Rocky Mountain Prospectors &

Treasure Hunters Newsletter

The News
v. 19, n. 2 February 2015

Going for the Gold

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At http://rmpth.com

Contents
1
2
4
6
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
17

Clasp Of Astonishment
About The News
Find Of The Month Program
Searching In Muskegon For Civil
War Treasure
Irish Canyon Treasure

Calendar of Events
Calendars
China Screw Artifact
Rare Mourning Ring
Monopoly - I Did Not Know This!
Trading Post
High-Altitude or Mountain Sickness
18 2015 Schedule of Events
19 Contact List

Clasp Of Astonishment
Amateur treasure hunter finds tiny 14th century heart-shaped gold brooch worth 25,000
in farmer's field
Jewelry unearthed near Sandbach, Cheshire is
the size of 1 coin
By NICK ENOCH
PUBLISHED: 07:45 EST, 2 May 2012

haped like a heart - and with two hands clasped

together in decorative sleeves at its base - this
piece of jewelry may be tiny but it was to prove
an enormous find for one lucky metal detector enthusiast.
Stan Cooper, 60, unearthed the 2.5cm gold brooch
beneath the soil in a farmer's field near Sandbach,
Cheshire - and was initially unaware of its true provenance.
But the item - no bigger than a pound coin - has now
been dated to between 1350 and 1450 and is thought
to have originally been a betrothal gift because the
hands appear to be male and female.
Furthermore, it is worth an astonishing 25,000.
A metal detector enthusiast who found a 2.5cm gold
brooch in a farmer's field is celebrating after it was
identified as a medieval piece of jewelry worth
25,000.
Stan Cooper, 60, discovered the treasure near Sandbach, Cheshire Experts said it is rare to have a
brooch containing the heart and clasped hands together on one piece.

"There is a homely adage which runs, "Speak

softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
- Theodore Roosevelt

Bill Forrest from Adam Partridge auctioneers in Macclesfield, Cheshire, which is selling the brooch, said:
'It is an annular-style brooch that combines two symbols; a heart and hands clasped.
(Continued on page 3)

About The News

he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky
Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters
Club (RMPTH): our mailing address is 278
Sierra Vista Drive, Fort Collins, CO. 80524.

Opinions expressed in The News are those of the

authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
club or its members. Publication of information in
The News constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use
of any information found in this publication is at the
sole risk of the user. Neither RMPTH, nor its coordinators, nor The News, nor its editors or contributors
assume any liability for damages resulting from use
of information in this publication.
Submissions
Articles, letters and short items of interest on prospecting, detecting and treasure hunting topics are
welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for
publication are subject to editing. Submittals for publication may be made in writing or, preferably, in ASCII text format on IBM-compatible disk. If you have
questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.

Advertising
Classified advertising for topic related items is free
for non-business ads. See the Trading Post section
for donation pricing of camera-ready display ads. Donations for ad makeup from sketches, etc., are available on request.
About RMPTH
RMPTH is an independent nonprofit hobbyist social
club, open to anyone interested in prospecting, detecting or treasure hunting. Its purpose is to provide an
educational and social forum of mutual benefit for
members. RMPTH holds a monthly meeting and conducts various field outings, as well as offers special
presentations and seminars. Active participants have
voting privileges. The monthly newsletter, The News,
is readily available on the Internet. Annual dues are
$25 payable in June. Applicants joining in any month
other than June pay partial dues of $2 per month for
months remaining prior to following June plus $1.

Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit groups
may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in
The News without prior permission, provided that
proper author and publication credits are given and
that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to RMPTH at the above mailing address. Clubs wishing to exchange newsletters
with RMPTH are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.

CLUB MEMBERS TAKE NOTE

Club Hats, Shirts, Jackets, & Patches are again available.
Ask for info at the club meetings to purchase your club items!
We will be running a 50/50 Drawing at each club meeting. At the end of each
meeting Tom will split the pot 50/50 and a lucky member will go home with more
money than they came with.!
The remaining 50% goes to the club treasury.
Page 2

The News, February 2015

(Continued from page 1)

'It is rare to find these two symbols together on one

brooch and it really is such a fine thing that a jeweler
today would struggle to make it.
'The hands are slightly different, meaning they might
be a man and a womans hand - and they are in
sleeves, which are decorated.
'It was probably a betrothal gift from a gentleman to his other half and
would originally have
belonged to someone of
very high standing.
The brooch has been
dated to between 1350
and 1450 and is in the
shape of a heart with two
clasped hands.

'In other fields, I found copper coinage and musket

balls, then I selected a field that had a stream running
through it.
'I was about eight feet from the stream when I got a
good signal and I decided to dig it.
'The brooch was only about four or five inches down
and it was covered in dirt, but I could see that it was a
precious metal.
'There was so much dirt
that the pin wouldnt
swing so I put it in a polythene bag and took it to a
friends house where we
put it in an ultrasonic
cleaner.
'When it came out after
about ten minutes I could
tell it was quality gold
because it gleaned as if it
had been polished.

The size of a pound coin,

it is thought it was originally a betrothal gift because the hands appear
to be male and female 'It
will be of interest to
brooch collectors and
those who collect medieval jewelry.'
Mr Cooper made the discovery last June and described it as a 'find of a
lifetime'.

'It had detail on both

sides and the workmanship made me think it
was earlier than Victorian.
'It really was the find of a
lifetime. You have two
weeks after making a find
before you have to declare it so I did a bit of
research.
A metal detector enthusiast who found a 2.5cm gold brooch in a
farmer's field is celebrating after it was
identified as a medieval piece of jewelry worth 25,000

He was not sure what it

was at first because it
was covered in dirt, but
after it was cleaned, he realized it was gold.

Mr Cooper, who is a works manager for a manufacturing company, has been detecting for over 20 years
and will share any proceeds with the farmer Incredibly, the jewelry appears to be in perfect condition despite having lain underground for hundreds of years.
The brooch was reported to the authorities and then
sent to the British Museum for experts to examine.
And because the Crown disclaimed it, there was no
need for a treasure trove inquest and it is free to be
sold.
Mr Cooper, who is a works manager for a manufacturing company, has been detecting for over 20 years
and will share any proceeds with the farmer.
The grandfather, who lives near to the site of his find,
said: 'I got permission to dig on the farm in May last
year.
The News, February 2015

'It is unusual to have the

clasped hands and heart
together in one piece the clasped hands are
something you find from Roman times.'
Mr Forrest added: 'It is really exciting.
'It was found on June 11 last year by a metal detectorist in the Sandbach area.
'We cant give out any more details of the location for
obvious reasons.
'It was brought in to us by the finder for an insurance
valuation and after some research came up with a
valuation.
'It was then sent to the British Museum so it could be
examined, authenticated and documented.
'It was disclaimed by the Crown so there was no need
for an inquest and it can now be sold.'

Page 3

Find of the Month

Winners
January, 2015

Most Valuable Coin:

Joe Johnston - 1943-D Steel
Cent
Oldest Coin:
Tom Marschall - 1913 Dime
Largest Raw Gold:

No Entry

Most Raw Gold:

No Entry

Best Bottle:
Amy Fillinger - Antique Brown
Bottle
Best Jewelry:
Tom Marschall - Gold Pendant
Most Unique Find (Excavated):
Tom Warne - C Cavalry Eagle
Button
Most Unique Find (Non-Excavated):
Joe Johnston - Bobcat Skull
Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil:
Bud Yoder - Large Beryl Crystal

Still Frozen .. No Gold!

If cockroaches can survive

a nuclear blast, what the
heck is in Raid?
Gold Glossary
Mother Lode - Every miner hopes of finding their own
"mother lode" or source of the gold that's laden in the
rivers. A mother lode is where the gold is trapped inside
veins of quartz on mountain sides. The erosion of land
causes the gold to break away from this source and eventually wash down into the river. The larger the pieces of
gold being found in the river, the closer one is to the
mother lode. Mother lode also refers to the vast area in
Central California where gold was found. It was called the
mother lode, because the whole area was a source, not just
a small target area.

TREASURE HUNTERS
CODE OF ETHICS

I WILL respect private property and do no treasure

hunting without the owner's permission.
I WILL fill all excavations.
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, and private property.
I WILL use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy
at all times.
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only.
I WILL leave gates as found.
I WILL remove and properly dispose of any trash that I
find.
I WILL NOT litter.
I WILL NOT destroy property, buildings, or what is left
of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I WILL NOT tamper with signs, structural facilities, or
equipment.

Page 4

The News, February 2015

After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, at

least two children were sent by the service. With
stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode
with railway and city carriers to their destination. The
Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation
forbidding the sending of children in the mail after
hearing of those examples.

Mineral Specimen Identification

As part of their community outreach, Metropolitan State
College of Denver, Dep. of Earth & Atmospheric
Science, Professional Services Division offers FREE
MINERAL SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION. Participants
will aid in the education of future Geoscientists!
Details and specimen submittal forms with instructions
can be downloaded
from:
SPECIAL OFFER FREE MINERAL SPECIMEN
http://college.earthscienceeducation.net/MINPET/
MINID.pdf

Refreshment Volunteers
February David Longmore
MarchGary Dahlgren
AprilBetsy Emond & Mike Noll
MayEd & Mai Edwards
JuneFred Sugden
JulyDick & Sharon French
AugustRay & Loralee Hettinger
SeptemberBard Schuldt
OctoberRay McGehee & Ann Nichols
NovemberGeorge & Peggy Stumpf
The News, February 2015

Property Wanted
For Detector Hunt
RMPTH is looking for private property on which to hold
an organized club detector hunt. Obviously, it would be
most ideal if this property is known to have seen some
past historical activity. If you have such property or
know of someone who does, please contact Rick
Mattingly to plan a club field outing event.

Page 5

Searching In Muskegon
For Civil War Treasure
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WZZM)

ould there be roots to one of the Civil War's most

enduring mysteries in Muskegon, Michigan?
That's what two local treasure hunters strongly
believe and they have four years of research that they
feel proves it.
Kevin Dykstra and Frederick J. Monroe were diving in
northern Lake Michigan in 2011 and found the remains of a shipwreck, they believe, could be "Le Griffon",
which sank in 1679. The funny
thing is, the pair weren't searching for shipwrecks at the time of
their 2011 find.

which Dykstra believes reveals how the lost Confederate gold treasure found its way to Michigan nearly 150
years ago.
Dykstra says his research began when he learned that
in 1892, boxcars were beginning to go across Lake
Michigan on car ferries. He then discovered that some
box cars were pushed off the ferries, during bad
storms, to keep the ferries from sinking. At that point,
he felt the death bed confession may have some merit,
but more research was needed.
"If there was $2 million of gold bullion at the bottom of
Lake Michigan, it had to be missing from somewhere,"
said Dykstra. "I needed to figure out where this gold
was missing from."
Dykstra started digging into the
Confederate gold with Confederate President Jefferson Davis
moving towards the south into
Georgia after fleeing the Union
troops in 1865.

They were searching for a much

bigger treasure - lost Confederate gold from the Civil War.

"Some marauders got a hold of

the gold at some point and stole
it," added Dykstra.

Both Kevin and Frederick have

decided to go public with their
research, which reveals West
Michigan could be home to this
150-year old mystery.

As he was researching this

poignant moment in American
history, Dysktra came across a
name.
"I started focusing on one particular colonel; his name was
Colonel Minty, who was actually
in charge of the 4th Michigan
Cavalry, who caught Jefferson
Davis down in Irwinville, Georgia," said Dykstra. "If Robert
Minty had anything to do with
the Confederate gold, he would
have had to commit treason to
take it," added Dykstra.

The beginning and the ending of

this story starts and ends in Evergreen Cemetery in Muskegon.
What unfolds in-between could
lead to solving one of our country's greatest mysteries.
"It's a great treasure story," said
Frederick J. Monroe, an accredited scuba diving instructor and
treasure hunter from Muskegon.
"All the evidence is pointing toward right to what I've been
told." He first found out about
the take from a friend in 1973.

Robert Horatio George Minty

(Photo: Lakeshore Museum Center)

"He brought to my attention about his grandfather on a

deathbed confession," said Monroe, who added that the
individual offering up the death bed confession then
said, "There's $2 million of gold bullion sitting in a box
car (at the bottom of Lake Michigan) and there's only
three people that know of it, and two of them were already dead."
Monroe says that story has stuck with him for over 40
years and when he connected with Kevin Dykstra, he
shared the story.
"I started to search and search," said Dykstra.
His searching triggered a massive research project,
Page 6

Dykstra then uncovered that

Colonel Minty was wrongfully
court-martialed in 1864, ending
his advancement in the military.

"Now, I have motive," said Dykstra. He believes that

Colonel Minty and his accomplices buried the Confederate gold treasure near Lincoln County, Georgia,
which is where legend states it was buried.
Dykstra then began to research Robert Minty's career
after his military court-martial. He found that the colonel retired to Jackson, Michigan where he resumed
working for the Detroit Railroad. Dykstra then followed
Minty as he accepted several positions with other rail
companies, leading him to eventually become superintendent of freight for the Atlantic and Gulf Railway,
which was down in the southeastern corner of Georgia.
(Continued on page 7)
The News, February 2015

(Continued from page 6)

Sutherland, and Thomas-Ann had a son named George

Alexander Abbott," said Dykstra. "George's sister,
Grace Ann Abbott, was married to Colonel Robert
Minty."

So, in 1876, eleven years after the gold was stolen,

Dykstra believes while working for the Atlantic and
Gulf Railway, Minty dug the gold treasure up and began heading north with it, using the rail system.

This means that George Alexander Abbott was Robert

Minty's brother-in-law.

"The Atlantic and Gulf Railway passes right by where

the gold was taken; I feel at this point, I have this man
on the run," added Dykstra.

And then...
"I uncovered a horrible train accident in Ashtabula,
Ohio," said Dykstra.
On December 29, 1876, a railroad bridge in Ashtabula,
Ohio collapsed, causing eleven boxcars to fall into a
river gorge. 159 passengers aboard the train plunged
into the river below. 92 were killed.
Dykstra says he found a newspaper article that stated
that one of the box cars in the Astabula disaster was
carrying $2 million in gold bullion.
"People flocked by the thousands to try to find that
gold," said Dykstra. "No gold was ever found."
Dykstra found that Robert Minty may have been connected to this accident.
"Sure enough, [Robert Minty] was the superintendent
of construction on that railway [at the time of the accident]", said Dykstra. "I believe that Minty needed a diversion, so with his credentials, I believe that he
started a rumor of the $2 million at the bottom of the
river gorge to keep everybody away from the gold that
was en route at the time."
And then he discovered Confederate gold had been
seen in Michigan.
"I came across another newspaper article that talked
about a piece of Confederate gold that surfaced at a
coin show in Traverse City; three experts looked at the
piece of gold and confirmed that it only could have
come from the Confederate gold that was taken down
in Lincoln County, Georgia," said Dykstra.
His research never led him to being able to place Colonel Minty, himself, in Traverse City, but Dykstra says
he discovered the next best thing.
"Robert Minty married Grace Ann Minty," said Dykstra.
Her maiden name was "Abbott."
The Abbott brothers and sisters were living in Traverse
City when the Confederate gold showed up at the coin
show. Minty would eventually also marry Grace's sister, Laura Abbott, and had four children with her.
These facts led him to one final connection, that he
believes, points the finger at Robert Minty as the man
who stole the Confederate gold treasure and was able
to get it up to Michigan.

"George Alexander Abbott died in 1921 and was the

person who did the deathbed confession to the friend
of Frederick's grandfather," said Dykstra. "The story
goes complete full circle."
Mr. Abbott spent 40 years in the banking scene in
Muskegon, having climbed as high as vice president of
Hackley National Bank in the early 1900s. But prior to
his banking career, WZZM learned that in 1867, Mr.
Abbott was employed in the freight office of the Michigan Central Railroad in Jackson, Michigan, where
Colonel Minty retired to around the same time. From
Jackson, Mr. Abbott went to Saginaw where he was
employed with the Jackson & Saginaw Railroad Company until 1871. After that, he was sent to Grand Haven where he worked for the Detroit, Grand Haven &
Milwaukee Railway Company until 1873.
George Alexander Abbott died in Muskegon, Michigan,
and his grave can be found there today.
"I just think everybody should know about this," said
Monroe.
After four years of intense research, both Dykstra and
Monroe believe the lost Confederate treasure is buried
deep in Lake Michigan off the coast of Frankfort, which
is up near Traverse City.
"I know the gold is out there waiting to be found, " said
Dykstra.
The two treasure hunters believe they're close to finding the gold because during one of their expeditions
searching for it, their sonar picked up a coal car on the
bottom of the lake.
"We did find a train car, but it was destroyed," said
Dykstra. "It was a coal car."
Dykstra and Monroe feel the last step is to help the
state of Michigan locate their gold.
They say they have already presented all their research
to Dean Anderson, the state archaeologist.
If anybody decides to go searching for the treasure,
keep in mind, it belongs to the state of Michigan,
should you find it.
If the treasure is ever found, there's over 6,000 pounds
of it resting inside that boxcar, and it's worth more
than $126 million, at today's gold prices.

"[Robert Minty's] mother-in-law's name is Thomas-Ann

The News, February 2015

Page 7

The Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine

The Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine, located in
northern Larimer County, Colorado, is the
only producing diamond mine in North
America. During 1996 and 1997 the Kelsey
Lake Mine produced hundreds of diamonds, including three of the largest gem
quality diamonds ever recovered in the
United States -- 28.3, 28.3 and 16.3 carats.
Uncut Diamonds

Pinpointing With A Skeleton Coil

Before You Buy That Metal Detector Handbook Check:

http://www.mdhtalk.org/articles/before-you-buy-hb/before-you-buy-handbook.pdf
Page 8

The News, February 2015

Irish Canyon Treasure

n the late 1800s Irish Canyon was a popular hideout of outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch,
Matt Warner, Isom Dart, and many others as they
spent time in the Browns Park vicinity in Moffat
County. Supposedly, $30,000 in silver coins remains
buried somewhere in the canyon. While you are looking for the treasure, you can also enjoy many excellent
trails, hiking and mountain opportunities. You can
also visit the Irish Canyon Rock Art Site, where you
can see the Fremont rock art from an elevated platform.
Moffat County is in the extreme northwest part of
Colorado. Irish Canyon is northwest of Maybell. From
Maybell, take US-40 to Colorado 318. Turn northwest
onto 318 and continue to Moffat County Road 10N,
which runs through the canyon.
Thanks to Gold Prospectors of Colorado

"As democracy is perfected, the

office of the President represents,
more and more closely, the inner
soul of the people. On some great
and glorious day, the plain folks of
the land will reach their heart's
desire at last and the White
House will be occupied by a
downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."
--- H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore
Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

The Strong Box

"Age is an issue of mind

over matter. If you don't
mind, it doesn't matter."
- Mark Twain
The News, February 2015

Page 9

Calendar of Events
February Meeting
Wednesday, February 4. We will meet at the Pulliam
Building in downtown Loveland at 6:00PM. Refer to
the adjoining map for directions.
Meeting Agenda
6:00 - 7:00 Social Hour & Finds Program
7:00 - 7:30 Business, Announcements & Find of
the Month Program
7:30 - 7:45 Break
7:45 - 9:00 "Cache Hunting by RMPTH member
Rick Mattingly.

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At

http://rmpth.com

RMPTH DUES
RMPTH is an unincorporated Social Club with
no income generated. All
expenses are covered by
$25 annual dues. Members are requested to
consider minor donations
at each monthly meeting
to cover refreshments.

MAP TO THE MEETING PLACE

Pulliam Community Building
545 Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, Colorado

Directions:
The Pulliam Community Building is situated on the west side of Cleveland Avenue in Loveland,
Colorado. Park at the rear of the building (west side). Entry to the meeting room is from
the doorway on the south side of the building (not the main entrance on Cleveland Avenue!).
Page 10

The News, February 2015

February 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

12

13

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

10

11

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

15

16

14
Valentines Day

17

18

19

20

21

24

25

26

27

28

Presidents Day

22

23

March 2015
Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

12

13

14

RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

10

11

Daylight Savings Time

Change

RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

The News, February 2015

Page 11

China Screw Artifact

screw embedded in rock found in the Gansu

Xijiang area of China. Scientific analysis of the
screw by the Chinese led to the conclusion that
it should be regarded as the most important, significant find archaeology has ever produced in China?
Why? because the conclusion was that it has not been
embedded there by contemporary means. It may be
as old as the rock itself which is dated at 6 million
years old.

Blind Cashier at Bass Pro Shop

A woman goes into the Bass Pro Shop to buy a
rod and reel for her grandson's birthday. She
doesn't know which one to get so she just grabs
one and goes over to the counter.
A Bass Pro Shop associate is standing there
wearing dark shades. She says, "Excuse me,
sir. Can you tell me anything about this rod
and reel?"
He says, "Ma'am, I'm completely blind; but if
you'll drop it on the counter, I can tell you everything from the sound it makes."
She doesn't believe him but drops it on the
counter anyway.
He says, "That's a six-foot Shakespeare graphite
rod with a Zebco 404 reel and 10-LB. test line.
It's a good all around combination and it's on
sale this week for only $20.00."

RMPTH Field Outing Statement

She says, "It's amazing that you can tell all that
just by the sound of it dropping on the counter.
I'll take it!" As she opens her purse, her credit
card drops on the floor.

NOTE: The Coordinators and participants stay in touch

and continue to review and plan upcoming presentations
and outings for the year on a monthly basis. Our editor
Rick Mattingly needs timely event information for each
issue of The News. Please get information about any particular event to him by the 15th of the month to meet the
printing deadline for the next issue.

Oh, that sounds like a Master Card," he says.

She bends down to pick it up and accidentally
toots. At first she is really embarrassed, but
then realizes there is no way the blind clerk
could tell it was she who tooted.

Planned trips, outings, activities, and meeting programs

are in the newsletter and on line at the clubs website.
Planning is a work in progress and additional outings and
activities are added and sometimes deleted on an ongoing basis. Events planned in the upcoming month are
emphasized to the attendees at the monthly meetings.
Contact the Presentations Coordinators or Editor if you
have any suggestions or ideas throughout the year for
fieldtrips, outings, and programs.

Being blind, he wouldn't know that she was the

only person around.

The best made plans may change at the last minute due
to the illness of the Trail Boss, weather, land access, vehicles breaking down, wrong meeting sites, etc. Please
be understanding of extenuating circumstances and contact the coordinator or Trail Boss of a specific event if
there is any question of an event being cancelled or
changed at the last minute.
Page 12

The man rings up the sale and says, "That'll be

$34.50 please."
The woman is totally confused by this and
asks, "Didn't you tell me the rod and reel were
on sale for $20.00? How did you get $34.50?"
He replies, "Yes, Ma'am. The rod and reel is
$20.00, but the Duck Call is $11.00 and the
Bear Repellent is $3.50."
The News, February 2015

Rare Mourning Ring

Gold treasure found in brambles in
Newcastle by metal detector
By The Sentinel | Posted: December 17, 2013
By Michelle Chow

"This ring incorporates features that are 17th century in

style.
Museum officials have declined to comment on any possible bid for the ring.
But visitors hope the treasure can be brought back
home.
Stoke-on-Trent Museum Archaeological Society member
Maureen Thomas, aged 65, of Clive Avenue, Baddeley
Green, said: "It would be great if the museum purchased
the ring to put on display.
"Being a historian, it is really interesting to hear about
these finds and this ring sounds quite unusual as most
mourning rings were produced in the Victorian period.
"Mourning rings can seem quite macabre but in those
days they were very normal as it was a way for them to
keep their loved ones who had died, close to them.
"It would be really nice if we were able to see the ring at
the museum because it's nice to keep treasure like this
in the area it was found in.

RARE 17th century gold ring found with a metal

detector is set to be snapped by Stoke-on-Trent's
biggest museum.

"It would be better for it to be displayed rather than kept

in storage."

The mourning ring was unearthed underneath some

brambles in the Newcastle area in June 2010.
It has been declared treasure and is currently being
stored at The British Museum, in London.
But it is understood that The Potteries Museum and Art
Gallery, in Hanley, is bidding to bring the antique back
to North Staffordshire.
Finder Peter Amison, of Hazelhurst Road, Chell, said: "I
found the ring in June 2010 while metal detecting. I was
clearing some brambles and grass in the area and came
across a ring. It was only when I spoke to an antique
trader that I realized the significance of the piece."
The ring dates from 1660 to 1700. The words 'death
has surprised my chiefest jewel' are inscribed on the
inside of the ring. Its value was not disclosed at a Treasure Trove inquest at North Staffordshire Coroners'
Court.
British Museum official Judy Rudoe said: "The piece is a
gold mourning ring with words engraved on the inside.
The ring would have been used to contain a piece of hair.
"For an item to be declared treasure it has to be at least
300 years old.
The News, February 2015

Page 13

Monopoly - I Did Not

Know This!
(You'll never look at the game the same way again)

tarting in 1941, an increasing number of British Airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the Crown
was casting about for ways and means to facilitate
their escape...
Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a
lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear
out rapidly, and if
they get wet, they
turn into mush.
Someone in MI-5
(similar to America's OSS ) got the
idea of printing
escape maps on
silk. It's durable,
can be scrunchedup into tiny wads,
and unfolded as
many times as
needed, and makes
no noise whatsoever.
At that time, there
was only one
manufacturer in
Great Britain that
had perfected the
technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd.
When approached by the government, the firm was
only too happy to do its bit for the war effort.
By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K.
Licensee for the popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a
category of item qualified for insertion into 'CARE
packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross
to prisoners of war.
Under the strictest of secrecy, in a securely guarded
and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of
Waddington's, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees
began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each
region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps
were regional system). When processed, these maps
could be folded into such tiny dots that they would
Page 14

actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.

As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add:
1. A playing token, containing a small magnetic compass
2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed
together
3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian, and French currency, hidden within the
piles of Monopoly money!
British and American air crews were advised, before
taking off on their first mission, how to identify a
'rigged' Monopoly
set -- by means of
a tiny red dot,
one cleverly
rigged to look
like an ordinary
printing glitch,
located in the
corner of the
Free Parking
square.
Of the estimated
35,000 Allied
POWS who successfully escaped,
an estimated onethird were aided
in their flight by
the rigged Monopoly sets.
Everyone who
did so was sworn
to secrecy indefinitely, since the British Government might want to
use this highly successful ruse in still another, future
war.
The story wasn't declassified until 2007, when the
surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the
firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony.
It's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of
Jail' Free' card!
I realize many of you are too young to have any personal connection to WWII (Dec. '41 to Aug. '45), but
this is still interesting.

The News, February 2015

Gold Glossary
Long Tom - Similar
to a sluice box, but
longer and skinnier.
Gold Facts
Symbol: AU
Atomic Number: 79
Atomic Weight: 196.967
Melting Point: 1063 (1945 F)
Specific Gravity: 19.2
MOHs Scale of Hardness:
2.5 - 3
Karat
24K = 100% Pure Gold
18K = 75% Pure Gold
14K = 58% Pure Gold
10K = 42% Pure Gold
Troy Weights
1 grain = 0.0648 grams
24 grains = 1 penny
weight (DWT) = 1.552 grams
20 DWT = 1 ounce =
480 grains = 31.10 grams

Babbitts Soap Trade Card

Uncle Sam, Gold Miners
Uncle Sam is proving that Babbitt's Soap is more valuable
than gold, as he is weighing it against sacks of gold. Nice
image of scale, miners, and Uncle Sam.
The News, February 2015

YOUR
ADVERTISEMENT
COULD BE HERE!
Call Rick Mattingly
at 970-613-8968
or rickmatt@q.com
Page 15

Trading Post
WANTED: By NRA Card Holding Law Abiding Private
Citizen. Colt S&W Ruger Taurus .357 Wheel Gun/
Revolver for Home/Personal Defense. If you have a
Collectors Item, Please keep it. Im looking for a gun
to shoot/Not display. LMK what ya got. Thanks.
970.222.2323
FOR SALE: Jewelers propane/oxygen torch, many cabochons, beads and tools. Contact Ann at
(970) 6667-3705.
FOR SALE: Minelab SD2200 Gold Nugget Metal Detector:
10-1/2" Mono Super Coil, 10-1/2" SD Series Super Coil, two
batteries w/wall & car charger, headphones, backpack,
waist battery pack, signal enhancer, extra lower stem, instruction booklet & video, carry case. Ready to go for the
gold. New Price: $1500. Contact Paul at (970) 482-7846.
FOR SALE: 5HP pump motor, Gold King 3" Hi-banker with
dredge attachment w/adjustable stand, Gold Grabber Hibanker, 125 feet hose, Rock net and steel cable, misc. fittings and valves & large metal bucket. Prefer to sell all together for $1,350 but negotiable. Call Eric Stickland at
(303) 833-6848 or
estick@live.com.
WANTED: Used lapidary equipment. Call Kathie 970-2211623

About Trading Post

The News runs classified ads in Trading Post
for three consecutive issues. Trading Post ads
for topic related items up to 10 lines (or 70
words) long are free. To place an ad in Trading
Post contact Rick Mattingly at (970) 613-8968
evenings
or e-mail at: rickmatt@q.com
Commercial Advertising
Specifications
(Monthly Donation Rate)
Full Page (8 1/2" X 7")
Half Page (3 1/4" X 7")
One Third Page (3" X 4")
Business Card (2 3/4" X 1 1/2")

$30
$20
$15
$ 5

Ads must be received by the 15th of the

preceding month. Contact Rick Mattingly for information on this service at
(970) 613-6968 evenings or e-mail at:
rickmatt@q.com.

WANTED: Federal or state duck stamps; mint or used. Contact John Hart at (307) 778-3993.

NOTE:
Purchase arrangements are between the buyer and
seller only and involves no financial benefit to RMPTH.

All mistakes and

misspellings were
intentionally made so
that you could have the
pleasure of finding them.

Colorado School of Mines

Geology Museum
Golden, Colorado
Contact us: 303-273-3815 or
geomuseum@mines.edu
Identification of specimens is performed
between 10 a.m. and noon, Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
Page 16

The News, February 2015

WEEKEND & SMALL-SCALE

MINERS CODE OF ETHICS
I WILL respect other prospectors claims and not work
those claims without the owners permission
I WILL have on-site all necessary permits and licenses

High-Altitude or Mountain
Sickness

hat is high-altitude or mountain sickness?

When a person goes to high altitude (such as in
the mountains), medical problems can occur. This
is called mountain sickness or high-altitude sickness.
What causes high-altitude or mountain sickness?

I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only, and

in accordance with current State and Federal guidelines
I WILL be careful with fuels and motor oils and be cognizant of their potential destructive effect on the environment
I WILL remove and properly dispose of all trash and
debris that I find - I will not litter
I WILL be thoughtful, considerate and courteous to
those around me at all time
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, fisheries and private property, and
respect all laws or ordinances governing prospecting
and mining
I WILL NOT remove stream bank material, destroy
natural vegetation or woody debris dams, nor discharge
excess silt into the waterways
I WILL NOT refuel motorized equipment in the stream
I WILL NOT allow oil from motorized
equipment to drip onto the ground or into the water
I WILL NOT prospect in areas closed to prospecting
and mining

It's caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitude. As altitude

increases, the air becomes "thinner," which means less oxygen is in the atmosphere. This means less oxygen enters
your lungs with each breath, so the amount of oxygen in
your blood declines (referred to as hypoxia) . All people can
experience mountain sickness, but it may be more severe in
people who have heart or lung problems.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of acute mountain sickness usually begin
within 48 hours of arriving at high altitude. The higher the
altitude, the greater the effects. The effects can be noticed
when a person goes to a moderate altitude of 7,000 to 8,000
feet. If you have preexisting heart disease (such as heart
failure) or lung disease (such as emphysema), you may experience symptoms at even lower altitudes. A person can
experience:
Headaches, breathlessness, fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Inability to sleep
Swelling of the face, hands and feet
Both heart rate and breathing rate increase as the body attempts to deliver more oxygen to its tissues. At very high
altitudes, body fluid can leak into the brain (called brain or
cerebral edema) or into the lungs (pulmonary edema). Both
these conditions can be serious or even life-threatening.
AHA Recommendation
The best way to avoid or lessen the effects of mountain sickness is to increase altitude slowly. Climbers and hikers can
take two days to reach 8,000 feet, and then another day for
each 1,000 to 2,000 higher feet. This may not be an option
for people who fly to a destination at high altitude - such as
for skiing in the Colorado Rockies, Sierra Nevada Mountains or European Alps. Most people can adjust or
"acclimatize" to the high altitude within a few days.
Avoid strenuous activity for the first day or two.
Drink extra fluid.
Be careful of drinking alcohol, because its effect is magnified at high altitude.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent or
treat altitude sickness.
If you have a heart or lung condition, consult your physician
before going to high altitude. He or she can tell you whether
your condition will let your body adjust to the lower oxygen
in the atmosphere.

Offer Your Assistance To Any

Of Our Program Coordinators
The News, February 2015

American Heart Association

Page 17

Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club

2015 Schedule of Events
Month

Meeting Program

Trip/Activity

January

Cheyenne War: Indian Raids on the

Roads to Denver, 1864-1869
By Jeff Broome

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

February

Cache Hunting
By Rick Mattingly

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

March

Setting Up A Gold Sluice Box

By RMPTH Members

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

April

Metal Detecting
By Tom Warne & Rick Mattingly

Local Detector Hunt

Map, Compass & GPS Clinic

May

Gold Nugget Shooting With Detector

By Rick Mattingly

Prospecting & Detecting Clinic at Lions Park

Denver GPAA Show
Lets Go Gold Panning On The Arkansas Event GPOC

June

Gold Dredging
By RMPTH Members

Clear Creek Gold Outing

State Annual Gold Panning Championships

July

Map Reading for Prospectors

by Wayne Sutherland WSGS

Clear Creek Gold Outing

Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing - Robert Crain

August

Surface Finds
by Tom Warne

Vics Gold PanningBlackhawk

September

Map & Internet Research

By Bud Yoder & Rick Mattingly

Local Detector Hunt

October

Gold, Silver & Gem Recovery

by David Emslie

Local Detector Hunt

November

Annual Show & Tell &

Silent Auction

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

December

Annual Find of the Year Awards &

Christmas Party

Flatirons Mineral Club & Model Train Show

Good Hunting in 2015!

Page 18

The News, February 2015

Rocky Mountain
Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Contact List
RMPTH Coordinators

Home

E-Mail

President

Bud Yoder

Interim Vice President

Shane Manenti

1-970-590-9183

manentiwe2@msn.com

Treasurer

Dick & Sharon French

1-970-482-2110

dickyf99@centurylink.net

Secretary

Rick Mattingly

1-970-613-8968

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-613-8968

rickmatt@q.com

Rick Mattingly

1-970-613-8968

rickmatt@q.com

Finds Program

Dave Landes
Betsy Emond
Joe Johnston

1-720-985-4186
1-970-218-0290
1-303-696-6950

midnightoil45@aol.com
bemond@fcgov.com
cjoej1@peoplepc.com

Presentations

Rick Mattingly

1-970-613-8968

rickmatt@q.com

Club Historian

Volunteer Needed

Club Meeting Greeter

Barbara Schuldt

1-970-407-1336

Club Librarian

Joe Johnston

1-303-696-6950

Club Photo Librarian

Volunteer Needed

Meeting Setup

Jim Friedricks

1-970-590-9183

Door Prize

Shane Manenti

1-970-590-9183

manentiwe2@msn.com

Zinc Penny Project

Tom Marschall

1-970-396-0133

tmarschall47@gmail.com

50/50 Drawing

Woody Hogdon

1-970-667-5010

ftcolwoody@juno.com

Coin Raffle

Woody Hogdon

1-970-667-5010

ftcolwoody@juno.com

bydu812@yahoo.com

The News Staff

Editor-in-Chief
Internet Web Site
Web Master
Volunteers/Coordinators

cjoej1@peoplepc.com

General Information Contact: Rick Mattingly at 1-970-613-8968

Visit RMPTH on the Internet at: http://rmpth.com

Lets Go For The Gold !

The News, February 2015

Page 19

The News
Rocky Mountain Prospectors &
Treasure Hunters Club
278 Sierra Vista Drive
Fort Collins, CO. 80524

FEBRUARY, 2015 ISSUE