Displaying Finds ?

[McL4renF1]

Greetings all,

As all of us in the UK are in the same boat and awaiting the current COVID restrictions to be (at least) eased, I'm afraid I'm going to be badgering all you more experienced detectorists with dumb questions...

I am interested to know how (if at all) you display your finds ? Other than the rusty nail, part of a clothes peg, chunk of iron ore and random metal piece we dug up on Christmas Day in the garden I don't have much to show for my efforts so far...

Nick

[Spearhead]

There is not a single way to display finds. I use various methods all with the aim of keeping good/ interesting finds visible rather that hidden and forgotten in a drawer or cupboard.
I particularly like the floating display frames that clamp a find between two sheets of clear membrane and make the find appear to float without damaging the item.
Here are some of the display methods that I use.....

[Digiffys]

I've never thought of putting detecting finds in these floating frames but will definitely consider it as they show off the item really well. I've attached a pic of a recent surface find Joke! It's a Megladon tooth which was a Christmas present for my shark mad 8 year old son

20210110_143232.jpg

[king of the swingers]

There is not a single way to display finds. I use various methods all with the aim of keeping good/ interesting finds visible rather that hidden and forgotten in a drawer or cupboard.
I particularly like the floating display frames that clamp a find between two sheets of clear membrane and make the find appear to float without damaging the item.
Here are some of the display methods that I use.....

nice one please could you tell me what the items are

[Rank81]

My dad and I use old printers block trays with perspex over the top. Numbered with a corresponding sheet say what the item is. Only show the best of finds and examples of each thing. We now have 3 of these.

In time what you choose to display will change as your finds increase etc
Good luck

[johntp]

Hi Nick
All I have done so far is used an old picture frame then downloaded as old a map as I could find on the internet for the background then stuck my coins to the map with some folded over tape. Next time I will try to use a map of the area where the coins where found a probably try to tint the map with a more of a brownish colour to make it look older. On the back of the frame I've printed out a photo of the display and wrote on there some info on the coins.

IMG_20210110_152745135.jpg

IMG_20210110_153821925.jpg

[Siddy B]

Hi johnpt just a thought i would think cold tea would do the trick. no sugar or milk.He.He.

[Spearhead]

There is not a single way to display finds. I use various methods all with the aim of keeping good/ interesting finds visible rather that hidden and forgotten in a drawer or cupboard.
I particularly like the floating display frames that clamp a find between two sheets of clear membrane and make the find appear to float without damaging the item.
Here are some of the display methods that I use.....

nice one please could you tell me what the items are

In the single frame is an Anglo Scandinavian stirrup mount. On the shelf is a mysterious lead column with a cross deeply cut into it, a Bronze religious pin, probably medieval. In the frame are Neolithic arrowheads. The white circular thing is a pound lead weight of Henry 8th, it has his initials on it with his crown above. It is dated 1526. The next item is the butt end of a flintlock pistol depicting a face.

[Spearhead]

I've never thought of putting detecting finds in these floating frames but will definitely consider it as they show off the item really well. I've attached a pic of a recent surface find Joke! It's a Megladon tooth which was a Christmas present for my shark mad 8 year old son
20210110_143232.jpg

Nice one.

[Bradrick]

An excellent thread and some really lovely finds too! It's great to see the different ways you pepes have chosen to display them. Keep 'em coming.

[john Colin]

Making a display has never really appealed to me but during the last lockdown I decided to wade through the years of coppers and pre decimals coins in the shed. I intended to send them off to the scrapyard but in the end just disposed of the ones with little detail. The rest I chucked in an old glass lampshade, which makes a nice feature.

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IMG_0204.jpg

[HCee]

My dad and I use old printers block trays with perspex over the top. Numbered with a corresponding sheet say what the item is. Only show the best of finds and examples of each thing. We now have 3 of these.
W
In time what you choose to display will change as your finds increase etc.
Good luck

LOVE THIS!!!

[alfaowner]

Im guilty of having a coins case that I put my best coins in , A finds tin that I put other bits in and I’ve also got a scrap tin , All of which are in the loft , .. shame really as I should display some bits somehow , there’s some great ideas shown on this thread
When I started out I asked an “ old timer “ detectorist I know what he does with his finds .. I will always Remember what he said ( although I don’t agree with it ) he said
“ Scrap “ I Chuck in the bin ...” half decent things “ I Chuck in a jar ..my best finds “ I Chuck on eBay “

[Spearhead]

We spend so much time finding the items that it makes perfect sense that they should be displayed and appreciated by many.

[Bradrick]

As mentioned above, I have also been guilty in the past of having stuff tucked away in different places Nick... not helped with moving home so many times over the past 40 years! So it's good to get into the habit of thinking about identifying them and storing them at the outset. I know that I've 'lost' some interesting pieces in the past... either because I didn't have an ID at the time, or didn't have time to clean them. I found yet another of those little tins recently, with a couple of nice bits that I didn't have time to clean or ID in the past.

We have some really talented DIY'ers and arty types on here, with some excellent examples of displays and storage in the same forum as your post. Not a skill I possess.

Personally, I do have a few of the 'off-the-shelf' display frames, but I tend to use the Lindner stacking units. I have around 30 of them and keep them in a nice pine cabinet... just open the door and pull them out. Keeps my wife happy (not so 'in yer face', and she can put ornaments on top). . I'm just going through the process of decanting them into cardboard holders and labeling them.

Another thing you may want to consider is recording finds. Not just with the PAS (when appropriate), but for your own records. I just found a nicely-toned token that I found many, many years ago, but haven't got a clue where I found it. Probably London (the soil is terrible where I am now), but good to get into the habit. Probably another thread, but I use a diary now.