I was just too nice to be indoors-digging the frozen tundra.

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
41,394
158,473
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Yesterday was epic for weather temps. By 11am it was in the high 50s and by the time I arrived at the permission was a beautiful 65F.
Stopped at the first permission and I did a test to see if I could dig, frozen solid.
So off I went to a more southern permission, a corn field, and the shovel went in with a heavy stomp.
Must of been the only spot in that field as every recovery was a many stomp, both feet, chopping affair.
2 hrs of doing selective digging resulted in 2 recoveries
A Un Sol Half Penny, and a cool looking lead lid.

Off to site 2 for a hike, and to visit an old permission. 1/4 mile walk, then across the little stream to be greeted by an uncut hay field.
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The shovel went in no problem, 15 ft away it was 4" of solid frozen dirt.
It was easier to dig in the field than the corn field, but still a hard go.
Some places would be hard, some nearly impossible , and some I'd jump on the pedal only to have the shovel plunge in 11" and nearly gut myself on the handle.
The first recovery was a small cent, so covered with clay I just tossed in the pouch.
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15 minutes later I got this little drawer pull
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Then another 15 up comes this great (slightly bent) buckle.:hello2:
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Couple of minutes later a ? not sure what it might be recovery.

Next one lifted the spirits up as it has been sometime since I recovered a military button. Seeing the 3 cannons and the crown I smiled and voiced an OHYA. :headbang:
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20240227_192142.jpg
Screenshot_20240228_084137_DuckDuckGo.jpg
Screenshot_20240228_084127_DuckDuckGo.jpg


5 minutes later was a Half Penny Bank Token
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Followed by a what is it recovery 10 min. later. :dontknow:
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The hour was a few uneventful recoveries, iron, selective target recoveries, leaving many iffy ones as it was just too hard to beat a iffy out.

I got another Bank token out and kind of amazing I missed gouging it actually.
20240227_161056.jpg


The last target was a mother military button, 10 minutes of on the knees chopping, getting up slamming hte shell into the frozen sod and finally recovering a smushed military button.
20240227_162016.jpg

4:30 I had enough-hard digging, tall grass, so it was time to get home to do the evening chores.
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There seems to be a connection issue happening for uploading-will get it sorted later when things straighten up.
 

Last edited:
Upvote 54
Yesterday was epic for weather temps. By 11am it was in the high 50s and by the time I arrived at the permission was a beautiful 65F.
Stopped at the first permission and I did a test to see if I could dig, frozen solid.
So off I went to a more southern permission, a corn field, and the shovel went in with a heavy stomp.
Must of been the only spot in that field as every recovery was a many stomp, both feet, chopping affair.
2 hrs of doing selective digging resulted in 2 recoveries
A Un Sol Half Penny, and a cool looking lead lid.

Off to site 2 for a hike, and to visit an old permission. 1/4 mile walk, then across the little stream to be greeted by an uncut hay field.View attachment 2134125
View attachment 2134126
The shovel went in no problem, 15 ft away it was 4" of solid frozen dirt.
It was easier to dig in the field than the corn field, but still a hard go.
Some places would be hard, some nearly impossible , and some I'd jump on the pedal only to have the shovel plunge in 11" and nearly gut myself on the handle.
The first recovery was a small cent, so covered with clay I just tossed in the pouch.View attachment 2134127View attachment 2134128View attachment 2134129

15 minutes later I got this little drawer pull
View attachment 2134130

Then another 15 up comes this great (slightly bent) buckle.:hello2:View attachment 2134131

Couple of minutes later a ? not sure what it might be recovery.

Next one lifted the spirits up as it has been sometime since I recovered a military button. Seeing the 3 cannons and the crown I smiled and voiced an OHYA. :headbang:View attachment 2134132View attachment 2134124View attachment 2134140View attachment 2134141

5 minutes later was a Half Penny Bank TokenView attachment 2134133View attachment 2134138View attachment 2134139

Followed by a what is it recovery 10 min. later. :dontknow:View attachment 2134134

The hour was a few uneventful recoveries, iron, selective target recoveries, leaving many iffy ones as it was just too hard to beat a iffy out.

I got another Bank token out and kind of amazing I missed gouging it actually.View attachment 2134135

The last target was a mother military button, 10 minutes of on the knees chopping, getting up slamming hte shell into the frozen sod and finally recovering a smushed military button.View attachment 2134136
4:30 I had enough-hard digging, tall grass, so it was time to get home to do the evening chores.View attachment 2134137

There seems to be a connection issue happening for uploading-will get it sorted later when things straighten up.
Whoa!! What a great collection of never seen b4 button and coins. Love it!!
 

Yesterday was epic for weather temps. By 11am it was in the high 50s and by the time I arrived at the permission was a beautiful 65F.
Stopped at the first permission and I did a test to see if I could dig, frozen solid.
So off I went to a more southern permission, a corn field, and the shovel went in with a heavy stomp.
Must of been the only spot in that field as every recovery was a many stomp, both feet, chopping affair.
2 hrs of doing selective digging resulted in 2 recoveries
A Un Sol Half Penny, and a cool looking lead lid.

Off to site 2 for a hike, and to visit an old permission. 1/4 mile walk, then across the little stream to be greeted by an uncut hay field.View attachment 2134125
View attachment 2134126
The shovel went in no problem, 15 ft away it was 4" of solid frozen dirt.
It was easier to dig in the field than the corn field, but still a hard go.
Some places would be hard, some nearly impossible , and some I'd jump on the pedal only to have the shovel plunge in 11" and nearly gut myself on the handle.
The first recovery was a small cent, so covered with clay I just tossed in the pouch.View attachment 2134127View attachment 2134128View attachment 2134129

15 minutes later I got this little drawer pull
View attachment 2134130

Then another 15 up comes this great (slightly bent) buckle.:hello2:View attachment 2134131

Couple of minutes later a ? not sure what it might be recovery.

Next one lifted the spirits up as it has been sometime since I recovered a military button. Seeing the 3 cannons and the crown I smiled and voiced an OHYA. :headbang:View attachment 2134132View attachment 2134124View attachment 2134140View attachment 2134141

5 minutes later was a Half Penny Bank TokenView attachment 2134133View attachment 2134138View attachment 2134139

Followed by a what is it recovery 10 min. later. :dontknow:View attachment 2134134

The hour was a few uneventful recoveries, iron, selective target recoveries, leaving many iffy ones as it was just too hard to beat a iffy out.

I got another Bank token out and kind of amazing I missed gouging it actually.View attachment 2134135

The last target was a mother military button, 10 minutes of on the knees chopping, getting up slamming hte shell into the frozen sod and finally recovering a smushed military button.View attachment 2134136
4:30 I had enough-hard digging, tall grass, so it was time to get home to do the evening chores.View attachment 2134137

There seems to be a connection issue happening for uploading-will get it sorted later when things straighten up.
Very Cool!!!! Congrats!!!!
 

I think your hunt was worth all the work, effort and time you put into it! You can see every letter on the head band of the IH, it's a beauty! The artillery button and token are also very nice recoveries! What a beautiful day you had and the nice pictures topped it off!
Thanks for the nice reply
I will probably spend another day at this site before the grass starts to grow again.
I left all the iffy targets as it was too hard digging them.
 

Excellent work my friend… you paint a vivid picture of the digging 😂 very funny xx love the cannon button!! xx
Ah thanks blossom
Even though the age of the site pales in comparison to your dirt it's always fun to chop the frozen tundra-not. :laughing7:
Yes the button made the day.
 

What a great bunch of finds -- worth all the work! That Indian Head penny is in fantastic shape, and that button is just pretty cool!
Thanks Robert
I was kind of surprised when I first saw the wreath after I started to clean it up.
Turned out a lot nicer than the Bank tokens.
 

Ya done did good pepper🌶! I would go back in a heartbeat. Don't think I've seen a bank token not come out of the ground looking good.
 

Beautiful finds - congrats ! :icon_thumright:
Thank you
Thanks
The first recovery alone would have been enough effort to call it a hunt. (!)

Congrats!
The button and coins have lots of detail still.
Quite the historic activities to have left that much sign there...
Thanks RC
Yes it turned out to be a good day for the time spent at the site.
The Deus ll made the difference also as I have a lot of hours spent on this site.
The military members that had the land grant even carved their names into big rocks at the natural land bridge, but they have toppled since the the creek was worked on to mitigate flooding issues.
That was a day worth digging the tundra! Congratulations on some great finds. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks ArfieBoy-Hope all is well in your neck of the woods
I believe it was so, maybe a week too early as it's a lot nicer digging in soft than frozen ground.
 

Great hunt, that was some good stuff to get out of the tall rolling grass
That's awesome
Thanks Nathan
I'm going to approach the owners to see if I can bush hog the sites this spring when it dries up a tad.
The other site has produced over 30 coppers, a few early silvers, lots of interesting relics.
The problem is the prickly ash non the edge of the field, and the hate the stuff as well.
So it might be a good trade off

The skate lade is a first, I saw the back 4" inches in the hole and thought sword-always funny to dream :laughing7:
 

Great post with great detail
Congratulations Pepper…
Thanks Bill
I'm going to try posting up the finds as I find them-instead of just being lazy.
Never seen a blade before like the one you found
Really nice Congratulations
It's a first for me as well.
Going to restore this one as it has that cool factor going for it.
 

Whoa!! What a great collection of never seen b4 button and coins. Love it!!
Thanks JB-Your sand would have been welcomed for digging instead of frozen clay.
The button is a new one for me, the coinage is pretty common for my area it seems.
Outstanding finds and well worth your efforts. I can’t stop looking at that amazing IH. That baby is mint.
You came back swinging with style.
Great post Pepper. 👍
MM
Thank you ModernMiner
A tad early for digging, I should of went to the site 3 weeks ago before the freeze up.
Weird winter for sure with 4" of frost instead of many feet.
It's good to get a Feb, hunt in though.
 

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