After a week with manflu, I was itching to get out of the house this morning, so I went on a brief jaunt with Mark and Johnny (DetectingWales.com members). We went to an area we had never been before, past Bridgend with views of the sea. Lovely setting.
Mark did the honours by door knocking and was quickly rewarded by a friendly farmer. Farmers really seem to warm to Mark and he has oficially become our door knocker! His keeness to get us land was to be equally rewarded, and rightly so - more on that in a minute.
Anyway the fields had been harvested and were left in a "weak stubble" condition - perfect for us.
After only an hour or so I glance across this huge field and can see Mark in the distance doing our "Milled Silver hand signal" and reeling around in a frenzy of dancing, and looked like he was doing the robot! Thats not right for a bit of milled silver I thought - why is he so happy? Anyway I down tools and head to Mark who is by now beaming from ear to ear as he hands me a William III (William of Orange) - 1697 (a rare year as most are 1696 - The Great Re-coinage year) Half Crown in lovely condition (apart from where there was a new mark - which looked suspiciously like it was from a spade!
). A cracking coin and the best Milled Silver we have found in our time as a Detecting Crew! Well done Mark - you deserve it mate!
So from there I headed off full of expectations, but no silver coinage for me today - just shed loads of buttons. I did however find a Medieval Strap End (doubt anyone can date it?). I also found what looks like a coin weight - needs cleaning.
As I was about to leave I checked in with Mark and Johnny again. By now Mark had found an Edward hammered in decent condition (any details - mint, ed, etc anyone?) and Johnny had a rather battered Tudor hammered coin.
I left them in the field and headed home to my cooking duties. Greek lamb in lemon and feta sauce is on the menu - although I was half tempted to stay and let my wife make a toastie!
Cheers
Neil