Palmetto
Sr. Member
- Mar 21, 2009
- 324
- 548
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- XP Deus,Teknetics T2, Fisher Goldbug,
Whites 5900/ di Pro sl
- Primary Interest:
- Relic Hunting
Where to start!! I just got back from the Low Country of South Carolina with my Dad. We have some friends that own a large plantation and we went down to relic hunt while they were turkey hunting. This plantation is large and has had activity on it from Pre-Rev war up. Needless to say, the poachers have been all over this place and have been run off but have probably hit it hard over the years. I had done some research prior to coming down and noticed something in an aerial photo. Told my Dad about it and thought we would at least try it. My Dad had beaten me down there by about 30 minutes and he called to say that in 10 minutes, he had dug 4 flat buttons-well that was definitely encouraging.
When I got there, we could only hunt for about 1.5 hours but in that time, I dug 20 buttons and a couple of large,.69 caliber musketballs!
the next day we started out bright and early. We could not go more than 20 feet without digging buttons. In about 1 hour in, I got a nice, green SC button that is in terrific shape. More and more buttons came out in the next our. My dad had to go meet one of the guys to go fishing so I stayed back in the field. Well, the relic hunting gods must have been with me. The first really good target was a nice, silver plated british navy (rev war) then a really nice 1807 draped bust came out-back is in great shape. I also dug a very nice pewter button with a nipple and rays emmitting out from it-I think it is a Rev War/militia button but not sure.
Next target i thought was just a large cloak button but when I flipped it over, a beautifully preserved Eagle was staring me in the face. It is a War of 1812, 1st Regiment officers button and it is in fantastic shape!! After about another 30 minutes of digging more buttons I got a nice, mid range signal on the T2-flipped over the plug and staring up at me was nice, clipped corners piece of copper. It clearly had the date of 1800 stamped across the bottom and another set of writing at the top. Turns out it is the name REEVES. Now, this is not a slave tag. It is smaller (about 1" x 1") but is of the same make and writing/stamping is in same style. After getting some opinions one expert has come back and said without a doubt that Ralph Atmar (Silversmith/Engraver that made slave tags for year 1800 only) made this tag as the 1800 engraving on a know slave tage matches exactly. Really dont know what it is and am trying to get an exact ID. If anybody has any ideas, please let me know.
All in all, I dug over 100 buttons. 68 the second day alone. My Dad dug over 40. They are mostly tombac, some early pewter and some regular flats. My Dad also dug a 1754 or 1764 Dutch West Indies coin (Zeelandia).
Pipe stems and china shards were everywhere and I truly believe we were first ever to hunt this site. Very rare to find a virgin site like this in the lowcountry.
Wow is all I can say. sorry for the long post. Enjoy the pictures. Photo on red cloth is total finds.
Russ
When I got there, we could only hunt for about 1.5 hours but in that time, I dug 20 buttons and a couple of large,.69 caliber musketballs!
the next day we started out bright and early. We could not go more than 20 feet without digging buttons. In about 1 hour in, I got a nice, green SC button that is in terrific shape. More and more buttons came out in the next our. My dad had to go meet one of the guys to go fishing so I stayed back in the field. Well, the relic hunting gods must have been with me. The first really good target was a nice, silver plated british navy (rev war) then a really nice 1807 draped bust came out-back is in great shape. I also dug a very nice pewter button with a nipple and rays emmitting out from it-I think it is a Rev War/militia button but not sure.
Next target i thought was just a large cloak button but when I flipped it over, a beautifully preserved Eagle was staring me in the face. It is a War of 1812, 1st Regiment officers button and it is in fantastic shape!! After about another 30 minutes of digging more buttons I got a nice, mid range signal on the T2-flipped over the plug and staring up at me was nice, clipped corners piece of copper. It clearly had the date of 1800 stamped across the bottom and another set of writing at the top. Turns out it is the name REEVES. Now, this is not a slave tag. It is smaller (about 1" x 1") but is of the same make and writing/stamping is in same style. After getting some opinions one expert has come back and said without a doubt that Ralph Atmar (Silversmith/Engraver that made slave tags for year 1800 only) made this tag as the 1800 engraving on a know slave tage matches exactly. Really dont know what it is and am trying to get an exact ID. If anybody has any ideas, please let me know.
All in all, I dug over 100 buttons. 68 the second day alone. My Dad dug over 40. They are mostly tombac, some early pewter and some regular flats. My Dad also dug a 1754 or 1764 Dutch West Indies coin (Zeelandia).
Pipe stems and china shards were everywhere and I truly believe we were first ever to hunt this site. Very rare to find a virgin site like this in the lowcountry.
Wow is all I can say. sorry for the long post. Enjoy the pictures. Photo on red cloth is total finds.
Russ
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