Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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| Interlocking Ring Finds. |
Not long ago somebody sent in a photo of an interlocking ring set they found. I think there were three in the set. Here are two of the sets that I've found. One has three interlocking rings and the other has five.
I can see the significance of two interlocking rings for lovers, but I don't know if other numbers might have some significance.
The symbol used for the Olympics is five interlocking rings, each of which represents the five continents, but I doubt that the five interlocking rings shown above has any significance.
I've found several of these types of rings. One set is made of different metals. One ring is gold, one silver, and I don't know what the other one is. I don't know if there was meant to be any particular significance to that either.
In any case, interlocking finger rings do not seem uncommon. The ones I've found are not marked, even when they are made of a precious metal.
I noticed that there seems to be a relationship between number of rings and the width of each ring. When more rings are involved, the individual rings are smaller. Maybe otherwise they wouldn't fall together as nicely.
Any ideas on the possible significance or date of interlocking finger rings? Let me know what you think.
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When you submit a mystery item for ID, provide all the relevant information you can. Remember, anyone who sees a photo will not be able to observe all the little details that you can. They won't be able to see it from angles that you don't provide. They won't be able to feel the weight of the item. They won't know the size, unless you provide it. They won't be able to view it under different types of lighting. And they won't know where you found it.
The more information you provide, the better your chances of getting a good ID will be. Here are some things that might be helpful.
Some indication of size. It is easy to forget to give the measurements or an item for size comparison, but it is often very important information for someone who only has a photo to look at.
Multiple views from different angles. With coins, two angles will almost always do the job, but other items might require more angles.
Weight. The weight can tell you a lot. As I mentioned yesterday, when it comes to coins, the weight can help determine the denomination or the amount of corrosion or if the coin might be a reproduction or counterfeit.
Don't forget, you have the item in hand and can see things and conduct tests on the item that somebody looking at a photo will not be able to do. The results of any tests you conduct might be helpful. As I mentioned yesterday, is the object magnetic?
You might test the metal. Even if you don't have a metals test kit, there are still a variety of ways you might be able to help determine what the item is made of, but these days you can always take the item to a pawn shop or jeweler to get an XRF analysis.
But there are many easy tests. Silver makes a distinctive sound when dropped on ceramic tile. If you've handled enough silver coins, you might recognize that sound. Lead and silver make a very different sound.
Lead and silver can often be distinguished by the different sounds or by the patina. You can also tell the difference when you rub those metals on a touch stone. You might not even have to use acid.
If you know the material the item is made of, let the readers know. It might seem obvious to you, but it might not be obvious to those who only have a photo.
Where was the item found? People sometimes don't want to tell that, but it doesn't hurt to tell the type of location, along with what other things were observed or found in the area.
Look closely for any marks that might be a clue. They might be small or hidden.
Sometimes you can determine what the item is or at least how hard it is by doing a scratch test. You probably have seen in the movies someone bite a coin to determine if it is gold or maybe you've seen someone test a diamond by trying to scratch glass.
A scratch test can be especially useful when testing gems. Below is a brief table giving the relative hardness for some items.
Hardness Cutting
Scratch Mineral Used Hardness
Hardness For Compar-
(Mohs) ison.
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1 Talc Can be scratched with fingernail 0.03
2 Gypsum Can be scratched with fingernail 1.25
3 Calcite Can be scratched with copper coin 45
4. Flourite Easily scratched with knife 5.0
5. Apatite Can be scratches with knife 6.5
6. Orthoclass Can be scratched with steel file 37.0
7. Quartz Scratches window glass 120.0
8. Topaz 175.0
9. Corundum 1000.0
10. Diamond 140,000.0
Table from
Gemstones of the World, by Walter Schumann, 1984.
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That is a big range. But as you can see, not only will a diamond scratch glass, but so will quartz.
You can find much more complete tables giving the hardness of various gems. In fact the same book provides the characteristics, including hardness, of most gems and minerals.
Hardness is something someone looking at a picture won't know, but it might help narrow down the identity of your mystery item.
Even if you never submit a photo of a mystery item for ID, some of these tests or observations might help you identify your finds.
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Associate professor of anthropology Charles Golden and his colleagues have found the long-lost capital of an ancient Maya kingdom in the backyard of a Mexican cattle rancher...
Here is the link for more about that.
https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2020/march/maya-discovery-golden.html
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What a crazy world! I'm glad I grew up in the country.
Today's media and continual "connectectivity" bombards the individual with messages and gives no space for independent though. It seems it has produced a generation of zombies. Who could have guessed that someday going out of your house would be a social crime that could make you responsible for some type of Armageddon.
But it isn't the first doomsday scenario. Only 20 years ago we had the Y2k hysteria. Doesn't seem like that long ago! Seems like modern man has always had some type of doomsday scenario, whether it was War of the Worlds or 1984. One movie from 2010,
After Armageddon, had a story very much like the one we are facing with Coronavirus. What is it with this every ten years stuff?
Below is that plot from Wikidpedia.
The plot centers around the Johnson family (consisting of Chris (Rob Hartz) and Ellen (Kathleen Cameron ) Johnson, and their son Casey (Hy Rillaro)) of Los Angeles, California, one of a small number of families to survive a global pandemic that, according to the opening of the film, occurs "sometime in the future..." The disease began as a particularly virulent flu strain in Southeast Asia. Efforts made to contain the virus in that portion of the world are ineffective as global transportation networks carry infected individuals all around the world. Hospitals become overloaded, and the public works infrastructure begins to shut down. Eventually, the main characters leave L.A., encountering many hardships along the way. They make it to a friendly small town, where life begins again.
Seems like our myths become our reality.
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As I said before, metal detecting is a activity with natural social distancing.
Here is my idea of Coronavirus fashion.
Mask also available.
Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
