Wow, had an interesting hunt. I went to an empty lot I saw from the highway today, and found very little. I then went to a small park not far from there and had just a little more time to hunt. While digging a fair amount of pull tabs and the like, plus some quarters and sundry clad change. I came upon a large trash signal and dug the Frazers Axle Greese lid. I thought, that looks old! By this time three middle school aged kids began following me like the rats follow the pied piper, and I began to answer their barrage of questions. I figured I'd make the best of it and begin educating the next generation of detectorist's. I just got done explaining how the gold comes in at the pull tab range on most detectors, and told them if they want the gold, you have to dig the trash. I told them they could tag along and be my good luck charms, and the next signal I got on my trusty DFX was 25-28 on the VDI. I was looking in the same area I found the Frazer lid so I thought it was another lid or something, and when I pealed back the grassy patch, out pops this huge old ring. I was at a disadvantage because the kids were on their knees gathered tightly around the hole, but when I saw the glimmer of gold, I lunged in time to beat the boys to the treasure. Boy were we all surprised to see it. They couldn't believe it. They asked, "is that real gold"? "I replied, Is the pope Catholic"? They had no idea what I meant by that, so I just said yes. I knew right away it was, even though there was no hallmark.
I rewarded each of the boys with some matchbox cars and a quarter each reward for the good luck they brought me, and left. When I got home I tested it with my acid kit and it tested 14k ok, but 18k the acid washed it away. So somewhere between 14-18k. Weighs 6.48 grains, with a scrap value of 146.82. Minus the weight of the cracked stone. Going back tomorrow to find the small gold decoration that was in the middle of the stone, that was probably adorning the middle. Who knows maybe gold will find me, again? Go find you some!
I rewarded each of the boys with some matchbox cars and a quarter each reward for the good luck they brought me, and left. When I got home I tested it with my acid kit and it tested 14k ok, but 18k the acid washed it away. So somewhere between 14-18k. Weighs 6.48 grains, with a scrap value of 146.82. Minus the weight of the cracked stone. Going back tomorrow to find the small gold decoration that was in the middle of the stone, that was probably adorning the middle. Who knows maybe gold will find me, again? Go find you some!
HH jim tn