DetectingWales.com Rally 59 - Planes, Trains and Trumpets!

[Neil]

The DetectingWales masses headed back to Hereford today for the final time in the forseeable future to a site that once held a somewhat grand mansion house.

It was an early 7am start for myself and Jaydogg this morning, bleary eyed in the car, bopping our heads to tunes provided by Mr Wonder and Public Enemy! Despite the early start it took us nearly 2 hours to get there due to getting stuck behind various large, slow moving vehicles on Herefords treacherous lanes. We arrived close to 9am to find the vast majoirty were already parked up and swapping stories.

The usual shananigans took place involving signing everyone up, introductions, cups of coffee, a game of jenga and the sale of the DW 2013 Calenders! If anyone wants one, Proconsol still has a couple left for a fiver each - just send him a PM. It features numerous members and their finds, and if you ask nicely GI Jan will even provide you with a signed copy! Oh - for the ladies,  it also has Roman Rays bottom in it! Thinking about it, that may actually reduce sales!

Into the fields and the first find of note was from Adrian Wall who had found half of what I think was a  presentation plaque. It was tantalisingly broken in just the wrong spot, but stated that it was in conection with Queen Victoria by Henry and ?? and was dated 18??. We were hoping that someone else might have found the other half so that they could be reunited. Anyone find it?

At about this time the first milled silver of the day emerged in the shape of an Edward shilling. It was to be a relatively scarce day on the milled silver front, and apart from a William III shilling and a George III shilling - I don't think I saw any others. That said though anyone finding one of these shillings would have been well pleased.

We were soon treated to an acrobatic display of a petrol model plane soaring above us, performing gnarly victory rolls, blowing smoke trails and then dive bombing various members. It was a few chaps a field or two in the distance, and they obviously thought it was good sport to try and entertain the detecting geeks!  At first it was, but after a while it started to get a bit on your wick as for a small plane it was bloody noisy! Added to that was the occasional explosion from a nearby bird scarer, and I also saw a rocket go up into the air at some point. Not quite the rural peace and quiet you expect in sleepy old Hereford!

Back to the finds and a new member called Liam, who had joined us with his mate, had come all the way from Wrexham and had uncovered his first Roman coin and a beauty it was as well. Can anyone help with the ID guys - I am sure he would appreciate it. Well done Liam - its a cracker for a first Roman.

That wasn't the only Roman though as Jeff the Wizard had used his mystical powers to conjure up a Trumpet brooch that "Ranks as high as any in Rome" - Guess the film!  I didn't get to see it untill the end of the day, but it was worth the wait as its a beaut and very ornately decorated.

Not to be outdone with all this Roman marlarkee, Davtec decided to open the hammered scoring in grand style for 2013 with a Lizzy sixpence from the Tower mint dated 1570.

Shortly after that a new DW member, called Webber and on his first (of what will be many) DW rally popped up with a beaut of a Edward hammered penny that will need a bit of TLC to get it straight, but should be easy enough. Welcome on board mate - a great start.

We broke for lunch, and were treated to a selection of red wines from Da Monkey, who very kindly was suppling us with the nectar of the gods. Andy (aka Da Monkey) has recently been appointed as a new DW Moderator and I am sure he will do a great job with all your support. Not sure you need to provide wine at every rally though mate, as it left a few of the non driving members (including Mrs Steptoe) with a permanent grin all afternoon.

Next in line for a find was Mike the Fob, the Hob, the Roman (I got it right eventually) firstly with a hammered penny, that was a bit dog eared, and then next with a stunner of a Roman coin. I had the privelage to join Mike as this came out of the ground, as we spent an hour detecting together. The patina on it is something else, and I got to be honest I love the photo of the soil imprint, and the one of a rightly chuffed Mike the Roman! Well done matey -  really pleased for you.

Mike's luck rubbed off on myself as I got the hammered monkey off my back early again this season with a hammered penny of Edward - which I was somewhat pleased with as up until then a Georgian military button was leading my find pouch!

My next find was a tad more unusual as it was a Garrett Pro Pointer, lieing all lost and lonely on the grass. I presumed it was Mikes (as he has a habit of losing them) and sought him out but it wasn't his. The owner soon appeared in slightly "I've lost 80 quid panicked mode" and I am glad its back with its rightful owner. Its got to be a design issue with these as we all constantly seem to lose them - hopefully the next generation will be more secure.

Big Lee and his crew were next to cross my path and had found a smattering of finds, including a button for Lee stating the legend "Water Lane" - Anyone any ideas on that?
His mate had found a decent George III penny and no matter how much I tried to coerce him would not cuddle together with Lee in their photo! Can't blame him, as Big Lee, as his name implies is a man mountain, and would probably squeeze the breath out of any detectorist!  

A tiny hammered coin with a Tudor shield appeared for Ronnie Digs that neeeds a fair bit of cleaning to decipher, and this was soon joined by a Love token of William III for Radnor Bandit. Not to be left behind in the Battle of the Sexes, Ozzyhead Jo found a William III lovetoken of her own, along with a nice decorated clog clasp.

Speaking of the DW ladies, Jan has had a few good finds of late and added to that today with a model train that should clean up nicely. Stuffykins had found herself a poor ladies victorian brooch, Its been designed to look like silver and gold, but unfortunately was plated.

Regarding plated silver - there were at least five round silver brooch/necklace/belt parts doing the rounds that had been found by all and sundry in various fields.  I think RJM found the most complete one along with a black (possibly jet) faceted stone which looks like it should have been in the middle.

It got dark quick today and Jaydogg and I headed home with only a few members left. It was a great start to the Detecting Wales year, and so good to see all members old and new. It won't be long until our next one, as I know the Treorchy One Armed bandit (who was sorely missed today) has numerous farm irons in the rally fire.

See you in a field soon.
Neil

[Neil]

More

[Neil]

More

[Neil]

Again

[WeCan-Octavian]

Thanks to the organisers for a good day and to see some good stuff coming up to start the year off, i look forward to many more rallies to come.

Take care all
Nick

[Neil]

My first hammered of the year!  

[Neil]

The last few and probably the best few  - feel free to add your own photos guys!

Any ideas on the first photo?

[handyman [Alan}]

Well done everyone on the finds, that trumpet brooch is a stunner.

here are a few pics from today ..anyone own up to being in the last one?

enjoy

[mrsmarky123]

we had a lizzy 1573 waited around for a while for one of the camera men but couldnt see none and had to shoot off home    todays finds included lots of lead 1861 half penny , button and another coin to far gone though    will post a pic soon my camera is poo though !

[Chef Geoff]

As ever a first rate write up Niel, I wish I could have been there. Though I now have this nasty image of Da Monkey on your back while Mike is rubbing off on you....not pleasant lol

Well done to everyone for making it another great day

About the pic you ask for ideas on, Is the bar solid or a pipe? if a pipe I would hazard a guess at it being part of a gas mantle

[Mike]

top report and pics as always neil , great day out

[Neil]

Do you know what Chef - I literally just re-read that and knew someone would comment on the Da Monkey/ Mike and my luck statement. I could have laid odds it would have been you mate!

Its not a pipe - its solid and in two pieces, although they do match. The larger piece is crudely inscribed if that helps.

Hope you are well and happy mate and I'll see you soon
Cheers
Neil

[Val Beechey]

Great report, as usual, Neil. I love seeing all the finds. My first thought was 'stair rod' on that one you asked about.

Thanks for your efforts in posting.

Val

[probono]

Liam's coin is a Follis of Constantne, London mint, SOLI INVICTO COMITI reverse.

Mike's roman is a Barbarous radiate of Tetricus II

[Da Monkey]

Excellent write up, made me chuckle in places    Some nice pics as well,

Some nice finds there, Mike's Radiate was cracking and the brooch is definately on my bucket list...

A nice dry day for a change and some great detecting company, it was good to get out  

See you guys at the next one