70 years lost, found, and returned!
It’s my 100th post, so I’m sharing one of my most memorable and rewarding metal detecting experiences from a few years back.
I was swinging my detector walking across the old golf course on my way to a little spot where I had found some old stuff before.
A solid 52 on the DEUS caught my ear which turned out to be a little gold ring! Marked 10k along with the initials PAS.
Later that evening I was speaking to an older friend of mine named Bud, he is always interested in hearing of my latest finds. He mentioned that his sister's initials were PAS before she was married, and she graduated high school in 1947. When I got home I checked the school records and sure enough, only one match, and it was his sister named Patricia! I saw him the next day, he had called his sister and yes she remembered losing the ring in 1948. She was golfing, took the ring off and SET IT ON THE GROUND while she took her shot, then couldn't find it afterwards. That was 69 years earlier, and she was 88 yrs old!
I couldn’t drive the 10 hours, so after I had a jeweller straighten the ring a little bit, I packed it up and mailed it to her.
She received the ring and was blown away to have it back after all those years. She sent me a lovely note along with a picture of her wearing the ring. The next summer she came to visit family and I was able to meet her! It was big hugs, and we had a great visit. I was just thrilled to be able to reunite this lady and her ring after nearly 70 years.
#xpdeus #xpdeusfinds #metaldetecting #metaldetectingfinds #treasurehunting #goldring #1947 #lostandfound #ringreturn #vintagering #classring #lostring #feelgood #returned #saskatchewan #northdakota #amazing #makesomeonehappy #1940s #heartwarming #whatarethechances #detecting #bestfinds
Swipe to see the amazing restoration of this United States 21st Infantry, Company F, Spanish American War era hat badge that I dug up in a small stand of trees on the prairie a while back.
When it came out of the ground it was badly bent out of shape. As I carefully bent it back, I realized what it was and I was very excited- and relieved that I hadn’t broken it! The pin on the pack was a bit rusted, and few days later it had fallen off. I sent it off to a relic restorer in Virginia who reattached the pin, corrected the remaining bends in the rifles, and gently replaced just the right amount of gold leaf to make it look great while maintaining that dug relic patina.
The 21st F was present at the Siege of Santiago, as well as other campaigns in Puerto Rico and the Philippines. I’ve been researching soldiers from this group, but still no names that ring a local bell.
#xpdeus #xpdeusfinds #metaldetecting #metaldetectingusa #metaldetectingcanada #relics #relichunting #usarmyinfantry #militaria #warrelics #militaryinsignia #vintagemilitaria #savinghistory #historylovers #spanishamericanwar #restoration #detectingpics
9th century Anglo Saxon zoomorphic brooch I dug in England, six years ago today. Definitely one of the highlights of my time there!
@xpmetaldetectors
#xpdeus #xpdeusfinds #xpdeusmetaldetector #metaldetectingfinds #metaldetecting #metaldetectinguk #anglosaxonhistory #eastanglia #detectorist #zoomorphicbrooch #englandhistory #9thcentury #bronzejewelry #vikings #treasurehunting #detectingpics
I had the rare opportunity to hunt around the ball diamond in our little village. It has always been overgrown with knee to waist high grass, it’s a dumping ground for various junk, there’s an asphalt pile, and the outfield has been the “tree pile” for a long time, which gets burned annually. It was burned this March, but the embers have been smoldering since then, and the recent days of 110kmph wind reignited it.
It was rough digging, and I came home looking like a 1920’s coal miner from digging in the charred grass lol. But I managed to find a few keepers.
#metaldetecting #grassfire #saskatchewan #silver #1950’s
I have always wanted to dig a seal matrix, and to find one with the initial of my surname is pretty wild.
#metaldetecting #saskatchewan #relichunting #bestfinds #vintage
Swipe to see the restoration of this 1914d barber dime that I found last night. It’s a common date, and was in pretty rough shape so I decided to get it looking presentable. First a gentle toothbrush and warm water, then electrolysis followed by baking soda and lime juice to remove the remaining discolouration. Then I did the egg in a bag trick to get rid of the shine and re-tone the coin. I’m very happy with the result, especially the slight rainbow effect in the toning. ✨
#metaldetecting #restoration #oldcoins #saskatchewan #xpdeusfinds
When the neighbour down the street asks you to find their property pins but all you find is your first silver of the year.
#metaldetecting #silver #oldcoins #spring #digging
I thought this was just another penny until I got home and cleaned it up. Turns out it’s a 1935 5 centesimi from the tiny country of San Marino. I wonder how it got all the way to Saskatchewan.
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is an ancient landlocked microstate in Southern Europe, entirely surrounded by Italy. Located near the Adriatic coast, it is the world’s fifth-smallest country, with a population of approximately 34,000. The capital, City of San Marino, is famous for its medieval, hilltop castles. Founded in 301 AD by Saint Marinus, it claims to be the oldest sovereign state and republic in the world.
#sanmarino #metaldetecting #oldcoins #interesting #historylovers
So pleased to unearth this old micro mosaic brooch last night, it’s beautiful and all the tiny pieces of glass are still there. It’s stamped “Italy” on the back, and I think it’s likely 1920’s-1940’s.
#metaldetecing #vintagejewelry #mosaic #flowers #antiqueglass
Key date! The snow melted again and a one hour dig last night produced one cent. But it turns out to be a key date, and the condition is remarkable. Gotta love the mild soil around here.
#metaldetecting #oldcoins #collector #treasure #canada
