Silver Tree Chaser
Bronze Member
1749 Best Dug King George II Halfpence, 1600's partial Seal Spoon, etc.
Here are some finds over the past few weeks at one very promising site. Two hunts back in January and several hunts this spring have produced 23 coppers to date, lots of buttons (some of which I’ve already posted), and an assortment of other encouraging finds. As I mentioned in a previous post from a few weeks ago, no silver coins have yet been found, but I remain hopeful.
This 1749 King George Halfpenny is in the best condition of any copper coin that I’ve ever dug from a field. There is still a slight build up of dirt to remove, but it appears to be coming out quite nicely. If I could dig a variety of coppers in this type of condition, I wouldn’t care to dig a single silver coin!
I was very pleased to learn that this coin very likely came to the Boston from England aboard the H.M.S. Mermaid in 1750. 800,000 halfpence coins, all dating from 1749, were sent to Boston for a war payment and to relieve a coin shortage in the colonies.
I also dug an early latten seal spoon likely dating from the mid to late 17th Century. I’ve dug several spoon bowls over the years but only two prior examples with partial handles; consequently, I took a picture of the spoon in situ when I saw that part of the handle was intact. I figured that it had been buried for 300+ years, so I might as well get a nice picture. It does have a partial maker’s mark, a common three spoons in a circle design, although the letters on each side of the mark may be too far gone to ID.
This is one of those indeterminate finds, a real mystery item. I thought it might be for a seal matrix, but I doubt it. I dug the outer brass frame first; it’s decorated the exact same on both sides. I rechecked the hole and found the inner piece, which had separated. It appears to be a very thin piece of brass with the impression of a flower. A small portion is missing.
Here’s the growing pile of all the finds, less what I recovered last week. All the rain in New England is making for excellent search conditions, so I hope to get back out there soon.
Here are some finds over the past few weeks at one very promising site. Two hunts back in January and several hunts this spring have produced 23 coppers to date, lots of buttons (some of which I’ve already posted), and an assortment of other encouraging finds. As I mentioned in a previous post from a few weeks ago, no silver coins have yet been found, but I remain hopeful.
This 1749 King George Halfpenny is in the best condition of any copper coin that I’ve ever dug from a field. There is still a slight build up of dirt to remove, but it appears to be coming out quite nicely. If I could dig a variety of coppers in this type of condition, I wouldn’t care to dig a single silver coin!
I was very pleased to learn that this coin very likely came to the Boston from England aboard the H.M.S. Mermaid in 1750. 800,000 halfpence coins, all dating from 1749, were sent to Boston for a war payment and to relieve a coin shortage in the colonies.
I also dug an early latten seal spoon likely dating from the mid to late 17th Century. I’ve dug several spoon bowls over the years but only two prior examples with partial handles; consequently, I took a picture of the spoon in situ when I saw that part of the handle was intact. I figured that it had been buried for 300+ years, so I might as well get a nice picture. It does have a partial maker’s mark, a common three spoons in a circle design, although the letters on each side of the mark may be too far gone to ID.
This is one of those indeterminate finds, a real mystery item. I thought it might be for a seal matrix, but I doubt it. I dug the outer brass frame first; it’s decorated the exact same on both sides. I rechecked the hole and found the inner piece, which had separated. It appears to be a very thin piece of brass with the impression of a flower. A small portion is missing.
Here’s the growing pile of all the finds, less what I recovered last week. All the rain in New England is making for excellent search conditions, so I hope to get back out there soon.
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