Thames Mudlarking- A curious William IV find & some other mysteries 

micky munkchunk I'm very glad you find these videos calming. I find a lot of peace and calm by the river.

The channel u r Thankful 2 find.

I agree. Puts things into historic perspective. Those too shall pass.

Thank you Steve! Really appreciate your kind comments

Dear Steve - I should be so lucky! NZ was "founded" ( and I am so going to get into trouble for this) in 1840 when the British Government signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the indigenous Māori people who arrived here in the 14thC. They were a stone age people - so virtually NO finds. If you find stone or greenstone it belongs to the crown. 1780 onwards, you have to look in areas of habitation - in a country of NOW 4.5million. Australia is a little better I believe. I will not be discouraged though. It just makes a bit more of a challenge!!

challenge accepted, Amanda? :P

Thank you Helen! I will for sure x

Mercmad brilliant. Thanks for that info!

Great info!

Also thruppeny bit for 3d, tanner for a sixpence, florin for a 2/- (2 shilling) piece.

interesting info, Mercmad:)

We called a shilling a bob, ten shilling note was ten bob. My sister was born 1956 and me 1958, I was sad when we changed over to 'new' money. My Dad was a coach builder and worked for a while in Coventry, I think, on Rolls Royce. Him and Mum mainly worked for the bus company, Mum was a conductress and they used tokens in the canteen.

Thank you!

Hi Rachel. Thank you for your lovely comment. Im very happy you enjoy accompanying me on a virtual mudlark! Nicola x

When i worked in an engineering shop we had tool checks issued just that same size. I still have a few, after retiring.

Thanks Jay! appreciate the great feedback.

Ha ha Thanks Amanda for that. Sorry about the bad pronounciation! Yes, it's an addictive pastime that's for sure. I never tire of it.

I have just started detecting. I was always the one "fossicking" on the beach when everyone else was sunbathing (which I hate). I used to love old pottery and sea glass. You got ALOT in Scotland. I live in NZ now, you get very little in the way of "people " debris on the beach. You get shells, the odd whale, penguin, seal or dolphin - a few years ago a container ship went aground on a reef and we got containers and their contents all along the Bay. Children bikes, lawnmowers, cow skins, nappies, toys.... the oil spill was terrible but killed the fleas for a few years. Occasionally you get huge landings of "wind sailor "jellyfish, bizarre little alien blue things. Or big purple ones. Lots of palm beans. I live in hope of finding ambergris one day, but knowing my luck, my greedy little mini poodles will gobble it before I can bend down to pick it up. I really like your videos, and your art. Turning found "detritus" into something beautiful is a wonderful thing to do. I especially like the fish, as I have lots of fish art. Please keeping doing what you do so well.💐😊

Thank you. No, no tattoo..

Thanks Kate! Hope you enjoy :)

yes that one was particularly satisfying when I pulled it out!

do you ever find anything much there?

nicola white mudlark - Tideline Art Hiyah, Good afternoon Nicola, Up here the main river is pretty much inaccessible due to the bank sides level of sludge and waste ( pollution from the 19th century when we used the river way as a sewage runaway ) so it's just not a nice place to adventure, But the best places I've found are little village rivers that run from the hills,much cleaner and greener 🍃 I usually come across alot of old bottle tips on the bank side - to which I've gained a nice little collection of poison, codd, and stone ginger bottles ( my favourite), in the feilds you may come across some old coins or agricultural related relics but nothing compared to the wide variety of what lies in that Thame of yours,my goodness me, I wish lived down, I could spend all day mudlarking , I wish you lovely day, and safe steps on your adventures , fare well.

not quite true that, stop the bull

@@nicolawhitemudlark i don't think it's as accessible like the Thames, i lived in a marina next to it, it isn't that dirty, i think the salmon are back

Thank you Barry! Happy Christmas to you too!

lance allison thank you very much. No I still have not worked out what it really is. I cant make out the small line of writing near the bottom jyst above the anno line. Wd love to hear if you do find out more... The mourning pendant sounds realistic. Thank you again. Nicola

nicola white mudlark - Tideline Art Good Morning Nicola I've just looked closer at the line after "Anno" and it looks like 1830 in which case that is the year of William IV coronation and as I notice there is a touch of gilt around the edge would suggest that it was once gold plated, The Black discoloration threw me for a while there, So revising my initial thoughts on what it is given that date it's a commemorative medal for his coronation and it must have looked very smart in it's day and not for the ordinary person in the street but for the middle or upper middle class as it would probably been expensive, Again if i find out more I shall let you know....oh as an added idea of what it may be the same year 1830 is when George IV died which makes sense as there are two coats of arms on that medal which would be Williams and George's I should think.

lance allison thanks Lance. Can you make out what it says on the line above!

nicola white mudlark - Tideline Art That line is very indistinct and comparing it to other images I've seen of that coat of arms particularly on a sovereign there is no swag below it with writing in it, It may well be a touch of artistic license by the person who designed it, If it was important to that coat of arms it would show up clearly as a faithful reproduction would, Usually those seats would hold a family motto in Latin such as "Vincit Veritas" (Truth Conquers) which is my families motto and it is as I said an important part of arms, I still have a lot of images to check and will let you know what i find.

Yes that's what I thought. Well thanks v much for your help!

HappyQuailsFarm great idea

absolutely freezing to be precise!!

olliecat80 thank you! Glad you enjoy. Nicola

Hi Ruth! Thank you, my pleasure. I hope you are recovering well and keeping warm! best wishes,Nicola

nicola white mudlark - Tideline Art warm as hot toast 😂 getting there . Catching up on utube helps too. Catching up on chillbill this morning 😆😎 thanks again I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your videos they are fun and interesting👀😆

Right, then...I gather my sense of humor is not appreciated. Got it. I promise never to impose it upon you again.

Hello. That's a great suggestion for the ruler. Thanks. noted.And thanks for the positive feedback. Nicola

yes I think you could be right there about it being inlaid in some other object - given the markings on the other side.

Well, it sure was a nice find, hope you eventually have some luck figuring out just what the heck it is. Sure am glad I discovered your videos, watching you mudlarkers pull these treasures out sure is enjoyable. The best for me is when you finish a video with examples of your art- beautiful!

I sometimes mudlark Essex estuary and find bowls and bits of clay pipe but never anything like this. How lucky considering how easy these break.

Nancy Volker da vs b huh j OK vmnbnjhf vg :hbvnvpezjf jbbhjkhl

Hi Raymond. Hope you are not late for work! if you drop me an email I'll send you the details of someone who does outings. I can't - due to permits and regulations and all that good stuff.

Thank you! And Merry Christmas to you too! x

Thank you Sarah! That is really useful info.