Favorite Finds - International

JANUARY 2014 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My favorite International Find for January 2014 is the SERGEANT W. STEWART A.I.F. Gold Return Fob, discovered by Darren B. from Ganmain, NSW, Australia.

Years ago, Darren’s father had taken him to a lookout in the Riverina NSW. He was a direct descendant of the 20-30 germans who settled there in the 1800’s. Darren decided to have a swing with his AT Pro, and found coins, but states, “I also found some sort of pendant with a soldier on it, with the name SERG. W. STEWART A.I.F. It also has some markings on the back, which I’m hoping someone knows the meaning of.”

After contacting I.S. Wright Militaria in Victoria, he learned that this is a Military Return Fob, which is made of 15 ct. gold, and was given to some returning soldiers from WWI. Without a service number, it will be difficult to narrow down to who it belongs to, as there appears to be many Sgt. W. Stewarts on the roll of the Australian War Memorial website listing WWI soldiers.

  Darren exclaims, “All I can say is WOW as I'm still finding it hard to describe how I feel in words and the reality of how significant this find is, is still sinking in. One thing I’m still trying to do now is track Sgt. Stewarts family down, so the medallion can find its way back home, as I strongly believe it’s the right thing to do."

Darren, Great find and great deed you are doing! Thanks for sharing.

Darren B. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a AT Gold! You could be the next winner!

DECEMBER 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for December 2013 is the 12th Century Reliquary Cross, discovered by Dragos S. from Romania with his AT Pro International.

Dragos tells Garrett, “Today was a great day for metal detecting! Me and my two friends chose to search a forest outside of a restricted area. I came across an old road that was covered with stone and quite trodden. At the first signal, my AT Pro detector gave a very strong signal about 20cm, where I found a cross, and not any ordinary cross but a 12th century bronze cast reliquary cross! I am very happy for this find because crosses are very rare and I had the opportunity to find something like this. The cross was donated to the museum across our city.”

This lovely detailed cross with hinges has survived the ages of time, and still functions to reveal the hidden compartment. Extraordinary find. Congratulations Dragos!

Dragos S. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

NOVEMBER 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for November 2013 is the Bronze Age Sword, discovered by Dennis M. from Denmark.

Dennis shares this exciting event with us. “Yesterday, October 17, I was out with my Garrett AT Gold, detecting a plowed field. I got a really fine signal (actually the first signal of the day), and it turned out to be a fragment of a bronze sword that dates back to between 1,000 and 1,500 B.C. I began to search the surrounding area and 3 meters from the first piece, the second piece emerged. And then another, and another. In the following hour a total of 8 pieces came out of the ground, revealing a complete Bronze Age sword! It measures 48 centimeters and weighs 348 grams. Today I brought it to the museum, and they were thrilled to say the least! Best day of detecting ever!

Thrilling discovery Dennis! It’s remarkable how you put it all back together. Awesome!

Dennis M. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

OCTOBER 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for October 2013 is the Huge Hoard of 120 pounds of XV Century Silver Ottoman Coins, discovered by Julian E. from Valcea County, Romania.

Julian tells Garrett about his fabulous treasure discovery in his own words. “Hi, my name is Julian and I am from Romania. Since March I am the happy owner of a EuroAce that I spent hundreds of hours in the field, with small discoveries. But nothing foretold what was going to happen Sunday, September 1, when about 30 cm depth, tens of thousands of silver coins began to appear as if to not stop. More specifically it is 54,727 kilo (more than 120 pounds), about 48,000 silver Ottoman Sultan Murad II coins during 1421-1451. A few days after discovery I still shaking hands, convinced that this may happen only once in a lifetime…I hope not.”

Julian concludes. “The treasure was entrusted to National History Museum, where it belongs to be admired for many years to come. Romanian legislation provides for an award. I hope to buy that dream Garrett AT Pro since the day it was released. Anyway, my Ace 350 will not ever sell even if I can get double. It’s very very lucky!

Julian, congratulations on this fabulous treasure! The size of the hoard is breathtaking!

Julian WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

SEPTEMBER 2013 HAS THREE WINNERs!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for September 2013 is the Cache of Silver WW-II Rifle Men’s Medallions, found by John S. from Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, with his AT Gold.

John states, “In my local area I am lucky enough to have a WW-II military camp occupied by the U.S. Army during 1942-43. I came upon a large shrub near the original road that the army would have used. Scraping away the leaf litter under the shrub I got a high signal that seemed to be in a few directions, or places. After pinpointing I started to dig and noticed glass and a possible rubbish pit. Thinking “Great!” as these pits can be very productive. After opening the hole and scanning with my Pro-Pointer I began to pull silver WW-II items out of the hole! I began to shake, and got quite emotional as one after the other continued to appear…eight in all! What I had found was a cache of discarded USA silver rifle men’s medallions. These in particular are for marksmanship. After sitting down for half an hour and gathering my composure, it took me at least a few days to cometo terms with what I had found, and continue to wonder why they had been left there in those times of turmoil!

John S. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
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WINNER #2
My second favorite find is the 19 Grams of Gold, discovered by Luke A. from Kinglake, Victoria, Australia, with his AT Gold.

Luke tells us about his gold recovery. “I went detecting on an old mullock heap here in Victoria, Australia and got a few nice specimens…about half a cup full of rocks. I kept them for a little while until I got sick of wondering how much gold was actually in those rocks. Well I got the surprise of my life when I smashed them up in a dolly pot and got just over 19 grams of gold! I have been really happy with the AT Gold. It handles the Australian conditions well. I use it in streams and in the rain and in some really rugged country. I have been detecting since January this year when I bought my Garrett, and I have found 23 grams of gold so far. The smallest bit I have found was .1 gram about 2-3 inches deep.”

Luke A. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
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WINNER #3
My third favorite find is the Cache of 2nd Century Blacksmith Tools, discovered by Iuliu P. from Toplita, Romania.

Iuliu started researching a small height of land that could have been a small ancient tower or workshop that had pieces of barbed wire, probably from WW-I or WW-2. Iuliu shares the moment. “Suddenly I had a very strong signal with my Garrett GTI 2500 using the 10”x14” Power DD Elliptical Searchcoil. I thought I detected an entire roll of barbed wire because the signal starts at about 20-25 inches above the ground. It was a big surprise because I found six blacksmith iron tools and an iron axe at a depth of about 24-25 inches! Nobody knows exactly who hid them there but these tools are similar to Dacian. After the Dacian wars of the Emperor Trajan in early 2nd century, part of the Dacian kingdom came under Roman control, and the Romans stopped in these areas. It’s possible that native Dacian people hid these tools. Tools are: two different anvils, a tool to make signs (marking tool), a battle axe, a hammer, two pliers, and an iron battle axe. My GTI 2500 has done a very good job in the three years I’ve use it.”

Iuliu P. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

AUGUST 2013 WINNER!!!!

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WINNER #1
My favorite international find for August, 2013 is the Late Medieval Silver Signet Ring, discovered by Suzie F. from Solymar, Hungary.

Suzie received a Garrett EuroAce as a great surprise gift from her boyfriend who was already a treasure hunter with a different brand detector. She states he chose the EuroAce for her because it is light, has a screen, is digital, and is one of her favorite colors.

Suzie’s surprise: “My boyfriend and I went out in a north Hungarian forest on a sunny spring morning. We didn’t expect to find anything particularly interesting there, but we thought we would give it a try anyways since the huge, old trees looked quite promising. After about 2 hours of unsuccessful detecting (only shotgun shell ends and a few modern coins) I got an extremely strong signal…so strong that I suspected that it might have been just a large piece of junk. So you can imagine my surprise when at the bottom of a 20 cm deep hole I saw a hint of silver!”

Suzie’s discovery: “Bending down I picked it up and in my hands was a huge silver signet ring with an ancient looking coat of arms! When I showed it to my boyfriend he nearly had a fit, and I think he was a bit jealous. Upon cleaning it back home, we determined that it is a late medieval signet ring, probably a priest’s or a nobleman’s!”

Suzie’s conclusion: “This is really the best hobby ever! My boyfriend and I both love it and it brings us even closer together. Actually he was the one who had the idea from the start!”

Nice find Suzie! Thanks for sharing your story and good luck to you and your boyfriend.

Suzie WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

JULY 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My favorite international find for July, 2013 is the Middle Bronze Age Bracelet, unearthed by Gerd M. from Baveria, Germany with his Ace 250.

“Well this morning it stopped raining and I had about one hour time to do a test run over one of my permissions”, Gerd states.“It started with the usual finds in my area, a WWII cartridge, Ox shoe, a 1903 coin, and then on the last test row…a Bronze Age bracelet! (But I did not recognize it at the time due to the dirt).”

Gerd continues as time is running out. “Finished the line in one direction and turned around to do the other side of the line. On about the same height, wow, another great signal! Made my plug, and out popped another bracelet which looked like bone fragments. At this point it dawned on me that this is an historical find and needs to be secured for the Heritage Office to take over.” Gerd recorded the coordinates on GPS, took pictures and a made a finds log with the Baverian Heritage.

“The next day I got the information that the Bronze Age bracelet was predicated to be from 1500 B.C. Middle Bronze Age, and the other one from the same period, Gerd says. “The bracelets will be picked up this Wednesday, June 5 to get preserved. How it goes on from here I don’t know as it’s my first find of this National importance.”

Great job! Thanks Gerd for submitting your story!

Gerd M. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

MAY 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for May 2013 is the Hoard of 200 Bronze Roman Coins, discovered by Gary S. from Dorset, England with his Garrett Euro Ace.

Gary tells the beginning of a successful discovery. “I started out on one of my permissions. It was cold but dry. I wasn’t getting many signals all day, so I decided to head back as it was getting late. As I walked across a couple of fields to get to the car I decided to turn the machine back on and have one last try whilst walking back. Wait one minute! It was a lovely little sound coming through my headphones… I dug it and to my amazement it was a little bronze roman coin. I was well happy. After that I dug another 4 coins all being Roman bronze in a little area.”

It gets better. Gary states, “The next day I hurried back to the same spot and found they were coming out from everywhere! I made myself a little square so I could determine as to where they were most concentrated. I phoned my FLO (Finds Liaison Officer) and asked for advice as by this point as I had about 50 roman bronze coins! I got advised to only dig down in the top soil until my FLO and archaeologist could arrive the next day.”

Gary shares the exciting conclusion. “Over the course of the three days I dug just over 200 Roman bronze coins ranging mostly of Radiates and ranging between mid to end of the 2nd century! As these were found on ploughed land, the ploughing over years had disturbed the vessel or bag of some kind holding these coins, which caused it to disperse over a little area of the field. Very happy with the result and so chuffed with my Garrett Euro Ace! The coins are off with my FLO and to the museum. LOL”

What an exciting discovery Gary! You told the story so well I felt like I was right there!

Gary WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

APRIL 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for April 2013 is the Pair of Early Bronze Period Battle Axes, discovered by Oliver D. from Sebis, Romania.

Oliver was invited by a friend some 150km away to go detecting in a big plowed field with dark brittle soil. Oliver used his Garrett Ace 250 with a large Detech coil and his friend used his GTI 2500. Oliver wasn’t having as good of luck compared to his friend, but that soon changed.

Oliver shares the moment. “I was a little disappointed of my bad luck, when I got a cracking signal, the signal I was waiting for all day. Pinpointed on the spot, then got on all four and dug like 30cm deep to find “something” that at first glance I thought it was a tractor piece. But a closer look, and once I lifted it from the ground…Wow! I knew by its weight and form: THIS IS SOMETHING AWESOME! I called my friend who was a few meters on my left and showed him. He was astonished! Then we started scanning the area right away for more. A few meters away popped out the second one! Then, nothing else, although we scanned a third time.”

Oliver shares the discovery. “The artifacts are two battle axes from the early bronze period (cca. 3500-2200 B.C.) of which one has a deep cut from their glorious war days! Now they are resting in the regional museum, following to be restored.”

Oliver concludes. “With this I would like to thank Garrett for creating a wonderful detector that gave me the opportunity to make such a find, and through this to help enrich my country’s historical knowledge and patrimony.”

Congratulations Oliver and your friend. Those are an awesome pair of ancient battle axes! Oliver D. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!

MARCH 2013 WINNER!!!

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WINNER #1
My Favorite International find for March 2013 is 778-840 A.D. Louis the Pious Golden Coin, found by Lecat R. from France.

Lecat detects with his EuroAce on the weekends, and digs everything. He said this coin was a “big surprise” and a “premium piece”. Lecat estimates the age is the 8th century, size is 12mm, and weight is 1.20g.

The cross in the middle of the coin symbolizes the person of Christ. The four small dots are symbolic of the four Gospels proclaimed to the four corners of the earth, beginning in Jerusalem. During the days of the Crusades and the Byzantine Empire, this coin was known as a Besant. Besant was also called Solidus, a gold coin of the Roman empire used in Europe.

Congratulations Lecat. What a brilliant find!

Lecat R. WINS a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!
Next month Vaughan will give away a Garrett PRO-POINTER®! You could be the next winner!