Unidentified silver

[simonthesearcher]

Ok all,have a positive ID on it now.Its a Celtic coin from the tribe Durotriges,round about 60 BC.The mirror image R is when they had an ancient ritual .The coin is apparently worth quite a lot as i have a few dealers on my back now but ITS NOT FOR SALE.I will be taking it to our local museum on Satand if they want it they can have it

 

[OkieDigger]

LOL, I said Viking or Celtic and I was right! Very sweet Simon. Please keep us informed about the museum and what they do. I'd also like to know what ball park figure you get for value. Thanks!

 

[mxtswinger]

I definitely agree with you that local history should have a high priority, but is there no way to kill two birds with one stone i.e. selling to a museum, vs. giving? I'm just curious as to the relationship between detectorists, museums and the govt. over there since I would like to do some swingin over there sometime. I have a relative with a home (1500's) over there but haven't been invited yet (workin on it).

 

[simonthesearcher]

I know you said viking or celtic to start with Okie and i reckon you know your stuff,well done there my friend.The local museum are going to have it from me(had a phone call about an hour ago),they dont have much money so i dont expect anything from them.I am just happy that other people will see it with the rest of there collection and my name goes under it as the finder.I have a three year old son so one day i can take him there and tell him i found that,and that people is worth more than any amount of money to me.I do this hobby of ours for the love of it.

 

[Brian]

Mxtswinger as a single coin Simons find does not come under the Treasure Act (unless there is strong evidence it was buried with the intention of recovery or it was found in association with other objects that are classed as treasure). So he can do what he wants with it.
I would not give it to a museum myself as control is then lost. I've donated items in the past and several years on they have been sold. If you look on the British E-Bay you will see that there are always items being sold off ....Cardiff Museum has sold hundreds of things in the last few months.
Place your find on loan and the public get to see it and it remains protected.

 

[hoser]

Simon I agree with Brian. I wouldn't just hand it over to the museum. There would have to be something written that stated the coin would never be sold off, but it would be returned to you. Extremely awesome find. Well done my friend.

 

[grinsebring]

My 2  cents.  GIVING it to a museum  no.... LOANING it  to a museum perhaps........SELLING  it  to a  museum maybe.  Giving it to a  museum
to be a nice  guy  makes you feel  good,  but if  the financially  strapped  museum decides  to sell it  to someone  who will loan it back to them where  doe's  that  leave  you?  Personally  I would  have it appraised  insured  and  put  in my families  trust.....there, I said  it.....call me selfish.
.....Gil

 

[OkieDigger]

I pretty much agree with everyone else. That's an awesome find and one I'm sure your kids would like you to pass down to them one day. I wouldn't give it to the museum, but I would consider loaning it to them. DO NOT SELL IT or GIVE IT AWAY!!! This is the kind of find that you can tell people about and then SHOW IT to them. How sweet is that? Just my two IH's.

 

[robpatt]

What an awesome find!  keep finding old coins like that and you could start your own museum

 

[simonthesearcher]

i have now decided to listen to you all and will keep it myself.I want to have it profesionally cleaned as i dont want to damage it.it will stay in the family .Thanks for all the remarks and info,it helped a lot to ID it.Now im off to get the rest Okie,if you want one you better get here quick cause my prizm is on fire right now.Serious tho,thanks guys.

 

[OkieDigger]

I really wish I could go there

 

[Voriax]

Hmm..not that far away from Finland....

Voriax

 

[mxtswinger]

Brian- Thanks a bunch for the info. I suspected as much since museums are all about numbers and profit. What is "in" today
Could be "out" with the next curator.

Simon- Glad you had a change of heart. It's really a tough call sometimes but I think you're doing "the right thing". As for cleaning it, I thought it looked awesome in the pics. Good luck finding the rest of the hoard.

 

[bugguy]

thats so interesting and yes i would declare it . for one reason. i myself love the hobby of metal detecting but i also love the history behind the finds . this peice could be something special and would be wonderful for many people to see in a museum . even though some places of this nature dont like our hobby technics they still get some great finds by our community. i would want to share such a find with everyone. plus hey you could make alot of money in the process. good luck on what ever you decide. there is no wrong decision. josh t newport NH

 

[Inkog]

Hi all,

New to the board but I've been lurking for a few days.

I noticed the conversation regarding the fliped "R" and busted out my trusty image application and made the below image.

Could it be that Simon's method of imaging the coin flipped or "mirrored" the image. (or maybe the other image was inadvertanly fliped) I flipped it horizontal and it now matches the other pic posted exactly.


Just a friendly heads up.

Cheers,

Ok all,have a positive ID on it now.Its a Celtic coin from the tribe Durotriges,round about 60 BC.The mirror image R is when they had an ancient ritual .The coin is apparently worth quite a lot as i have a few dealers on my back now but ITS NOT FOR SALE.I will be taking it to our local museum on Satand if they want it they can have it

 

[beerdoodle]

glad you decided to keep it Simon. What I think about governments, imminent domain, homerule et al is another forum subject. I didnt look at the various websights, but sounds like a nice lil addition to the nestegg, good going.

 

[simonthesearcher]

Inkog,now youve ruined my coin,its not unique anymore ,please put it back they way it was ,and anyway they never had computers when that coin was made

 

[tin_can]

umm, wow. amazing find. so what about a number simon? any idea what it could be worth?

 

[simonthesearcher]

well lets put it this way,if i took what i was finally offered i could have bought a top of the range detector plus all the acceseries to go with it and had a damn good holiday with spending money but ,would i ever find one of those again,which was found with a Prizm 4 (hardly top of the range but works like a bomb).So i still got it and will keep it safe and sound with me.