"What is your Most Valuable Find?"

By Jack Barrett-President-BCTH

(Article published in Western & Eastern Treasure magazine)

"What do you find? Do you ever find anything valuable? Are you looking for buried treasure? "

If you have been involved in this hobby long, you know that these are but a few of the many questions asked by friends, relatives and curious strangers. Hopefully, each of us takes the time to give a courteous, enthusiastic reply.

If you have or have had, the opportunity to give a demonstration about our hobby to any type of group, those same questions are sure to be asked. What is your most valuable find?

We each have our own criteria (and wish list!) Of what we consider valuable. Like many of you, I long to find that first gold coin. In almost ten years, it hasn’t happened yet, although I am sure it will. However, I have been fortunate to find many old coins, some valuable jewelry, and various relics that always rekindle the fire and keep me searching. Often, history comes alive with each new recovery. And when I am asked, "What is the most valuable thing you have found?" it is a very easy question to answer. It’s a treasure that has left me with a lifelong glow in my heart, and like most finds of this nature, it involves a story of people – three in this case: myself, Mrs. Barto, and someone I will never meet...at least not in this lifetime.

Every workday for the past 35 years, I have gone past a small group of houses, one of which just happened to have a very large flat, four-acre lawn. From my early days of employment at the steel mill, I vaguely recalled ball games being played on that large expanse. In fact, I thought I could even remember a backstop not far from the house. On my way home after a particularly tiring day, I saw an elderly lady carefully riding her mower over that large yard in the warm afternoon sun. I almost drove by, but something told me to stop and see if my memory was correct; and better yet, to explore the possibilities of searching her yard with my metal detector. The thought had occurred to me before, but at the time I wasn’t the best at asking, and I felt the lawn had already been well searched.

As I parked my car and cautiously made my way across the yard, the lady saw me and rode over to meet me. The first thing I noticed was the warm smile on her face, and I hoped mine conveyed the same friendly feeling. Shutting off the mower, a charming lady named Eleanor greeted me, and upon mentioning my remembrance of a ball field and my desire to search the area, I was extended a warm welcome to hunt anytime I so desired–and unbelievably, I would be the first to do so. Yes, it had been a ball field since 1931, when Eleanor and her late husband had moved there and built their house. Many games had been played on it till the late 1960's, when playing ball was no longer permitted because of careless people and the amount of trash they always left behind. I was shown where the backstop had been, as well as where the bleachers had once stood, and I could still see the outline of the infield because the grass was a lighter shade of green.

Because of some other obligations, I had to wait a few days to begin my search. Through the next few months, I found many super coins, including three Walking Liberty half dollars, about 60 other silver coins, and Wheat cents galore, along with jewelry, tokens, and old toys. One evening, while searching an area that was once part of the outfield and near where the fence had stood, I got a high "silver" hit about 6" deep and was rewarded with a silver chain about 8" long, with a small rectangular plate in the middle. A man’s name and a number was inscribed, along with the words "sterling Silver" on the underside of the 2-1/2 plate. It was obviously a man’s bracelet, but of what type, I was not sure. The condition was fantastic...no corrosion at all.

As usual, before leaving I showed Eleanor my finds. I frequently offered her things I had found, but her response was always, "You worked for them, and I would have never found them anyway." This bracelet caught her interest, though. The engraved name, Edward Barto was that of her neighbor’s husband, who had passed away back in 1972. "Might I tell Mrs. Barto about your find?" Eleanor asked. I was happy to agree and gave her my phone number. That evening I received a call from Mrs. Barto–Norma, as I came to know her. A meeting was arranged the very next afternoon at the old ball field.

The next afternoon, as I was again searching the old ball field, I noticed Norma walking toward me. After our introductions, I showed her the bracelet. With tears in her eyes, she told me that it was her late husband, Edward’s ID bracelet. The number was his military service number. He was an avid ballplayer and had lost it back in 1947 after returning from the war. Norma asked me to show her where I had found it, adding that Edward had mostly played outfield positions. They had searched for the bracelet for several days, along with most of the team’s help, but without success. Edward was very saddened to have lost it. Norma’s next response was to invite me to her home for some cold lemonade and conversation.

After a short walk, I was sitting on Norma’s porch, enjoying a cold drink and reviewing Mr. Barto’s service record with her. He was the recipient of a Silver Star and several Purple Hearts while taking part in the Pacific Campaign of WWII. As Norma pointed out, his service number matched the one on the bracelet. I guess she wanted to make sure I knew a little about Edward and this truly was the bracelet he had lost.

Norma then took a deep breath and asked, "Would you consider selling this to me? It would mean so much."

My response was immediate. "No," I said–"But ma’am, it would be a privilege to give it to you.

Suddenly, I had a sweet and grateful lady hugging me tightly, and as she wept on my shoulder, my own tear began to fall. We must have been quite a sight, but it is a moment I shall never forget.

After we finally were able to speak, "Thank you" after "Thank you" poured from her lips. The love of her life had passed away over decades before, and this piece of silver, lost in the ground for nearly half a century, had brought back memories of her beloved Edward as if it were yesterday. Yes, Norma’s love for Edward was life long, "Till death do us part"–it was forever. At that moment, I came to know just how meaningful this hobby can be, and  what it really should be about. Metal detecting can actually touch lives and warm hearts.

Norma then asked if there was anything she could do to repay me. I told her payment had already been given, but I did ask two favors. "Would you allow me to search your property, and may I show Edward’s bracelet at our next club meeting?" Both requests were eagerly granted. Needless to say, I received our club’s monthly Best Jewelry award and was able to share a heartwarming story with my peers. Norma also surprised me with permission to search her neighbor’s property, which I later learned was an early 1900's reunion grounds before the homes were built, but that is another story. As I spent hours and months searching these properties, I was called to Norma’s house many times for a sandwich, cold lemonade and some pleasant conversation. I had made a lifelong friend.

Norma has since moved away and Edward’s ID bracelet was given to their youngest son, who was very young when his father died. His memories of Edward are those of a small boy, and now he treasures the bracelet as much as his father did. It is amazing just how valuable that $20 piece of silver that I was fortunate enough to unearth has proved to be. It was the prized possession of a war hero, it brought back warm and loving memories to a wonderful lady and it became a cherished keepsake to a proud son. Now when asked what my most valuable find has been, I answer without even the hint of a second thought. I know that nothing I will ever find, not even that still-awaited first gold coin, can ever match the warmth I felt in my heart that day, that moment I warmed another heart.