It's so hot, even our Mercury dimes are swollen

[pocketspill]

Short after work hunt resulted in this oddity. It's two Mercs welded around a ball bearing. It appears to have been some attempt at jewelry. But it was done when the dimes were new because this area is full of 1940s silver, and this was at 7". The dime to the right was found 4' away.

Always interesting.

[Finnerman]

So, you opened it?

[pocketspill]

No. Don't plan to. It's just the perfect size for a ball bearing. I guess it could be hollow having been shaped before it was welded. I think that someone clamped these together somehow and then heated the edges.

[Finnerman]

Weigh it. If the total weight is more that the weight of 2 mercs then there is something in there. Curiosity would get the best of me. Maybe a dentist could xray it?

[Hook]

thats odd but cool!! i found a couple of clad rosies ..each glued to a small magnet . they were stuck together hen i dug em up in a soccer field. so ya never know whats going to pop out of the hole eh?

[sgtwilks]

Cool finds! Like the mercs.

[Jamflicker]

Cool find congrats! I guess that could be considered a pocket spill

[pescadore]

Cool Find !! Would be interesting to know what's inside if anything.

[WildDigger]

Very cool and odd find... Good score!!

[Dr Zed]

that's a very interesting find. I would be curious to find out what may be inside, but I wouldn't want to alter the current state of the coin sandwich.

Originally Posted by Finnerman

Weigh it. If the total weight is more that the weight of 2 mercs then there is something in there. Curiosity would get the best of me. Maybe a dentist could xray it?

This is a good idea for a non-destructive technique, but I don't think a conventional x-ray would work, as the atomic numbers of the elements in the coins in the high-ish range so there won't be much contrast (although I could be wrong depending on what's inside...if anything). You may try x-ray fluorescence (if you have access to a university or industrial lab). XRF can give you elemental signatures for anything present, but the depth of penetration for this technique depends on the elements.

[pocketspill]

Originally Posted by Dr Zed

that's a very interesting find. I would be curious to find out what may be inside, but I wouldn't want to alter the current state of the coin sandwich.



This is a good idea for a non-destructive technique, but I don't think a conventional x-ray would work, as the atomic numbers of the elements in the coins in the high-ish range so there won't be much contrast (although I could be wrong depending on what's inside...if anything). You may try x-ray fluorescence (if you have access to a university or industrial lab). XRF can give you elemental signatures for anything present, but the depth of penetration for this technique depends on the elements.

Don't think I'll be doing that, but it's fascinating to hear about the penetrating image technologies.

[Gonehunting]

cool find!