Metal Detecting Forum

I was heading down to my parents house today and was hoping to do some MD'ing. They live in a small town but have a house that was built sometime around 1900 and it sits right on US 40 (Old National Road) in Indiana. My dad is somewhat interested in my knew hobby so I told him I would go out to his yard and see if we could find anything. I discriminated out iron and went on full sensitivity. The very first target I got was bouncing between nickle and zink. I told him it was probably trash. Once I put my Pro Pointer in the hole it was going off all over the bottom of the hole. At first I thought it was not acting right but I dug a little further and pulled this rusted mess up. I have found one I think is a match on the internet and the guy says it is very rare and from the early 1800's. I am not 100% it is a match but when I look at the real thing I can make out some of the markings on the back like the one in his blog. The pictures aren't the best as I didn't have my good camera with me at the time. He was shocked and intrigued that this thing was buried about 3 inches in his back yard and he never knew it. I thought it was cool as well, not quite as cool as the capped bust I dug last week but pretty close since my dad was there with me. Since we found this first off I wasn't concerned about how he would react to me digging up his yard. Took my time and got some decent plugs so he was happy. I was getting tons of interference in the back yard probably from the overhead power lines. I didn't' get to hunt much today just about 1/2 hour showing him what little I know. I think my electrolysis will really make a difference in this one. Anyone see any reason why I shouldn't try to clean this u. I am guessing I can't hurt the value of it anymore then what mother nature already has.





Here is the website I came across with my short time of research.
http://restraintsblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/original-antique-skull-cross-bones-rare.html

Looks identical to me. I would go ahead and zap it .... you can't hurt it anymore than it already is.

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2013 digs :
Mercury Dime - 3
Silver Roosevelt Dime - 1
Wheats - 31
Buffalo Nickel - 1
Liberty Head Nickel - 1
Rings - 1 silver coin ring

Northern Minnesota
Minelab Explorer SE Pro
Garrett AT Pro
White's Coinmaster 5H/DM G.E.B.

Very cool!!! clean errr up/post another pic ,,,,....'''';;;;

Well round one of the electro is done. I flipped it over and started again by attaching to the loop portion of the lock. Most of the rust came off the bottom but most of the rust remained on the loop. I was attached to the body so either A: there was no current getting to the loop due to rust. or B: the loop is a different type of metal that was not affected as much by the electro. Anyway this afternoon I hope to have the top portion cleaned.

Great find! That skull is pretty spooky looking!