Day Out With Central Searchers
8th July 2012 Pertenhall, Bedford
I had a brilliant dig today with the Central Searchers club. The club organizers, Richard and Gill Evans had managed to gain permission for us to detect on some new land. Surprisingly for this time of year the land was 'rolled' and ready for drilling. We had roughly 45 acres to detect on and I was extremely excited to get going.
From my house, the site is around 100 miles in total. I'm never put off by the distance's of these digs, as they are always well run and you get to meet a great bunch of people.
I had arranged to travel with my friend "QM" who offered to drive. Luckily for me, I only had to drive the 25 miles to his house and get going. I met QM at 6:30 am and off we set for rainy Bedford. The run was a good one and we made it in just under 90 minutes. Upon arriving at the dig site, we was welcomed by the usual sight of Richard snack wagon and a few detectorists who was as eager as us and arrived an hour and half early...Hahaha
The weather forecast had been all doom and gloom the last few days with flash floods and torrential downpours all over England. Luckily for us the rain had missed the dig site and the ground was only mildly wet and sticky.
From my house, the site is around 100 miles in total. I'm never put off by the distance's of these digs, as they are always well run and you get to meet a great bunch of people.
I had arranged to travel with my friend "QM" who offered to drive. Luckily for me, I only had to drive the 25 miles to his house and get going. I met QM at 6:30 am and off we set for rainy Bedford. The run was a good one and we made it in just under 90 minutes. Upon arriving at the dig site, we was welcomed by the usual sight of Richard snack wagon and a few detectorists who was as eager as us and arrived an hour and half early...Hahaha
The weather forecast had been all doom and gloom the last few days with flash floods and torrential downpours all over England. Luckily for us the rain had missed the dig site and the ground was only mildly wet and sticky.
After our usual breakfast of bacon rolls and tea, and talking to old and new friends we got our gear ready and dressed in our water proof clothing. At around 9:30 we got the go ahead to begin our quest for treasure, (normally buttons and shot gun caps for most detectorists over the Country) and a rabble of about 100 enthusiastic hunters made their way across the field.
The going was OK, with the ground not being too sticky and my XP Goldmaxx Power gave me a nice "dig me" signal. It turned out to be the remains of a roads 'Cats Eye'.
After lots of walking in all directions and becoming 6" tall with the mud on the bottoms of my boots, I started to get more signals. One of my best finds of the day was an an almost complete Crotal Bell. The only missing piece is the suspension loop which would of attached the bell to its owner. I imagine this happened in antiquity, and being the reason why the bell was lost?
At around midday and after sampling some of Richards finest "Richie's Curry and Chips" a Cajun Chicken dish, I set off out into the field once again. I always make my way back to the snack wagon. Not just for Riches great food, but also for some inspiration. As you get to hear the rumours of what has been found already. I was told of a Gold Quarter Stater and numerous hammered coins being found all over the place, and I was ready to go and find my share.
At 1pm the heavens opened for an hour or so and I found out my water proofs were not as water proof as I had thought. With water seeping through the seems on my jacket, I was soaked!! I made my way over to QM, and when I was about 30 feet from him, he stood up and shouted over to me "Dan, I've found a Hammered". Pleased for my mate and wanting to see the find I went over to see what he had found. It turned out to be a cut quarter.
QM has an amazing talent of being able to read and identify Hammered coins. And he does this on many occasions for everyone on the BMD forum. He told me straight away that all he could get from it, is that its a London mint. As he can see the 'ON L'.
The going was OK, with the ground not being too sticky and my XP Goldmaxx Power gave me a nice "dig me" signal. It turned out to be the remains of a roads 'Cats Eye'.
After lots of walking in all directions and becoming 6" tall with the mud on the bottoms of my boots, I started to get more signals. One of my best finds of the day was an an almost complete Crotal Bell. The only missing piece is the suspension loop which would of attached the bell to its owner. I imagine this happened in antiquity, and being the reason why the bell was lost?
At around midday and after sampling some of Richards finest "Richie's Curry and Chips" a Cajun Chicken dish, I set off out into the field once again. I always make my way back to the snack wagon. Not just for Riches great food, but also for some inspiration. As you get to hear the rumours of what has been found already. I was told of a Gold Quarter Stater and numerous hammered coins being found all over the place, and I was ready to go and find my share.
At 1pm the heavens opened for an hour or so and I found out my water proofs were not as water proof as I had thought. With water seeping through the seems on my jacket, I was soaked!! I made my way over to QM, and when I was about 30 feet from him, he stood up and shouted over to me "Dan, I've found a Hammered". Pleased for my mate and wanting to see the find I went over to see what he had found. It turned out to be a cut quarter.
QM has an amazing talent of being able to read and identify Hammered coins. And he does this on many occasions for everyone on the BMD forum. He told me straight away that all he could get from it, is that its a London mint. As he can see the 'ON L'.
Times Getting On
The time was about 3:30 pm, and I was starting to hear of all the wonderful finds being made. Roman Silvers, Staters, Brooches, and all I had for my efforts was the Bell and a nice small thimble. I was desperate for something to be worthy of the distance travelled and I made my way over to where QM had found his cut quarter. The GMP gave me a good signal right next to a ball of mud, and it seemed as if the find was under the ball. I was really hoping for it to be something nice. When I had located the find and held the 'clod' in my hand, I was just wishing "Please be something good"
I wiped away the dirt and there in my hand was my first cut Hammered.
I had dreamed of finding a cut coin since I started this hobby in 2010. I had sold detectors that in general I was happy with, apart from the confidence in its ability in finding cut coins.
The GMP proved to me I had done the right thing in my mind, and I was as happy as can be. I shouted over to QM and gave him a thumbs up with a big grin and he knew what I had found.
I wiped away the dirt and there in my hand was my first cut Hammered.
I had dreamed of finding a cut coin since I started this hobby in 2010. I had sold detectors that in general I was happy with, apart from the confidence in its ability in finding cut coins.
The GMP proved to me I had done the right thing in my mind, and I was as happy as can be. I shouted over to QM and gave him a thumbs up with a big grin and he knew what I had found.
QM Style
Using his great skills in ID'ing coins, he told me that he believed it to be an early class short cross, and that he thought the Moneyer to be WILLELM. He told me to upload a picture of the coin onto the BMD site and he would give it the full works, QM style.
This is what he says of the coin......
"its not easy as it some what worn but I'm 99% sure I'm right ...we start with the reverse ...we can see WILLEL ...THIS CAN BE SEVERAL MONEYERS ...either WILLELM ...or WILLELM B ...WILLELM L or WILLELM T ....the last 3 minted in London on class 5a/b/c class coins which would be date around 1204/5-1208/9 [ king John ] ..now I know you will be well pleased with that as that would be your earliest hammered coin ...but I believe this is even earlier the 1ST moneyer I mentioned plain old WILLELM minted classes in London 1a-1b 2-5c ...Lincoln 1b-2 .....York 1b and Northampton 1a-1b as well as other classes and mints a busy lad our WILLELM was ..now the reason iv mentioned these classes is because I believe your coin is a class 1b .... the style of the E and X and no pellets in hair curl ...and the large round eye ...all lead me to class 1b ...making the date 1180-1189 and more likely HENRY 2ND"
This is what he says of the coin......
"its not easy as it some what worn but I'm 99% sure I'm right ...we start with the reverse ...we can see WILLEL ...THIS CAN BE SEVERAL MONEYERS ...either WILLELM ...or WILLELM B ...WILLELM L or WILLELM T ....the last 3 minted in London on class 5a/b/c class coins which would be date around 1204/5-1208/9 [ king John ] ..now I know you will be well pleased with that as that would be your earliest hammered coin ...but I believe this is even earlier the 1ST moneyer I mentioned plain old WILLELM minted classes in London 1a-1b 2-5c ...Lincoln 1b-2 .....York 1b and Northampton 1a-1b as well as other classes and mints a busy lad our WILLELM was ..now the reason iv mentioned these classes is because I believe your coin is a class 1b .... the style of the E and X and no pellets in hair curl ...and the large round eye ...all lead me to class 1b ...making the date 1180-1189 and more likely HENRY 2ND"
So that makes it my earliest ever coin. To say I was pleased is an understatement. It had made the journey and getting soaked to the skin worth. But would I be disappointed if I didn't find it?? Not really as its part and parcel of the hobby. Getting out for the day with a great friend and meeting like minded people makes the day worth it. I would like to thank Richard and Gill Evans for a great organized dig and also to my great friend QM for the company
Here's some more pictures of my finds and also of the day. Thanks for taking the time to look and read this report.
Here's some more pictures of my finds and also of the day. Thanks for taking the time to look and read this report.