Elementary My Dear Hobbyist

I found this photo from the Journal Times and laughed a bit at the attire this fellow hobbyist is wearing while he scours for treasure. It's never crossed my mind to wear a pea-coat, slacks and dress shoes out to a hunt.

"George Edgar puffs on a pipe as he searches for treasures with his metal detector in the 2600 block of Washington Ave., near Grange and Wright avenues, Wednesday April 6, 2011. Edgar uses a trowel to dig into the ground after getting a signal. He replaces any turf he digs up. In this instance, all he found was a rusty nail. However, Edgar, who lives in Kenosha, once found a coin from the 1870s in the same area which is why he likes to search in the park. He says that the most interesting artifact he ever found was a Civil War soldier's identity disc."

Image Credits: Mark Hertzberg / Journal Times

Aussie Hobbyist Finds The Lost

"It’s an all too common sight on Sydney beaches: A group of people on their hands and knees at Bondi, Manly or Balmoral, frantically digging through the sand.

Sometimes the lost item is a missing engagement ring. Other times it’s a treasured necklace or even a rare signet ring -- a family heirloom.

Buried among millions of grains of sand, the situation can seem hopeless.

For many years, one person’s loss has been the gain of lone 'metal-detector guys' who scour the beach at sunset looking for the day’s lost treasures."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Michelle Wranik / CNNBO

UK Media Encouraging "Plunderers"?

"A new television series describing the exploits of metal-detecting Britons has come under fire from archaeologists fearful that it will encourage treasure hunters who can damage ancient sites.

The British Museum has become embroiled in the controversy after opening its archives to the programme-makers and providing expert help.

Diana Friendship-Taylor, the chair of Rescue, otherwise known as the British Archaeological Trust, said: "We are, frankly, astonished, that the British Museum is prepared to lend its considerable weight..."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Getty Images

PA Class Ring Returned from FL

"A local family couldn't believe it when they heard from someone at Ford City High School telling them that a class ring that had been missing for more than 40 years had been found in Florida and returned to the school.

The plain gold ring with a picture of the high school building engraved on top belonged to a 1934 graduate of the school, Samuel Saloum. Mr. Saloum died in 1979.

'The family was very excited,' said Jennifer Hrabovsky of Ford City, a teacher at Elderton Elementary School and Samuel's niece. 'It was a nice surprise for everyone.'"

Read more HERE.

April Fools Pirates

"Two pirate ships were spotted dropping anchor near the Valley Prince boat in Old Sacramento Friday morning.

Dan Auldman called the Sacramento Police Department while on his morning metal detecting walk after he saw the Jolly Roger approaching.

'My trusty detector had just led me to a Seated Liberty silver dollar,' Auldman said. 'I looked up at the sky feeling good about my find, and that’s when I saw the skull.'"

Read more HERE.

Pennsylvania UXO Search

"For about 20 years, Marty Holmes has meticulously walked over thousands of acres of woods and fields armed with nothing but a fancy metal detector.

It's not for fun, like a beachcomber looking for buried treasure. It's a chance for him to possibly save lives.

Holmes is an 'unexploded ordnance specialist,' part of a team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that scours land that could contain old ammunition buried deep underground after decades of neglect. The team will find, flag and safely remove unexploded ordnance."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Keith R. Stevenson / Pocono Record

King Richard's Knight

"...

The silver boar badge was dropped in the mud more than 500 years ago by a knight who fought alongside King Richard III, historians believe.

The white boar was the king's personal emblem and silver gilt boars were made for his knights and nobles.

The emblem will be independently valued by a committee of experts."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: BBC

1400's Gold/Diamond Ring

This item was found a few years back, but finally going up for auction. It's one of the most breath-taking finds I've ever seen and I'm more than happy to share it with you all. Put in a bid for me... :)

"A rare 15th Century diamond ring discovered by a Leicestershire metal detectorist could fetch £20,000 when it goes to auction.

John Stevens found the gold ring in the Fleckney area in July 2008.

He said it had been 'quite a shock' to come across the treasure just inches below the surface of a ploughed field."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Bonhams

TX High School Champtionship Ring Found

Not sure why this news story came up, as it's actually from 2010... maybe because finally some closure with it? Either way, it's a great story to read, so give it a look.

"It's a mystery that begins in one of the prettiest places in all of Texas, along the Blanco River in Wimberley.

That's where Brad Bieler of Forney was last August, killing time with his kids and his metal detector.

'This gives me something to do while I'm watching them,' he explained."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: WFAA

30yr Old MD Find Gets Returned

"A piece of Mason City history has been returned after being found more than 30 years ago in southern Iowa.

R.J. Piatt of Glenwood, Mo., found a police commissioner lapel pin belonging to a Mason City man named S.A. Koch while prospecting with a metal detector at a home in Ottumwa sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

Historical documents list Koch as a Mason City councilman in 1919-21."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Jeff Heinz / The Globe Gazette