My First Finds With the New Explorer SE

[Erik]

I found these items today in about an hour with my new SE - though I'm sure my XS would have found them as well. The first is a 1907 IH cent that sounded to me with the SE like a Lincoln cent. I was surprised to see the IH.

The second find I thought was junk, but is probably one of the more interesting items that I have found - it's two pieces of an old printing plate - looks like the back is lead, but the engraved portion is copper...any ideas on this one? I am trying to make out the writing on it, but it's difficult. You can see a person's face on the first piece and "Fic..."

The second fragment says "Cam..." and what looks like "RC Gas..." any ideas on how to clean this up? It looks like it's quite old the way the backing metal is starting to crack and disintegrate.

 

[jb]

Nice Indian Erik and the other object is really interesting. Any chance of trying a rubbing on paper or somehow using a mirror. It does look as if it is some type of printing item with backwards letters.

 

[Hard Nosed Dave]

Erik,

Thanks for the report.

Have you happened to try making a discriminating learn pattern on your SE?

I just noticed that the resulting learn pattern for certain coin targets on the EX SE that I got to try on my friend Raoul's one yesterday, are quite different to how the Ex 2 and Ex XS would usually set them up.

It seems to be a pretty good improvement

Has you or anyone else noticed this?

David Di

 

[Erik]

Hi Dave,

I've found coins to hit all over the place depending on condition and orientation, so I always hunt in IM mode and mostly by sound. I try to dig everything deep. Have not tried the patterns on the SE - may give it a shot when I have the time, thanks for the tip.

 

[Erik]

Hi, Thanks jb. It's definitely part of a printing plate. I found a complete plate in another park and it's one of my favorite finds - from an old butcher shop in Patterson, New Jersey and had little pics of a pig, cow, sheep on it.

This one looks even older as the lead substrate is starting to crack and crumble and the engraved portion seems to be made of copper! I initially thought it was just part of an old lawnmower blade or something till I washed it off at home and saw the graphics and letter, backwards! You can even see the little hole where it was once nailed to a block of wood. I'll have to go back and see if I can locate the missing third section. I may try to clean it using the peroxide method. I like the graphic image with the face on the first piece.

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

n/t

 

[Erik]

n/t

 

[Mike - Central Coast - CA]

Make a concoction of water and food coloring (which will come off after rinsing in hot water). Dip it into the dye, shake off the excess water so there are no big drips, then simply press the plate onto the paper. Might be interesting to see what shows up. Try different types of paper if you can't get a clear image.

 

[Erik]

Great idea Mike - thank you! Unfortunately one of the pieces is gouged and bent a little, but I think I can get paper against it. I'm hoping to get back there and find the third piece. It's quite old and the lead/copper construction might yield some clues as to it's age. I found another beautiful intact plate several years ago which I consider amongst my best finds. Thanks again for the tip!!