Went back to the V nickel park today, and decided to work along the creek side. The first two finds I dug were 1970 & 1940S Jefferson nickels, followed by a 1910 wheat. A little further down I got a deep solid 14 on the NOX, and started digging. A few inches down I encountered some thick roots. Not being deterred, I was able to get my digger down beside the main root, and remove soil. I kept checking with my pinpointer, and nothing. After thinking it was just a deep pulltab, I almost gave up, but decided to keep digging. Once I got the digger down far enough, I started to pick something up on the ProFind that was several inches under the main root. After doing some digging gymnastics, I pulled out a good handful of dirt, checked the hole, and nothing. Checked the dirt pile, and there it was!
After cleaning with water and toothbrush
The only mark I found was a makers mark that looks like a G B, or R?
After I was done for the day, I stopped by my hunting buddys house to show him. His first thoughts: definitely gold, and maybe a diamond? OH BOY! I told him Id take it to a jewelry store for their opinion. When the young lady looked at the stone, and tested the metal, she said not gold, and not a diamond Seeking a second opinion, I took it to the coin store, and the owner ran it under his light reader, and told me it read like a ruby or sapphire and added it didnt make sense because it is obviously clear. OK. I also asked him to test for gold, so he did an acid test, and said "its gold", and as he gave it back to me he stated $62.00. I told him I was going to take it home and clean it, and left.
Im not sure why one test said negative, while the other said gold? But having a coin guy whos been in business for quite awhile, and also deals in precious metals, make an offer like that (low ball) tells me he saw some value there, whether antique or precious stone and metal. I tried to look up the makers mark, but couldnt find anything yet. At the depth I found it, Im thinking its late 1800's or very early 1900s based on the dates of coins I have recovered from those depths.
Regardless of what the metal or stone is, its still a very nice looking ring, and definitely a keeper!
Thanks for looking, and HH!
After cleaning with water and toothbrush
The only mark I found was a makers mark that looks like a G B, or R?
After I was done for the day, I stopped by my hunting buddys house to show him. His first thoughts: definitely gold, and maybe a diamond? OH BOY! I told him Id take it to a jewelry store for their opinion. When the young lady looked at the stone, and tested the metal, she said not gold, and not a diamond Seeking a second opinion, I took it to the coin store, and the owner ran it under his light reader, and told me it read like a ruby or sapphire and added it didnt make sense because it is obviously clear. OK. I also asked him to test for gold, so he did an acid test, and said "its gold", and as he gave it back to me he stated $62.00. I told him I was going to take it home and clean it, and left.
Im not sure why one test said negative, while the other said gold? But having a coin guy whos been in business for quite awhile, and also deals in precious metals, make an offer like that (low ball) tells me he saw some value there, whether antique or precious stone and metal. I tried to look up the makers mark, but couldnt find anything yet. At the depth I found it, Im thinking its late 1800's or very early 1900s based on the dates of coins I have recovered from those depths.
Regardless of what the metal or stone is, its still a very nice looking ring, and definitely a keeper!
Thanks for looking, and HH!