Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« on: Feb 19, 2008, 03:33:54 PM » |
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Did some exploring this morning and came upon a small area with a bunch of iron hits and got one real good reading that possibly was a coin but to my surprise there in the ground was a mini-frame, which at the time I thought was a mirror. Once I got it home and cleaned it up a little, I saw that the mirror was actually water underneath the glass, so I put the mini frame under a desk lamp and after an hour the water dried up and the mirror effect was gone but now I could vaguely see a Portrait of a man or woman wearing a hat, most of the details are there, I might play around later with different lighting and camera settings to see if it clears up any more, but you can see the hat, the eyes, nose, mouth, neck, shoulders, so I have no doubt it is an old portrait of some type. I have no idea on the age but I would guess between Civil War era up to turn of the century based on the style and the hat.Open for any guesses on man or woman and age of this artifact. I am not sure if the site was a homestead, work area or even a out of the way dump, but there was a small depression in the ground nearby, so perhaps it was a simple living area or it was a work area of some type. The other object is rather fragile and I have no idea what it is other than old....  [FINAL RESTORED PHOTOS ON PAGE 2 REPLY 112]Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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Ron and Ann
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Me....after finding my cache!
Virginia Beach
Detector used: Him: Minelab Exp II / Her: Garrett Ace 250 / Kids: Garrett Ace 150
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« Reply To This Topic #1 on: Feb 19, 2008, 04:04:28 PM » |
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Nice photo frame! Can it come apart without harming it any? Be cool to see the photo Nice finds!!! |
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Ron - Professional Printer, Dad of 2, Fishing, Asst Scoutmaster Troop 65 Annmarie - US Navy (Ret), Graphic Artist, Mom of 3, Amateur Genealogist: 35 yrs exp, Committee Member Troop 65 (GS for 6 yrs) Click here to see photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/famleeroots |
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wyattrr
I look foward to Coin Hunting anytime I get a chance...
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Posts: 509
True Rewards go to those who go after it...
Eastern Shore of Maryland
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Quarters: 67
Dimes: 153
Nickels: 90
Pennies: 638
Tokens: 2
Non-US Coins: 1993 $5 Mexican Piece. 1968, 83, 99 Canadian Pennies
Wheat Pennies: 15
Other Silver Coins: 1957 Rosie
40% Silver Coins: 1
Gold Items: 10 K Bracelet. 10K, 14K Ring. 10K Earring
Silver Items: .925 Ring
Keys: 5
Notable Relics: 1902 Indian Head Penny
Silver Jewelry: Women's Charm Bracelet
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« Reply To This Topic #2 on: Feb 19, 2008, 04:34:07 PM » |
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Interesting Relic...Congrats and HH
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Best Find Yet: 10K Bracelet with Diamond Accents Washington Presidential Dollar
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aa battery
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ca.
Detector used: GTAx 550
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« Reply To This Topic #3 on: Feb 19, 2008, 05:56:21 PM » |
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Nice 1 Don how you feeling ?...aa
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To forget how to dig the earth and tend to the soil is to forget ourselves.
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Ken from Atlanta
Finder of assorted junk and a few neat things
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Posts: 352
1972 pull-tab in mint condition.......
Olympia Washington
Detector used: Garrett Ace 150
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Quarters: 47
Dimes: 44 (5 silver)
Nickels: 13
Pennies: ?????? only coinstar will tell
Tokens: 1 1939 S.F. Exposition
Non-US Coins: 7 Canadian & 1 South African penny
Wheat Pennies: 32(25 steel)
Buffalo Nickels: 1
Mercury Dimes: 3
Other Silver Coins: canadian quarter
Silver Items: sterling baby rattle
Keys: 6
Notable Relics: Old bank, Mining tags
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« Reply To This Topic #4 on: Feb 20, 2008, 01:53:46 PM » |
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Nice find!
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As soon as I clear all this junk out of here I'm gonna find some good stuff......really, I will, just watch me.
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #5 on: Feb 20, 2008, 03:25:56 PM » |
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Did some more research this afternoon and it appears the mini frame photograph is perhaps a Ambrotype, if so it is more likely of Civil War era and I also found a photo or two from the Civil War era with men wearing hats very similar to my photo. I am going to ask around on some photo sites for more information and whether to try and open up the case and clean the inside of the glass frame that holds a lot of dirt, or leave it be, and if any preservation needs to be done. The photo did not get any better drying out overnight, so what is in the posted pics is the best that can be seen. Excerpt from this site: http://www.ajmorris.com/roots/photo/history.phpIn 1854, an offspring of the wet plate method was introduced to compete with the daguerreotype, the new form being called an ambrotype. In this process, a glass plate was again used. By mounting the negative image in a case with a black backing, it could be viewed as a positive image. This form was quite popular from 1855 to about 1870. Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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halfdime
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My best coin yet
Detector used: White's XLT
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« Reply To This Topic #6 on: Feb 20, 2008, 03:43:34 PM » |
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Very interesting!
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Silver farm 07-08: wheats 442, Indians 1, Buffs 19, V nickel 1, War nickels 10, Barber dimes 3, Mercs 32, Roseys 36, Canadian Ed VI dime 1, Barber quarters 2, Washington quarters 20, Walking Liberty Halves 6, Pittsburgh Railways tokens 9, 10k rings 2
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Joe G
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Long Island
Detector used: Exp II, Fisher CZ20
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« Reply To This Topic #7 on: Feb 20, 2008, 06:54:02 PM » |
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That is a very cool find. Very interesting. Congrats!
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HH!
Joe G
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Neil in West Jersey
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Posts: 1289
1801 "Draped Bust" Cent found May, 2008
Coffins Corner, NJ
Detector used: Whites DFX, and PRL1, Garrett ACE 250,
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008-
Notable Relics: 24 18th and 19th Century "Flat" buttons
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« Reply To This Topic #8 on: Feb 20, 2008, 08:02:17 PM » |
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That is a very cool find. It looks as though the figure is a man, possibly bearded with a necktie. I messed with the brightness, contrast and midtones a little to see if I could bring out any detail. It seems to be a bit better.
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 index.jpg (41.43 KB, 370x465 - viewed 6062 times.)
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"Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"
Robert Frost
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #9 on: Feb 20, 2008, 08:08:01 PM » |
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That is a very cool find. It looks as though the figure is a man, possibly bearded with a necktie. I messed with the brightness, contrast and midtones a little to see if I could bring out any detail. It seems to be a bit better.
Neil, I played around too and got similar results, for a friend who had trouble seeing any figure at all I did the following photo marking, I wish I had a better program to draw a good outline, I might have one but do not know how to do it, anyway, here is what I did for him, and yes, I think a beard also. Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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Derek752
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GW Inaugural 10/18/2007
Central,Ny
Detector used: Whites DFX
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« Reply To This Topic #10 on: Feb 21, 2008, 06:34:19 AM » |
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HOLY COW !!!  Thats a photo of my great great great great semi-great grand pappy !!! LOL ! Nice find Don ! ;) D. |
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Neil in West Jersey
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1801 "Draped Bust" Cent found May, 2008
Coffins Corner, NJ
Detector used: Whites DFX, and PRL1, Garrett ACE 250,
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008-
Notable Relics: 24 18th and 19th Century "Flat" buttons
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« Reply To This Topic #11 on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:00:28 AM » |
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"Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference"
Robert Frost
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Montana Jim
Zesty Harley Rider USAF Retired
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Free Bad Advice 90% Drama Free
Montana
Detector used: Bounty Hunter(s) SMOKE FREE since Nov 1, 07
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« Reply To This Topic #12 on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:05:39 AM » |
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Don... a most excellent find! I can't see anything in the pic except stains.  |
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LIVE - LAUGH - LOVE
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Derek752
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GW Inaugural 10/18/2007
Central,Ny
Detector used: Whites DFX
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« Reply To This Topic #13 on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:11:16 AM » |
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I recant my first choice of it being my 5x grand pappy...I looked again...miniture photo of the shroud of Turin !!
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #14 on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:17:50 AM » |
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Don... a most excellent find! I can't see anything in the pic except stains. Jim, once you look,especially on the doctored photo by Neil it is rather easy to see the portrait. I am used to looking for them, years ago I found numerous photo ID badges from a local WWI munitions plant and some were rather clear and some were impossible to make out the photo and ID number below there mugs, but these are on I believe Celluoloid, but still the same appearance to them. It is actually amazing anything is seeable on the mini-portrait since all I read about this type is that water destroys them and lol this photo was filled with water, that is why it looked like a mirror until the water evaporated and then the photo outlines started to appear....... |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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UncleVinnys
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Just visiting this planet
Hancock Street, Folsom, CA
Detector used: White's MXT (Yippee! Just arrived!)
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« Reply To This Topic #15 on: Feb 21, 2008, 07:27:01 AM » |
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NO DOUBT that that's Elvis!
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In this world of trouble and strife,
bring some peace to someone's life
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jfx55
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colonial encampment site 2008
new jersey
Detector used: fisher1266-x whites 6000 pro whites 5900 di pro
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« Reply To This Topic #16 on: Feb 21, 2008, 01:46:48 PM » |
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found one of these a few years back but it had a lock of hair in it. looks to be 1850s-1870s possible older, only guessing since the small frame i found looks like yours and thats what i was told after i had it checked out with a curatior from phildelphia.
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mamabear
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the world is my secret garden
SEMO
Detector used: garage sale oldie
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« Reply To This Topic #17 on: Feb 21, 2008, 01:52:20 PM » |
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awesome find! perhaps if you scan it & then play w/ darkening the pic you might be able to get a little better view. just a thought.
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dancing in the fire!
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CarolinaDigs
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Cherish youth but trust old age ....... Pueblo
North Carolina
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« Reply To This Topic #18 on: Feb 21, 2008, 08:27:08 PM » |
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Love the finds Don |
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That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much....... Robert Lewis Stevenson
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K-Man
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marinette, wi
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« Reply To This Topic #19 on: Feb 21, 2008, 11:35:08 PM » |
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i tried messing with it a lil to so if i could bring it out some i dunno if it helped but kinda looks like a guy in a army uniform from the civil war era maybe
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try3-2.jpg (93.63 KB, 569x640 - viewed 5399 times.)
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ivan salis
da book worm--researcher
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callahan,fl
Detector used: bh --QD II and tracker IV
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« Reply To This Topic #20 on: Feb 22, 2008, 12:18:12 AM » |
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please don't get too creeped out by what I have to say --you said their was a shallow depression in the near by ground? --- you might have found a "grave" photo --- from a family "homestead" type grave plot --- often folks put photographs of their loved ones in a frame to "see" them when they went to visit their grave -- today some folks have special head stones with photos enclosed in them or likeness of the dead "lazer" carved into the stone --some even have "interactive" type devices that play a breif -- "tape" of the persons "life' ---so things and people don't change --just they techo stuff of how they do it.
several "tin type" photographs of the dead are in my very old family photo book -- it was common back then to "dress up" the dead and have their photo taken and put it in the family "photo' album --to "remember them" by and so to be able to show others years later what they "looked" like -- morbid by todays standards --but times were differant back then.
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #21 on: Feb 22, 2008, 05:18:09 AM » |
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LOL, I'm 100% sure not a grave site, the depression(round, not rectangle shaped ) nearby was a good 15 feet away at least and an old overgrown path/road in-between where I found it. The iron hits were numerous like a typcial homestead or work area in this part of the state. Since my hunt that day was more exploratory than settling down to hit one site hard, I will return eventually and spend more time at that spot and see if anything else is recovered. Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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Moonshadow
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Please leave a Ring... after the beep!!
Aiken, SC
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« Reply To This Topic #22 on: Feb 22, 2008, 05:30:33 AM » |
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I love it! Looks very ghostly......What a cool find! Congrats Don!
HH,
Moon
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SgtSki in MI
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VICTORY IS MINE!!!
Hesperia, MI
Detector used: Minelab Explorer XS, Fisher CZ-5, Fisher 1236-X2
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Silver Items: Eyeball Find in Iraq: Sterling St. Christopher medal
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« Reply To This Topic #23 on: Feb 22, 2008, 06:29:04 AM » |
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Very weird find in that there's still detail present. I'm pretty sure that it is indeed an ambrotype, If I remember my past readings about photography. I think there'd be nothing left but a rust stain if it were a Daguerrotype or tintype.
Verrrrrrry Interesting! (to parahrase Artie Johnson)
WTG,
SgtSki
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"You can get more with a kind word and a gun, than you can with just a kind word" -Al Capone
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #24 on: Feb 22, 2008, 07:20:48 AM » |
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Very weird find in that there's still detail present. I'm pretty sure that it is indeed an ambrotype, If I remember my past readings about photography. I think there'd be nothing left but a rust stain if it were a Daguerrotype or tintype.
Verrrrrrry Interesting! (to parahrase Artie Johnson)
WTG,
SgtSki
Ski, I agree, that if a tintype it most likely would have been all rusted out. There is no rust, just the blue spots of copper corrosion. If I could bend one tab in the back and slide out the portrait, I know cleaning the back side of the glass cover would help a lot in seeing the photograph more clearly but fear the copper tab would crack. But, it might be worth it to see the photo better. I think I will mull this one over for a bit. Open for suggestions, other than leaving it alone, which I might do, but darn, it sure would be nice to see if a clearer picture emerges if the glass on top was cleaned. Update: There is a possibility this might be a Daguerreotype, which would be maybe even pre Civil War, since the back plate is copper, and when i first found it I said I thought it was a mirror, the more I read on Daguerreotypes, the more I believe it is one and not a glass type photograph known as the Ambrotype. The Daguerreotype was a piece of copper which was silver plated and the photograph was on that silver plating which was then enclosed behind glass in a frame. Seems to match the appearance of mine. Without an expert in the field commenting, this is all logical guesswork on my part and I am trying to find someone well versed in the old photographs to say what type it is and if it can be conserved. Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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Don in SJ
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1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #25 on: Feb 22, 2008, 03:22:27 PM » |
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I was in contact this afternoon with Princeton University concerning the type of photograph and whether it could be successfully conserved. I got a confirmation on the type and was given three points of contact to have the photograph evaluated and whether it could be conserved or not, of course at a price. I found a great website from Princeton University that shows conservation before and after photos and when I saw some very similar to mine I was pleasantly surprised and now have hope that it is possible to restore this photo. Check out this webisite and look at the portrait photos and then look at the after conserving photos and the difference is amazing. Sure would be nice if mine could be saved like that. http://infoshare1.princeton.edu/librari. | | |
