Not exactly Lordmarcovan's bronze disc, but a what is it- made of bronze I think as well
kevinstang
Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭
Went hunting along the river park yesterday (it was cold and windy but no rain), nothing exciting, one wheatie- a 1944-D and a little over $4.00 in change overall. Did find what I first thought was a square nut- then realized it was bronze or some alloy and had a faint inscription/carving:
It is inch square and 3/8 of an inch thick and heavy. My only guess is a printers block (from when they used to set the presses with blocks of letters etc.)- maybe supposed to be an “F” monogram ? Tried rubbing some ink on it and stamping it by hand as photo shows. I found it by the base of an old oak about 6 inches down well back from rivers edge, yet it still has that being at the bottom of the river smell (fishy), maybe someone tossed it up on shore in the past.
It is inch square and 3/8 of an inch thick and heavy. My only guess is a printers block (from when they used to set the presses with blocks of letters etc.)- maybe supposed to be an “F” monogram ? Tried rubbing some ink on it and stamping it by hand as photo shows. I found it by the base of an old oak about 6 inches down well back from rivers edge, yet it still has that being at the bottom of the river smell (fishy), maybe someone tossed it up on shore in the past.
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<< <i>My only guess is a printers block (from when they used to set the presses with blocks of letters etc.)- maybe supposed to be an “F” monogram ? >>
I think that's a good theory. I like Dockwalliper's theory even more. Perhaps it is a seal.
If you think about it, the letter F would be raised on a printing block, most likely. Since it's obviously incuse, that has to be a seal that someone used for wax seals.
That ornate style of lettering where the letters were made to look like tree branches or logs was very popular in the 19th century, especially from around the Civil War to the 1880s. My guess? It is circa 1860s to 1890s, probably somewhere in the middle of that range.
I count that as a terrific find, and definitely worthy of inclusion in the Relic award category this month.
I'm in with the wax seal vote.
<< <i>I count that as a terrific find, and definitely worthy of inclusion in the Relic award category this month. >>
<< <i>I imagine it would have been mounted in a wooden handle then? - remember when digging it up that there was rotten wood around the hole- thought it was just a bad root. >>
I'd say that's a distinct possibility.