us, some old) and a few large stubble fields that had previously been cultivated as corn on the cob.

It was a strange start to the Rally, as within a few minutes of the start, an excited Mike was motioning and yelling for me to come over! Mike had a new machine to play with today, and I thought he was going to tell me the coil head had fallen off!  :o

That was not the case though, as he was now saying to me "I think my first signal of the day is a gold engagement ring!" He was right as well - it was indeed a gold ring! A bit too muddy to see the hallmark, but definately gold and with plenty of stones - wonder what they will turn out to be? A Hell of a way to pop a new machines cherry, and well deserved for a decent bloke. Well done mate!

I headed off to the stubble fields, which was hard going at first with a few bits of foil in it and really muddy. Once you got past the first stubble field and into the second one it got a lot easier and I started finding coinage including a George III penny, a grotty Roman, Edward half penny and then a 1940 shilling (50/50).

There was pretty much only myself and Staterchaser detecting in this stubble field and he found a decent edward hammered for his perseverance. Well done - and I do agree with what we chatted about that when this is re-ploughed and rolled - it would be a cracking field. The views alone were awesome!

Before I left the field and headed back to my car I chanced upon a Vicky penny literally just sat on the surface.

On the way back to the car, news reached me that Willowtree had found a 9ct gold and silver ring - a great find Chris - you always do well at DW rallies mate. ;D

The most bizzare rally find of the day I happened upon next belonging to my good friend Jeff stock. I can honestly say I have absolutely no idea what its purpose was. Its a woman, its bronze, it has hand made ring and dot motifes on the reverse, she "looks like shes got an age to her!" ;) A really interesting find, that I am sure we will all want to hear more news on.

At the car whilst having a sarnie I found a beaming Nobby who was sporting a stunning Roman Trumpet Brooch with enamel work on it. One of the nicest Roman brooches I have seen on a rally. A beauty of a find for a great DW member.

His sidekick for the day, Prism3user  also had a nice brass weight and a pair of tweezers that reminded me of the ones that stamp collectors use, but may have another use.

Evil Bob or just Bob as everyone bar TaffLaff calls him had a multitude of bits of bronze (I really couldn't see the goat mate!) and a lovely spur rowel.

Everyone seemed to have the usual assortment of buttons, pennies, pre decimals, etc. An interesting Cartwheel penny made into a button surfaced, along with a Newport Fire Service button and various other items. Not long after this a Stair Rod holder turned up - which brought the usual amusement that they always do and the re-telling of the Great Detecting Wales Stair Rod Debate of 2009!

Next I spoke to three seperate DW members all of which were sporting Chinese Cash coins. Really odd and incredibly difficult to date. there was also an Austrian coin found by Pipster to add to the American and Indian coins last time we were here - a truly international field.

The last find I saw before I headed home was a cracker to say the least and took the shape of a Denarii found by Wayno - much to the annoyance of his buddies. It truly is a stunning coin and what made it all the more sweeter is that I believe it was Wayne's first one - his smile was as wide as The Severn! An absolute beauty! Verdict is out on who the wench is, but I am sure Wayno will update us once he's got the books out.
 
What is astonishing about todays rally is that the gold ring with stones, the Roman trumpet brooch and the denarii all came out of a pasture we all spent several hours in last time - just goes to show a pasture field is never truly done!

One last thing. One of our members who was at the Rally today has been battling a serious illness for the past year and I am happty to tell you, he is winning his battle! It was really good to chat to you today mate and I am so glad you enjoyed your day out! Even if your mate did beat you on the finds front!

Until next time ladies and gent I bid you adieu

Cheers
Neil

More

And Again

And a few more

And again

Oops theres some more!

The copper coin in the bottom photo is a very rare William and Mary coin.

Last few

The first photo is a 1797 Cartwheel Penny thats been modified into a button. Imagine the weight of them on your coat!

Sorry, I forgot about these . . . It was getting dark, so the photo quality is not the best on the Denarii - but you get the idea.

Feel free to add your own photos to the thread - I 'm off for a glass of wine or five!

Cheers all
Neil

Well done guys and a nice report again Neil.

Great write up as usual Neil, I'm glad it all went well with more great finds coming up. The Roman is Julia Domna 170-217Ad.
Nobby I luvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv that brooch, brilliant find.
So that's 5 Chinese coins in two rallies plus the other foreign coins, me thinks some little soul lost their coin collection or their Dads.

Fabulous finds guys - from Roman to a decimal one pence  :)  Great find Nobby.
Hope someone can identify Jeff's artefact.
Thanks for a great day - just tubes and bits and pieces for Tyna and myself - but looking forward to the next rally. Bring it on Admin  ;)
Deb

Jeff's find is quite tantalising and it would be great to see a shot of it when the mud has been cleaned off. Not sure if it does represent a woman it's quite amorphic.
It is one of those finds that could have a multitude of uses, but as it appears to have broken off at the bottom and with the small size of the crown, it does look a bit like an aestel.  
Thats on the plus side, but there again it could be a poker handle lol

well done everyone, some very nice finds there.
Sorry i couldn't have joined in the fun, I'm paying the price of having a week off and eating things i new i shouldn't have!

Salty :)

Thanks team for a great day once again.

Didn't find a lot myself - buttons, coppers and scrap, but enjoyed it as usual.

The hammered is Bury St Edmunds mint and late Edward I or Edward II.

No idea about Jeff's figure - never seen anything like it!

Hi,

Here is my find from today. My first rally with my new detector, so I was really pleased when I stumbled across this one. Thanks Casa-Dos (Kev) and farmer(phil) for helping me dig it out ;). I'm definitely getting a proper spade and a garrett pointer for my next outing.

(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/dkcrooby/IMG_4005640x463.jpg)

Shianne

thanks for a great day really enjoyed it  did find a few bits but yep that's my stair rod holder IT LOOKED OLD  THANKS AGAIN

dont ya just hate those stair rod holders lol

Thanks for a great report Neil , top notch as normal ,,,,, now to the ring ,,,, it is 9ct gold , but the outer stones are Cubic Zirconia and one is missing, the centre of the heart looks to be Jett,,,, strange stone for a heart ?

Must apologize to Neil , Taff , Ray and the rest who were gathered , when i shouted at them , ti think i was a tad loud , they were like startled cats ,,,luck i left my haloween mask off.

As for the Teknetics G2 , i couldn't have asked for a better start , its light and easy to use , with more use , i think it will be a corker

Nice meeting members old and new , i got to talk a bit more this rally,,, and to those on their first rally , i hope you enjoyed yourselves,,,,shame i had to leave early

well done to all those with finds , nice hammy Staterchaser , and Nobbys Broach is something else


AND TO THOSE WITH NOTHING IN PARTICULAR, KEEP SWINGING

Thanks to Neil, Rob & the team for a great day. I know how much hard work goes into getting land and arranging these rallies. Sterling job, well done!
As for the day, it was hard work on the muddy stubble but I'm sure there are some great finds to be had on these fields for another day.
Well done to Wayno and Nobby for fantastic denarri and brooch, dont get much better than these!

cheers cer, and a cracking edward hammerd for yourself ;)

seems like it was another great DW rally.... ;).... i like the button made out of a cartwheel penny !...amazing....well done everyone.....byron

Some very nice finds there boys and girls, sounds like you had a good day well done all  ;)

great write up again neil welldone my friend..welldone to all who found on the ralley..welldone to ceri and his hammered..welldone to the 2 guys who found the rings.
and a big welldone to you nobby for the roman brooch mucker.so pleased for you rob.a great find for your collection.
im sorry i had to de-part early..due to not feeling myself.never come home early from detecting before.it.ll never happen again.lol.
welldone tafflaff..admin..neil..for another great ralley guys.
until the next one..everyone take care.
ray.

Here are front and back photos of cleaned-up artefact. From front face looks more male but at an angle more female! when I first dug it up my thoughts were fairly modern (like Chef poker handle or similar) but cleaned it does look reasonably old particularly with the ring and dot pattern on the belt at the back. At the moment I have no idea so one for Mark Lodwick I think!

It is a beaut of a find Jeff regardless of what it is and I'm going to stick with an eastel. (mind you I would probably get 500/1 against at the bookies lol)
It was the first thing that popped into my head on first seeing it, and it it still works for me. I wish I had been able to attend if only to have seen it. I look forward to the update, when you get it.

Jeff, the break at the bottom looks quite sharp on the photo's, does it look fresh or was it broken in antiquity?

That artifact in my opinion was the find of the day. It is beautiful and i would be well happy finding that. I look forward to finding out what it is and how old it is. The rally itself was a great day with great company. ;D

 :) :) Great finds everyone! Gutted I couldn't go right at the last minute! :(
Fantastic & interesting artefact....... Mark will be amased at that!

heres my roman trumpet brooch ;D and also an arts and crafty answers on a postcard thingy :D

Cheers for a fantastic day, nice write up Neal.
Me and the boys had some nice finds. Great family day out lol!!! ;D ;D ;D

What is the statuette made of, is it bronze? I was finding large lumps of cast bronze waste in the corner of the bottom field where our cars were parked, near the lampposts. I wonder if we have stumbled on a bronze production area. Given the coin and the brooch finds too, maybe we should have another visit there and give it a good going over.

Eric

When I first saw Jeff,s artifact, I thought it had a resemblance of Queen Victoria with
a crown on top of her head.Now seeing it cleaned up, I aint got a clue. Don,t think
it,s a letter opener either. One for the experts at the Museum. By the way, all finds
really kept out of my way, zero finds. Gutted. Well done though to all who did find.

Re artefact - break at bottom is old and it's heavy so I'm guessing it is bronze.Been searching round the net but nothing similar so far.

The nearest I've got (And I've got my parachute on in readiness to be shot down in a blaze of smoke, flames and the whailing of air raid sirens and search lights) 

This is a far eastern dagger, what struck me was how thin the stem goes which seems similar to Jeffs.

Well Rob the Barron Von Cheftoven is on your tail so I think you better jump. Far eastern? I ask you. jump man jump! lol

POSS SOME SORTE OF HANDLE (KNIFE)ETC.LOOKS OLD TO.

great to see the pics of a lovely selection of finds....well done all   :)

Wish i was there but i am really happy for all the good finds you had all and well done to all of you . keep the good work and happy detecting.

Nordine.

 :) :) I think Jeff's artefact maybe of a child who either died in childbirth or under two years old. I've seen a brass in a church many years ago that looked very similar. I suspect that the outer covering is supposed to represent a shroud. Maybe the baby was of a lady of high status who was able to afford someone to make this artefact! I'll be very interested to see what the Museum makes of it! Great find that! :) :)

I have now had report from the Museum on the artefact. Basically Dr Redknapp thinks it's 18th/19th C although Mark Lodwick still thinks it's earlier - maybe 17th.Probably copper/ or tin/lead alloy weight 96g. They have no idea what it is except that it is probably a handle - maybe a spoon which would be pretty substantial.  So really we aren't any further on!