A guide to asking for an identification of finds

[MDF Team]

This is one of our most active sections and a valuable research resource if the following rules and guidelines are met, and by adhering to them you will maximise the possibility of an accurate identification from the exceptional pool of knowledge that we have here. Remember, other members give their help freely, generously and in their own spare time so it's only a courtesy to them to put in some time and effort yourself. Not only that, many like to hear the story behind the find so adding detail makes the thread more enjoyable to read and you'll get more response.

And please thank people who help! You can do this by posting your thanks or hitting the 'thanks' button, preferably both.

Don't forget, we have a lot of good aids to identification in the Research Section and you might get the satisfaction of making an ID for yourself from the information there, but if not then please follow the guidelines below.

NB: The following applies to ALL requests, including those from your friends. If the image(s) they send you are poor or lacking a scale or fall short in any way then please do not submit them for ID. Ask them to send acceptable images or, better, join the forum themselves. Fuller explanation here.



Information required in your initial request

H - Have at least two clear, in focus images. Both sides of the items must be shown in all cases. Mandatory.
A - Add some information regarding the circumstances: conditions, depth, type of land, etc. Advisory
M - Measure items by placing them alongside a metric form of scale only (cm/mm), showing clear segments/numbering and clear millimeter divisions. Mandatory
M - Machine used and settings – this is always of interest to other members. Advisory
Y - You will always get a better ID if you supply as much information as possible. Approximate location, type of metal, etc., can prove very helpful. Tell us as much as you can.

PLEASE NOTE: No other form of scale, other that that specified above, is acceptable, strictly only 6 images allowed daily when using the attachment feature and only post finds you wish to be identified.
Finally - when asking and receiving a ID Please Remember the Common courtesy of Please and Thank You.

Taking photos

The most common problems with images are size and focus. There is an excellent, in-depth article on photographing finds here.

Focus issues are mainly caused by lack of lighting and/or being too close to the object, both of which can affect depth of field (the distance from the lens within which things are in focus). Increased lighting and/or distance from the lens usually help solve focus issues, particularly with objects with a degree of depth to them.

To help ensure good focus on closeup shots on coins, take them from directly above.

Keep the background plain - a busy background detracts from your object.

Don't position the item in the general vicinity of the rule or scale but line up the left hand edge of the object with '0' on the rule. You can download a good scale here.

TIP: if your object occupies less than half of the image then in most instances you're wasting pixels and lessening the chances of a successful ID. Look at your image. Have you got the object as big as you can? Does it more or less show all the detail you can see with the naked eye? If yes, then upload it and if not, re-do it and get it as best you can.


Uploading pictures

NOTE: There is a maximum of 6 images PER DAY (not per topic) allowed if uploaded to this site. The reason for this is that images eat enormously into the resources provided by the owner at his own expense and this saves on running costs. (For this reason, if ever quoting a post with images in it, please remove the images and respond with text only.)

Complete instructions on how to upload to our server here.

Alternatively, there is no limit to the number of images you can link to from an image hosting site as they are not stored on our hard drives. If you do link to one, please attach the files as viewable images and not as text, which can prove tedious to view and thereby reduce the number of people looking at your find.

There are numerous hosting sites available such as ImageShack flickr and imgur and they will have a guide on how to upload and link.


Once you have had an ID
Please remember to thank all who helped and then change the title of your topic. Edit the title from, say, "ID on hammered coin, please,” to something like “SOLVED – Henry III penny”. Be as specific as you can, i.e. don't just amend the title to “SOLVED - Jetton” - say which type of jetton.

(If you have a group of objects, this will make changing the topic title somewhat problematic, so before you post, perhaps split what might be important objects from the group and put them up a separate topic.)

This site has a growing database of successfully identified items and if you don't change the title your find won't show up in future searches, which would be a waste. So please remember to do so and help contribute to this valuable resource.

Finally, and very importantly....

Report your find to your Finds Liaison Officer (FLO) if it qualifies. There is a very informative thread on why this must be done here

Adhere to these guidelines and, by making things clearer for those with the goodwill to help, you will maximise your chances of an accurate ID.

PLEASE NOTE: while we have no wish to wield the mod hammer unnecessarily, requests that fall far short of the above may be bounced back to you together with an explanation as to why and suggestions for improvement.

Good luck!