IMPORTANT - Please read before asking for an ID

[Dave8472]

Hi all, firstly thanks for all the exciting finds you guys are finding and posting on the forum, just a few tips, not mandatory but if you would like your coins, but this mainly applies to artefacts IDing then we need as much information as possible, although a picture says a thousand words, you have the item there, we are sometimes looking at just one side of a blurry item, and the size is not described, could be 10mm or 10cm !!! Etc

Anyway, what we would like to ID YOUR item is this

Clearest pictures you can manage, pictures of front back inside etc, if different

Sizes of item or a 20p next to it for scale, the 20p is the easiest coin to work out

Material made of, even if a best guess, some items can be much easy to work out if say lead rather than copper alloy

Any inscription or markings

Does it look broken, ie item as picture but looks snapped off one end

Additional details like what it read on your detector and depth, type of reading can also make for such a better read

And finally please remember many members devote a lot of time to IDing your stuff, please be polite in both your request and a thank you after the item has been done or to any helper.

This isn't directed at anyone specific, just there are many new members here and I am seeing lots of posts just saying ID needed, and a couple of pictures. The forum is a community of like minded people enjoying the hobby, please remember your posts represent your part of this.

Here is a typically post that we would like to see as an example on how to post for ID

EXAMPLE POST

Dave

Updated 11th January 2012

Hi everyone, for some time now and with the growing number of members unfortunately an ongoing problem has arisen where the standard of “ID request” posts have been quite poor, mainly from new members who are still getting to grips with forum posting and uploading pictures. We fully understand that some people just need a bit of help and advice, but there are some who just seem to “slap” a quick post up with very little thought about how the request will be viewed. The members here fully appreciate that many spend a great deal of time trying to ID the items and the least we can do is spend a reasonable amount of time preparing the post to be uploaded on the forum. This is not a definitive response, and as said PM’s and guidance will be offered and given by the forum Staff where possible BUT…

The following minimum requirement will now be expected on an ID request

Two Clear Pictures - Pictured deemed to blurry may not be accepted

Both sides of a coin or medallion type thing

Either written scale and sizes or something in the picture to reference size, preferably a sizing chart or 20p coin

Advisory requirements, some of these may be also be made mandatory in the future

Topic title to say something like - ID for Coin, ID for Artifact, ID for Mixed finds

Best guess on material that the item is made from, the detector tone ID will help with this

Full description of anything not obvious shown on the photo, ie broken of fixing at top etc

We must re iterate we will help where possible to guide you through this, but the following may happen to your thread

You may be either messaged or a post added to your ID request for specific correction to it

The post may be temporarily removed for correction at a later time, you will receive a PM to resolve this by the forum staff.

Particularly bad posts or repeated failure to post correctly will see your posts deleted.

EXAMPLE POST

[vikingwarrior]

Well said dave

[GREGGOWREX]

Well said Dave ... About time someone with a different colour name said something

[loud ed]

the more info the better sizes help too and the more experienced members on here will only be too happy to give you an id but please remember we are not perfect

and dont get upset when we tell you its not what you thought it was

ED

[Fusion]

A blurred or unnecessarily small picture is no use for ID purposes. Please try and get a suitable photo, then upload it.
Aim for the item to be 400+ pixels in size (the site-hosted max size picture is 600 pixels square). Cameras with 3 megapixels are perfectly capable, you just need to know how to use them.

[Smithfire]

Agree with all that.....the ID'ers do an amazing job sharing their knowledge. Very much appreciated

Clive

[Dave8472]

when clearly its only a blob of lead

Funny enough just been through the scap bin this morning washing all the lead and copper for a hidden find but apart from a fuel can top it is all sadly rubbish

Thanks for the additional comments everyone, I echo your thoughts

Dave

[wittymetals]

i find it helpful when the thread name isn't ambiguous- ie. ''id please' or 'weird item'
I used to go on a wildlife forum to I.D things and it was so much easier when people used to say
'small red beetle/bug' rather than 'what is this?'
It could be *anything* from a bird to a butterfly to a worm or moth.
I got fed up up all the 'what is this' threads in the end and stopped I.Ding for people (there were so many posted everyday!)

[Fusion]

If it's a question, a question mark in the title would make it clear. Sounds obvious, but it seems to be a very common omission.
Also, if you start a thread, it's a good idea to follow it for some time. As well as getting more answers to your question, you may find you have been asked some questions, too. I often see threads that have an abandoned / half-finished look to them.

[shem27]

wow, didn't know we could use threads to id things. I got a few things that need i'd ing might post them when i get a decent camera, thanks for the info.

[stubble hunter]

Excellent thread and overdue
And huge thanks to those who do most of the ID'ing here
Cheers !
John in Gloucester

[liamnolan]

Thanks John, it seems an uphill struggle to get members to spend the extra minute to include all of the other info on how the coin/item was discovered, but it all adds up to a much more interesting post that we can all enjoy and have a better chance of doing an ID, Liam

[Danzigman]

If you out of money - 20p - here is a earlyer post for free. I know Dave have seen it.. for long time I have tryed to speak this case to.. Pretty clear photos and mesurment - viewtopic.php?f=42&t=21514&p=180092#p180092" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wish everyone the best find out therer.

[GREGGOWREX]

my turn to bump this thread......if anyone just pressed page 2 ....to read this ....please look at the original post on page 1 ...thanks

[Dave8472]

my turn to bump this thread......if anyone just pressed page 2 ....to read this ....please look at the original post on page 1 ...thanks

Good point Greg, well spotted, just have to hope people will read it now

Have already started disaproving posts and deleteing ones that full very short of the criteria,

Dave