Another day out in France... Beyond expectations !!

[Restoring Your Finds]

Hi all,

I went back out and had some very nice surprises !!

Here is the view from the field :



Let's start with the "common finds". From top left to bottom right : three 20th century lead seals, a couple 18th (?) century buttons, a small lead ingot (what was it for?? making musket balls? I like the shape anyway), a "Liard de France, Louis XIV, 1698", a big disc (probably part ornament for a horse bridal?) and a small roman coin with a standing soldier.



Here is the big disc, front and back. (There is some silver remaining on the front)



Then, three amazing finds. I mean, had I found only one of those, I would have had a fantastic day ! But I found the 3 of them the very same day !!

Let's start with this Celtic brooch, from a period called "La Tène II" (260 BC to 150 BC)



Then... well... then a "Dupondius de Nimes". This is a "colonial" roman coin. Nimes is a city in Southern France.
The emperor Augustus had this coin made in 27/28 BC. Obverse shows emperor Augustus and his friend and son-in-law Agrippa. Augustus is wearing a laurel wreath and Agrippa is wearing a rostral wreath/crown which is usually dedicated to people who won battles at sea. Below (barely readable on mine) there is "DIVI F" which means "Son of the Divine". (in reference to Cesar, Augustus being his adoptive son. Cesar was his great uncle, on his mother's side.) Reverse shows a crocodile, chained to a palm. It also bears the letters COL NEM (Barely readable on mine) which stand for "Colony of Nimes". This symbolizes Egypt submission to Rome. Therefore, both sides of the coin symbolize the naval victory of Actium won by Octave (Augustus's other name) and Agrippa over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in 31 BC. Pretty cool, isn't it...? That coin circulated within the whole empire for about 60 years, from 27 BC to 30 AD. After that, all those coins were stamped. (Mine is not... YES !)
Some pictures, before and after cleaning:




Last but not least... (I really couldn't believe the day I was having !!!) Another silver obol, but this time a "Massilia Obol", which is an obol from the city of Marseille. Marseille is the oldest city of France. It was created by Greek settlers and merchants in 600 BC. They also introduced the first coins in Gaul. (Old name for France, inhabited by Celtic tribes at the time)
Among the first coins produced was this silver obol, which dates back to 350 BC to 220 BC... Yes... I am ecstatic !

Some pictures. As you can see... it is pretty tiny ! The "MA" on the back stands for "Massalia", the old Greek name for the city of Marseille.




Happy Hunting to all !

[don in ny]

The only thing I can say is AMAZING! The silver oboe is incredible.

[Full Metal Digger]

Those are AMAZING finds!! Thank you for sharing them with us. Also, will you get to see any stages of the tour? (or should I say le tour?) Best wishes and HH, Dave.

[Bucknut]

Totally amazing finds!!! Congrats!

[Rudy]

Outstanding finds!

I gather you are hunting in the South of France. Are you by chance in the Alpes Maritimes département.

I was in Nice two months ago and hating the fact that I had no detector. Stayed at the Le Meridien, on the Promenade des Anglais.

[Restoring Your Finds]

Thanks guys !

Those are AMAZING finds!! Thank you for sharing them with us. Also, will you get to see any stages of the tour? (or should I say le tour?) Best wishes and HH, Dave.

Nope. I won't get to see the Tour this year. I remember a few years ago, they did have a stage in my hometown but I wasn't there at the time. Missed it by a day.

Outstanding finds!

I gather you are hunting in the South of France. Are you by chance in the Alpes Maritimes département.

I was in Nice two months ago and hating the fact that I had no detector. Stayed at the Le Meridien, on the Promenade des Anglais.

Thanks Rudy ! You were definitely staying at a very nice hotel in a nice place. I am in the South indeed but closer to the South West, not the South East.

I actually found this silver obole from Massilia/Massalia (Marseille) about 220 miles from the actual city of Marseille.

[groundhog53946]

I can only dream of ever finding such treasures. Awesome and keep it up.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk

[Restoring Your Finds]

The only thing I can say is AMAZING! The silver oboe is incredible.

Now... Are you finally considering a visit next summer?

[don in ny]

Now... Are you finally considering a visit next summer?

Absolutely

[MangoAve]

Wow those are amazing finds. Who knows, maybe I'll get a chance to dig up some Eurosoil someday. Crazy to think some of those coins can survive so long in the ground and have good detail, yet look how bad nickels are in the short time they are in the ground. Crazy those sunflowers are already with big flowers. Not here, tho.

[Rudy]

Thanks Rudy ! You were definitely staying at a very nice hotel in a nice place. I am in the South indeed but closer to the South West, not the South East.

I actually found this silver obole from Massilia/Massalia (Marseille) about 220 miles from the actual city of Marseille.

Thanks Taltahull,

Are you then perhaps in the Languedoc region? Would love to detect in that area and perhaps find a few relics (treasure) from the Knight Templars.

[Lodge Scent]

Beyond cool ! With finds like that I think we ALL should consider a visit to France next summer.

[Digger_O'Dell]

Those are some awesome finds! I was curious about that Massilia Obol and did a bit of research on it. It seems to be an unusual specimen-all the similar ones I found listed online all have the head facing left, opposite of yours? Maybe a rarity or even unique piece? I would look further into it, maybe take it to an expert.

[Restoring Your Finds]

Those are some awesome finds! I was curious about that Massilia Obol and did a bit of research on it. It seems to be an unusual specimen-all the similar ones I found listed online all have the head facing left, opposite of yours? Maybe a rarity or even unique piece? I would look further into it, maybe take it to an expert.

I noticed that as well but I did find some others facing right like mine. Indeed, there are a few types/varieties of that coin.

Thanks for your comment ! I am glad you looked it up. It is a coin I really love !

[wisconsin digger]

Your guys find over there are mind boggling. Such great history. WOW does not say enough. Great finds WD

[Diggin Dude]

Charles I am speechless, those are just unbelievable finds! I can't fathom finding something that old 350 BC oh my. I understand things are relative but here in the states I get excited whenever I hit the 1800s. Happy hunting Charles find more

[Restoring Your Finds]

Thanks Andy ! I'll bring my finds to the next club meeting.