Identifying Metal Detecting Finds - how to identify metal detecting finds
The following is a collection of resources and recommendations to help you positively identify metal detecting finds. If you would like your site listed here, or know of a site that should be listed here, email me! Some of the below links are Amazon affiliate links, but rest assured, I would not recommend a book I didn't believe would help you with your metal detector finds! #ad #affiliate
Finds Identification Resources Online
Identifying Celtic Coins
Chris Rudd's Celtic Coins Web Site, probably the most famous name in iron age coins, Chris Rudd has been dealing in Celtic coins for decades and is a recognised authority on the subject. On his site you can view his sales catalogues and auctions, he also sells a selection of books on iron age coins and related subjects.
Identifying Roman Coins
Romancoins.info a useful site about roman coins, includes many photographs.
Coins of the Romans Relating to Britain By John Y. Akerman, Published 1836.
Coins of the Romans Relating to Britain By John Y. Akerman. Part 2
Identifying Hammered Coins
Hammered Coin Inscriptions an interesting site about the inscriptions on hammered coins, a useful aid for identifying coins, mints etc.
English Hammered Coins in the collection of Timothy D. Cook, very useful site with lots of pictures of hammered coins from the Saxon period through to the house of Stuart and the commonwealth.
Identifying Lead Tokens
Leaden Tokens Telegraph a large archive of a free newsletter for everyone interested in lead tokens, an enormously important resource for detectorists and collectors alike!
Identifying Scottish Lead Communion/Church Tokens
Identifying Military Badges
The Military Badges Identification Web Site, another important site for detectorists, great for identifying your military badge and insignia finds!
General
The UK Detector Finds Database
Books on Finds Identification
Books on Identifying Celtic Coins
Ancient British Coins by Elizabeth Cottam, Philip de Jersey, Chris Rudd and John Sills. The best Celtic coin book around, not cheap at £75, but a worthwhile investment if you have an interest in iron age British coins or you need to identify them! Nearly 1000 coins are catalogued and illustrated including 418 types not listed in Van Arsdell's catalogue, the last major publication on the subject over 20 years ago.
The Tribes and Coins of Celtic Britain
The Coinage of the Dobunni by Robert Van Arsdell
Celtic Coinage of Britain by R. D. Van Arsdell, now very tough to get hold of, and also very expensive, frequently up for sale on Amazon for around £400. Buy Ancient British Coins instead.
Coinage of the Atrebates and Regni by Simon Bean
Books on Identifying Roman Coins
Roman Coins and Their Values: Volume 1 by David R. Sear
Roman Coins and Their Values: Volume 2 by David Sear, Volume II now extends coverage of the Imperial series from Nerva, the 'thirteenth Caesar' and first of the 'Adoptive' emperors, down to the overthrow of the Severan dynasty in 235. It encompasses what may justifiably be termed the 'golden age' of the Roman imperial coinage.
Roman Coins and Their Values III: The Accession of Maximinus I to the Death of Carinus AD 235 - 285: v. 3 by David R. Sear (Amazon.co.uk), This third volume continues the comprehensive revision of this era, and covers in detail the next fifty years; a very different period during which the Empire came perilously close to total disintegration under the pressure of foreign invasions and seemingly interminable civil war.
Roman Coins and Their Values Volume 4: The Tetrachies and the Rise of the House of Constantine, AD 284-337, This fourth volume contains a comprehensive listing of the Roman coinage of the period AD 284-337 together with background information on the history of each reign and the principal characteristic of its coinage. The catalogue is organised primarily by ruler with the issues then subdivided by denomination and by reverse legend and type.
Identifying Roman Coins by Richard Reece, Simon James
A History of Roman Coinage in Britain, If you have a Roman coin that you want to identify look no further. If you want to delve deeper into the coin, emperor, or particular period the book is an excellent starting point for further and deeper research. With over 1600 colour photographs this is the only book on Roman Coins you will ever need!
Coins of the Romans Relating to Britain By John Y. Akerman, Published 1836.
Books on Identifying Roman Artefacts
Roman Buckles and Military Fittings, Many of them are not easily recognisable to the modern eye, particularly when in fragmentary state. Too many important items are lying discarded in detectorists' junk boxes, because they are simply not being recognised for what they are.
Benet's Roman Artefacts of England & the United Kingdom, Benet’s Roman Artefacts follows the same format as previous editions of Benet’s but is purely focused on the Roman period. This superb artefact identifier and price guide contains over 1300 Roman artefacts in full colour (the majority we have never published before). With up-to-date prices, Benet’s is the must have guide for identification and valuations.
Celtic and Roman Artefacts, From the author of Medieval Artefacts, this exciting new title is produced in full colour with over 450 Celtic and Roman artefacts beautifully illustrated in over 140 pages. This superb book contains a wide cross-section of artefacts of the Celtic & Roman period including: - Bronze & Iron Age Artefacts - Fibula Brooches - Plate, Crossbow & Early Saxon Brooches - Buckles & Military Equipment - Locks, Keys & Knife Handles - Spoons, Cosmetic Grinders, Medical Implements & Seal Boxes - Jewellery - Cube Matrices, Lead Seals and Gaming Pieces - Pottery & Bronze Utensils - Steelyard Weights & Bronze Mounts - Figurines & Votive Objects - Genealogical Chart of Roman Gods - Select Bibliography. Full price guide for every item in two grades of condition. An Invaluable reference work.
Books on Identifying Hammered Coins
A History of Medieval Coinage: 1066-1485 This book is an excellent reference guide to identifying medieval coins. Containing over 530 beautiful colour photographs together with a comprehensive listing of mints, moneyers and denominations for all English and Irish coins struck between 1066 and 1489.
Medieval English Groats, This is the definitive reference work on English Groats, written by Ivan Buck, covering the groat from its introduction in the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) right up to the end of the Tudors in the early 17th century.
England's Striking History: A Brief History of England and Its Silver Hammered Coinage by Christopher Henry Perkins, Details the turbulent period of history between the late Anglo-Saxons to the English Civil war. This work helps to learn how to identify the denominations, kings and mint marks of those little historical documents that are likely to have stood the test of time - the coins.
Finding Hammered Silver Coins in England, Scotland and Wales by B. J. Cross
English Hammered Coinage Vol 1: Early Anglo-Saxon to Henry 111 c. A.D. 600-1272 by J.J. North, Volume I includes hammered coins of the early Anglo Saxon, Viking, Regional Kings, Norman and Plantagenet periods up to the reign of Henry III, including 20 plates with hundreds of coin images, covering the dates c600 to 1272.
English Hammered Coinage Vol 2: Edward 1 to Charles 11 1272-1662 by J. J. North, Volume II covers the coinages of Edward I to Charles II from 1272-1662, the principal amendments to the third edition being in the coinages of 1279-1351 and the provincial issues of Charles 1
Other metal detecting finds identification books
Buttons and Fasteners 500BC - AD1840, Buttons are now part of our daily lives, but few people realise they have a history stretching back over 2,500 years with buttons being used in the late Bronze Age and the Celts using bronze cloak toggles even before the Roman Invasion of Britain in AD 43. Containing over 1,000 high quality colour photographs, this book allows the identification and dating of metal buttons through many periods of history. Many of the buttons covered are excavated examples, and quite a number are rare and previously unrecorded varieties.
British Buttons: Civilian Uniform Buttons - 19th-20th Century, A new authoritative book compiled for collectors and those interested in the design of buttons. This book is an ideal reference work for identification of button finds.
Buckles, 1250-1800, by Ross Whitehead With over 800 illustrations this book is intended to help with the identification of buckles which are by far the largest category of medieval and post medieval dress accessory to survive.
Detector Finds 1 by Gordon Bailey, the first in a series of books on identifying metal detecting finds by Gordon Bailey. The contents cover Buckles, Clog & Shoe Clasps, Buttons, Hook Fasteners, Gun Money, Crotal and Rumbler Bells, Love Tokens, Ring Brooches, Lead Artefacts, Hawking Bells and Whistles, Pipe Tampers, Candle Snuffers, Hasps and Clasps, Copper Nails, Horse Decorations, Pomanders, Spurs and Pastry Jiggers.
Detector Finds 2 by Gordon Bailey, The second volume of finds, again with hundreds of illustrations, forms an additional invaluable aid to identifying finds.
Detector Finds 3 by Gordon Bailey, The third part of this series covers objects found in the UK from Roman to Modern times. The clear line drawings and colour pictures again help the finder with identification.
Detector Finds 4: Finds Identified by Gordon Bailey
Detector Finds 5: Guide to Dating and Identifying Artefacts by Gordon Bailey, Contains hundreds of new colour illustrations of artefacts to help you identify, date and price your finds. Covering the stone age to Victorian times the chapter titles give you a clear indication of the wide appeal of DF5.
Detector Finds 6 by Gordon Bailey Detector Finds 6 the latest in the series from Gordon Bailey. Using over 660 clear illustrations of never seen before artefacts, to help you identify finds these are the topics included: Hanging Swivels, Knife Pommels or Caps, Roman Nail Cleaners, Saxon Wrist Clasps, Roman Horse Pendants, Inkwells Made From Lead, Roman Medical Implements, Merchant & Signet Finger Rings, Roman Mirrors, The Mining of Lead Belt Decorations, Stiffeners & Mounts, Tiepins or Stickpins Lead, Bronze & Silver Crosses, Locks Made From Iron, Lead Spindle Whorls, Offerings to the Gods, Medal Detecting & Medal Collecting.
Detector Finds 7 by Gordon Bailey, Written by Gordon Bailey and the team at Treasure Hunting magazine, Detector Finds 7 contains Over 500 Line Drawings and 200 Photographic Illustrations of never seen before artefacts, to help you identify your metal detector finds.
Pottery in Britain 4000BC to AD1900: A Guide to Identifying Potsherds