🥇 BANNER I had to share this! Ca. 1790 Halbach Baltimore Pistol Butt Cap

Isaac

Hero Member
Oct 11, 2013
773
1,335
Fairfax, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
3
Detector(s) used
Whites MXT All Pro, Garrett AT Pro
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
After a few failed permissions (and a few "maybe's" ) I gave up and moved to a 1920's abandoned house that was on the old maps (hmmmm, a "newer" house was put there where an older house stood) and my research showed its flying colors. The site was a bit trashy but it wasn't too bad! :)

I started off in the front yard and my first target was from the "newer" homesite... A 1946 nickel. I only had about an hour to hunt so I concentrated in the area. Then I got another similar signal down 7" and I see a coin sized disc. I couldn't see anything on it except... Silver plating! A early 1800's flat button! Just what I was hoping for at this site! Then not a few feet away.... I get a scratchy signal. Very very faint but high. It must've taken me over 10 minutes to dig it but when I finally got it out of the hole it pinged up to an 88. I knew I had something good!

I uncovered the dry dirt and I found it. A super thick large cent! After that I continued in a little area and found two more flat buttons (one is silvered) and a cool little ball button. When I get home I toothbrushed the copper and it turns out.. It's a Liberty cap! You can clearly see the cap! Unfortunately the obverse is in pretty rough shape but the back still has lots of patina left! Bucket lister!!!!!!!!!

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I went back the next day to scout out a new area of the property for an hour or so. I ended up finding a 1928 buffalo nickel, a wheatie, a few buttons including a tombac, a drawer pull piece, a chinese cash coin, a half a petal bell (a first!!!!) and a beautiful Zouave ball button which is silvered. Now I have a gold guilded and silver guilded Zouave buttons. I also found a bucket list bullet, a Smith Carbine! Has an X carved on the base

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The third day was beyond unbelievable. Lol. I am still shocked ! I got dropped off by my dad at the site at 10 am and he came back at two. The ground was very moist because it finally rained and the targets were very strong signals and not as iffy. I missed a LOT of stuff because the moisture effects the detection. Anyway I got my first signal and it was a beautiful piece of a pewter or lead shoe buckle fragment with a floral design, then not 2 feet over I get a piece of that broken crotal bell! Not a bad start!!! After that things slowed down to a few harmonica reeds and pocket watch pieces (stuff from the newer house)... but I head into an area I hunted before and get a low tone signal on the surface basically. I pop a small plug thinking more foil but this time it was a broken etched tombac! Niiiiceee!!! 1790's all day . I also got another floral deigned shoe buckle fragment, you can even see the pinhole! I head toward the extremely trashy side yard that I avoided in the past and BAM! I get a can signal and I popped out a beautiful batwing plate off of a sling buckle!!!!! I called Luke and sent him pictures... not knowing the day was just getting started :cool: nearby I kept finding hundreds of shells and bullet casings. I had a massive trash pile but the goodies were at the same depths so it was so worth it.

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I went towards the sideyard a bit more and got a high tone but it was faint. I dug down 6 inches and it pops out onto the ground out from the plug. A thin green disk. I thought it was a big dandy coat button at first until I wiped it off. I felt no shank and I could clearly see a man's bust facing left. A KGII BABY!!!!!! MY FIRST LEGIBLE COLONIAL COPPER YESSSS FINALLY!!!! :)

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After that I found a couple civil war chewed up minnie balls next to the road on the side then took a quick break. I was thinking... in between all the trash on the side yard there's gotta be more! I mean... a KG copper what else can be in there? I ended up going back. Right off the bat I dig another chinese coin, then another, then I get a super faint 81 signal on the at pro I dug down 9" at least for this thing... when I finally got it out of the hole with my hands it showed a high 82 on the VDI. Oh BOY!!!!!! I saw this!!!

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I was like "OMG "another freaking copper...!!! This day is crazy!!!!

I wiped off the dirt using my pants and I saw the classic head bust :cheering: a new bucket list for me... but that's not all... it's an 1811..

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IT'S THE FREAKING KEY DATE OF THE SERIES!!!!!!!

WHAT THE HECK!?!

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It gets even better though

Then I get a civil war knapsack hook with the leather still attached.

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Then another cash coin. After that I get a 60's signal on the at pro at like 4"... it turns out I was digging an 8 inch hole and I saw what appeared to be another broken petal bell... Nooooooooooo... I took it out and saw the design.... holy mackeral!!! I did a double take and took a pic upside down... Lol! I had NO idea what it was and texted Luke a picture of it... he said it was a sword pommel and that's exactly what it looked like. After a few more 1920's relics, two more buttons and a partrige in a pear tree, I had to head out. Trust me, I'm going back! I still have to wait for winter when the fields around the site are doable!!! I'm so pumped right now. Shivering in excitement writing this thread!

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When I got home I noticed I held it upside down and saw the eagle. WOW! WOW WOW!!!! Look at how meticulous that thing is... all the details!!!!

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I rinsed it off and posted a pic on the book of faces... I got a very quick ID and link. I was floored when I saw it wasn't a sword pommel but in fact it was a Butt Cap off of a Halbach Baltimore Pistol that is definetely from/ used in the war of 1812. A friend says it was made ca. 1790.

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Here's the link someone sent me. About this piece of you wanna read it for yourself Important Flintlock Pistol w/ Eagle Butt Cap and Barrel Engraved "INDEPENDENCE," Halbach & Sons, Baltimore -- Lot 61 -- May 4, 2013 Maryland Auction -- Crocker Farm, Inc.

This is not only an incredible piece of early American histroy, this is also an incredible work of art. My most favorite find to date!!!

Important Flintlock Pistol w/ Eagle Butt Cap and Barrel Engraved "INDEPENDENCE," Halbach & Sons, Baltimore -- Lot 61 -- May 4, 2013 Maryland Auction -- Crocker Farm, Inc.

Thnaks for reading!!! HH!!!!

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Last edited:
Upvote 61
Thanks so much del and coinman! :D I went back yesterday for a quick hunt and the farmer was cutting the hay in the former farm fields :) can't wait to get back there. Here's my take for Saturday... Anyone know what that circular buckle was used for? Got some really neat buttons also. Love buttons, they are all so unique. The colonial dandy button's shank is not even in the center of the button :cool:

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I also found a phone... It still worked :cool: LMFAO!!!!!

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You got an incredible haul once again. You find the amount of finds as someone that has been a hardcore relic hunter for decades. I am completely envious once more, congrats on such great finds. I bet some more banner worthy finds are waiting to be found.

Rock on, Coinman

(Also, I think I have the same kind of phone :))
 

Holy Crap!! Save some for the rest of us!! Lol. Just kidding!! What an unbelievable hunt, congrats!! And thanks for sharing. Cheers
 

You really hit a gold mine. It is so rewarding to find an old site that no one else has ever hit. Which can be hard to do where I am. You found a ton of really cool and exciting finds and I can tell by your post how excited you were. Great ain't it? Well done. Good recoveries and super history. I'm sure, as you are, that there's more there. WTG! Thanks for sharing. Banner well deserved!
 

Congrats on some really great finds Isaac! I haven't seen a butt-cap as good as that one outside a museum so far.Imagine the great stuff still buried in the area! Take your time and go low/slow and make sure to show us the goods please.HH....
 

Thanks guys!!! It's a great feeling to hold and own such an incredible piece of personal history and American history. I haven't found much lately (like one flat button and a few other odds and ends), summer is always slow for me, as soon as I have a decent hunt I'll post it! Thanks again everyone and happy hunting!!!
 

A fine couple of hunts and some great finds. Love the variety of history.
 

That's a beautiful find. I would love to get some piece of marked brass from an old pistol - for now, I'll just have to be content admiring your find. Congrats on making the banner.
 

Wow that is just an amazing day there! All those finds there would equal up to a great year for me! I'm jealous lol. What exactly is that winged looking item you found?
 

Wow that is just an amazing day there! All those finds there would equal up to a great year for me! I'm jealous lol. What exactly is that winged looking item you found?

Hey, it would go off of a Sling Carbine buckle from the Civil War!
Thanks!

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That's a beautiful find. I would love to get some piece of marked brass from an old pistol - for now, I'll just have to be content admiring your find. Congrats on making the banner.

STC, it was one of my last finds of the day!!! I held it upside down and thought it was a sword pommel at first, haha! I didn't even notice the eagle, I was like woah, that's a cool design. When I got home and flipped it, bam!!! There she was! 8-)

Thanks so much! I'm still looking for many of your finds!!!
 

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