🥇 BANNER AHABS WHITE WHALE: 1652 PINE TREE & 1664 COB

[Ahab8]

What a day! I woke up very early and headed out. Had to stop for a 9 volt at a local store. There was a cop car sitting there with the number 8 on the side. I am extremely superstitious and 8 is my lucky number. In fact, I'm so superstitious that if I set an alarm or the microwave it has to end in 8. And when I go detecting I won't get out of my truck until the time ends in 8. Ok now that you all know how psychotic I am I can get to the finds. I got into the woods and instantly got lost. Lost for about 2 hours and my phone had no reception so I couldn't use google earth. I finally got myself oriented and got into the area I wanted to be in. The finds came slow but there was no modern trash so that was nice. I got a couple of deep round balls the found nothing about an hour. I decided I was going to just get down by the water and walk the edge. I've had some luck doing this in the past. Barely any signals at all. At one point the edge of the bank gave way and down I went. Got myself back up the hill and realized my setting had gotten screwed up. So I got my machine set up again and a couple minutes later I got a deep signal. Not a very good signal. But I dug a couple inches off the top and scanned it again. It sounded much better after that. I dug a nice big plug and it was still down below. Finally I got ahold of the object and pulled it out. I don't want to sound over dramatic here but some dirt fell off the coin and I could clearly see the branches of the tree. I swear I couldn't breath for a few seconds. I knew I had just dug Lifetime #1. On my wish list. It's a feeling that I can't put into words and for anybody who's felt it....well it's just incredible. Put that baby in my keeper case and finally regained my composure. I took a few steps and got another deep signal. Once I fought through the roots for about 20 minutes I got my fingers on a very thin disc. I pulled it out and had no idea what it was. I thought I could see a design but just packed it into another keeper case and carried on. A few minuts later I found a copper coin and a very old button.
I know how stupid this is going to sound but I'm gonna tell you guys anyway. After about 20 minutes I honestly had to look in my case because I just could not believe what I had just found. After I got home I emailed IP for some advice. He graciously helped me with some advice and a bit later and put both of the coins in lemon juice. I could not believe that the other mystery disc was a 1664 cob, another lifetime wish list find. And I am so damn happy to have a hammered coin in my collection.
Today was an absolute dream come true and the pay off for tons of research and lots of hours hiking through the woods digging holes. I'm glad I was able to share this day with my Tnet friends. You've all been very supportive.

 

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[Ahab8]

Well friends, I think congratulations are in order for yours truly as well as I've just adopted a number. Sorry Abe, don't mean to steal your thunder but this is big news, and I now expect some big finds too!

Wow let me be the first to congratulate you and your growing family. Great news my friend. And yes you will find some amazing before the big freeze

 

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[Iron Patch]

Wow let me be the first to congratulate you and your growing family. Great news my friend. And yes you will find some amazing before the big freeze

Let's just say tomorrow morning my alarm will be set for 7:05!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Just saw your incredible find up top on the banner. Many congrats Abe!! I can't stop myself from going back and looking at your pics. I know its gorgeous all cleaned up, but I love the dirty, just dug look even better. It takes you back to that special moment when you first realized the amazing find you had made. Keep us posted on anything more specific you can find out about your coin.

 

[Ahab8]

Just saw your incredible find up top on the banner. Many congrats Abe!! I can't stop myself from going back and looking at your pics. I know its gorgeous all cleaned up, but I love the dirty, just dug look even better. It takes you back to that special moment when you first realized the amazing find you had made. Keep us posted on anything more specific you can find out about your coin.

Thank you so much Bill. It's funny because I looked at your Baltimore and showed tons of people. It was such a cool moment when some of the dirt fell off and I could see the branches clear as day. I just could not make myself believe I was really looking at it. I probably said "no way" with a bit of a strong adjective in the middle lol about 88 times ha ha. As you know it's a feeling that can't be explained. I am also over the moon to have my first hammered coin. There's something very special about that. The fact that every one is unique in a way.

 

[Dirtwisher]

Well, well well. You've gone and done it, haven't you Abe. This is gonna sound weird, but based on what you have done in one year I feel like your trajectory was ultimately going to connect you with that coin. I just didn't think it was going to happen this fast! MAJOR congratulations man. That is above all the one thing that gets me up before the sun to hunt, to risk the wrath of the wife who's stuck home w all the kids, to get covered in mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy. That is what I'm hoping will pop out of every plug every day. You rocked it buddy! I just want more info - what kind of area etc and kinds of documents you scour to find that stuff. My area of MA is really old (about as old as it gets) but really built up, but I know that puppy is out there somewhere nearby. That find really stoked the fire! I think my wife is pissed at you ha ha.

 

[Higgy]

Wow maybe I should be more superstitious. Awesome finds. I would go back to that spot a lot more. There is more there for sure.

Yep. I would go back there at least 7 more times, Abe!

Such a great achievement. Its just goes to show that hard work and perseverance pays off. It couldnt happen to a nicer guy!

 

[Ahab8]

Well, well well. You've gone and done it, haven't you Abe. This is gonna sound weird, but based on what you have done in one year I feel like your trajectory was ultimately going to connect you with that coin. I just didn't think it was going to happen this fast! MAJOR congratulations man. That is above all the one thing that gets me up before the sun to hunt, to risk the wrath of the wife who's stuck home w all the kids, to get covered in mosquitoes, ticks and poison ivy. That is what I'm hoping will pop out of every plug every day. You rocked it buddy! I just want more info - what kind of area etc and kinds of documents you scour to find that stuff. My area of MA is really old (about as old as it gets) but really built up, but I know that puppy is out there somewhere nearby. That find really stoked the fire! I think my wife is pissed at you ha ha.

First off thank you for the congratulations. I really appreciate it. Now for the whole wife being pissed thing lol. In my house we have a rule. No research until the lady goes to bed. Lucky for me she doesn't stay up late. My research consists of a large variety of reference materials. Some dirty old stinky books from used book stores or library sales, lots of old maps from several different places including one of my local libraries that has an amazing assortment of early maps. Some the let me take out and copy and others I'm only allowed to photograph. I try to find the stuff that doesn't pop up in a simple google search. Some little nugget that 98% of people would never find. It's usually just one little sentence or paragraph that sends me in a certain direction.... Usually an unexpected direction. My mother is big into geneology and has dug up some incredible original deeds that will have some crazy explanation of boundaries. The huge frog shaped rock or the spot where the water juts in or something very vague.
This was not a home site but an area that was used very early on and had settlement close by. When all else fails head for the water. It's treated me very well. One thing that sets me apart from most is that I will go anywhere on a hunch. I have no problem hiking 4 miles through a swamp then getting skunked. It's happened to me a lot. But I will go places that intelligent people won't go. I never play it safe and just go where I'm likely to def find something. I want to find untouched conical areas. If I have to canoe or climb or parachute lol I will.
Obviously I never expected this to happen so early on. I know you can understand what this means. I don't want to sound silly but it literally made my eyes water. Luckily the happiness overpowered the tears lol. But the condition of this coin so far exceeds what I ever dreamed about. I truly hope you experience that feeling one day and by the looks you likely will some day. If you dig enough he's in the right places you will get one.
Please tell your wife I'm sorry that I've done this to you :-)

 

[Ahab8]

Yep. I would go back there at least 7 more times, Abe! Such a great achievement. Its just goes to show that hard work and perseverance pays off. It couldnt happen to a nicer guy!

Thank you Higgy. I have to tell you the nice guy comments mean a lot to me. There's a lot of years of my life that I was not nice at all. Did some crappy stuff and hurt a lot of people that love me. About 5 years ago I had something happen and from that day on decided I was going to have a positive impact on the world every day. I might just be a smile or wave or a kind word. But it might make a difference to one person that feels like nobody likes them or cares. Even when I'm having a terrible day I try to be this way. My belief is that good things happen to good people and that if everybody just tried to be a little kinder this world would vastly improve. Thanks again and sorry bout the long winded sappy rant lol

 

[Bubba65]

Abe CONGRATS on a well deserve Banner !!!!! Next up is a GW and an NE, I will be looking out for when you post those, Again CONGRATS

 

[EccentricInTexas]

Awesome Finds!!!

 

[richardson]

I love reading the short stories that go along with these amazing finds. Congratulations!

 

[462]

What a way to feed A Habit, with two awesome coins. Congratulations!

 

[cudamark]

Great finds! I think I'd go back and dig/shift that whole area!

 

[flatbutton]

Congrats on a well deserved banner Abe! I still think you should have gotten 2! Finds like that is what keeps us all hunting

 

[ironhorse]

This story of a banner find(s) may translate to many other banner finds coming from this new site you have ; also, this story's second chapter isn't written yet , the introduction was astounding! btw

never be disappointed by your site or give it up,or on it, it's just that good

 

[The Patriot]

A Lifetime hunt right there…Congrats!!!!

 

[Gridwalker306]

Let me wipe the drool from my gaping maw so I can say congratulations. That is incredible, and thanks for the exciting story!!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

All I can say is... "it's about bloody time your find made the BANNER Abe"!
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy too!

Congrats,
Dave

 

[BladeRunner2019]

What? These 2 coins make banner and my 1943 Mercury Dime doesn't??

Just kidding man. I admittedly don't know a lot about those type coins but it's obvious it's a pretty big deal. Congrats on your finds and I hope you have many more!

GL & HH

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

What an amazing strike, great example !!

Keep @ it and HH !!