Finally a Franklin!

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Hit a swampy area at an old site I have hunted several times, 3 silver coins in about 15 minutes. Finally found the elusive, to me at least, Franklin Half. It was totally caked in a black and brown corrosion, cooked it in tin foil and backing soda 5 times to clean it up.

I think the sunflower pattern piece (2 small securing holes on back shaft) is a cane topper, maybe.

Also did some cleaning on the old whistle I found last week and uncovered the dog head shape! Did some research and I think this is a very old pewter Hawking whistle for falconry. Who would have thought…

Thx for looking!

 

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[mjb Mike]

very cool

 

[dirtlooter]

congrats on the silver and the Ben, some very cool relics

 

[FinderTravis]

View attachment 2071534
Hit a swampy area at an old site I have hunted several times, 3 silver coins in about 15 minutes. Finally found the elusive, to me at least, Franklin Half. It was totally caked in a black and brown corrosion, cooked it in tin foil and backing soda 5 times to clean it up.

I think the sunflower pattern piece (2 small securing holes on back shaft) is a cane topper, maybe.

Also did some cleaning on the old whistle I found last week and uncovered the dog head shape! Did some research and I think this is a very old pewter Hawking whistle for falconry. Who would have thought…

Thx for looking!

Looks like a great spot! nice finds! does the whistle still work?

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on your first Franklin, I like that Indian Fob also.

 

[oldmxrat]

Fantastic recoveries, big congrats!

 

[JohnnyMac]

View attachment 2071534
Hit a swampy area at an old site I have hunted several times, 3 silver coins in about 15 minutes. Finally found the elusive, to me at least, Franklin Half. It was totally caked in a black and brown corrosion, cooked it in tin foil and backing soda 5 times to clean it up.

I think the sunflower pattern piece (2 small securing holes on back shaft) is a cane topper, maybe.

Also did some cleaning on the old whistle I found last week and uncovered the dog head shape! Did some research and I think this is a very old pewter Hawking whistle for falconry. Who would have thought…

Thx for looking!

Big ol silver! Gotta love it. Congrats

 

[GaRebel1861]

All the years that I’ve been hunting, I’ve never dug a Franklin Half. Congratulations!

 

[ArfieBoy]

Three silvers, man, that is fantastic! And one a big one! Congratulations! Thanks for posting. Also, great relic finds, too.

 

[Lenrac2]

Congrats on the Franklin!! That is on our bucket list! Nice finds!!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on the GREAT finds !
Tell me about it ... I finally found my first Ben Franklin Half last Summer.
It only took me 15 years to find one !

 

[Gene Mean]

Very nice hunt, congrats! You might have touched 3 different centuries there.

 

[rayoh]

View attachment 2071534
Hit a swampy area at an old site I have hunted several times, 3 silver coins in about 15 minutes. Finally found the elusive, to me at least, Franklin Half. It was totally caked in a black and brown corrosion, cooked it in tin foil and backing soda 5 times to clean it up.

I think the sunflower pattern piece (2 small securing holes on back shaft) is a cane topper, maybe.

Also did some cleaning on the old whistle I found last week and uncovered the dog head shape! Did some research and I think this is a very old pewter Hawking whistle for falconry. Who would have thought…

Thx for looking!

Nice batch of coins. Franklin's sure are a rarity. I never heard of cooking silver coins. It sure cleaned up nicely.

 

[Digger RJ]

View attachment 2071534
Hit a swampy area at an old site I have hunted several times, 3 silver coins in about 15 minutes. Finally found the elusive, to me at least, Franklin Half. It was totally caked in a black and brown corrosion, cooked it in tin foil and backing soda 5 times to clean it up.

I think the sunflower pattern piece (2 small securing holes on back shaft) is a cane topper, maybe.

Also did some cleaning on the old whistle I found last week and uncovered the dog head shape! Did some research and I think this is a very old pewter Hawking whistle for falconry. Who would have thought…

Thx for looking!

Awesome!!! Great Hunt!!! Congrats!!!

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Looks like a great spot! nice finds! does the whistle still work?

Thx, the whistle unfortunately does not work

 

[river roamer]

Very nice finds Congrats

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on your first Frank. Nice whistle too.

 

[SilverDreams]

Congrats on the silver finds! Love that Franklin!

 

[JeffInMass]

Outstanding group of finds and big time Congrats for knocking the Franklin off your bucket list- I couldn't tell if there was a MM on the reverse of the half, but my one and only Franklin in nearly 32 years is a 51-D.

 

[Scrappy]

Ha! I’ve only found one of those Franklins in 10 years. Nice finds bud