A miners Stash

[kuger]

A miner's Stash

I hunt predominatly gold rush era sites in California,and as metal detecting goes one never knows what is going to pop out.Last year I was hunting a site I had detected several times before and not found anything of great significance.This particular day I got a pretty strong signal about six or seven inches deep and when I pulled it out of the hole I first thought it to be a cigar container,but upon closer inspection it appeared to be two brass objects stuck together,and when shaken something inside it rattled.It is not uncommon to find brass shotgun shells(later date than gold rush) but that was what these appeared to be?I wanted to open it in the feild but I didnt want to damage it,so I waited to get it home took some pics and wriggled it open.I expected maybe some Indian beads or matches to fall out but was pleasantly surprised when 139 grains(weight)of gold fell out!!!It probably wasnt Gold rush era but some poor miner lost his take!The stories this cherished find could tell!!

 

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[Derek752]

Re: A miner's Stash

Awesome COOL find Kuger !

 

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[kuger]

Re: A miner's Stash

he was probably hammered when he buried it. hahahaaha..

Might have been!!!It was probably full when he started!!

 

[garym94931]

Re: A miner's Stash

yep. there probably are thousands of such items around that we walk on every time we go camping, etc., but nobody ever knows. like the old WWII plane that was found recently buried in the sand on which thousands of beach goers walked every year since WWII. thanks for the pics and the story.

 

[OroGrande]

Re: A miner's Stash

Probably a Highgrader's stash. It was a very popular way to "appropriate" without being obvious. Just a thought!

 

[Urban Prospector]

Re: A miner's Stash

May be from the depression era gold rush.

 

[garym94931]

Re: A miner's Stash

Probably a Highgrader's stash. It was a very popular way to "appropriate" without being obvious. Just a thought!

i'm not sure if you mean what i think you mean, but you just reminded me of something i once saw in some prison movie that was set WAY long ago i.e. devils island? papillion? where inmates kept their valuables hidden inside their body by way of a smooth, firm capsule?? that makes sense if you meant that. very good possibility. only in this case, it wouldn't be an inmate but a miner with gold dust.

 

[OroGrande]

Re: A miner's Stash

Alot of mines had armed guards that "checked" each miner after a day's work. Highgrader's would put their take in empty cartridges and "crimp" with their teeth or put two together. Simply drop them on the ground for later retreival when the guards weren't checking. No one would pick up a spent cartridge shell. Alot were overlooked or not refound by the highgraders. Great for us MD'ers.

 

[Bridge End Farm]

Re: A miner's Stash

cool story thanks for sharing

 

[KirkTN]

Re: A miner's Stash

That is one of the most original finds I've ever seen. Don't you know it's got a Heck of a story!!!

Thanks For Sharing!

KirkTN

 

[kuger]

Re: A miner's Stash

Thanks for all the replies,everything we find has a story but some are just a little more intriguing!!

 

[r49miner]

Re: A miner's Stash

I think I'd be looking around that spot for a long time. Where there's one could be many. Congrats