May 2014 - Page 2 of 4 - Regton Metal Detectors

Rare Bronze Age gold lunula detected in Dorset

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When David Spohr dug into a Dorset cow-field after his metal detector gave a signal, he thought at first that he’d found nothing more than an old sardine tin.
But as he dug deeper, he could scarcely believe his eyes.
For the 55-year-old precision grinder from Creekmoor, Poole, realised he had struck gold – literally.

The item, buried around 10 inches deep in the Tarrant Valley field, was a Bronze Age gold lunula in the shape of a crescent moon.
It was probably used by a tribal leader, high priest or healer as a symbol of authority.
The lunula, which weighs 71.5 grams, is one of only a handful found in mainland Britain and is thought to be the first located by a metal detector. It is thought to be between 2,500 and 4,500 years old and is estimated to be worth up to £20,000.

Bronze Age gold lunula, between 2,500 and 4,500 years old, worth up to £20,000.

David Spohr was taking a break when his metal detector suddenly went off.
When he wiped the mud clean of what he found, he saw that it was in fact a lunula

Metal detecting enthusiasts discover smoke marker at the beach

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A amateur treasure seeker has discovered an unexploded Second World War “bomb” on his first visit with a fellow enthusiast.
A few weeks ago Mr Mournian, had joined a website for people who go out with metal detectors and arranged to meet up with Darren for the first time at the weekend.
They were walking along when noticed something sticking out of the sand – they thought it was a boulder at first. When they tapped it they realised it was metal and was giving off a strange smell.

The device uncovered on Perranporth beach on Sunday by Jonathan Mournian and his friend Darren Troon was identified as a Fairey Swordfish smoke. Visible writing indicated it had come from a Fairey Swordfish. It was not explosive, but could have been harmful due to the smoke inside.

It was later detonated by the bomb disposal team.

Mr Mournian couldn’t believe that on their first metal detecting trip together they found something like this. He said he has already uncovered coins and jewellery while out treasure hunting with his metal detector.

Jonathan Mournian and Darren Troon
with the smoke marker they uncovered on Perranporth Beach

Malacca Sultanate ancient amulets unearthed in Malaysia

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At the stroke of midnight on April 30, the company, carrying out a hunt for a multi-billion Ringgit treasure belonging to the Malacca Sultanate on Pulau Nangka stumbled upon two bronze medallion-like artefacts. Each medallion measures around 6 centimetres. They are believed to be ancient Majapahit amulets from the Majapahit empire. Majapahit was one of the last major empires of the region and is considered to be one of the greatest and most powerful empires in the history of South-east Asia. The study carried out by the relevant quarter revealed that the artefacts could not possibly be ancient coins, as speculated by many, because words of ancient Javanese mantra were carved on them. The possible link between the amulets and the Malacca Sultanate and Pulau Nangka, is yet to be proved.

Artefacts found during construction works in Pulau Nangka- Malaysia

Malacca Sultanate ancient amulets unearthed in Malaysia

16 May 201416 May 2014 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

Artefacts found during construction works in Pulau Nangka- Malaysia

Ancient coin hoard in India

15 May 201415 May 2014 Regton Detectors 2 Comments

Ancient coins unearthed a decade ago in Nabarangpur district will be displayed to the public and researched by numismatists and epigraphists at the State Museum. The rare coins, which are now in the safe custody of the Nabarangpur district treasury, will shortly be moved to the State Museum for detailed study. In 2003-04, villagers discovered the coin hoard near Kosagumuda in the district when present state tourism and culture secretary Arabinda Padhee was the collector there. The collection was found by chance by the local residents. It consists of unique silver and gold coins that are clearly ancient.

Coins have a few Persian symbols and emblems of a spider and other images
that were most likely disseminated on coins during the Mughal era, may be under Akbar’s reign

soveso hoard treasure roman gold and silver

Sevso Hoard returns to Budapest

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The recent return of seven of the 14 pieces of Roman silver to Hungary from the UK is a positive development in the find’s sad history.

It is suggested the treasure have been discovered—the circumstances remain unclear—in the 1970s. That the late Peter Wilson, formerly the chairman of Sotheby’s, should have started acquiring pieces of the treasure in 1980 appears strange today, since it was not until 1981 that a Lebanese export permit (later found to be forged) was obtained for the first four pieces that were bought. A more suspicious buyer would have comprehended that the treasure must have been looted and must have been exported illegally from its country of origin.

The key piece, the Hunting Plate, along with six other major pieces of silverware, has now been returned. The Hunting Plate is significant, for it bears an inscription referring to its owner, Sevso (from whom the treasure takes its name), as well as a reference to Pelso, the Roman name for Lake Balaton in Hungary, near where the treasure was allegedly found. That now appears to have been the case, although the government of Croatia has not yet withdrawn its claim to ownership.

Marcus Linell, a senior director of Sotheby’s, with some of the Sevso hoard before its aborted sale in 1990

rampside hoard metal detecting bronze age

Barrow metal detectorist astonished by Bronze Age discovery

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A local metal detectorist stumbled upon a Bronze Age gem that could re-write the history of Furness. No other similar finds had been made in the Furness area. Mr Hocknell’s find is classed as treasure – and has been named The Rampside Hoard.

The hoard could have been buried as an donation to the gods, or be the attempts of a metalworker to conceal valuable metal tools by burying them. Mr Hocknell says he only took up metal detecting two years ago after family and work pressure left him with little time to enjoy his favourite hobby of fishing. He is now a member of local metal detecting club the Furness Finders, which has around 25 members.

Mr Hocknell was walking in the field when he came across an axe head. According to the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which has examined the findings, the axe head is cast copper alloy palstave dating from the Middle Bronze Age, that is c. 1400-1300BC. The rest of the find was classified as Late-Middle Bronze Age The axe is classed as a single find, but the hoard was discovered a short distance away. The value is expected to be several hundred pounds.

Mr Hocknell with his metal detector

Teacher by day, an archaeologist by night

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A school teacher by day and urban archaeologist by night, Matthew Finley is putting a modern face on the hobby of metal detecting, once considered the exclusive domain of elderly men looking for loose change on the beach. Raised in Savannah since age 9, Finley got his first metal detector the Christmas after he graduated college and moved back home in 2007. Finley studied Spanish, history and anthropology at Sewanee, University of the South. He always wanted tpo have a metal detector. Living in Savannah, a historic town, he always wondered what’s out there. It turns out there was a lot out there. Some of the artefacts Finley has found include old coins like the Liberty Head nickel, gilt brass thimbles and a Confederate button called Republican Blues worn by officers during the Civil War.

Local teacher Matthew Finley with his metal detector.
He picked up metal detecting as a hobby after moving back to Savannah,
a city rife with buried historic treasures.

Saddle Ridge hoard on display before sale

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The largest hoard of gold treasure thought to ever be found in North America is on exposition this weekend at a Nevada antique show, providing the public with an exceptional chance to see the nearly perfectly conserved coins in person before they are sold later this month. Called the Saddle Ridge hoard, the approximately 1,400 U.S. gold coins date from 1847 to 1894. They were unearthed in nearly mint condition inside eight rusty tins by a couple taking a walk on their estate in California’s gold country in February. The treasure has a face value of more than $28,000 but could sell for more than $10 million when put up for sale near the end of the month, according to Kagin’s Inc., the numistmatic firm that evaluated the find and is acting for the anonymous couple who found it. At least 13 of the coins are the finest known of their kind, according to the firm. Among them is an 1866 $20 coin printed without the “In God We Trust” motto, known as the 1866-S No Motto Double Eagle, said David Hall, cofounder of Professional Coin Grading Services in Irvine, who authenticated the coins.

Part of the Saddle Ridge hoard of gold coins found by a Northern California couple

Jersey coin hoard extraction done in public

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Work uncovering the mystery of the world’s largest hoard of Celtic coins will be the focal point of a new exposition at the Jersey Museum. Jersey Heritage Trust conservator Neil Mahrer and his crew will work inside a large glass room – on view to the public. The hoard was discovered by two metal detecting hobbyists and is thought to hold some 70,000 coins. The exhibit will also feature other artefacts from the same era. Mr Mahrer said it would be painstaking work but it was an marvellous opportunity to find out about our past. His work may also be shown through a live feed to the museum’s audio visual theatre.

More than 70,000 coins and pieces of jewellery will need to be set appart from the binding soil