Cellar holes yesterday - CRAZY bucket list coins, awesome button spill!

Isaac

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Joined
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Location
Fairfax, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
3
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT All Pro, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Yesterday, my buddy Jim and I went and picked up my buddy Robert to hit some cellar holes. Since we are all basically the same age, it makes for fun hunting! :hello2:

We picked up Robert at 6:30, stopped at a Dunkin Donuts, and went to the first site... and it was pounded. :sadsmiley: Oh well, we had lots of other sites in mind.

Then at around 7:30, we parked at some power lines and hiked about half a mile to our next site. We kinda "winged it" in hopes two areas adjacent to each other were actually both sites, or if at least one was a site. We got off the trail between the power lines, took a left on a trail, then hopped a stone wall next to the trail, we immediately saw a mound and walked up to it, there was the hole. A nice small colonial... unfortunately Jim noted the iron on rocks - a tell tale sign there was other detectorists here. That didn't stop us though, as Jim got a clear high tone only 5 minutes in right on the lip of the cellar hole and it was a copper. He yelled out "copper", and me and Rob ran over. We saw the most GORGEOUS New Jersey state copper in his hand! We all got small buttons, tombac and brass, but none with backmarks, so we assume the site didn't make it far into the 1800s. I then wander away from the cellar hole a bit into an area with some vegetation, and get a nice 65 signal on the MXT all pro and saw a small disc in the hole. With a little rub, I saw a clear bust of King George II and the text around it. I knew by it's size it had to be a farthing, and then got a date as well, 1749. :thumbsup:

I got a really deep signal about 20 minutes later closer to the cellar hole, it sounded kinda like a 10" copper. I let Jim use his AT PRO to scan the signal, NOTHING. :tongue3: so I dig... and dig... and dig... and then I finally get a signal on the pinpointer and pop out two cuff sized buttons attached by a small string of hemp or cloth of some type. 10 inch deep cuff buttons... that's a little deep for just a couple small buttons... so I rescan the hole with the pinpointer and get more signals. I grab a handful of dirt and popped out two more of the same cuff buttons. I recheck the hole and get another signal, but this one I can't find with my hands... I used my shovel to dig my hole out a little more and in the clod I saw a shiny button, coat sized! It was a tombac, I grab the handful of dirt loosened by the shovel and three more coats and another cuff came out, all the coats have different designs which is very odd. What an interesting find!!! :headbang: All with shank as well. Maybe a coat or garment was lost here when the settlers moved out from this site?

We ended up leaving after a while and go the opposite direction to another site we marked... we followed a very faint trail through thick mountain laurel, and stumbled upon a wall, followed it up a hill, and we saw a tiny corral and a small depression right next to it. Immediately me and Rob start popping EARLY buttons: cast drilled shank, pewters, lead, two-pieces, and a couple tombacs and a couple brass. I then get an iffy signal in the cellar hole and I got a silver cufflink with a tudor rose type pattern on it. My first ever silver cufflink, I was really happy about that. Rob got an amazing pewter button with a design... big one too with an intact shank and seam... can't wait to see how that cleans as well. The signals slow down dramatically so I went ahead and gridded an area between the depression and well... at the end of my grid I get a great 75-77 signal and just knew it was going to be a really early British copper, turns out that I was wrong, it is in fact a DRAPED BUST HALF CENT, and it's condition is phenomenal! I'm scared to clean it anymore, but it's an 1805. This was probably dropped after the site was occupied based on the other finds. Rob also got a nice shoe buckle frame with a design. Everything from this site dated to the 1700s except the half cent. This was my first half cent, I was so pumped!

The finds halted so we got out of there, but we will be back to both these sites one day for sure. I bet there's more targets waiting to be found. The next 10 or so sites were disappointing to say the least. Mostly pounded or turned out not to be sites... the only finds for the rest of the day were a few more tombacs, and Jim dug ANOTHER half cent, 1804. I've never seen TWO dug in one day. Thanks for looking!

666.webp667.webp668.webp669.webp670.webp671.webp672.webp673.webp676.webp674.webp675.webp677.webp
 

Upvote 53
Nice finds I have a twin to one of the large buttonsImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1459045327.595773.webpImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1459045342.882779.webp
 

Incredible finds. I can't believe the condition of those coins. Congrats!
 

Great post of finds, congrats
 

Great hunt man! I need to get off the beach and out into the dirt more!
 

What a haul. Congrats Issac, on some great, great coins (and relics). :icon_thumright:
 

Amazing Isaac! :thumbsup: That's one sweet looking half cent and some killer buttons man.
 

Yesterday, my buddy Jim and I went and picked up my buddy Robert to hit some cellar holes. Since we are all basically the same age, it makes for fun hunting! :hello2:

We picked up Robert at 6:30, stopped at a Dunkin Donuts, and went to the first site... and it was pounded. :sadsmiley: Oh well, we had lots of other sites in mind.

Then at around 7:30, we parked at some power lines and hiked about half a mile to our next site. We kinda "winged it" in hopes two areas adjacent to each other were actually both sites, or if at least one was a site. We got off the trail between the power lines, took a left on a trail, then hopped a stone wall next to the trail, we immediately saw a mound and walked up to it, there was the hole. A nice small colonial... unfortunately Jim noted the iron on rocks - a tell tale sign there was other detectorists here. That didn't stop us though, as Jim got a clear high tone only 5 minutes in right on the lip of the cellar hole and it was a copper. He yelled out "copper", and me and Rob ran over. We saw the most GORGEOUS New Jersey state copper in his hand! We all got small buttons, tombac and brass, but none with backmarks, so we assume the site didn't make it far into the 1800s. I then wander away from the cellar hole a bit into an area with some vegetation, and get a nice 65 signal on the MXT all pro and saw a small disc in the hole. With a little rub, I saw a clear bust of King George II and the text around it. I knew by it's size it had to be a farthing, and then got a date as well, 1749. :thumbsup:

I got a really deep signal about 20 minutes later closer to the cellar hole, it sounded kinda like a 10" copper. I let Jim use his AT PRO to scan the signal, NOTHING. :tongue3: so I dig... and dig... and dig... and then I finally get a signal on the pinpointer and pop out two cuff sized buttons attached by a small string of hemp or cloth of some type. 10 inch deep cuff buttons... that's a little deep for just a couple small buttons... so I rescan the hole with the pinpointer and get more signals. I grab a handful of dirt and popped out two more of the same cuff buttons. I recheck the hole and get another signal, but this one I can't find with my hands... I used my shovel to dig my hole out a little more and in the clod I saw a shiny button, coat sized! It was a tombac, I grab the handful of dirt loosened by the shovel and three more coats and another cuff came out, all the coats have different designs which is very odd. What an interesting find!!! :headbang: All with shank as well. Maybe a coat or garment was lost here when the settlers moved out from this site?

We ended up leaving after a while and go the opposite direction to another site we marked... we followed a very faint trail through thick mountain laurel, and stumbled upon a wall, followed it up a hill, and we saw a tiny corral and a small depression right next to it. Immediately me and Rob start popping EARLY buttons: cast drilled shank, pewters, lead, two-pieces, and a couple tombacs and a couple brass. I then get an iffy signal in the cellar hole and I got a silver cufflink with a tudor rose type pattern on it. My first ever silver cufflink, I was really happy about that. Rob got an amazing pewter button with a design... big one too with an intact shank and seam... can't wait to see how that cleans as well. The signals slow down dramatically so I went ahead and gridded an area between the depression and well... at the end of my grid I get a great 75-77 signal and just knew it was going to be a really early British copper, turns out that I was wrong, it is in fact a DRAPED BUST HALF CENT, and it's condition is phenomenal! I'm scared to clean it anymore, but it's an 1805. This was probably dropped after the site was occupied based on the other finds. Rob also got a nice shoe buckle frame with a design. Everything from this site dated to the 1700s except the half cent. This was my first half cent, I was so pumped!

The finds halted so we got out of there, but we will be back to both these sites one day for sure. I bet there's more targets waiting to be found. The next 10 or so sites were disappointing to say the least. Mostly pounded or turned out not to be sites... the only finds for the rest of the day were a few more tombacs, and Jim dug ANOTHER half cent, 1804. I've never seen TWO dug in one day. Thanks for looking!

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DUDES!!!!!! WOW!!!!! Is all I can think right now. Also I want to go hunt but will wait till Tomorrow.
 

Epic is definitely the word to describe that hunt. That there is a jaw-dropper. Congrats on EVERYTHING!
 

I have seen some members say your posts are too long, but you just pay them no attention. I don't! They are too involved with themselves for my taste anyway:laughing7:. Anyone making finds as nice as yours has the right to elaborate on your hunts. You did well again Isaac. Great job:icon_thumright:

Right on !!!!

I love Details......
 

That's a nice day of dirt fishing for sure.
Nice site pics. BTW
I never got a "button spill". IP's suggestion to dig the area is not a bad one, there may be much more, ?

As far as trying ten more sites that same day , I'm thinking you may be moving too fast, I think I would have been content to stay at that "good" site a quite a bit longer. Remember that site was hunted, and you found all that, remember also masking, and not all good targets are going to be a "perfect" signal.

Good luck out there.

Hi Rick, I went back to the two sites Saturday with my friends Dave and Todd (wanted to save the site for them) for and we found three more coins and a few more buttons. HH!!

Nice finds! Where are you hunting? I have a very similar spot. View attachment 1290697

Great site. ! Do you need help. I could be there in a day or two ? Hh gl
Lol! Ty
Great hunt man! I need to get off the beach and out into the dirt more!
Heck yeah!!! There's just so much variety in the dirt nothing compares IMO! HH
What a haul. Congrats Issac, on some great, great coins (and relics). :icon_thumright:
Thanks!!
Amazing Isaac! :thumbsup: That's one sweet looking half cent and some killer buttons man.
Thanks Brad. So stoked, my first and its in real nice shape!
Right on !!!!

I love Details......
Thank you!!!
 

Right on !!!!

I love Details......

Ditto everyone on this... Stories are good... Just don't let them get boring or drag it out!!! Hahahaha... Good stuff!
 

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