large English penny

[PAUL.J]

Just a quick word of caution though (and I don't mean to be boring!!) but there are laws in the UK about metal detecting and as most of the land in the UK is 'owned' by someone you should always ask the permission of the land owner before digging little holes all over the place and removing the loot!

As an ex-archaeologist, I would also like to emphasise the importance of reporting finds for the record and preserving/protecting historical sites. Once the archaeological record is disturbed its gone forever!

[Sylvester]

As an ex-archaeologist, I would also like to emphasise the importance of reporting finds for the record and preserving/protecting historical sites. Once the archaeological record is disturbed its gone forever!

I'd like to stress that also actually, having studied Archaeology!

[william]

Thanks, i'll be careful!!

[Emperor Oli]

Just a quick word of caution though (and I don't mean to be boring!!) but there are laws in the UK about metal detecting and as most of the land in the UK is 'owned' by someone you should always ask the permission of the land owner before digging little holes all over the place and removing the loot!

As an ex-archaeologist, I would also like to emphasise the importance of reporting finds for the record and preserving/protecting historical sites. Once the archaeological record is disturbed its gone forever!

There's a long-winded section on that in every Coin Yearbook

[william]

Yeah, i tried reading it, but got bored!!

[Emperor Oli]

I read it once to familiarise myself and memorise it for future reference - never again!

[william]

No, it's a living nightmare!!

[Emperor Oli]

Well, a fine and/or a jail sentence is quite a nightmare compared to ten minutes reading!

[william]

True!

[Raoul]

Paul if you look in your English newspapers you will see that a majority of the recent archaeoligacal finds are discovered by metal detectorists and they both seem to get along well.

[william]

Really!

[PAUL.J]

Yes You're right Raoul. I have worked on a number of projects where metal detectorists have been asked to search a site before or during excavation and have worked closely with the archaeologists. This is done to ensure that anything they find can be properly recorded. They usually get to keep what they find as payment (unless its of historical interest etc).

This closer working partnership had to be done to stop the more dishonest 'treasure hunters' breaking onto sites at night, destroying valuable archaeological data and stealing important finds. I think they used to be called 'Night Hawks' at some point - or perhaps this was just one group. Archaeologists would return to the site in the morning to find it covered in holes - completely vandalised. As I have stated before, once an archaeological site is excavated its gone forever. Such people in my opinion are on a level with those who burn books!

[william]

But books can be replaced...

[Master Jmd]

the best place too look for coins is in your garden...i found a george III cartwheel penny in my garden with a metal detector...there is nothing ilegal about that because it is Your own land:)

[Chris Perkins]

I think it would still be illeagal if it was gold or of significant historical value and went unreported to the authorities.

[Emperor Oli]

Ditto, as we said in another thread, it could be of great historical significance so if it isn't reported, there's a hole in our history there

[Chris Perkins]

I don't think a single cartwheel penny would be much missed from our history....When you find a Neolithic burial site in your garden, contact the authorities!

[Master Jmd]

do you get a 'reward' if you report an item of 'tresure'?

[Chris Perkins]

Yes, if it can be proved that it was 'thrown away' rather than hidden I believe. Something like that.

[mint_mark]

I don't think a single cartwheel penny would be much missed from our history....When you find a Neolithic burial site in your garden, contact the authorities!

I found a 1930s Canadian cent in my garden whilst weeding... and, there's a mysterious lump in the grass. I'm going to excavate it in the Summer when Time Team do their big dig again...!

[william]

I don't think a single cartwheel penny would be much missed from our history....When you find a Neolithic burial site in your garden, contact the authorities!

I found a 1930s Canadian cent in my garden whilst weeding... and, there's a mysterious lump in the grass. I'm going to excavate it in the Summer when Time Team do their big dig again...!

I haven't found much in my garden at all! All I found in there was a 1971 1p!

[Sylvester]

I once found an 1950 florin... it's really not nice.

[Chris Perkins]

How big is your garden Mint Mark, I'm imagining burial mounds here!

I found I modern Deutche Mark and 3 DDR Pfennige in the Garden here. As well as a big iron door hinge, chicken ring, screw driver, and countless beer bottle tops.

[mint_mark]

How big is your garden Mint Mark, I'm imagining burial mounds here!

I found I modern Deutche Mark and 3 DDR Pfennige in the Garden here. As well as a big iron door hinge, chicken ring, screw driver, and countless beer bottle tops.

Well, it's long but narrow... the house is over 100 years old and next to a church, so you never know... although I suspect it's building debris from when someone had an extension built.

Where in Germany are you Chris? Lot's of beer tops... in the south?

[Chris Perkins]

In the East, near Dresden/Leipzig/Chemnitz, but probably closer to the Czech border, and probably closer to Prague than Berlin. The Erzgebergishe region to be presise.