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Found this today...
rgmcbrid  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 2:00:59 PM(UTC)
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The last few evenings I have been detecting in the back yard under the clothes line. I live in a shack behind an old farm house and I found a dozen or so coins, but nothing real old. Today I ventured off to new ground and found what apparently used to be where garbage was burned. There was an incredible variety of melted blobs of crap. I dug up every non-iron signal and found a couple of coins, some keys, a loaded bullet, and then I hit a big wandering signal that turned out to be the silver match safe and chain in the photo. I looked at a bunch of pictures on the internet and it is almost exactly like one I saw from 1890, but who knows.

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Lammerlaw  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 2:25:51 PM(UTC)
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Bloody marvellous - I like it! I think it could be panel beaten back into perfect form again by a competent jeweller so you got a real genuine 100% treasure there methinks. Great going.
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Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 2:41:09 PM(UTC)
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That really is a cool find.
Hope you find more in that spot
HH
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overdog  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 2:53:12 PM(UTC)
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Nice find Rob... What detector?
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rgmcbrid  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 3:02:35 PM(UTC)
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Thanks guys, I found it with a Gold Bug with an 11" coil.
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Maverick  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 3:46:14 PM(UTC)
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holy cow! a real vesta case with chain, not often you see one of them
well done you. does it have a hallmark? often on the edge of the lip where the lid closes.
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rgmcbrid  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 4:15:47 PM(UTC)
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Maverick,

I got a hand lens and sure enough there is a stamp on the edge where the lip closes, is says '925.' Does that mean something?
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kiwijw  
Posted : Thursday, 23 June 2011 4:36:54 PM(UTC)
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Yes, Very nice find. Well done. Yes .925 is a silver hallmark stamp.

JW :)
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oroplata  
Posted : Friday, 24 June 2011 12:38:37 PM(UTC)
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.925 = 92.5% silver, the rest other metals (usually copper)

Also known as "sterling silver" due to Pound Sterling coins being that same percentage.

Look for other stamps as well as the 925 which may tell you who created the piece.

Nice find!
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