I guess, just not a relic hunter at heart.

[WHADIFIND]

Took a stroll around the mansion today. The targets are drying up but that just means it's time for that fine-tooth comb.

Anyway, I got some good hits today. Each one of the buckles rang up as a quarter hit on the AT-Pro. But, in my heart, when I dug carefully down and saw squareness in my hole, ( ), I have to admit to a bit of a letdown. True relic hunters would be doing a happy dance on every one of them, me, I kinda smile, say that's nice, repair my hole and move on.

The thing about today is the combination of finds. I got all these buckles/lock/wick holder/coin this hunt. Add to that a pocket knife and a civil war "I" button coming from the same section of ground on another hunt. What would you true relic hunters say?

Here's the overall:







Now, ya see? I am paying attention. After all the slivers of silver I've seen posted on here,
I held onto this tiny slip of metal. Trouble is, it's slightly magnetic.



How about this for genteel digging? LOL
This was a full 9 inches deep!
I can make out a patent date of 1870 on the little wheel.




The thing in the center appears to be a shotgun pellet.



But, this is the star of the day, for me anyway, and in more than one way!
I have found a LOT of indian head cents and this one has all the earmarks of
being one of those lovely, deep green patina, detailed coins! I just started
a bit of cleaning up, I want to take my time on this one. It looks like
it will be a show piece!

Thanks for peeking!
HH!

 

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[windage]

I often hunt with an old master relic/ CW hunter who gets off on any old button or hunk of lead, whereas I prefer coins. The trouble is, I find the CW buttons, he finds the old silver (well not all of them, I DID find a cut Spanish pillar dollar recently). Now, don't get me wrong, what he has taught me about relic hunting has really increased my take of early coins, but the relics don't excite me as much as round metal slugs with dates on them. Must be the "coin-shooter" in me that hasn't grown up.
So I know how you feel, we are excited about what WE want to dig..So...let's hear it for COINS! YEAH!

Buttons, buckles, bullets...yeah..

 

[cti4sw]

I like both, to be honest. I'm a history buff anyways, so being able to hold something that was used/worn/shot centuries ago is really awe-inspiring. Plus, I always seem to find far more relics than I do coinage, anyway. I'm still waiting to break into the pre-1900 club, and except for some wheats and the sole Buffalo, I have yet to find any obsolete US coinage

 

[RelicMedic]

That would be a kick ass day for me! That's what I would say lol. It's all great! Yes, silver is nice too, but I love the old relics that can tell a story. Great digs!

 

[CoilyGirl]

I'm a relic girl myself,nice job!

 

[Wldbil]

Looks like a good day of digging with some nice finds. Congrats!

 

[John Boy]

Cool digs.like that old wick holder,kinda seems strange it having the date on it.Its got some age on it.hope you're IH penny cleans up nicely. Way to go

 

[WHADIFIND]

Thanks for all the wonderful responses folks! It really helps me to share with everybody.
Please don't get me wrong about relics. I enjoy finding ANY piece of history! It really means a lot to me
to have a button, buckle, bullet, etc., that I know is from a long gone past. Especially if it has some markings that
allow for a proof.

I guess it all ties back to what we enjoy. As a kid I was a coin collector. Not professional, just blue books and whatever I could get in circulation.
I never even DREAMED of HAVING an indian head cent! Let alone finding them on my own and from the dirt!! LOL

When I hunt I usually dig most everything but when I get a good, high tone. One that usually means a quarter and it turns out to be an old buckle, I guess it's a little bit disappointing to me. We all have our druthers. Mine, just leans toward coins. It's that simple.

Here's the indian from today after it's bath. Not the best one I've found but far from the worst too. Just think, over 120 years old, dug up from the ground, and looks like this.



Made my day!

HH!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Pretty 1879er and congrats on the Eagle I button!

 

[granthansen]

Well, sir, you like what you like I suppose! You had a great day, but if relics aren't your passion then at least you have the beach, right? For me with relics, I try to imagine who the last owner was and how it happened that their possession made it into the ground. There's a story to it, usually of my imagination. But there's other items that have me do a ton of research after the fact... so a 2 hour hunt can turn into a 2 week adventure as I try to make an ID. And sadly all too often items remain whatzits.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Well, sir, you like what you like I suppose! You had a great day, but if relics aren't your passion then at least you have the beach, right? For me with relics, I try to imagine who the last owner was and how it happened that their possession made it into the ground. There's a story to it, usually of my imagination. But there's other items that have me do a ton of research after the fact... so a 2 hour hunt can turn into a 2 week adventure as I try to make an ID. And sadly all too often items remain whatzits.

Actually, I think you've nailed it for me. THAT's what the relics are to me! They help me in my research of a place. They also bring the area back to life for me, so to speak. It allows me to envision what the area must've been like a century or two ago. Oh, I do appreciate finding something that has a way of telling just how old too. It fascinates me to find a button from the 1700's that even has readable text. To think that it lay in the ground 200 years or more and still can be read!

Thanks for the response, Grant!

HH!

 

[highnam]

I like the clothing related relics, seems the only coins I have found have been near clothing relics. After digging relics for a year I started finding some coins...I see what all the fuss is about, neat to find an item with a date, denomination, mint marks and design. I enjoy the toning a old coin can get, grading the coin is also fun. I always check old buttons and buckles for markings and dates...what is that valve posted in the second pic? I have found a similar valve, any idea what it came off of? Was there a railroad nearby?

 

[WHADIFIND]

...what is that valve posted in the second pic? I have found a similar valve, any idea what it came off of? Was there a railroad nearby?

Well, as you can tell, relics are not my forte'. Apparently, brass. I don't have a clue what the valve went to but yeah there was a railroad in the area. It was about 10 miles away though.

Thanks!
HH!

 

[rastinirv]

I know how you feel. The past week or so I've been finding almost no coins but lots of relics. And I really like the relics, but next time I need to go somewhere to get my coin fix. Plus, the recent relics have been in the woods on uneven terrain, and with each passing day gets a little harder to navigate. Exhausting after a while. I need to soup up my coil with rotating blades like the one in your avatar.

 

[WHADIFIND]

I know how you feel. The past week or so I've been finding almost no coins but lots of relics. And I really like the relics, but next time I need to go somewhere to get my coin fix. Plus, the recent relics have been in the woods on uneven terrain, and with each passing day gets a little harder to navigate. Exhausting after a while. I need to soup up my coil with rotating blades like the one in your avatar.

You mention something else that's true. Every now and then I just need a plain ole coin fix. But, that's fairly simple. If one doesn't mind clad. Comes in handy though, rebuild the battery fund and a chance at a ring somewhere. Not a bad trade off.

HH!

 

[TooManyHobbies]

Relics for me ....well, if it was junk 100 yrs ago, it's still junk. Some things are interesting, but most is just junk.

 

[Wildcat1750]

Nice hunt! It looks like you found yourself a sediment bowl drain valve (petcock) from a Model T Ford. It's the second photo down. I found one last year and almost threw it out.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Nice hunt! It looks like you found yourself a sediment bowl drain valve (petcock) from a Model T Ford. It's the second photo down. I found one last year and almost threw it out.

Really!?!? Is THAT what that is? How about that, I would never had guessed. I knew it was a valve/drain of some sort. Interesting!

Thanks!
HH!

 

[highnam]

Nice I.d Wilcat, I found a similar valve in a r.r. Logging camp (1912)...I wonder if they used a model t engine for something, or if these valves were found in other engines of the time.