FIRST REAL HUNT OF THE YEAR

Ahab8

Gold Member
Oct 15, 2013
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Topsham, Maine
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Teknetics T2 SE w/15' SEF Coil/ Minelab GPX 4500/2 Garrett Pro Pointers/3 Sets Killer B Headphones/ Koss Headphones/ Detekniy Wireless headphone Adapter
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All Treasure Hunting
So I don't have to tell anybody on the east coast just how terrible this winter has been. Lots of my new sites are still buried in snow and the others are still frozen. I told my crew that we were going to start working four ten hour days and taking three day weekends. Today was beautiful and sunny but I had a bunch of errands to do. Finally around 4 I was able to get to the one site that's a little bit thawed out. This site is about dead last on my list but after 4 or 5 months I couldn't wait to get there.
My first decent find of the day was a beautifully shaped axe head of some sort. I believe it may have been used for wooden shingles but am sure one of the fine folks on here will straighten me out with id. This was found in an area that I found a couple of early 1800s LCs and am assuming that this would be of similar age. I absolutely love the shape of this big nasty hunk of rusty iron :-)


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Most of this site is still frozen so I walked toward the water to a spot that gets sun most of the day. I got a deep signal and dug down about 10 or. 11" inches. All I could see was big round disc with a green patina in the hole. Thought for sure it was an old coin and was pretty psyched. Pulled it out and it had a gold colored face. I had no idea what it was at first but new the patina and depth pointed to something with some decent age.
Had to take off after that and when I got home and gave the back of my round item a bit of a cleaning I could see that there used to be a shank there. So if this indeed a button ( which I assume it must be) it's the biggest button easily that I've ever found. Even bigger than the Tombac I found. The little round designs on the front are made up of several little tiny dimples. I would very much appreciate if anyone has a clue about potential age of this crazy round item. :-)


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It was so nice to get out for a bit and it made it even better when I saw 6 mature bald eagles flying around together. Two of them would not separate and flew wing to wing together the whole time. Very cool to see. Sorry bout the pics but they were up there


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Upvote 10
I would have some extra buttons to release...but IP put a jinx on me....he said the buttons will inevitably dry up.....3 hunts later it did !!!!!! Dirty Dog !!! :tongue3:
He prob snuck out there and added a few to his nice collection :-) I'm sure he appreciates it bud. It's just compensation for all of the help he gives us. I mailed mine off today
 

I would have some extra buttons to release...but IP put a jinx on me....he said the buttons will inevitably dry up.....3 hunts later it did !!!!!!

Dirty Dog !!! :tongue3:



I will release the curse the first day I dig! :thumbsup:
 

Yeah it seems as though it would fit the time frame. I'm gonna pretend mines better than a GW and it's a one of a kind :-)

It is better than a Washington inaugural button in the way that I don't ever recall seeing one like the one you posted, those GW buttons are posted so often that they just don't seem to be as rare as once thought, they're becoming a common find on this forum in the past couple years Although yours may not have the notoriety associated with a famous president, it sure doesn't take away from its design and symbolism. It's a fantastic find anywhere !
 

Great hunt Abe. Awesome button!
Congrats,
Doug
 

It is better than a Washington inaugural button in the way that I don't ever recall seeing one like the one you posted, those GW buttons are posted so often that they just don't seem to be as rare as once thought, they're becoming a common find on this forum in the past couple years Although yours may not have the notoriety associated with a famous president, it sure doesn't take away from its design and symbolism. It's a fantastic find anywhere !
Thanks IH! It's def cool that my first interesting button is so unique. I appreciate your perspective on it.
 

WHAT A BUTTON , ONE OF THE NICEST I'V SEEN
 

Sorry Abe for being late to the party, but I just saw your post. Dan and I were up before sunrise yesterday and had a marathon 12 hour dig and hunt, and then I had to deal with the visiting in-laws when I got back. I love that axe head, but that button is an awesome find and obviously very intriguing. Someone has to be able to ID it. Maybe Don Troiani? I hope it turns out to be super rare. Regardless, that's a great find to jump start your season, and I know you'll soon be making all kinds of fantastic recoveries. Good luck and HH (finally!) ..... Bill
 

Sorry Abe for being late to the party, but I just saw your post. Dan and I were up before sunrise yesterday and had a marathon 12 hour dig and hunt, and then I had to deal with the visiting in-laws when I got back. I love that axe head, but that button is an awesome find and obviously very intriguing. Someone has to be able to ID it. Maybe Don Troiani? I hope it turns out to be super rare. Regardless, that's a great find to jump start your season, and I know you'll soon be making all kinds of fantastic recoveries. Good luck and HH (finally!) ..... Bill
Thank you buddy. I would def love to know exactly what I have. It's certainly intriguing and as you said a nice way to start my season. If you know someone as you said that may be able to shed some light I would really appreciate that. Good luck out there bud I'm headed out myself
 

Awesome button Abe. Been working so many hours have not swung the coil in WAY too long. That kinda find is what gets us all exited. U da man. :laughing7:
 

Thank you buddy. I would def love to know exactly what I have. It's certainly intriguing and as you said a nice way to start my season. If you know someone as you said that may be able to shed some light I would really appreciate that. Good luck out there bud I'm headed out myself


One thing you realize the more you talk to the experts... is how many things we dig that they also can not explain and just offer their best guess. The only thing I see in the books that resembles it are the snake buttons, and you can read all about those, but it's still apples and bananas. I have a local coin/token that I dug 12 years ago, and it's too much of a story to go into, but believe me it's the same type of situation probably times 100 because I personally believe there's enough evidence there. (as do some local diggers) When you have the only one it can definitely work against you.
 

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One thing you realize the more you talk to the experts... is how many things we dig that they also can not explain and just offer their best guess. The only thing I see in the books that resembles it are the snake buttons, and you can read all about those, but it's still apples and bananas. I have a local coin/token that I dug 12 years ago, and it's too much of a story to go into, but believe me it's the same type of situation probably times 100 because I personally believe there's enough evidence there. (as do some local diggers) When you have the only one it can definitely work against you.
I'd love to hear the story some time. Though it may work against you it's still pretty cool to have a unique specimen. Not many people can say that. Talking about you of course and not me
 

I'd love to hear the story some time. Though it may work against you it's still pretty cool to have a unique specimen. Not many people can say that. Talking about you of course and not me

oh yeah, I'll write you with it for sure at some point. I guess it's not really long if I just make the basic points.


It's too bad because I see it as a part of our history that never gets included in the coin books. Obviously it would be listed as an unattributed, but I have no question it's from here and should be in. But it just sits with my other dug coins and probably always will.... but in a way it doesn't matter what others think and maybe someday someone who counts will see it as I do.
 

Ok I'm officially putting this one to bed! I emailed a guy who's written a few books on buttons and who's been at this a long time. He replied last night and his assessment was that it was a last quarter of the 18thcentury "Patriotic Political" button. Just like some of the smart folks on here had said. So thank you all for your comments that were right on. He did say it had similarities to the Snake buttons in his book as was also mentioned. Thanks all and good luck
 

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Hopefully it ends up published in the next button book. It's always fun when you get the experts scratching their heads.
 

Hopefully it ends up published in the next button book. It's always fun when you get the experts scratching their heads.
Yeah this has been a fun one for sure. Thanks for your help and input on this one
 

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