Platinum ring

[badgers325]

Haven't had the greatest start to the year, but I am also trying a bunch of new areas and I tend to detect too fast. I was out hiking on some state forest area (cannot detect in WI) and on the way home tried a park I have never been too. It was eerily quiet. Got about 10 clad coins, some pull tabs and this ring. Solid 12-24 both directions with no extra sounds on the CTX. Didn't realize how heavy platinum is. No way I would wear that on my finger.

 

[Bucknut]

Wow! Don’t see platinum posted very often! Congrats on a great find.

 

[Tony Two-Cent]

Huge congrats on the platinum ring! That’s probably worth some bucks! I’ve never found any platinum.

:congrats:

 

[wisconsin digger]

Great find. No platinum for this guy either. Congrats WD

 

[OxShoeDrew]

Wow, Darryl, today that's $977 per ounce! Nicely done! Bummer they don't allow you to detect state parks. Congrats!

 

[Digger_O'Dell]

Wow, finding any ring that isn't a junker in Wi. is quite a feat in itself, but never seen platinum! With the way it rang up I can understand it since that reading sure looks like a pull tab. Just wondering, what markings does it have and what's the weight? Doesn't look that heavy, but never had platinum in hand before. Congrats!

 

[badgers325]

Thank you all and sorry for late responses.

Chris - 15 grams or roughly 1/2 ounce. The markings have "PLAT" on it and from what I read it is 95.5% pure platinum.

Drew - I don't know why they don't allow it. I actually was going to work for the DNR out of college (was my dream to), but they had a hiring freeze. The only time in the history of the DNR was literally when I graduated college. A few weeks back on the news, there was a deer shot with an arrow in it's head and was still alive. They caught it on camera (Whitnall Park for you WI folks). I was detecting that park and found a crossbow arrow. DNR/sherrif dept and city cops came out (I called it in due to news clip). Was talking to the officers for awhile and I asked the DNR guy why we cannot hunt in Lake MI and on state properties. He thought is was a stupid law too. The sheriff said "Really? that is a horrible law. You guys tend to clean things up and take dangerous things like hooks out of the water". I said bingo and looked at the DNR guy and said, time for some change. How do we go about it. His response was good luck, it will take an act of God.

Didn't know that when you scratched platinum it will not come off, but will turn a different color on the ring creating patina. Kind of cool.

 

[Digger_O'Dell]

Drew - I don't know why they don't allow it. I actually was going to work for the DNR out of college (was my dream to), but they had a hiring freeze. The only time in the history of the DNR was literally when I graduated college. A few weeks back on the news, there was a deer shot with an arrow in it's head and was still alive. They caught it on camera (Whitnall Park for you WI folks). I was detecting that park and found a crossbow arrow. DNR/sherrif dept and city cops came out (I called it in due to news clip). Was talking to the officers for awhile and I asked the DNR guy why we cannot hunt in Lake MI and on state properties. He thought is was a stupid law too. The sheriff said "Really? that is a horrible law. You guys tend to clean things up and take dangerous things like hooks out of the water". I said bingo and looked at the DNR guy and said, time for some change. How do we go about it. His response was good luck, it will take an act of God

I've never heard of any restriction to hunting in Lake Michigan. I've been doing it for years, and so have many others without a problem (except that ONE time someone called the cops on me saying someone was out swimming during -20F weather). Had several cops asking about my finds, etc. Maybe the DNR is just restricting areas adjacent to the state parks, such as their swim beaches? I know they will toss anyone detecting inland waters inside state parks. I've been jonesing to hit SO many of those swim holes!

 

[badgers325]

I haven't hunted Lake MI yet. You likely were not "caught" because there is 1 Warden for Milwaukee and Waukesha counties and likely someone metal detecting in the lake is not a priority. It is a DNR issue, so the police wouldn't get involved for you are not breaking the laws of the land. I am going to start at some point.