I was fossil hunting along the shores of Lake Michigan today on my day off when I found this: Im not exactly sure what "it" is. My first thought was Iron Age coinage. I got back to my car and tested it with a magnet and sure enough it is a ferrous alloy. Its measurements are 5/8" X 7/16". My next thought was that it might have been some sort of jewelry object that came loose from its holder. Like a ring. Does anyone know what this is an image of or what it might be? Any input would be appreciated.
I thought that perhaps if if we're part of a a man's ring it might signify membership in a society, ie. The Freemasons, Knight's Templar, Opus Dei, a family crest, etc. (Something dating back to times where you would seal your letters with hot wax and then impress your seal upon.)
Pretty shiny for anything exposed to the elements for any length of time. Or did you dip or polish it?
In the second photo of the back, I can see a small indent or slit, I have seen some clasp closures on small notebook sized wallets or purses, where there is a hinge normally in the 'indent' area. Being ferrous, it would close to a small magnetic area opposite. Jim
I cleaned it lightly with Dawn, but I suspect that it wasnt out there too long. Was on exposed wet and right where the waves were coming up.
A few of the fossils I found along with the object. These are crinoid stems. They are the fossilized remains of creatures that lived way back in the Silurian Era when a few of the Great Lakes were part of an ancient inland sea.
I just googled "ring with helmeted Roman soldier" and that was one of them. My brother has one that looks very much like this, it is onyx (or fake onyx).
