Is there hidden treasure in your garden?

I absolutely love garden history.

Whenever I took on a new project I always looked out for evidence of a previous era. Whether that's a change in levels, indented lawns where pathways used to be or overgrown borders hiding something mysterious.

Luckily I got to see hundreds (if not into the thousands) during just over 20 years of business. I found quite a few interesting things excavating for patios and walls etc.

I once bought a C-Scope metal detector (not long after they first started to become popular). A lack of success and the because I'd bought a cheap machine meant I gave up.

I've just bought a metal detector to search our land - the law's a little different here in France and it's not totally clear what the rules are. As I understand it you can search land with the permission of the land owner.

However you cannot search land where there are known to be archaeological relics or sites of national importance. It's also an offence to search for objects over 300 years of age (however this is policed I cannot imagine).

I had an hour before dark this afternoon. I wanted to set the machine up and have a play.

It was a bit confusing and sounds were coming from the device's speaker. I decided to search for all metal and not discriminate so I could get a feel for the different sounds.

I eventually found a few bits. Mainly bottle tops and the like.

Well I struck lucky and found a ring of Donna's that my daughter lost in our field not long after we bought the property. We never thought we'd see it again.

I also found this heel plate off of a lady's shoe (I'm thinking Charleston).

Then this lid off of an old toothpaste tin. It's engraved with the words 'Savon dentirfice Paris.

..and I found my first coin. It's difficult to pick out the detail but my son's young eyes established it is an 1853 Napoleon III 2 centime piece

All in all quite chuffed:-))

Have you any tales of finds?

I think it was DEUS that this chap was using to find the above items Marc.

What was interesting for me was that he found the coin where I'd detected more than once previously (about 4-6" deep).

I've got a Garrett Ace 250. It's a good enough machine but only one fifth of the cost of the DEUS:-))

Marc ~ Pro-Cut said:

You're a man after my own heart Phil.
I bought an XP DEUS last year and it's an awesome machine, it found me my first gold coin which was a sovereign, just a shame it wasn't Roman as I love the history of this era, though I'm not complaining.

I'm also lucky enough to have been given permission to search several farmers fields nearby but to date nothing major has come forth.

I've never actually thought of passing it over customers gardens despite several knowing of my hobby and encouraging me to do so.

I always thought that Europe was abound with Romain coins and artifacts after watching several of the hundreds of youtube videos available on the subject.
Often the travelling Legions would hide there hoards rather than carry them on the way to far off lands including the UK.

I would encourage you to search as much land nearby as possible but sadly I'm not up on French law.

You may have already seen this post from an online club

metal detecting forum

I actually started detecting when I was about 13 yrs of age when my Father bought me a C scope, I used to hit Weymouth beach and often found Gold & Silver Jewellery as well as cash.
I only started back up last year, probably a mid life crisis lol or a re-capture of my youth. :)

Replies

Nick Hill January 23, 2013 at 11:11pm

Saw in the news the other day the guys at Mussleburgh golf club got a bit of a shock when they uncovered a human skull while working on a bunker.
PRO

Phil Voice January 24, 2013 at 7:27am

Now I've been stuck in a few bunkers before Nick...but never that long:)

Nick Hill said:

Saw in the news the other day the guys at Mussleburgh golf club got a bit of a shock when they uncovered a human skull while working on a bunker.
PRO

Phil Voice January 24, 2013 at 7:28am

If I were you I'd be itching to start searching the Orkney site Gary. Keep us posted if you do.

Gary Smith said:

Hi Phil
A George the III shilling, a cartwheel two pence, a couple of Florins, a few 1 shillings, loads of Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian coppers, shoe buckles, a live .303 bullet (WWII airfield in the village) and loads of tinfoil/horseshoes/rusty nails etc.
None metal detecting - digging out a pond unearthed two enamel advertising signs, numerous victorian bottles and pots. New borders unearthed a couple of stone sinks and in a WTF? moment a complete and huge rotavator with enormous spade lug wheels.
Have fun with the detector, mine gave up the ghost and is on the "must get round to buying another" list, we own a old croft house on an island in the Orkneys on the shore Longhope Bay, our house is the only traditional house on the Island with an English name, Wateringhouse, and it gets it's name because the sailing ships that moored in the bay opposite got their barrels of fresh water there, the bay was also used by Viking Longships so I need a new detector cos' there's gotta be gold buried there somewhere :-)
Gary
Nicholas Boyes January 24, 2013 at 10:00am

Not found too much in the gardens where i have worked, a few coins, clay pipes but if anyone ever needs to excavate the grass bank in my previous work place they will find two garden rollers , several office desks and a dismantled greenhouse.
PRO

Darren Walters July 16, 2013 at 10:43pm

Found this last week. I think it's a Sun Cross but could do with some advice on getting it formally identified. It's about an inch across and 3mm thick...I never did completely go metric :-)
PRO

Darren Walters July 21, 2013 at 9:11am

Anyone know who I could email these photo's to for more insight into it's origin?

Darren Walters said:

Found this last week. I think it's a Sun Cross but could do with some advice on getting it formally identified. It's about an inch across and 3mm thick...I never did completely go metric :-)
PRO

Phil Voice July 21, 2013 at 9:44am

Hi Darren

Just had a quick search on the net but couldn't find any examples.

Your local museum would be a good place to start. Let us know how it goes.

Had someone detecting here yesterday. He found a few bits; nothing of great value but of interest nonetheless. Especially as they were found some 300 metres from any dwelling, in a grass meadow.
PRO

Darren Walters July 21, 2013 at 10:13am

I was hoping I could email the pic's to someone, as getting to a museum (or anywhere non-work) at the moment is difficult. I'd love a metal detector but my wife says I have too much junk already and wouldn't have the time. Unfortunately, she is probably right :-)

Phil Voice said:

Hi Darren

Just had a quick search on the net but couldn't find any examples.

Your local museum would be a good place to start. Let us know how it goes.

Had someone detecting here yesterday. Her found a few bits; nothing of great value but of interest nonetheless. Especially as they were found some 300 metres from any dwelling, in a grass meadow.
PRO

Phil Voice July 24, 2013 at 9:38am

I think it was DEUS that this chap was using to find the above items Marc.

What was interesting for me was that he found the coin where I'd detected more than once previously (about 4-6" deep).

I've got a Garrett Ace 250. It's a good enough machine but only one fifth of the cost of the DEUS:-))

Marc ~ Pro-Cut said:

You're a man after my own heart Phil.
I bought an XP DEUS last year and it's an awesome machine, it found me my first gold coin which was a sovereign, just a shame it wasn't Roman as I love the history of this era, though I'm not complaining.

I'm also lucky enough to have been given permission to search several farmers fields nearby but to date nothing major has come forth.

I've never actually thought of passing it over customers gardens despite several knowing of my hobby and encouraging me to do so.

I always thought that Europe was abound with Romain coins and artifacts after watching several of the hundreds of youtube videos available on the subject.
Often the travelling Legions would hide there hoards rather than carry them on the way to far off lands including the UK.

I would encourage you to search as much land nearby as possible but sadly I'm not up on French law.

You may have already seen this post from an online club

metal detecting forum

I actually started detecting when I was about 13 yrs of age when my Father bought me a C scope, I used to hit Weymouth beach and often found Gold & Silver Jewellery as well as cash.
I only started back up last year, probably a mid life crisis lol or a re-capture of my youth. :)
PRO

Phil Voice August 30, 2013 at 2:28pm

Any progress on this Darren?

Darren Walters said:

Anyone know who I could email these photo's to for more insight into it's origin?

Darren Walters said:

Found this last week. I think it's a Sun Cross but could do with some advice on getting it formally identified. It's about an inch across and 3mm thick...I never did completely go metric :-)