{Sentinel}
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2007
- Messages
- 4,739
- Reaction score
- 286
- Golden Thread
- 13
- Location
- Virginia
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 13
- Detector(s) used
- TEKNETICS T-2 LTD, Fisher F-75, White's MXT w/ 11 x 14" Excelerator Coil, WHITES Pulse TDI, WHITES Beach Hunter ID, Garrett Propointer and Lesche Digging Tool
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
1720 Finn House: C.S. Spur, SOLID SILVER Button & 1777 Carolus III Half-Reale!
This weekend we went back to a place that I had knocked at a couple years ago and got no answer... but this time we did! We had the opportunity to secure exclusive permission to hunt at one of the oldest houses still standing in Virginia. As Jeff stated, this land was a land grant given by the King of England in the 1600s and was owned by Mr. Finn who was the British Tax collector for the crown. As we come to find out, Captain Finn had a hand in kicking off the Revolutionary War in Virginia as it were when he decided to hide the overall Commander of all British forces in Hampton Roads from being attacked by the locals. The British Commander was trying to make it to his frigate in the open channel in a little schooner when the American Colonials besieged him and he was forced to go into hiding at Captain Finn's home which was one of the first official acts of Rebellion in the State of Virginia; this is the home we hunted this weekend!
The owner admittedly said that a couple guys had metal detected it back long ago but that no one had permission to dig there since he's owned it for over 20 years. I never pay this any nevermind as there's always something that's been missed!
Also in addition to the great colonial connection, this property was also used as a Confederate and Union Campsite during the Civil War and in fact there's a Confederate Soldier buried in the front near the old cemetery. This man was a Captain in the Virginia Infantry and as you can see in the photos, my chapter of the S.C.V. had bestowed the Southern Cross of Honor to this man's grave site, tantamount to the U.S. Medal of Honor.
The finds were nice, the first day we hunted the Civil War camps in the woods and out in part of the front field and dug several bullets, 2 GS Eagles, 1 Eagle "I" but the definite find of the day that day was the Confederate States' "Brandy Station" Spur that I popped out! I was incredibly happy and surprised when I saw this beauty come up from only about 3" down! (Some of this stuff is sooo shallow...I literally found a 3 Ringer on the surface the same day.)
Today, when we first got there, we focused around the 1720 Finn House and I got a CRUEL signal...it was hitting in the silver range and it sounded like a DEFINITE Two Reale Signal.....My Blood was pumping, I was getting ready for it...dug down about 8"...SAW THE SILVER MILLED EDGE...and then Popped out a 1927 STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER at a 1720 House!!
Normally, a Standing Liberty would be a good find, but here at one of the oldest standing houses in America, it was well...not expected. I couldn't believe it and prayed to the metal detecting gods to rectify it before the day ended. Well after while I wandered over to the other side of the field and I got another good silver signal! When I plugged it and saw what it was, I had to rub my eyes because I didn't believe it....it's a find that I've never dug and haven't heard of many being dug: a Solid Silver Button with the Silver mark of "RM" on the back and what looks to be a Script "R" on the front. Even the shank is silver!
Towards the end of the afternoon today and after many hours of digging the last couple days and NO Reales I thought we weren't going to dig any....Seemed like the other guys had harvested them all as all we had was the small quarter piece of a half reale...BUT at around 5PM a glimmer of hope.... got a faint silverish signal (but not strong at all) dug down about 8-9 inches and I saw a little silver disc roll back down into the hole as I scooped the sandy dirt out! FINALLY....popped out a 1777 Carolus III Half-Reale! Thought we were going to be REALE skunked!
But not this time
ALL FINDS FOUND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH CONSENT OF THE OWNER
Here's the pics:
Captain Finn's Home Circa 1720
Cemetery and Graves where Confederate Soldier and others are buried (Dates to the early 1800s):
Finds:
Confederate States "Brandy Station" Spur (You can also find one in Crouch's Book on pg. 122)
First Day Finds
Yesterdays Finds:
Solid Silver Colonial Button (Backstamped "RM" and crude Script "R" or "B" on front)
1777 Carolus III Half-Reale (Fresh from the Dirt)
1702-1714 Queen Anne Alnage lead Seal MAG REGINA BR FRA ET HIB. Used to show that tax had been paid for cloth
1858 Flying Eagle Cent
1865 Indian Head
Nice Ornate Piece (Cleaned) (Had something Blue inlaid into it that's since fallen out)
"PARIS" Marked Suspender Buckle (Have dug these dated in the 1850s also. In addition, this one is the only one I have ever dug that still has some of the Black finish remaining)
GROUP SHOT (Collection of the best stuff from the weekend)
This weekend we went back to a place that I had knocked at a couple years ago and got no answer... but this time we did! We had the opportunity to secure exclusive permission to hunt at one of the oldest houses still standing in Virginia. As Jeff stated, this land was a land grant given by the King of England in the 1600s and was owned by Mr. Finn who was the British Tax collector for the crown. As we come to find out, Captain Finn had a hand in kicking off the Revolutionary War in Virginia as it were when he decided to hide the overall Commander of all British forces in Hampton Roads from being attacked by the locals. The British Commander was trying to make it to his frigate in the open channel in a little schooner when the American Colonials besieged him and he was forced to go into hiding at Captain Finn's home which was one of the first official acts of Rebellion in the State of Virginia; this is the home we hunted this weekend!
The owner admittedly said that a couple guys had metal detected it back long ago but that no one had permission to dig there since he's owned it for over 20 years. I never pay this any nevermind as there's always something that's been missed!
Also in addition to the great colonial connection, this property was also used as a Confederate and Union Campsite during the Civil War and in fact there's a Confederate Soldier buried in the front near the old cemetery. This man was a Captain in the Virginia Infantry and as you can see in the photos, my chapter of the S.C.V. had bestowed the Southern Cross of Honor to this man's grave site, tantamount to the U.S. Medal of Honor.The finds were nice, the first day we hunted the Civil War camps in the woods and out in part of the front field and dug several bullets, 2 GS Eagles, 1 Eagle "I" but the definite find of the day that day was the Confederate States' "Brandy Station" Spur that I popped out! I was incredibly happy and surprised when I saw this beauty come up from only about 3" down! (Some of this stuff is sooo shallow...I literally found a 3 Ringer on the surface the same day.)
Today, when we first got there, we focused around the 1720 Finn House and I got a CRUEL signal...it was hitting in the silver range and it sounded like a DEFINITE Two Reale Signal.....My Blood was pumping, I was getting ready for it...dug down about 8"...SAW THE SILVER MILLED EDGE...and then Popped out a 1927 STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER at a 1720 House!!
Normally, a Standing Liberty would be a good find, but here at one of the oldest standing houses in America, it was well...not expected. I couldn't believe it and prayed to the metal detecting gods to rectify it before the day ended. Well after while I wandered over to the other side of the field and I got another good silver signal! When I plugged it and saw what it was, I had to rub my eyes because I didn't believe it....it's a find that I've never dug and haven't heard of many being dug: a Solid Silver Button with the Silver mark of "RM" on the back and what looks to be a Script "R" on the front. Even the shank is silver! Towards the end of the afternoon today and after many hours of digging the last couple days and NO Reales I thought we weren't going to dig any....Seemed like the other guys had harvested them all as all we had was the small quarter piece of a half reale...BUT at around 5PM a glimmer of hope.... got a faint silverish signal (but not strong at all) dug down about 8-9 inches and I saw a little silver disc roll back down into the hole as I scooped the sandy dirt out! FINALLY....popped out a 1777 Carolus III Half-Reale! Thought we were going to be REALE skunked!
But not this time ALL FINDS FOUND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH CONSENT OF THE OWNER
Here's the pics:
Captain Finn's Home Circa 1720
Cemetery and Graves where Confederate Soldier and others are buried (Dates to the early 1800s):
Finds:
Confederate States "Brandy Station" Spur (You can also find one in Crouch's Book on pg. 122)
First Day Finds
Yesterdays Finds:
Solid Silver Colonial Button (Backstamped "RM" and crude Script "R" or "B" on front)
1777 Carolus III Half-Reale (Fresh from the Dirt)
1702-1714 Queen Anne Alnage lead Seal MAG REGINA BR FRA ET HIB. Used to show that tax had been paid for cloth
1858 Flying Eagle Cent
1865 Indian Head
Nice Ornate Piece (Cleaned) (Had something Blue inlaid into it that's since fallen out)
"PARIS" Marked Suspender Buckle (Have dug these dated in the 1850s also. In addition, this one is the only one I have ever dug that still has some of the Black finish remaining)
GROUP SHOT (Collection of the best stuff from the weekend)
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Time will tell, there's more goodies hiding in there though 
If its like our sites here in PA, I have a feeling that you haven't found the best stuff yet. Can't wait to see what you get in some later hunts. 
.....Ps how much did you pay for the finds 
