2023/24 Awards

The same awards and prizes are up for grabs again this year + the free forum competition where you can win you a free week detecting tours.

New -Tx Ali - multiple gold finder award

Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year

Free weeks holiday and Silver Urn for 'find of the year'winner.

'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season

Forum competition - - free weeks detecting prize

'Pouch of the year' - award and cup

Team of the Year award

Prize raffle draws run by a Senior member - free detecting trip

2022/23 Find of the year winner

Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year

Voting currently taking place - Free weeks holiday and Silver Urn for 'find of the year'winner.

Tx Scott J - 'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season

Forum competition - - free weeks detecting prize

Voting currently taking place - 'Pouch of the year' - award and cup

Team of the Year award

Prize raffle draws run by a Senior member - free detecting trip

2021/22 Find of the year winner

Boston Dave wins FOTY for our first non UK find to be voted for

Mega rare American coin - only 20 known

Commemorative issue

4th of July in Baltimore
Obverse

Bust, facing left, surrounded by legend
Lettering: BALTIMORE . TOWN • JULY • 4 • 90 •
Engraver: Standish Barry
Reverse

Denomination surrounded by legend,
letters separated by dotted x's
Lettering:
STANDISH • BARRY .
_____
THREE
PENCE
_____
Engraver: Standish Barry
Edge

Reeded
Comments

A small number of threepence were struck by Standish Barry, a silversmith in Baltimore, Maryland. They feature a bust, facing left, surrounded by the legend: JULY • 4 • 90 • BALTIMORE • TOWN. The reverse shows the denomination with Barry’s full name along the perimeter.

For many years numismatists have speculated that the enigmatic bust on the obverse was a crude rendition of George Washington or perhaps a self-portrait of Barry. Recent research (Max B. Spiegel, “C4 Newsletter,” Spring 2009), however, uncovered contemporary sources that identify the portrait as that of James Calhoun, the first mayor of Baltimore.

The exactness of the date on the Standish Barry threepence – July 4, 1790 – has also been the subject of much speculation. It could refer to a Fourth of July celebration in the city, although no major celebration is known to have occurred in 1790. One did happen in 1809 and it was reported that the city’s silversmiths marched “under the direction of Standish Barry.” Will Nipper speculates that the “90” in the date could be a transposition of “09,” but it is unlikely that the Standish Barry threepence was issued as late as 1809.

Only around 20 Standish Barry threepence are known to have survived and most are in circulated grades. Some specimens have prominent die cracks and the piece in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg was struck from nearly shattered dies. It is likely that the dies used to strike the Standish Barry threepence failed quickly, with the result being a very limited mintage.
https://www.ngccoin.com/coin-explore...-coinid-108333

Standish Barry, Baltimore, Maryland
Standish Barry, of Baltimore, circulated a silver threepence in 1790. He was a watch and clockmaker, an engraver, and, later, a silversmith. The tokens are believed to have been an advertising venture at a time when small change was scarce. The precise date on this piece may indicate that Barry intended to commemorate Independence Day, but there are no records to prove this. The head on the obverse is probably that of James Calhoun, who was active in Baltimore politics in the 1790s. The legend BALTIMORE TOWN JULY 4, 90, appears in the border. An enigmatic gold doubloon is also attributed to Barry. https://whitman.com/RedBook/Coins/De...imore-Maryland

Boston Dave - Free weeks holiday and Silver Urn for 'find of the year'winner.

Brandon Brashers - Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year

Josh Graham - 'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

Tim Blank - Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season

Forum competition - - free weeks detecting prize

DC Nick - 'Pouch of the year' - award and cup

Team of the Year award

2020/21 COVID period - no find of the year

Dutch Robbert was voted by the members to have had the best 'Pouch of the Year' with his quad gold and 6 medieval ham pouch.

Georgia Buddy's team won the 'Team of the Year award with their monster week including 3 Celtic gold full staters and a beauty Roman gold - they receive the gold engraved medallions and their names on clubs shield of honour..

Org Artie- Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year (Silver cup)

Louisiana Ashley - Wayne Otto award for detectorist with the 'best attributes' (Silver cup)

The free forum competition to guess the number of mounts found 2019/20 season was won by Mass Michael who gets a free weeks detecting holiday next season.

2019/20

Cal Dave with his gold Torc find wins FOTY

1300 BC Bronze Age gold torc - reported as treasure to museum

Landslide victory for Ali who got that amazing pouch on the very last hunt of the season on restricted old land choice

2018/19

Wis Tim wins FOTY

Monster ancient gold ingot - 81.54g,40.82mm L, 21.05mm W, 10.02mm T - reported as treasure to museum

2017/18

Nh Frank wins FOTY

Roman gold coin send for ID

19mm,7.70g

Well, even though Roman gold is way out of the orbit in which I normally travel, I see absolutely no reason to question its authenticity. I presume you know this is an aureus of Claudius. It’s obviously clear enough overall that there should be no doubt about the legends, but for the sake of form:
Obv: TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P laureate head of Claudius right
Rx: CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI Constantia seated left on curule chair
Mint of Lugdunum, 41/2 AD.
RIC I 2, BMC 1, CBN 19.

My congratulations to all involved – well found!
Mark

Big congrats to Tx Scott J for winning the members vote for 'Pouch of the Year'. His double Celtic gold and mint BC Roman silver pouch clinched it. It was neck and neck every day with Scotties triple gold pouch but in the end Scott took it by just one vote

DC Nick wins Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year

Nh Frank Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season

Team of the Year award goes to Ashley's Barn team for the 2nd Year running

2016/17

Husband and wife team Dennis and Christy (few years ago now LOL)



Spectacular c13thC medieval gold annular brooch
+AMOR VINCIT OMNIA -(Love Conquers All)
2.55g, 18mm dia


The voting is now closed and Christy's stunning annular brooch took the popular vote by 64%, 2nd was Mindy's monster gold coin with 27% of the vote. In 3rd place was MD Scott's Saxon gold shilling.

Monster gold coin find
1351-1352 Edward III gold noble -series C- E in centre of reverse cross - Closed E & C's - Lombardic M - reverse Roman N -annulet stops to reverse
Obv EDWARD DEI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC D hYB
Ref Spink 1483 -JJ North 1144
33.46mm, 7.67g

Saxon gold shilling
This new find (EMC 2016.0248) is indeed a Witmen type gold shilling. It is similar to some coins in the Crondall hoard but from dies not represented in the hoard.
The coin should be about 50-55% gold.
An excellent start to the season.
Best wishes,
Dr Martin Allen

'Team of the Year' winners Ashley's Barn tean

Cal George Miskovsky  - Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year
Boston Michael – Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season

2015/2016

Ashley presents award to Mike

Staggeringly beautiful 16thC Tudor gold key brooch
1.80g, 36mm L

Late medieval or early Tudor decorated gold ball

Huge gold treasure - Each decoratred 'tit' has a black emerald encapsualted in the tip. There is an opening for a needle or mounting point in one place on the item. This is too large to be a pin head - appears to be solid gold but there must be an inner core, possibly silver.

It is 18.55 mm in dia and 6.3g in weight

With nearly 50% of the votes cast going for the stunning gold key Ont Mike wins the engraved silver urn and a full weeks hunt free as the prize next season. The were 9 other finds voted for and in 2nd place was the Tudor gold ball with nippels that got 25% of the vote.

Miss Brandon wins 'Pouch of the Year'

Iowa Rich wins Coin hunter of the year with 127 coins found in a week

2014/2015

Alb Johnny on left presents Can Ryan with his silver urn trophy for Find of the Year.

Viking 9th-10thC gold finger ring
2.05g, 10.33mm W

A gold ring of similar, though more ovoid, form from Beachamwell, Norfolk, was reported as Treasure in 2004 (TreasureAnnual Report 2004, no. 86, where further parallels are noted). A narrower version from Whorlton, North Yorkshire, and a fragment of another, both also ingold, were reported in 2012 (2012/T497 – PAS SWYOR-56EA98; and 2012/T62 – PASNMS-D7AC68) and a silver ring of the form from Wood Enderby, Lincolnshire, in2011 (2011/T76; PAS NCL-90DD85). A number of related rings in non-precious metalare recorded on the database of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and for thetype, see J. Graham-Campbell, 2011 (The Cuerdale Hoard and related Viking-Agesilver and gold from Britain and Ireland in the British Museum, London,British Museum Press, 104-106). They date from the late 9th – 10thcentury.

2013/14

2011/12 Winners

Cleaned up Saxon rope necklace end - single rivet fixing

Beast with large bottom jaw, large nose, recessed eyes with his head resting on his paw left - rear shows curled up spiralled tail.

Rope necklace is still embedded in end

Nev Bill - find of the year

Luisiana Sal - Wayne Otto Memorial cup

Bav Terry - 'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

Fl Don - free weeks hunt for forum comp win

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Chicago Ron wins the Wayne Otto award

I have considered this club award long and hard this year as it is the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season. It is not about just coming here and swinging a coil but do you go above and beyond the 'norm' to promote the club and the hobby of metal detecting. Apart from Ron being a world class hunter all the work he does away from the club, especially taking great effort returning lost class rings and valuable diamond wedding bands back to their original owners is priceless. Added to that he takes all the time and effort to record all these finds and events on video and entertain us on the forum is brilliant. The final item Ron did this season is his brilliant Nat Geo program which again promoted the hobby and the history of the finds made. A well deserved win.

2011/2012 Season winners

Gregg Arnold wins find of the year with the beauty medieval gold ring below

Greg on the left is presented with silver urn and club shield by Chicago Ron

12thC Early medieval gold ring - reported as treasure to museum

"DEBAL GUD GUDANI +" which is Gothic, meaning "God of Gods"

Interesting hand punched lettering which has a barred A with additional top bar like on short cross coins of Class7 and an unbarred A also on the ring.

4.22g, 4.49mm H x 22.59mm W

2010/2011 Season winners

Ill Mark wins 'find of the year' and also 'pouch of the year'

Find of the year - Roman gold

The voting was very close this season for 'pouch of the year' with Tenn Brad and Ill Mark only separated by 2 votes in the end , Chicago Ron got 3rd place. 10 pouches were voted for so it was no landslide this year but in the end it was Mark's triple gold pouch, Celtic gold, Elizabeth gold crown and the clincher had to be his mint Roman gold coin find and the Saxon sceat helped. Currently Mark's Roman gold is with Spink auction house so the proceeds can be split between farmer and finder.

So what a season for Mark, he did the double with 'find of the year' and now 'pouch of the year' as voted for by the membership

Can Ryan has won the 'coin hunter of the year' award with a total of 85 coins in the week. His pouch included his 2nd Edward III hammered gold Nobel coin and 7 silvers so a great result. He also managed to beat a whole team of fellow Canadian's during that week with the best finds. Ottawa Greg made a really neat shield with an embedded gold coin as the award.

Ryan last season holding his 'Canadian hunter' shield he also won by beating his fellow Canadian team

Bavaria Jeff wins the club's 2011 'dedicated detectorist ' cup for being out there in all weathers, pouring rain on rough ploughed he found his first gold coin while everyone else was hiding in the bus. that is dedication

Cal Jim wins the club's 2011 'best attributes' cup

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2009/10 Season awards

Big thanks for a fantastic voting turn out by the membership . The member's voted for 15 separate this year so it was a very tough choice, the votes were spread wide. There was no landslide winner this season but the stonking Saxon gold was the clear favourite in the end. Big congrats to Ill John on a beauty find and he wins a free trip next season, name on the shield of honour and the Roman silver urn trophy to keep.

Saxon Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

1.26g,15.08mm

Results for 'find of the year'

1st Ill John's gold Tremmis - 28% of the vote

2bd Idaho Orv's Roman bronze hog -18.5% of the vote

3rd Oregon Ed's 1300BC gold ring - 17% of the vote

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2010 Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist' of the year - winner Chicago Ron

2010 Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the 'best attributes' during the season - winner Min Mindy

2010 Atlanta Mike wins coin hunter of the year for the 2nd year running with a score of 96 coins in a week

A new award this season is for the 'pouch of the year' , engraved cup and shield. This is not about the sheer bulk of a bag but historical, quality and rarity of the finds.

There were so many stunning pouches this season but the one that really sticks out in my mind is Oregon Ed's monster. Crisp Saxon silver, Celtic gold and the monster 1300 BC gold ring. The rest of his pouch was stuffed full of other really hammered silver and relics.

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2008/2009

Nova Scotia Greg award for 'dedicated detectorist of the year' - winner Min Mindy

Free weeks holiday, Silver Urn for 'find of the year' winner Tenn Brad

'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard - winner Atlanta Mike

Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the best attributes during the season - winner Billericay Mark (2nd year running)

Forum competition - milled silver guess - free weeks detecting - winner Idaho Ken

History Heathen quiz - pub quiz for members - 1/2 price trip to the winner - winner Ark Gary

2008/2009

Idaho Gerry presents Sal with his engraved 'find of the year' silver urn and shield for his amazing English Saxon coin discovery from last season. Sal's little Saxon coin got it's export license approved so he can now take it home.

English Saxon Thrymsa gold coin - 'Witmen type' c620 -650 AD named after the hoard found in 1828. Sent off to the Fitzwilliam museum Corpus database for recording 1.26g, 11.46mm

Recored as EMC 2007.0302.

Billericay Mark - Wayne Otto Memorial cup

Idaho Jim - forum competition

Billericay Mark - Wayne Otto Memorial cup

Ls Sal - Find of the year

Florida Mitch (left) being presented his award by Chicago Ron

Fl Mitch - 'coin hunter' of the year

Awards and Prizes for season 2007/2008

The win a 'free weeks holiday' forum comp was won by 'Idaho Jim' with a guess of 334 hammered silver coins found, actually number in the end was 335 which is an amazing total. Keep an eye on the site as I will be launching next years competition shortly. It will be to guess the number of milled silver coin found in the season 2008/2009 and the prize will be a free weeks inclusive holiday again.

Billericay Mark has been awarded the 'Wayne Otto Memorial cup' for the detectorist with the best attributes during the season. A very popular vote for a guy that cannot do enough for the other members with help, advice and the patience of a saint, congrats mate.

The 'prolific coin hunter' award will be announced after all the export contents have been processed and counted.

The same awards and prizes are up for grabs again this year + free forum competition can win you a free weeks detecting tour

Free weeks holiday, Silver Urn for 'find of the year'winner.

'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the best attributes during the season

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2006/2007

Medieval Iconic gold decorated ring - 2.96g, 18.87mm dia, 3,34mm w x 1.46mm thick

On display in Colchester museum

Free weeks holiday & engraved silver silver Urn - voted by the guys hunting here as 'find of the year' in April. Won by NH Dave for his medieval Iconic gold ring find

His count included some very choice pieces like that stunning 1689 William and Mary silver three pence. Rolo gets his name on the shield of honour next to another previous Florida winner Daytona Steve. Congrat's to Rolo's for a lot of hard work and dedication he put in during his hunt. The Florida team are back in force again in Sept to try and keep the title

Congrats to Ohio Tony who wins the Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the best attributes during the season. Tony has ears like bat for finding silver hammered coins and he hand reared Yngve the Swede with great results as on Yngve's second trip this season he found 5 hammered silver coins.

'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard - guy with the highest coin count for a week

Orlando Rolo

Wayne Otto Memorial cup for the detectorist with the best attributes during the season

Won by Ohio Tony

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2005/2006

Cal Jeff

Cal Jeff - wins find of the year 2005/6 for his brilliant Roman bronze winged Phallus pendant. Voted for my all the members. Jeff wins the free weeks holiday and is back in Sept 2006 to collect his prize that also includes the engraved silver Roman looking urn

This years new Wayne Otto memorial trophy goes to Tenn Earl for showing all the attributes that goes up to make a great detectorist. Always positive even when his X girlfriend drags him off the fields screaming to visit cloths shops LOL. Always the gent even where he is getting skunked and the guys around him are sucking up the good stuff. Earl spends time researching the history of the sites we hunt and is also well respected by all the members that joined him at this years Virginia hunt. Congrats Earl on a well deserved win.

Texas Dave won the 'Prolific coin finder' award and Tankard

2004/5

Boston Bill's Roman gold 4thC ring wins find of the year

Boston Bill's superb find wins him 'find of the year' by a landslide vote from the club members. The ring has been officially declared treasure after an inquest at Colchester Coroners court. It is now on display in Colchester museum

Bill is pictured on the right next to Manhattan Gary.

Daytona Steve won the coin hunter of the year award, the English Pewter tankard

2003/4

 

Land slide Victory for Mass Bruce's axe head hoard

With two days to go before the closing of the election Bruce's axe head hoard has already stormed to victory !! Well deserved win.

With over 80% of the possible votes having already been cast the axe head hoard has taken 64% of them. They cannot now be overtaken so therefore it wins the 'find of the year' first prize easily this year. Bruce's nearest rival the Saxon gold dagger piece was 2nd with 19% of the votes. Congrats to Bruce who wins a 9 day inclusive free detecting holiday here, the Roman looking silver urn and most importantly his name on the role of honour shield. Check out Bruce's own axe hoard report to see how it did it and most amazingly it was on the last full hunt of the season !! Talk about cutting it fine !