Silver buckle

[Brookie]

Hello. This is a silver buckle that I found last Sunday. This is the same site where the gold Napoleon coin was found a few weeks ago, but about 100 yards away. I'm not sure what this is and if anyone knows, I'd appreciate your opinion. It is very thin and might have been a clasp on a ladies hat or maybe a small child's clothing? I feel confident it is pre-1900 and victorian. The brown discoloration is from a piece of ferrous that was literally touching it. Amazing that the Safari picked it out 8" deep. I am impressed. I soaked this in olive oil for a few days and then jewelry cleaner for a couple of days and the rust still clings to it. If you know how to clean it without damage, I'd really appreciate hearing from you. I came very close to not digging it, but it kept reading 35 in one particular direction and I decided to see what it was. The quarter is just for size reference. It is marked "sterling silver" on the little hook on the back. I think it is a cool thing.

Cheers,
Brookie

 

[john4840]

Nice cool find. It looks like it could some sort of buckle.

John

 

[kschae4]

Brookie- Great find and nice detail.Though it read a 35, did you happen notice how much higher the audio tone was compared to clad? I've been re-air testing coins and finding that Morgan silver dollars do not read 38-39 as other silver, but read 35 (as do zincolns) but the tone is much higher.As I gain more experience, I hunt more in all-metal & relic (ferrous) than in coin,coin/jewelry (conductive).

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Very nice dig!