Congrats on some really awesome finds. As far as the crucifix goes concerning the skull and crossbones Matthew chapter 27 verse 33 and 34 tell us about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It says they led him out to Galgotha, that is to say the place of the skull. To my understanding many people were crucified by the Roman soldiers on Galgotha which gave it its meaning the place of the skull. However Jesus is the only one that resurrected from the dead. So his skull would not have been left behind.
Sorry if I confused anyone with this post. I don't know how I did this, this was supposed to be to a response on an entirely different forum concerning a metal detecting find. I was on a metal detecting forum and I was responding to a man that found a crucifix and had questions about the details on it. Sorry again for the confusion.
I guess I am in the minority here. I don't love it but I don't think it's a horrible design. No worse than several of the state quarters that were way too busy.