BIG 2 REALES and a PELICAN, and Shanegalang with TWO OUNCES of SILVER!

BuckleBoy

Gold Member
Jun 12, 2006
18,132
9,700
Moonlight and Magnolias
🥇 Banner finds
4
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Whites DualField PI, Fisher 1266-X and Tesoro Silver uMax
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hello All,

Been so busy we have to marathon hunt when we can. Got out for two hunts in a row, and the first hunt we were doing some scouting at a site where we saw some scant signs on a previous trip, but couldn't come up with anything decent. Well, we went back for a second look, and glad we did. It was Shanegalag's day that day. He dug a HUGE silver spoon hallmarked in New Orleans in the 1850s. No doubt the handle from the spoon will come up on a future hunt. It weighs almost two ounces!

spoon.jpg

My consolation prize was a tiny green trade bead that gave me some hope for older relics and coins. I also picked up an old Catholic medallion (brass), which is par for the course for South Louisiana. Snagged a couple of the ever-present tax tokens. Man, they sound good. I was really pleased with the ornate keyhole cover from a smokehouse lock. At any rate, here are my finds from that day:

HPIM4747.JPGHPIM4749.JPG

OK, so then the next thing I know, Shanegalang is yelling "Hi Ho!" (SILVER!!) and I'm thinking this was not my day. I start walking in his direction. OK, so on a side note, seems like everyone I've ever dug with has dug a Barber Quarter. Often right in front of me. Or over to the side. Or where I was just detecting. I have never found one. Kindafoundabuckle dug THREE of them in twice as many hunts, mere feet away from where I was digging. Then Diggergirl's second silver was a pristine, beautiful Barber Quarter. I was enjoying the fact that neither Shane nor I had dug one...

but of course, when I walk over to him, he's grinning and holding a Barber Quarter in his hands. :D

1896 barber obv.jpg1896 barber rev.jpg


The Next Day, we're both up early, to catch the early morning hours since it's gonna be 95 degrees and rain coming by mid-day. Well, it was a comedy of errors. Shanegalang had car trouble, then caught in traffic. I forgot my Camelbak (NOT smart, with such heat and humidity!). Then on the drive to a new site, it started to rain. :( The forecast still said 0%. Damned weather channel!

We got to the site, and luckily it stopped raining. We got to work. Shanegalang dug what we think is a sword hanger. Then I got a couple heel plates. Nice complete ones. :) Next I dug one of those "mickey mouse" style small locks. Those are very old, if I'm not mistaken. Then I got a garbled iron-like signal. When I isolated the lower part of it, and narrowed my swing, the F75 locked right in on "80" and started to sing! :headbang: It was crazy. Swinging across both targets I got an awful signal. But there was a honey of a signal right beside. It pinpointed to two inches. When I flipped the clod out, I was staring at BIG SILVER!

HPIM4750.JPG

It was an 1826 TWO REALES!! I was jumping up and down in the sugar cane field in the 100 degree heat. :laughing9:

HPIM4755.JPGHPIM4758.JPG

Shanegalang dug a 1936 Buffalo Nickel. I then swiftly collected a 1901 V and an 186? Shield for the nickel trifecta. :)

HPIM4768.JPGHPIM4769.JPGHPIM4770.JPG

We broke for a quick box of fried chicken, then came back and no sooner than I'd hiked into the center of the field did I get a nice brass signal and pop out a bent button. When I was halfway bent over to pick it up I saw the rope border and knew what I had! A CIVIL WAR LOUISIANA PELICAN BUTTON!!! Unbelievable!

HPIM4760.JPG

Then if things couldn't get any better, we located a trash pit or privy. Oyster shells compacted in there, and no good tools to begin the excavation. We dug just enough to confirm what the pit was, and I recovered some sort of small brass bucket or similar. Strange thing, is it looks like it had two spouts brasied on. :dontknow: Any clues? Bound to be pre-CW, due to the age of the glass in the pit.

HPIM4775.JPGHPIM4776.JPGHPIM4777.JPGHPIM4778.JPG

I also dug a pewter mystery item with a design.

HPIM4779.JPG

And here is a photo of my finds from the second hunt:

HPIM4771.JPG

And the 1826 2 Reales:

HPIM4767.JPGHPIM4766.JPG

And the plow-struck Louisiana Pelican CW Button

HPIM4764.JPG

Take it from me, don't leave your camelbak at home. :-\ Seriously though, stay safe, and be careful out there.

Best Wishes,


Buck

Cane Bandits.jpg
The CaneField Bandits
 

Last edited:
Upvote 31
A late Congratulations ...On a Great Couple Hunts.
&
A Great Assortment Of Finds.

When I first saw a pic, of the Pelican Button , I thought to myself " That Could Be Repaired"
Glad to see your sending it off.
Please Post after Pics.

Don't fret Too Much I have Never Found A Barber Quarter is 15 Years of off & on hunting, it's the 3rd Quarter on my
(Bucket List) After a Capped Bust 1st Then a Seated Liberty, I can only Dream of a Draped Bust style.

Heck There are not many Spanish Coins in N Ga , Either .
Only In The Coin Store. LOL

Davers
 

Amazing hunt and finds - way to go!
 

Buckleboy, you are HOT!
Super finds, fantastic photos...!
GL and HH
 

Good to see you back at it! Nice finds as usual! Love the 2 reale, the Spanish silver still eludes me....
 

Beautiful bunch of finds, need to get back out there myself! Congratulations on the Louisiana button!
 

A late Congratulations ...On a Great Couple Hunts.
&
A Great Assortment Of Finds.

When I first saw a pic, of the Pelican Button , I thought to myself " That Could Be Repaired"
Glad to see your sending it off.
Please Post after Pics.

Don't fret Too Much I have Never Found A Barber Quarter is 15 Years of off & on hunting, it's the 3rd Quarter on my
(Bucket List) After a Capped Bust 1st Then a Seated Liberty, I can only Dream of a Draped Bust style.

Heck There are not many Spanish Coins in N Ga , Either .
Only In The Coin Store. LOL

Davers

Thanks for your reply, Davers. I've been lucky enough to dig 2 seated quarters in 22 years. No capped though, and no pesky Barber. Have dug 3 seated half dollars though, and 1 barber half. I think part of it is the age of the sites I hunt is typically older, but maybe we'll both get one in 2014!
 

Good to see you back at it! Nice finds as usual! Love the 2 reale, the Spanish silver still eludes me....

You'll get one. They're out there to find.

Sweet wreath in your avatar. What went in that buckle, a CS or an NC?
 

Sweet stuff!
 

Yeah Man

Thanks for your reply, Davers. I've been lucky enough to dig 2 seated quarters in 22 years. No capped though, and no pesky Barber. Have dug 3 seated half dollars though, and 1 barber half. I think part of it is the age of the sites I hunt is typically older, but maybe we'll both get one in 2014!

Yeah I have Faith a Barber Quarter will pop up sooner or later , Tho it will likely be like Quindy's ( Come out when I least Expect It).

Old sites are hard to come by around here , many are restricted , and most others built over
but I,m sure with diligence , Research and a lot of luck I will Dig Old Coins.

Good Luck To You As Well

Davers:thumbsup:
 

Good to see you two was able to get out and save some Really nice finds. Bill
 

Hey Buck, you guys made some really spectacular finds!

Looking at the mystery pc. the beveled holes would have kept the screw flush on the outside so perhaps a pc of wood was inserted into it and that was a protective covering. My 1st thought was Tin Map case end cap.
 

Last edited:
Congrats Buck on yet another couple of quality adventures! You guys exemplify what relic hunting is all about!! Keep it up my friend!!!

IM
 

Yeah I have Faith a Barber Quarter will pop up sooner or later , Tho it will likely be like Quindy's ( Come out when I least Expect It).

Old sites are hard to come by around here , many are restricted , and most others built over
but I,m sure with diligence , Research and a lot of luck I will Dig Old Coins.

Good Luck To You As Well

Davers:thumbsup:

In general, the South is hard, because there are few housesite maps like there are in the North. But, many of those sites on the maps are now being exhausted too. Yep. Takes a little luck, but mainly research and persistence.

Cheers,

Buck
 

Good to see you two was able to get out and save some Really nice finds. Bill

Great to hear from ya, Bill. I hope all is going well in Old Kentucky. You been out much lately?
 

Congrats Buck on yet another couple of quality adventures! You guys exemplify what relic hunting is all about!! Keep it up my friend!!!

IM

We try. It's darned difficult to keep pace 'cause You Guys make such great finds out there!

Cheers,

Buck
 

Thanks for your reply, Davers. I've been lucky enough to dig 2 seated quarters in 22 years. No capped though, and no pesky Barber. Have dug 3 seated half dollars though, and 1 barber half. I think part of it is the age of the sites I hunt is typically older, but maybe we'll both get one in 2014!
Buck it's funny because I predominately only hunt very early sites here in Maine. I've found lots of old coppers (LCs, Half penny's, even a Mass State) but had never found a Barber anything. One of my last hunts I wind up digging a Bsrber quarter and a silver Washington quarter. Two coins I likely thought I may never find. This hobby is so strange, wonderful, and frustrating at times. Here's hoping you find a Capped then a Barber:-)
All the best, Abe
 

Buck it's funny because I predominately only hunt very early sites here in Maine. I've found lots of old coppers (LCs, Half penny's, even a Mass State) but had never found a Barber anything. One of my last hunts I wind up digging a Bsrber quarter and a silver Washington quarter. Two coins I likely thought I may never find. This hobby is so strange, wonderful, and frustrating at times. Here's hoping you find a Capped then a Barber:-)
All the best, Abe

You said it so well. Strange, Wonderful, and Frustrating at times. Haha, yes, I'd love a capped! Ya never know. That's the beauty of it.

Cheers,

Buck
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top