2018: 100 Silvers, Many Firsts and New Friends

[washingtonian]

Hey folks,

Thanks so much for joining along on all my outings this year. It’s been one heck of a journey and I’ve appreciated all your comments and support along the way. Special shout out to my brother, Echoplex and Goat88 for all the fun we’ve had hunting together this year.

When the year began, my brother and I had a goal of finding 36 silver coins total. We found 27 between the two of us last year so that seemed like a good challenge. We’d hunted several seasons prior to 2017 (parts of 2005, 2008-2011), but last year was our most serious. We had 64 silver coins prior to this year so we figured another 36 would put as at 100.

Well, my brother scouted out a great site early in the year which helped us reach 36 sooner than expected. By March we’d already hit that number. I started to wonder if I might be able to hit 100 this year solo and so began the journey.

I don’t know for sure, but I estimate I probably got out around 160 times this year. Sometimes for 40 minutes, sometimes for 6 hours although the most common was probably a 2-hour outing. Finding 100 silver coins in Seattle isn’t easy.

On December 23[SUP]rd[/SUP] I finally hit silver coin #100 for the year. It took more work than I thought but I don’t regret it. It was a great challenge.

Here’s a photo of all 100 coins:


The breakdown by type is:

• 31 Mercs
• 30 Rosies
• 10 War Nickels
• 8 GWs
• 5 Barber Quarters
• 3 Barber Dimes
• 3 SLQs
• 2 Barber Halves
• 2 Kennedy Halves
• 2 Morgan Dollars
• 2 Walking Liberty Halves
• 1 Elizabeth Canadian Dime
• 1 Franklin Half

Here’s a breakdown of my silver coin finds by month:


I also had a handful of firsts this year which was awesome. The notable ones were:

• First Barber Dime
• First SLQ
• First 1800s U.S. Coin
• First Civil War Button
• First V Nickel
• First Barber Half
• First Silver Kennedy Half
• First Walker
• First Silver Dollar
• First 0 Mint
• First Hem Weight
• First Cracker Jack Presidential Token

Here are my precious jewelry finds this year (minus returned gold rings). 2 gold rings found in the wild (1 returned), 15 silver rings, 3 silver earrings, 2 silver charms, 3 silver bracelets, 2 silver spoons, 1 silver cap and 1 silver tie bar.


Here are the key/semi-key date wheats:


The dates on those are:

• 1910-S x2
• 1911-D
• 1911-S x2
• 1913-S
• 1915-S x2

This is what ~617 Wheaties looks like (gave a few away to homeowners):


These are some of my favorite foreign coins. The real standout from this bunch is the 1845 East India Company Large Cent.:


Here are some of my favorite tokens. Lots of transit tokens, a few Cracker Jack Presidential tokens, a CCC Cascarets token and a Battle of Verdun (WWI) medal were some of my favorites.


Here are some of my favorite military items:


Here are some of my favorite relics:


My brother mentioned he’s not interested in doing his own year end post so here are some of his goodies:



I don’t anticipate hunting as much in 2019, largely because my goals aren’t going to be as based on volume. My #1 goal in the new year is to find my first seated coin. I came close this year. I found an 1890 Morgan dollar and my oldest Barber was 1895.

I’m calling 2019 my “30 for 30 Project” I want to find 30% (9) of the 30 items listed below by the end of the year. It’s going to take a lot of creativity in Washington State where we don’t have the history of many other parts of the country but I’m up to the challenge.

• 1700s coin
• Canadian Large Cent
• Victorian Silver
• King Edward Silver
• King George V silver
• King George VI Silver
• Seated Dime
• Seated Quarter
• Seated Half
• Half Dime
• Peace Dollar
• Large Cent
• Half Cent
• Flying Eagle
• Capped Bust
• Gold coin
• Trime
• 2 Center
• Confederate Civil War Button
• Shield Nickel
• Spanish Silver
• Non-Canadian Foreign Silver
• Key Date ($250+) coin
• Draped Bust
• Colonial Copper
• Signet Ring
• Carson City Mint Coin
• Fishscale
• Old Saloon/Trade Token
• Silver Thimble

Thanks so much for joining on the journey this year. Wouldn’t have meant as much if I didn’t get to share it with all the great folks here on TNet.
Good luck in 2019!
-W

 

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[Hawks88]

Well done Wash. that’s quite the pile of saves. Congrats

 

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[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on a killer year!

Good Luck on the 30/30!

 

[Truth]

washingtonian you make me look sooo bad and I’m sooo happy for you. You killed it big time. This was my first year to find anything seated my 1891 Seated Dime and I wear that sucka around my neck. I got 10x’s more Spanish and 3x’s more busts then Seated and STILL haven’t gotten that Barber Quarter!!!! You did a amazing job and I’m honored to call you a friend.

 

[jimzz977]

Dang you did good conrgats

 

[A2coins]

Great post and you have been awesome helping Id items and giving feedback glad you did so well. I was at 97 tried to get to 100 but couldn't get out enough at the end of the year!! Well done my friend it will be hard to beat!!!!!!

 

[lairmo]

That was a good post...nuff said..good luck in '19

 

[washingtonian]

Washingtonian, that's a fantastic year with lots of first's for you.... I'm detecting 30 years today and I still need 15 of your 30 listed above.... I have volume too, but, I want more old silver. Happy New Year to you and the family and good luck hunting, my friend.... Basss

Thanks bass, I hope that 2019 is good to you. Let’s hope you get on some of that older silver!!

 

[washingtonian]

Well done Wash. that’s quite the pile of saves. Congrats

Thanks do much Hawks!

 

[washingtonian]

Congratualtions on a killer year!

Good Luck on the 30/30!

Thanks PoE, might have to make some trips east to make it happen!! [emoji14]

 

[washingtonian]

washingtonian you make me look sooo bad and I’m sooo happy for you. You killed it big time. This was my first year to find anything seated my 1891 Seated Dime and I wear that sucka around my neck. I got 10x’s more Spanish and 3x’s more busts then Seated and STILL haven’t gotten that Barber Quarter!!!! You did a amazing job and I’m honored to call you a friend.

Thanks so much T, it’s been a hell of a year. You’ve done great pulling capped busts and Spanish silvers. Crazy stuff. I hope to just get one or two of those in my life. Thanks brother and looking forward to seeing good things coming your way in 2019!!

 

[washingtonian]

Dang you did good conrgats

Thank you kindly Jim and good luck down there in NM!

 

[washingtonian]

Great post and you have been awesome helping Id items and giving feedback glad you did so well. I was at 97 tried to get to 100 but couldn't get out enough at the end of the year!! Well done my friend it will be hard to beat!!!!!!

Thanks Tommy and damn, so close to 100. I have a friend who got on a good site and hit 100 silvers by April of this year so it can happen. Good luck in 2019. I have no plans to top 100 anytime soon unless I find a cache 🤑

 

[washingtonian]

That was a good post...nuff said..good luck in '19

Thanks Lairmo and good luck to you as well!!

 

[GoDeep]

Awesome haul! Any tips you can share to your success? You definitely put in the time which contributed to your success, but any other tips you can share about the types of places that yielded the most and techniques you used? May this new year be your best yet!

 

[the_mad_cladder]

Incredible year. Hope 2019 is just as good for you and yours! Congrats and that’s a helluva post.

 

[Digger RJ]

Killer Year!!! Congrats!!!!
Your Brother had a Great Year Too!!! Tell him Congrats!!!

 

[Whyme]

Awesome year! Just looking at the Barber halves and the Morgan dollars makes me envious! Congrats on an awesome year!

 

[park pirate]

Damn wash, 2018 was good to you big congrats...

 

[goat88]

You had a great year man. Had a great time huting with you and your brother. I dot think I have ever seen someone pull two morgans in the same year. Great job. How did your brother do last year?

 

[washingtonian]

Awesome haul! Any tips you can share to your success? You definitely put in the time which contributed to your success, but any other tips you can share about the types of places that yielded the most and techniques you used? May this new year be your best yet!

Thanks GoDeep. Well, that's a good question. Every area is going to be different. In Seattle, we don't have tons of history to begin with, most of the existing history is paved over, and the little that isn't (parks) have been hit hard by detectorists. That makes most public places a waste of time in my opinion.

That said, there are some that are still worth it. Spending time researching, always having several sites lined up, and spending time sampling different areas has worked well. I also have a few close friends who detect so we are all out trying different sites and sometimes one of us hits on something.

One of the things I've done that I think anyone could do is ask permission for residential areas. I hate going in cold so I usually put some postcards in a neighborhood of interest to get things rolling. They a have a professional photo of me and explain that I'm just a history buff that like to look for old stuff, etc. Then, I follow up in person a week later so everyone can see I'm a normal guy and more often than not I get permission. I usually just ask about getting permission for the sidewalk strips because the yards are so small in my area they are hardly worth the bother. If a yard piques my interest and the homeowner is giving me good vibes I'll ask about that as well.

Hope that helps!