New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Help needed reading gold ring hallmarks

gavin		Posted : Monday, 1 April 2013 10:20:22 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Whoop whoop - actually found a gold ring today. 2nd signal dug! Stoked! I only usually go gold nugget detecting so was very pleasantly surprised to dig up a bit of gold in the garden I was detecting. Haven't done non-bush detecting in ages. Managed to figure out some of the hallmarks, but still got some gaps that I'd like to fill in if anyone can help? The photo is attached. M&M = Sponsors mark, but haven't managed to find out who M&M is. Anchor = Birmingham assay office hallmark. Crown + 18 = 18 carat. y = year, but I'm not exactly sure which year. Found this year letter chart: The "y" font used seems to match 1822 and 1923, but the border style matches 1998 so I'm none the wiser. Anyone out there able to fill in the hallmark blanks? File Attachment(s): IMG_2735.jpg
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number8wire		Posted : Monday, 1 April 2013 10:28:27 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 10/06/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,175 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 913 times Was thanked: 880 time(s) in 425 post(s)		Hi Gavin, Congrats on your super find. I reckon it's 1923 but check out this link below, follow the instructions and see what you think. http://www.gold-traders.co.uk/hallmarks/
		TEKNETICS T2 SE plus X-POINTER 2016 Silver coins- 233 Other silver- 13 Gold- 1 Sovereigns-0 Spendies -$119.00

oroplata		Posted : Monday, 1 April 2013 11:02:39 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Congrats! Need to see a better shot of the letter mark, but I'm guessing it's from Manton & Mole.
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Metal Kiwi		Posted : Monday, 1 April 2013 11:04:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: gavin Whoop whoop - actually found a gold ring today. 2nd signal dug! Stoked! I only usually go gold nugget detecting so was very pleasantly surprised to dig up a bit of gold in the garden I was detecting. Haven't done non-bush detecting in ages. Managed to figure out some of the hallmarks, but still got some gaps that I'd like to fill in if anyone can help? The photo is attached. M&M = Sponsors mark, but haven't managed to find out who M&M is. Anchor = Birmingham assay office hallmark. Crown + 18 = 18 carat. y = year, but I'm not exactly sure which year. Found this year letter chart: The "y" font used seems to match 1822 and 1923, but the border style matches 1998 so I'm none the wiser. Anyone out there able to fill in the hallmark blanks? Nice find Gavin. The date looks like 1923. Re the makers mark I can only find this from a forum post : A possibility might be James Woodward and Wilfred B Mole trading as Manton & Mole from Warstone Street Birmingham in the late 19th century. Although not having seen their Birmingham mark they registered a mark at the Chester Office in 1898 which is very similar to the one on the ring. They were registered as goldsmiths and the business had previously been recorded as gold chain making which isn't a million miles from making wedding rings. Might be the right one. MK
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nzpoohbear40		Posted : Monday, 1 April 2013 11:39:34 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,482 Location: Matura Thanks: 26 times Was thanked: 384 time(s) in 329 post(s)		great find gavin...good to see you got something on the detecting side...lol.....and 18 carrot to boot..well done
		Chris - Fisher Dealer http://www.puiakisupply.co.nz/

Foiled again		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 9:07:28 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 10/04/2012(UTC) Posts: 861 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 459 times Was thanked: 251 time(s) in 192 post(s)		18 carrots from a garden hunt! That's sweet hehe. Bloody nice GOLD find Gavin!
		There's another to find and I'm gunna find it!

gavin		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 12:22:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Thanks for the help guys - much appreciated! Still a bit puzzled by date, as border is same shape for each hallmark item so doesn't match any year stamp exactly. Though I'd like to think it's 1923 :) Cool to get some idea that it could be Manton & Mole for the sponsors mark. Sounds quite likely. The ring's actually a signet ring with a family crest and some latin inscribed, so quite an interesting find. Photos didn't come out too well last night as not enough light for my camera. Also found a few old pennies. One from 190? and another from 191? - can't remember the dates. A few of us were detecting sharing the same detector, so whoever found the item got to keep it, so the coins aren't in my possesion. Also found a few decimal coins and a $1 coin. And lots of junk! Especially a lot of lead roofing nail tops. I'll bring the ring to the next Chch metal detecting meet up. finally got something worth showing ;)
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Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 1:51:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		I do think you are right about 1822 and 1923 http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk/date_letters.html I have spent an hour trying to find who M&M is and cannot find it so soory I cant help - its always nice to be able to find answers but M&M simply is not listed in any of the manufacturers lists that I can find. Edited by user Tuesday, 2 April 2013 1:51:47 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

tonznz		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 5:46:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 20/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 667 Thanks: 261 times Was thanked: 199 time(s) in 152 post(s)		I did the same! My last easter egg to the one who identifies the maker....just kidding I have eaten all my easter eggs and now feel sick!

Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 2 April 2013 6:33:06 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Originally Posted by: tonznz I did the same! My last easter egg to the one who identifies the maker....just kidding I have eaten all my easter eggs and now feel sick! Did someone say Easter Eggs? - last night I devoured fifteen to twenty - I kid you not - someone I know is a chocaholic - ten or so were the small ones but one was a $7.99 one I think and the rest were the size of cackleberries...and yes I felt crook.