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Incredible Victorian Silver Match Safe - Best silver find in 35 years

D

doninbrewster

New member
I went to check out a new spot yesterday and came up with what I think is my finest silver find in 35 years of detecting. Yes, I did find a sterling knee buckle last year that is more historically significant, but not nearly as beautiful as this piece. I was hunting a pounded school yard looking for what others missed and came up with more nickels(found 28 the day before) including a silver war nickel and the smallest silver medal I've ever seen. It started snowing and I wanted to give this new site a quick look. Only spent 15 minutes there, but it sure was worth it. Came up with this beautiful silver match case/safe. It's in remarkable condition with no dents and when I opened it up it looked almost new inside. Quite unusual for a ground find. My guess is it was made to be water resistant to protect the matches and it did it's job.
 
Don! :drool:

I had to log back in to up vote this spectacular find of yours!:clapping: I always like to read a post about somebody hunting in inclimate weather, targeting heavy nickels and making a great score on silver!:clapping:
Yep, thats a beauty find alright! Congratulations!:beers:

Do you think it may be some semi-modern lighter case? Being in that kind of pristine condition and all, plus being missed by others for all these years? It had to be a great "dig me" signal? :shrug: No matter, its a beauty!
Mud
 
mudpuppy said:
Don! :drool:

Do you think it may be some semi-modern lighter case? Being in that kind of pristine condition and all, plus being missed by others for all these years? It had to be a great "dig me" signal? :shrug: No matter, its a beauty!
Mud
Click to expand...

Actually, it didn't come from the school yard, but a new site in the woods. The nickels I found came from the school yard, 35 of them over 2 days and I also pulled up 2 war nickels and 2 silver Roosies. This school yard had been pounded by experienced detectorists, but evidently they had their discrimination turned up to high. The match safe/case is old. It's hallmarked and made by Whiting Manufacturing which went into business in 1866 and ended up being bought by Gorham. My best guess is it was made somewhere between 1866 - 1890.
 
Sweet! once again I had to log back in! Evidently, folks smoked out in the woods back then too! Thanks for the deeper info on that find, I cannot imagine a thing like that surviving undetected in a schoolyard for all these years,, but out in the woods off to the side, Yes!:thumbup:
Mud
 
That is the nicest one I've seen dug. A fine trophy, amazing condition! WOW!
HH - Bruce
 
I Actually Collect Antique Sterling Match Safes And That Is A Wonderful Find :clapping:

I Believe It Is Victorian Era

It Is In Great Condition And You Should Be Very Proud


Major Congrats
 
She's a beauty alright...congrats on a great find... that is the type of find that could be easily damaged during the retrieval process. ..you got lucky twice ...
 
I think I'm drooling...beautiful piece..nice job..congrats!!:drool:
 
n/t
 
That is an awesome find and to be in such an amazing condition is incredible! :thumbup:
 
congratulations Don she sure is a beauty!!
 
That thing is going to display beautifully bud. It looks great with that dark toning as well. Can't stand seeing old silver all shined up :super:
 
Ahab8 said:
That thing is going to display beautifully bud. It looks great with that dark toning as well. Can't stand seeing old silver all shined up :super:
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I like to see things in their natural state. I've seen many rare coins ruined by cleaning. Real collectors be it coins, silver, antique furniture or whatever will pay more for an original piece than one that has been cleaned or refinished. I've also seen many old coppers cleaned in such a way that all the detail was removed. People should spend more time studying the coppers that come out of the ground before they start any cleaning.
 
One of the coolest and most interesting things I have seen posted lately.
Great find!
 
that is nice
 
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