1849 California $5 Gambling Token at pounded out site.

matt092079

Bronze Member
Nov 21, 2011
2,033
1,329
Charles Town, WV
🥇 Banner finds
3
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75 with 11" DD coil, Garrett Ace 250 with 9x12 coil, Garrett Pro-Pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
It will be coming up on a year that we have been pounding this Colonial/1800's site and I thought I would give this site another go before I totally give up on it. It was hard going at first. First good signal early on was the bullet...not sure on type. Maybe a fired spencer, but doesn't really look like most spencers I dig. I basically walked and scouted out the entire perimeter. The middle of it is mostly briars and trees, can't hunt it to say the least. As I got closer to the road it cleared out some and I worked on the other side of this driveway. Last year on the other side of the driveway I found several bullets, large cent, half dime and a few other relics. I figured they had to come through to the other side of the drive and not just stop there. I worked the area and close to this big tree, I get a nice signal, but read as a shotgun shell and trust me I had already had a pouch full of those. But to my surprise it wasn't! I knew I had a token of some sort, but not sure what kind. Texted a pic to my cousin and he looked it up and told me some info on it. Apparently there are modern knock offs of these from what I've learned, but I'm pretty certain just based on location and patina that this is of period. From what I gathered they were struck in the 1850's and were used in lieu of gold coins in games of chance; i.e. gambling. They are brass and the same size as a $5 gold coin of the time period. Pretty cool find indeed and definitely saved my trip out! Other than the beautiful 60 degree weather that is! Thanks for looking and HH!
 

Attachments

  • Metal Detecting 2013 163.jpg
    Metal Detecting 2013 163.jpg
    209.8 KB · Views: 505
  • Metal Detecting 2013 164.jpg
    Metal Detecting 2013 164.jpg
    280.6 KB · Views: 552
  • Metal Detecting 2013 165.jpg
    Metal Detecting 2013 165.jpg
    224.8 KB · Views: 547
  • Metal Detecting 2013 166.jpg
    Metal Detecting 2013 166.jpg
    212.5 KB · Views: 596
Upvote 20
Nice finds Matt!! I bet the token took your breath at first. What are you going to dig next? Still on a roll Bud. HH, Q.
 

Awesome job!!! I hadn't looked in the red book yet to see if its in there. Hope somebody gives a ID on that bullet.
 

Dont even see those dug where they came from!!I do beleive that is a period one as well! :icon_thumright:
 

Sweet token !
 

Nice finds Matt!! I bet the token took your breath at first. What are you going to dig next? Still on a roll Bud. HH, Q.

Thanks, Quindy. That is what's so great...you never know what will come next! HH
 

Very cool and unique find Matt. Don't see those dug too often. Very nice find!
 

I checked the red book, nothing in it. Congrats on that toke!
 

Sweeeeet gambling token!!!
 

That is just plain SICK!!!! CONGRATS... HH
 

One of the many huge trees on the property.

ForumRunner_20130310_230223.png
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top