Metal detecting holidays in England with the World's most successful metal detecting club.

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  • 2010 March finds page 2

    1634 Charles 1st hammered silver penny
    Georgian button
    19thC Dragoon guard button
    1554 Mary hammered silver groat
    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross cut farthing

    16thC Tudor gold on silver cherub mount (left) - reported as treasure. Interesting to compare a similar example (right) we found in the first half of the season curently going through the treasure process.

    1533-44 Henry VIII hammered silver groat fragment
    19thC religious cross
    20thC Elizabeth II 4oz trade weight
    George 1st trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    Roman buckle tongue
    Surveyer's line marker
    Interesting medieval strap fitting - 2 rivet fixings ?
    18thC decorated clog fastener
    Georgian lock plate
    Corporation button
    17thC decorated clothing fastener
    Saxon lead gaming piece - black inlaid symbols
    18thC toy cannon
    17thC mount with 2 integral lugs
    18tghC Jews harp

    1654 Will Anger of Clacton Essex hammered copper trade farthing

    Ref Norweb 1139

    4thC Roman bronze
    1607 -9 James 1st hammered silver half groat

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross half penny

    Moneyer Nicole of Canterbury

    1119 King John hammered silver short cross penny - Class 5a

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev RICARD ON NIC(OL

    Moneyer Ricard of Lincoln mint

    1413 -22 Henry V hammered silver penny - Pierced cross

     

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

     

    1554 Mary hammered silver groat
    1696 William III milled silver sixpence

    1189-99 Richard 1st hammered silver short cross penny Class 4a

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev fVLKE( ON LVND -Moneyer Fvlke of London mint

    1341 Edward III hammered silver penny

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    Taco'd 13thC Medieval hammered short cross penny - needs straightening to ID properly
    18thC silver thimble - initialed M
    Military badge ?

    27.74mm, 7.81g

    This appears to be a GENIO POPVLI ROMANI follis of either Galerius as Caesar or Maximinus II as Caesar - this is a little earlier than most of the 4th century material you seem to turn up.  This would date to about 305-310 AD.  I can't quite read the mint mark - it could be London - but it's generally more likely to be a Western (European) mint rather than an Eastern mint.

     
    Mark
    Crispy Roman silver - in the 'cooker' to remove crust

    Cleaned up medieval seal matrix, the impression appears to be two birds mating ?

    Legend *CREDE MICHI II

    Roman bronze sent for ID

    This one is a two-standard GLORIA EXERCITVS - without a clear obverse legend, I can't say for whom it was struck - and there are at least 4 possibilities - Constantine I and his three younger sons.  This type generally dates to about 330-335 AD.  These are contemporaneous with the city commemoratives for Rome and Constantinople (like the CONSTANTINOPOLIS you sent earlier today)  In about 335, the double standard between the soldiers was changed to a single standard.  The single-standard reverse type continued to be used on and off for another 5-10 years.
     
    Mark

     

    70BC Morini Celtic gold qtr stater - Sent to CCI for recording

    1.44g,10.27mm

    Tenn Brad sent me a picture of a 14thC John the Baptist medallion found in the river Thames and it matches exactly the pendant found by Bil Mark on the Roman hoard field, great find.

    Medeival twisted wire gold ring - no hall marks

    22.34mm, 2.73g

     

    Roman 1st/2nd C silver coin as dug and 'cooking' to remove crust

    Sent to Mark for provisional ID - still cooking it some more 2.84g,17.09mm

    You probably won't be surprised that I'm not 100% certain on this one, but the obverse looks very like Vitellius - one of the 4 contestants for Nero's throne in 68 AD.  Aside from Vespasian - who was the eventual victor - they're all scarce to rare.  Vitellius is probably the least rare of the less common three (Galba, Otho & Vitellius), but it's still pretty unusual to encounter one of his denarii.
    If I could just get some idea of what was supposed to be happening on the reverse in order that I could confirm that it's among Vitellius' reverse types, I'd probably be pretty certain, but I can't quite figure out what is going on with the reverse.
     

    Mark

     

    18.74mm, 5.62g

    Outer Band - In memory of

    Inner inscription - Anna C Round Ob 5th Ap 1822

    Maker TM -18 carat Sheffield hallmark 1829

     

     

     

    50 BC Celtic qtr stater sent to CCI for recording and ID - possible Early uninscribed British QC

    13.36mm, 1.34g

    Saxon stirrup strap mount - top fixing Type 2A

    Similar to a design found at Swafield Norfolk

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided half penny - Class 3a

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev HEN/RIO/NLV/NDE Moneyer Henri of London mint

    12thC medieval beehive thimble

    1180 Henry II hammered silver short cross half penny Class 1b

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    1199 John hammered silver short cross penny- Class 5c

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev WALTEB ON.LVND Moneyer Walter of London

    Probably one of the smallest hammered silver coins you can find, 1/3rd the weight of a Medieval silver farthing

    1625-42 Charles 1st hammered silver half penny - Rose each side - no legend type

    0.17g, 9.5mm

    Great consition 1861 Victorian milled copper half penny
    c10thC Saxon harness cheek piece fragment
    Georgian trade weight
    15thC lead token
    1900 Victorian milled silver 3 pence
    1940 George V milled silver sixpence

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1592-5 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver half groat

    1586 Hans Krauwincel II Rose orb Jeton

    HANNS KRAVWINCKEL IN NVRENB

    Roman lead token
    1592-5 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny
    1818 George III milled silver sixpence

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Royal fuseliers cap badge
    19thC livery button
    1809 Danish 2 1/2 schilling milled silver billion coin

    Interesting Roman silver forgery sent for ID

    2.36g, 17.33mm

     

    4thC Roman bronze sent for ID

    The coin is unusual - it has AVGVSTA (I think) spelled-out and so is earlier - probably early 3rd century - let me do some research and see who I come up with - I think I see IVLIA on the left, and it could be Domna, although it doesn't much look like her - and I'm curious about the diameter of that one, too - bigger than 18mm, right? - because if it's in the 18mm vicinity, then it's probably a so-called "Limes Denarius".
     
    Mark 

     

    1602 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver half groat - '2' mint mark

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided penny - Class 4ab

    Obv HENRICVS REX III

    Rev NIC/OLE/ONC/ANT - Moneyer Nicole of Canterbury mint

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided qtr penny
    1475 Dutch - Karel de Stoute - hammered silver DOUBLE STUIVER, (Charles the bold)
    1816 George III milled silver sixpence
    20thC 10th Colchester regiment badge

    Early Roman silver coin partially 'cooked' send off to Mark Lehman for ID 16.50mm, 2.57g

    I found it - it took a while because this is supposed to be a denarius serratus - with a "toothed" edge.  These denticles were applied after striking, evidently - a stack of coins was held in some sort of clamp and a file or saw-blade of some sort was applied lenghthwise to the pile cutting 25 or 30 grooves or notches in the edges of all the coins - or it's supposed to work this way.  If you look very carefully at the obverse, you can see 4 or 5 very shallow indentations on the rim between about 1:00 & 4:00 - so this is an almost serrate denarius.
     
    It dates to 81 BC. - C. Marius C.f. Capito (RSC/Babelon Maria 9) the coin has "SC" in the reverse exergue indicating that the senate had authorized a significant increase in the quantity of coins originally this quaestor was sanctioned to strike.
     
    Obv: CAPIT XXVIIII (control number) behind head of Ceres right, wreathed in corn.
    Rx: C MARI C F beneath plowman guiding yoke of oxen left; SC in exergue.
     
    SR 300, Syd.CRR 744b.
     
    So, it's not tremendously early - it dates to the period just before the dictatorship of Sulla.
     
    Mark 

     

     

    Venetian Soldino issued by Doge Michele Steno (1400-1413).
    Obv: MICHAEL STEN' DVX (Michele Steno, Doge). Doge standing left, holding standard.
    Rev: S MARCVS VENETI (Saint Mark of Venice). Winged and nimbate lion of Saint Mark facing.

    Doge standing left, holding banner, * / m in right field

    Huge medieval key

    Pilgrim ampullae - holly water bottle made of lead 12th to 15thC, Scallop shell type with merchant shield on reverse

    These ampoule were brought from pilgrimage places as a souvenir

    Mitchiner suggests that many ampullae were used in the annual springtime ’Blessing the Fields’ ceremony, in which the Holy Water they contained was sprinkled on the ground to give prayer for a good harvest. Having served this purpose, Mitchiner suggests that the ampullae were discarded. Others have suggested that the ampullae were buried along with their contents for a similar purpose.

    Interesting vessica shaped seal - more like a Georgian style stamp

    1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny - Cross potent - Class 10ab

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Roman lead token
    Stunning 1722 George 1st milled silver sixpence

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1426-44 Henry VIII hammered silver sovereign penny - 2nd coinage

    Obv King enthroned holding orb and sceptre - TW by shield

    ArchBp Wolsey - Durham mint

    1413-22 Henry V hammered silver half penny - broken annulet to left and pellet to right by crown

    Note The pellets seem to have been produced by converting broken annulets on dies. They may appear whole or 'nicked' depending on the accuracy and force with which they are applied within the annulet

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    19thC snake buckle

    1483 Edward V hammered silver groat - Halved sun and rose mint mark

    Obv EDWA ***

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Monster silver find - our first ever large denomination Charles II silver coin

    1660-85 - Charles II milled silver half crown (30 pence) 3rd issue

    4thC Roman bronze sent for ID

    The two at the top are common Constantinian family types - the 2nd is definitely a 2-standard GLORIA EXERCITVS - the one at the top, I'm not as sure what's going on - is it two standing figures? - if so, it might be a VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP with 2 Victories holding a shield over a short column, or possibly a Gloria Ex, although it doesn't strike me immediately as a Gloria Ex, I suppose it could be a single-standard type.
     
    The coin on the bottom, however, is unusual - it has AVGVSTA (I think) spelled-out and so is earlier - probably early 3rd century - let me do some research and see who I come up with - I think I see IVLIA on the left, and it could be Domna, although it doesn't much look like her - and I'm curious about the diameter of that one, too - bigger than 18mm, right? - because if it's in the 18mm vicinity, then it's probably a so-called "Limes Denarius".
     
    Mark 

     

    Cracking condition Roman bronze sent for ID 19.27, 1.92g

     

    This one, in case you couldn't read it, is an antoninianus of Gallienus (sole reign, 26-268 AD) this belongs to the so-called "Zoo" series of coins with various animal reverses.
     
    This one has a reverse legend of DIANAE CONS AVG and shows an antelope or a stag (elk) (I'm not completely sure which) walking right.  A nicer specimen (I happen to be working with a Gallienus zoo collection at the moment)
     
    This series, naming various deities - Apollo, Diana, Hercules, Jupiter, Liber/Bacchus, Neptune & Sol was issued in the last couple years of Gallienus' reign 267/8 
     
    Mark

    Roman silver coin with green crust - cooking it to remove crud - sent for ID 16.23mm, 2.95g

    it's a denarius of Julia Domna, on whom I gave you a lot of background earlier today.  Wife of Septimius Severus, etc.  I believe, although it's difficult to be sure given the condition, that the reverse type is VENVS VICTRIX - which is a fairly common reverse type for Domna.
     
    Mark

     

     

    As dug

    Starting to 'cook' it

     

    Roman silver coin - cooking to remove green crud - sent to mark Lehman for provisional ID 19.77mm

    You seem to be getting a lot of unintended small change lately - This is a denarius of Severus Alexander - the last member of the Severan Dynasty, 222-235 AD.  This one should read: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG on the obverse and ANNONA AVG on the reverse.  In addition to the missing parts, there seems to be either a squashed letter "A" or a letter "I" in error at the end of ANNONA.  Annona was the allegorical personification of the grain supply - yes, it was THAT important to the Romans so that it required a minor deity to be "in charge" of imported grain.  She's shown holding a handful of grain-ears and a cornucopia.  What I can't tell is whether she has her foot on a ship's prow or there's a modius - a grain-measure basket - at her feet since that bit is missing.  If it's the ship's prow, this coin dates to 228 - if it's the modius, it's 226.  For our purposes, we can assume that all the silver was struck at the mint in Rome at this point in time.
     
    Mark 

     

    Roman silver coin - in the 'cooker' to remove horn silver crust

    Large Roman 1st/2ndC AS sent for ID

     

    These are AE's of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius (I believe - it could be Lucilla, but she's not as likely as Faustina) and Hadrian.  I can't quite figure out what's happening on the reverse of the Hadrian - looks like a transverse chain?  Nothing I'm immediately familiar with, at any rate.  perhaps it is 45º rotated to clockwise and I'm seeing a shield and the outline of drapery and an arm?  If so, could be a lot of different things, but Roma, Mars & Virtus come to mind - all would have grounded shields.
     
    The Faustina/Lucilla Rx is a Diana Lucifera type - Diana holding a long torch transversely.
     
    Mark

     

    Large Roman 1st/2ndC AS sent for ID

    These are AE's of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius (I believe - it could be Lucilla, but she's not as likely as Faustina) and Hadrian.  I can't quite figure out what's happening on the reverse of the Hadrian - looks like a transverse chain?  Nothing I'm immediately familiar with, at any rate.  perhaps it is 45º rotated to clockwise and I'm seeing a shield and the outline of drapery and an arm?  If so, could be a lot of different things, but Roma, Mars & Virtus come to mind - all would have grounded shields.
     
    The Faustina/Lucilla Rx is a Diana Lucifera type - Diana holding a long torch transversely.
     
    Mark

     

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided penny - Class 2b

    Obv HENRICVS REX III

    Rev ION/ONS/EDM/VND- Moneyer Ion of Bury St Edmunds mint

    1562 Elizabeth hammered silver penny

     

    Stunningly beautiful - Romano/British bronze razor back pig/hog offering ? red enamelled eyes - 65.56mm L x 39.9mm H 148g

     

    Interesting Edward cut half with a legend ending in Rex not in the book - needs more research

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1604-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat
    Roman lead figurine
    Lots of real nice undamaged crotal bells being found from all periods- some have clear founday marks
    Georgian harness mount
    18thC jews harp
    Medieval buckle
    Roman hooked clothing fastener
    Unusual elongated Tuor style button/pin
    18thC Knife handle guard
    We have found several of this type before but not in the ref books, ckearly a harness buckle but what date and its use ?
    Early script on silver fragment - possible 17thC report to museum as treasure
    Interesting widget ?
    Georgian copper alloy brooch
    1750 Portuguese copper coin
    Army medical corp cap badge
    Georgian decorated silver thimble

    Roman silver coin forgery - you can see clearly the copper core has seeped through

     

    Although "fourree" silver-over-copper denarii are not terribly uncommon, they tend to be seen more in the Republic and early Imperial era, however.  Those silver foil-wrapped copper cores, the foil sealed to the core with flux and the whole package struck with dies was the "standard" for counterfeits - ie: fakes made to deceive and pass current as good silver denarii for a long time.

    Interesting 16thC jetton - need to check ref books on this one

    1890 9 carat gold ring - Birmingham hall mark - Marker JM

    3.36g, 18.95mm

    Man's gold signet ring - inscribed LW

    Maker P&G 9 carat Date letter W - still working on the date

    4.70g, 23.32mm

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided half penny

    Rev DA/VID/

    1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny -Cross Potent

    Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Medieval mount

    1351-2 Edward III hammered silver groat - Cross 1 Series D

    Closed C & E's

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Georgian decorated silver thimble
    17thC Charles II silver button - reported as treasure
    1937 George V milled silver sixpence
    Interesting strap type widget - one for the museum
    1485 -1509 Henry VII hammered silver groat

    1216 Henry III hammered silver short cross half penny

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev ** RI.ON.C **** Moneyer Henri Canterbury mint

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    15thC Angel coin coin weight - bent right leg Circa 1493 - British
    Medieval golded harness pendant

    1205 Willam 1 The Lion - Scottish hammered silver penny

    Obv WILAM

    Rev HUE WALTER

    Moneyer Walter of Perth, Edinburgh and Roxburgh mints

    Another silver Roman with green grunge' growing on it - sent for ID

    18.65mm, 2.57g

    Yes indeed - if they all came out of the ground looking like this, you wouldn't have much use for me!  This is, of course, Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, mother of Caracalla & Geta, great-aunt of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander.  Septimius Severus married her in 188 because of a fortuneteller's prediction that she would be an empress - and so she was, in fairly short order, Severus donning the purple on the downfall of Didius Julianus in 193. 
     
    It wasn't all roses and luxury, however, she accompanied her husband all around the Roman world during the last 5 years of his military career, and her younger son, Geta, was murdered before her eyes and died in her arms after being tricked by older brother Caracalla into attending a banquet at which they were supposed to renounce their earlier antagonism and share the empire between them as Dad Severus had intended before his death at York in 211 - Julia accompanied him on this campaign, as did Caracalla.
     
    She outlived her family (not all that unusual for Imperial women), but not for long, committing suicide by self-starvation in late 217.  Coins were struck in her honor under both Septimius and Caracalla and she was the first woman to be portrayed on Caracalla's new denomination, the antoninianus or double denarius. 
     
    This is a denarius, of course, and the reverse type is the simple IVNO - (Domna as) Juno holding a patera to feed a peacock - which isn't quite visible behind the green encrustation to her left - and a scepter. This type, struck under Septimius Severus, dates about 209 AD, and is considered common - although the condition of this specimen is anything but common for your area - the denarii were still relatively good silver at this time, however, and had a lot less base metal in the alloy to corrode and degrade.
     
    RIC 559, RSC 82, SR 6588.
     
    Mark

     

    1604-4 James 1st hammered silver penny

    1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny -Class 10ab

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev VILL/SCIE/DMV/NDI - Bury St Edmunds mint

    1180 Henry II hammered silver short cross- cut half penny - Class 1a

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross cut half penny

    Obv HENRICVS REX III

    Obv HEN/RIO/NLV/NDE - Moneyer Henri of London mint

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross cut farthing
    Medieval Venetain soldino silver hammered coin
    1696 William III milled silver shilling

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR Canterbury mint

    4thC Roman bronze sent for ID

    that appears to be a "Contemporary Copy" of a Constantinian-era GLORIA EXERCITVS type - 2 soldiers flanking 2 standards.  The prototype dates to 330-335 AD. and copies would be from about the same time or just a year or two later.
     
    Mark

     

    1550-1650 buckle
    Georgian gold plates watch winder

    Medieval gold ring - inscribed LUV - reported as treasure to museum

    0.74g, 16.74mm

    Cooked Roman silver sent for ID 1.43g, 17.71mm

    This is a denarius (well, most of one anyway) of Antoninus Pius - 138-161 AD.  The reverse type is a bit more difficult to tell since the really interesting bit is almost completely off the coin.  It's Salus, the personification of the soundness or "health" of the Empire standing left and feeding from a patera a serpent arising from the short altar at her feet.  You can just see the tip of its head at the end of her arm and you can see a loop & coil of body hanging off the altar if you know what you're looking at.
    The reverse legend would be COS IIII which doesn't tell us a whole lot except that this coin was struck during or after his 4th consulship - 145-161, but add to the calculations the TR P date of XI from the obverse legend and we can date it to 147/8 AD.
     
    Mark

     

    Medieval shield pendant hanger - 3 rivet fixings
    Rifle regiment cap badge

    Roman silver coin sent for ID

    1.85g, 19.11mm

     
    This is our old friend Tiberius - again! - it's the ever-popular, so-called "Tribute Penny" of which you seem to find many.  There probably were plenty of them still in circulation at the time of Claudius' invasion.  Tiberius for all practical purposes only struck this one type of denarius throughout his long (14-37 AD) reign.  If it were not for the (somewhat dubious) "biblical reference" which causes this coin-type to be of interest to non-numismatic folks who want it for its supposed biblical link, it would be, rather than one of the most desireable and expensive, one of the cheapest and most common 1st century denarii.
     
    Mark

     

    1619-25 James 1st hammered silver shilling (XII pence) 3rd coinage
    Cracking find - 18th/19thC Lion headed sword hanger
    Snake clasp ? TD & C Patent 1546
    1784 Continental copper coin
    Roman lead token
    16thC seal matrix with bird impression
    19thC livery button
    Military button ?
    Huge medallion - needs cleaning to deciper it
    Georgian buckle
    16thC Tudor clothing fastener
    18thC clog fastener
    1550-1650 buckle
    Early medieval gilded harness pendant - circle decoration
    17thC lead token
    Military cap badge
    1550-1650 buckle
    Great find WWI Royal flying corp cap bdge
    Georgian bell type trade weight

    Tiny 1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Great find, known obverse die error

    1327 Edward III hammered silver penny

    Obv ER ANGL ****

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1634 Charles 1st hammered silver penny
    1649 Commonwealth hammered silver penny
    Crudely made Georgian watch winder
    17thC decorated finger ring
    c 10thC Saxon stirrup fitting
    1619 James 1st XIs Double crown gold coin weight -2nd coinage revalued

     

    Medieval swivel strap guide

    Roman lead token

    Obv Roman bust

    Rev One figure standing - one seated

    17thC lead token
    18thC clog fastener
    17thC clothing fastener
    1550-1650 buckle
    1845 Victorian milled silver groat
    4thC Roman bronze coin - sent for ID
    17th mount with 2 integral lugs
    17thC Charles II silver button - reported as treasure
    1696 William III milled silver sixpence

    1215 Henry III hammered silver short cross half penny

    London mint

    1180 Henry II hammered silver short cross half penny - Class 1b

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev * RAVL.ON ** - Moneyer Ravl

    4thC Roman bronze coin - sent for ID

    either Constans or Constantius II - the reverse type, VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN - 2 victories facing each other holding wreaths - was only struck in 347 & 348 so it's a good type for dating a site.  The obverse is too badly compromised for me to tell from the photo whether it's Constans or Constantius - nothng particularly special about either one, they were brothers and sons of Constantine I "The Great".  Constans would live another 2 years and Constantius another 15 or so, but they were petty much "interchangeable" at this point in time, except that one dealt with the western part and the other the eastern part of the Empire.

    Mark

    1stC Roman fibular brooch fragment

    Roman lead token

    Obv Roman bust

    Unusual Roman bronze sent for ID

    20.75mm,3.22g

    Constantine I "The Great" (307-337) - this AE3's reverse has "D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG" around a small wreath in which is the Vota vow "date"- "VOT / XX"  It also has a somewhat unusual obverse legend-break - "CONSTA - NTINVS AVG" - they're usually broken more symmetrically.
     
    I can't read the mint mark - if this cleans up at all and we can read the exergue (in this photo, the reverse is rotated 45º clockwise of proper orientation - the mint mark would be at the bottom, under the wreath-ties) I can tell you where it's from - in general though, the "when" is about 320-324 (it wasn't unusual for emperors to "anticipate" their vows by half a decade or more.
     
    If I could see the mint mark, I could say both where it was struck and narrow-down the time frame to a year or a few months, depending.
     
    Mark

     

     

    1471 Edward IV hammered silver groat

    Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Under this crust is a Roman silver coin - straight into the 'cooker' to eat off the crud
    18thC apothecary weight
    Thick copper alloy ring - possible medieval harness type
    17thC Charles II silver button - reported as treasure

    Best condition Roman silver I have ever seen dug- next to fresh water spring ! Probably an offering

    Sent off for ID

    16.3mm,3.39g

    This is a denarius of Antoninus Pius, 138-161- there are many who consider his reign the height of the golden era of Imperial Rome.  There was so little strife, war, plague or disaster that the result is that there's very little written about him or his times other than "He was known as the fairest and wisest of rulers and blah..."  Of course from the British perspective, he's important for having built the second wall, north of Hadrian's.  From the dates which are parts of his titles in the legends, this coin dates to 153/4. The reverse shows Vesta, the special deity of the Roman hearth and home standing left holding a simpulum - a ceremonial ladle which was part of the set of priestly implements portrayals of the set of which were an emblem of the priestly colleges, and the Palladium, sort of a short, thick scepter with a figure of Pallas/Athena at its end.  Supposedly brought to Rome out of the ruin of Troy by Aeneas, it was considered a special symbol of the city's - and by extention, the empire's - devine protection.
     
    Mark

     

    Stunning silver inlaid medieval annular brooch 24.86mm, 2.77g
    Lots of Roman 'grots' being dug, best ones sent to Mark Lehman for his ID
    Continental jetton ?
     
    Roman writing stylus
     
    Stunning c13thC Heraldic shield pendant- red enamel and gilding remaining
    c13thC Cross pendant - thick gold plating remains
    c10thC Saxon stirrup alloy termninal - Class A type 1
    Medieval casket key

    Superb find 19thC 14th Regiment of foot button

    India Waterloo

    Really neat Georgian glass fob seal - mans bust impression
    1777 George III gold half guinea
     
    18thC clog fastener
     

    1461 Edward IV hammered silver groat-First reign -Initial mark Long cross fitchee

    Trefoils on cusps except above crown

    Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    17thC mount with 2 integral lugs
    Interesting measure - apothecary ?
    Crude Saxon hooked fastener - 2 rivet fixings

    1249 Alexander Scottish hammered silver half penny

    Moneyer Robert

    1341 Edward III hammered silver florin penny -Cross 3

    Obv EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1666 Giles Tayspill of Colchester Essex hammered copper trade farthing

    Ref Norweb 1227a

    Medieval hanging pendant - enamelling could still be under the crud
    Lots a nice early complete decorated crotal bells being dug up
    1640's lead gunpowder measures and cap - one on left is the first one I have seen decorated
    Huge medieval lead trade weight
    c12thC bronze beehive thimble

    1361-1369 Edward III treaty period hammered silver penny

    Obv EDWARD ANGL DNS HYB

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR Canterbury mint

    Medieval 'boy bishop' style lead token
    16thC Tudor button
    Georgian buckle

    1422 Henry VI hammered silver penny - York mint - Archiepiscopal issue

    Quatrefoil with pellet at centre of reverse cross

    18thC clog fastener
    19thC livery button

    1641-3 Charles 1st hammered silver penny - mintmark 2 dots

     
    20thC inlaid button
     

    1247 Henry III hammered silver voided long cross penny - Class 5a

    Rev ION/ONS/EDM/VND - Moneyer Ion - Bury St Edmunds mint

    1816 George III milled silver shilling

    1279 Edward 1st hammered silver penny - Cross potent

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1854 Victoria milled silver groat
    1585-6 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver shilling

    1361-69 Edward III hammered gold qtr noble - treaty period - quatrefoil in centre:cross over shield

    1.94g, 19.10 mm

     

    c10thC Saxon harness strap fittings
    16thC Tudor clothing fastener
    1573-8 Elizabeth hammered silver 3 pence
    First dated 18thC lead token I have seen dated 1754
    1550-1650 buckle
    Military cap badge

    William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau (1 September 1711 – 22 October 1751), born Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, was the first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands.

    Obv PRINS VAN ORANGE & NASSAU 3rd May 1747

    16thC Elizabeth 1st hammered silver half groat
    Taco'd 13thC Medieval short cross hammered silver penny
    1505-9 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Pheon mintmark
    Royal Army mediecal corp
    Ancient gold fragment - reported as treasure to museum - could be a Celtic qtr stater broken blank
    Dutch lead bale seal

    Medieval badges Ref Mitchiner p244 939 - 941

     

    'A badge for a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in bronze and dating somewhere around C13/14th possibly very slightly later . This is a very scarce item and it relates to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem being a Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. According to reliable sources in the Vatican and Jerusalem, it began in historical reality as a mixed clerical and lay confraternity (association) of pilgrims which gradually grew around the most central of the Christian holy places in the Middle East, the Holy Sepulchre or the tomb of Jesus Christ.This would have been a pin for a member of the order , there is a mark on the reverse where the original pin would have been fixed '

    Military button
    Corporation button
    1932 George V milled silver half crown
    Georgian silver cufflink
    Corporation button

    1215 Henry III hammered silver short cross penny

    Rev *E.ON.CA - Canterbury mint

    1280-86 Scottish Alexander III hammered silver penny -2nd issue
    1913 French coin - 50 centimes
    Irish 1689 James II emergency issue 'gun metal' shilling
    1550-1650 buckle
    20thC George V Army button
    Romano/British enamelled disc brooch
    Interesting Navy button
    Georgian silver inlaid mount

    1430-1 Henry VI hammered silver groat- Rosette mascle issue- inital mark incurved cross

    Calais mint

    1422-30 Henry VI hammered silver groat- Annulet issue-Annulet in two qtrs on reverse - inital mark cross patonce

    Calais mint

    1580 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence - - Latin cross 5th issue
    1618-19 James 1st hammered silver half groat - Plain cross 2nd coinage
    1640's lead gunpowder measures and cap
    Excellent medieval religious mount - gold and red enamel remain

    Victorian red and blue enamelled hair slide
    1892 Victoria milled silver shilling
    Fancy Victorian gold plated handle ?
    17thC sword belt fitting
    1550-1650 buckle

    Robert FitzWalter - enameled 13thC heraldic shield pendant

    Or a fess between two chevrons gules

    Robert le FizWalter


    In 1206 King John refused to agree to Pope Innocent III's choice of Archbishop of Canterbury after his own choice had been rejected. Because the king still challenged the pope, in 1207 he was excommunicated (not allowed to be a member of the church) and an 'interdict' was issued by the pope.

    Because of the interdict, the churches closed and their bells fell silent. With the church doors locked, services could not take place. The dead had to be buried in fields instead of in holy ground. People could not marry in church and baptisms had to be carried out in church porches.

    King John's excommunication also let off the barons from their oath of loyalty to him. Because they might rebel against him at any time, King John acted quickly against anyone who looked as though they might be disloyal. We know from the Medieval Chronicles that Robert FitzWalter, the 3rd Lord of Dunmow Castle, was accused of plotting to kill King John during a rebellion in 1212. The rebellion was quickly quashed. FitzWalter was outlawed and fled to France.

    Eventually in 1213, the Pope told King Philip of France that he could invade England and King John finally agreed to the Pope's terms including his choice of Archbishop. Robert FitzWalter returned home and, with the other Barons, he made peace with King John.

    This did not last long, however. It was found that FitzWalter was still plotting against the King and urging for the government to be reformed. Because of this, his home in London, the Castle of Baynard, was almost entirely destroyed

    Taxes, during King John's reign, were very high and became ever higher.

    In 1214, King John left England to fight a war in France. To make sure the army had enough supplies, the king's Regent of the time, Peter de Roches, raised a very big tax on the barons. The war was lost and, as in the story, on the Kings' return, Robert FitzWalter called a meeting at Bury St Edmunds Abbey where it was agreed that the King must agree to the laws and freedoms granted to the barons in the charter of Henry 1st, or they would declare war on him.

    Robert FitzWalter led the Baron's army under the title "Marshal of the Army of God and the Holy Church." In the end, the King was forced to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede on 15th June 1215. Several copies of the Magna Carta documents still exist.

    Magna Carta means 'great charter'. To abide by Magna Carta, the King had to agree to certain laws and accept that his will was not above the law. It was not the first written document that put limits on the power of a king, but it was the first that was backed up by a council (of 25 barons) to try and make sure the king obeyed. It included a paragraph that said 'no free man shall be seized, imprisoned, disposed, outlawed, exiled or ruined in any way ? 'except by the lawful judgment of his peers?'

    John did not sign the document willingly and never intended to keep to it. In September 1215, just a few months after signing the charter, King John sent a message to the Pope asking him to annul the charter. The Pope agreed and excommunicated the barons that had signed it.

    As the fighting started again, FitzWalter slipped off to France and offered Prince Louis the English throne. Both Scottish and French armies invaded England. After fighting off the Scottish forces, King John's army changed direction to East Anglia, intending to quash the baron's rebellion. As his troops crossed the river Ouse on 11th October, they were caught by the rising tide and the crown Jewels sank into the Wash. Just a few days later, on 19th October, King John died at Newark.

    At the time of his death, the French flag flew over East Anglia. However, a French King did not rule England as no bishop would crown Prince Louis and many of the barons, who had rebelled against King John, now gave their support to his nine-year-old son Henry.


    When John became King on the death of his brother Richard in 1199, the treasury (money for running the kingdom) was nearly empty. His answer was to raise money through taxes and his reign was one of harsh laws and heavy taxes.

    At the start of his reign, while he was away from England, he left Geoffrey FitzPeter in control as 'Regent'. He was a harsh man and did not worry about demanding heavy taxes and gave the local sheriffs a free hand to collect these by any means. He became very unpopular.

    Like most Kings of the time John was ruthless. It was also claimed that King John killed his nephew, Arthur, in 1206, to make sure of the future of the throne. However, history may not have been very fair to King John. At this time the historians, or chroniclers, were mainly monks. These monks would have been in sympathy with the parties that King John was arguing with - that is the church and the rich estate owners (barons).

    King John's reign was far from all bad for the country. Many towns such as Cambridge, Ipswich, King's Lynn and Norwich grew rich as they were given 'charters' and encouraged to govern themselves. The towns benefited from changes in the way taxes were paid and could get income from taxing market traders entering the town.

    R. Turner 1994 argued that John "...had intelligence, administrative ability and he was good at planning military campaigns. However, too many personality flaws held him back". Unfortunately for King John, no king of the time could have run the country successfully without the support of the powerful Barons and Noblemen.

    What of Matilda's supposed murder and her links with Robin Hood?


    Robin and Marion
    The monk, Matthew Paris, writing in his diary some years later in the 13th century, mentions the murder of Matilda. He records that in 1234/5, Robert FitzWalter died and that "?y his first wife, FitzWalter had, with other children, a daughter, Matilda the Fair, called 'Maid Marion,' said to have been poisoned by King John."

    Matilda, his daughter, may indeed have been beautiful but very little is known of her life and death. After the rebellion of 1212, when FitzWalter and his family fled to France, it seems that he made his actions seem good, by saying the king was after his daughter and was plotting to kill his son-in-law.

    King John was not a pleasant man, but many historians do not believe FitzWalter's story. Robert FitzWalter had a shady past. He had surrendered Vaudreuil in France to the French king in 1203 under suspicious circumstances. So, whether what he did was because of King John's interest in his daughter or came from a wish for more power is difficult to say.

    The character of Maid Marion, like Friar Tuck, is not in the early ballads of Robin Hood. The character of Maid Marion probably came from an early French Pastoral romance ??he shepherd and shepherdess Robin and Marion'. Parts of this story and the Robin Hood stories probably merged and Maid Marion became Robin Hood's true love in the later versions of the legend.

    It is in Anthony Munday's Elizabethan "Huntingdon" plays; written in the 17th century that Marian becomes an alias employed by Matilda FitzWalter. A popular romance at the time was the legend of King John pursuing Matilda, daughter of Robert FitzWalter. Robin Hood or Robin of Loxley, if such a person existed, was not a well-known Nobleman but most likely a wronged landowner, fighting to regain his family seat.

    Dunmow Priory in Essex is said to be the resting-place of Robin Hood's Maid Marian. All that remains of Dunmow Priory is the present church of Dunmow; the south aisle of what was once a much larger building. However the story lives on, along with the many other tales of Robin Hood; and King John's jewels and royal regalia remain a treasure trove still to be found.

    Interesting medieval widget - one for the museum
    Medieval buckle
    Silver inlaid early buckle fragment - checking the ref books

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - keys below shield - Archb Rotherham

    Obv CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    Really neat fossil eyeball find
    Mid 4th House of Conatantine Roman bronze coin
    Medieval mount - single rivet fixing
    Navy button
    Georgian decorated watch winder
    1560 Elizabeth hammered silver sixpence
    Royal Navy yacht club
    15thC casket key
    c10thC Saxon stirrup mount - top fragment
    17thC Charles II base metal copy of silver commemorative marriage button
    Medieval annular buckle
    Medieval buckle plate with 2 rivet fixings
    1215 Henry III hammered silver qtr penny
    17thC clothing fastener
    17thC sword belt fitting
    17thC button
    Medieval bucket handle loop
    1696 William III milled silver sixpence - love token
    Roman strap end fragment
     
    1603 James 1st lead token
    18thC musket ramrod guide
     

    Probably one of the smallest hammered silver coins you can find, 1/3rd the weight of a Medieval silver farthing

    1625-42 Charles 1st hammered silver half penny - Rose each side - no legend type
    1215 Henry III hammered silver shortcross penny
    1790 Russian lead bale seal
    Victorian copper alloy stud with glass tone
    1300-1600 composite mount.
    Georgian silver thimble
    Medieval strap end with buckle

    1341 Edward III hammered silver penny

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Legend is very odd - Obv OME and Rev ITA ???

    Not in the books

    1163-1167 Henry II hammered silver penny -Tealby coinage - Cross and Crosslets

    Class C

    Medieval gold decorated annular brooch - blue enamelling remains
    Medeival lead bird feeder bowl with decorated base

    Lead bust shaped medallion - London shield - Rev has 2 busts facing left

    'King George and men may'

    C1000 BC Miniature Bronze Age votive axe head 9.98g, 46.22mm

    1422-27 Henry VI hammered silver groat- Annulet issue-Annulet by neck in two qtrs on reverse - inital mark pierced cross

    Calais mint

    1422-27 Henry VI hammered silver groat- Annulet issue-Annulet by neck in two qtrs on reverse - inital mark pierced cross

    Calais mint

    Interesting to note - same coin different dies
    Medieval decorated mount - single rivet fixing
    17thC buckle
    1565 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence
    1553 Mary hammered silver groat
    20thC St Christopher silver pendant

    1788 George III guinea gaming token

    'the good old days'

    Medeival gilded mount
    Georgian silver thimble
    Georgian spur buckle

    Sponge fossil - UPPER CRETACEOUS PERIOD:  83 - 71 million years ago

     
    17thC buckle
    1550-1650 buckle
    Corporation button
    1905-6 Calender medallion
    20thC Bedwell Colchester trade token
    Unusual red enamelled medieval buckle with circle decoration
    16thC Elizabeth 1st hammered silver penny
    134AD Hadrian roman bronze coin
    Roman pin head
    Bronze age harness ring
    Medieval harness shield pendant
    1582 Elizabeth 1st hammered silver sixpence
    Gold plated medieval mount - single rivet fixing

    Very interesting hollow Roman bronze votive offering animal - red enamelled on head on nose

    3 cut outs to rear

    38mm L x 27.8mm H - 10.06g

    Red enamelled 3rd C Roman crossbow brooch 24.46g, 39.74mm
    1215 Henry III hammered silver short cross penny

    1413 Henry V hammered silver penny - quadrefoil with pellet on rev

    York archbishop issue

    Stunning find - Celtic dragon headed toggle clothing fastener - 42.55mm L x 36.99mm H 27.37g
    As dug to partially cooked Celtic silver coin - East Anglian face horse type
    Straight back into the 'cooker' to remove the rest of the crust

    As dug and partially 'cooked'

    Almost 'cooked' , below is Mark Lehman's initial ID, I have resent it to him now I have 'cooked' it better

    You seem to be getting a lot of unintended small change lately - This is a denarius of Severus Alexander - the last member of the Severan Dynasty, 222-235 AD.  This one should read: IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG on the obverse and ANNONA AVG on the reverse.  In addition to the missing parts, there seems to be either a squashed letter "A" or a letter "I" in error at the end of ANNONA.  Annona was the allegorical personification of the grain supply - yes, it was THAT important to the Romans so that it required a minor deity to be "in charge" of imported grain.  She's shown holding a handful of grain-ears and a cornucopia.  What I can't tell is whether she has her foot on a ship's prow or there's a modius - a grain-measure basket - at her feet since that bit is missing.  If it's the ship's prow, this coin dates to 228 - if it's the modius, it's 226.  For our purposes, we can assume that all the silver was struck at the mint in Rome at this point in time.
     

    Still 'cooking' the coin

     

     

    1485 - 90 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Satires by neck - Halved sun and rose initial mark - Open crown - Type 1b
    32 BC Mark Antony, Legionary silver Denarius. ANT.AVG.III.VIR.R.P.C Galley, Legionary Eagle between two standards

    This medieval quadrefoil pendant has been soaking for 3 weeks and finally I got the detail to come through - stunning red and green enamelled lion with fluer de lis

    more work to do on it yet

    Medieval badges Ref Mitchiner p244 939 - 941

     

    'A badge for a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in bronze and dating somewhere around C13/14th possibly very slightly later . This is a very scarce item and it relates to The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem being a Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. According to reliable sources in the Vatican and Jerusalem, it began in historical reality as a mixed clerical and lay confraternity (association) of pilgrims which gradually grew around the most central of the Christian holy places in the Middle East, the Holy Sepulchre or the tomb of Jesus Christ.This would have been a pin for a member of the order , there is a mark on the reverse where the original pin would have been fixed '

    Shipping line button
    16th Queen's
    Lancers
    O/R's - 1881-1901

    18thC 81st regiment of foot - officers button

    The 81st was raised in 1793 in response to the French Revolution. The British Army was in the process of being expanded to meet the French Republican threat.On 23 September 1793, Major General Albemarle Bertie, formerly of the 1st Foot Guards, was directed to raise a regiment. However, no levy money would be provided. The original compliment was composed of the Militia of Lincoln volunteering to serve in the new regiment. Originally known as the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers, the regiment was embodied in January 1794.

    On 25 January 1794, the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers were re designated as the 81st Regiment of Foot. The regiment was quartered in Lincoln and Gainsborough. The first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Lewis.

    19thC livery buttons

    31st Regiment of Foot
    ( Huntingdonshire )
    O/R's - 1855-1881

    The 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1702 and amalgamated into the The East Surrey Regiment in 1881

    Medieval purse bar swivel joint
    c10thC Saxon harness cheek piece
    2 - 1350 to 1650 buckles
    c10thC Saxon brooch

    Very interesting boar's knife pommel find - silver on copper with red glass eyes

    Not sure of date so one for the museum

    1469-1504 Ferdinand and Isabella - British weight for an excellente

    17.71mmsq, 6.21g

    19thC Army button - not deciphered lettering yet
    92nd Regiment of Foot
    ( Highlander )
    O/R's (Pewter) - 1798-1830
    Officer (Silver) - 1798-1830
    RN Capt / Commander - 1812
    RN Lieutenant - 1812
    RN Midshipman - 1812
    RN Volunteer Gr.I - 1812
    After this issue a Midshipman
    will have the Captain's style
    19thC livery button
    1770 - bullion weight - Westminster portcullis mark
    18thC casket key
    16thC serpent buckle
    Medeival buckle

    March 2010 hunt page 1

    Feb 2010 finds

    Nov 2009 hunt page

    Oct II 2009 hunt page 2

    Oct 2009 hunt page1

    Sept 2009 hunt page 2

    Sept 2009 hunt page 1