DetectingWales.com Rally 60 - The Silver and Sovereigns Rally

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After a long layoff due to the prevalent boggy conditions throughout most of the UK for the last few months, the day finally arrived and the assembled hordes of detecting Wales members made their way down to Herefordshire for a long awaited rally.

Unfortunately both Neill and Tafflaff (Rob)  couldn’t make it to this rally as they had both injured themselves,  Neal with a football related injury and Rob having aggravated his damaged arm.

Although originally scheduled for the Sunday, the rally had been put back a day to avoid clashing with Mother’s Day. The downside of this was, however, that the event then clashed with the Wales v Scotland rugby match.

Despite this, the turnout was good and although the day started off with light drizzle the weather gradually improved throughout the day and, although it could not be called sunny conditions, it was at least dry for most of the day.

We had been to this farm before but on our first visit the grass was a little long and members were unable to completely cover all the fields. Despite this lots of good finds were made and there was a general desire to return to this site when the grass was a bit shorter.

After the usual meeting to let everyone know which fields they could detect on, the members dispersed across the fields and the finds soon started to come up.

First off the mark was Kencomet with a very nice spindle whirl. This followed by Mr and Mrs markymark123 who came up with a fabulous engraved silver skewer-type object which has yet to be positively identified or dated.

Webber started the ball rolling as far as hammered were concerned with a nice cut half. This was followed in short order by daveh who came up with another cut half in roughly the same area.

GJH then trumped all the finds made so far by finding not just one but two gold half sovereigns. One of Queen Victoria and one of Edward VIII. These were lovely coins in excellent condition and made everyone who saw them green with envy. Just to rub salt into the wound, he’d also found a Roman.

OnehorseAl then weighed in with a lovely silver boxing medal and Welshbreed came along with what I would have said was part of a modern socket set but in actual fact turned out to be a 15th to 17th century candlestick. I must admit I would have put this particular object in the junk pile. It just goes to show that you need to double check the items you think are just rubbish.

At this point outlaw found a lovely, complete anular brooch which I believe to be silver. This is in lovely condition and the pin is decorated.

 The afternoon continued with more fields being opened up and further hammered coins turning up, including a lovely Irish sixpence of Elizabeth I. This was the finder, Little-bro's first hammy and he was rightfully chuffed.

Melonhead went overboard, finding two really nice hammered coins (one a half groat and the other, I think, a Lizzie) and a really lovely fibula as well. Charles Price also struck silver during the course of the afternoon, finding a William III sixpence which, unusually for a William had not been turned into a love token and you could actually see a little detail on it.

Radnor Bandit came up with a Roman brooch and various Roman coins were found all over the site, confirming the Roman pedigree of the farm.

Gijan and Charles had brought their own metal detecting mascot to the rally which sat in the front of their van. Unfortunately it didn’t bring  much good luck to the van as its clutch pedal (which was made of plastic!) broke off and Charles had to drive home using his patented no clutch technique…

 I’d just like to say a big thank you to WeCan-Octavian and Deadlock who performed sterling service by getting to the site early putting up signs and directing members to the parking area. We would have had real problems without them.

 I would also like to thank Roman Ray who found the land for us. It proved once again what a quality site it is with really good finds being made over the whole farm not just in one or two hotspots as can sometimes happen.

Geoff

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[Chef Geoff]

Well done all, it looks like a great day was had by all and thanks for a great write-up Geoff
As for that other Geoff......"you sporny toad" lol
The "skewer" is definitely a pot-mdi bodkin and the anular "brooch" is a buckle.

[dances with badgers]

awsome finds guys

[outlaw]

Well thank you too the organisers and Ray, without whom there wouldnt have been a rally. It was great fun, nice to catch up with some old friends and met some new faces. It was a great site and I am sure worth another visit.
My anulla brooch come buckle, ( i made a small scratch)  is silver and very light. Have sourced a few piccies on various data bases of silver type and found a few. Unfortunately I am not an expert and the jury is still out, have to wait for the museum's verdict. although my 1st thought was its a buckle lol lol
Very enjoyable day,

You do not realise at the time what fantastic finds are coming up.  

[WeCan-Octavian]

Well done all, some brilliant finds. Thank you Ray,Rob,Neil,Geoff lets hope its not long until the next Jolly boys outing  

Nick

[DEADLOCK]

Thank you dw for the rally well enjoyed bur finds didnt come my way well done to all that did find hope to see you all at the next one.

[markymark123]

great rally thanks to all the organizers 

[Dale]

I think the silver item is a cosmetic implement ear scoop, tooth pick, pin.
Great find well done

[markymark123]

http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/270218

 I think it's more like this  

[Chef Geoff]

Yep that's a bodkin There doesn't seem to be a consensus of opinion of exactly what a Bodkin was, It seems to be the "Swiss Army Knife" of it's time

[markymark123]

it has the initials FH on the inside chef ....would that be the person who owned it or the makers mark ?