bookfisher
Bronze Member
My Best Finds - Colonial Coppers, 1850 Half Dime, Civil War Tokens & Silver
Hello, my name is Bill from Long Island. I am new to this forum, but I used to post on the White's forum; though I find this one has more interesting finds posted. I've only been metal detecting since last October, but I've been very lucky for two reasons. My metal detecting partner Rob, has been MDing for about 20 years and he's led me to some great sites, both old sites that he hunted years ago (that continue to give up finds) and new sites. He's really taught me the ropes about how to go about finding old and interesting items. The second reason, is that Long Island was settled in the 1600's. Lately, both of us have been detecting a large, approximately 15 to 20 acre passive town park here in one of the oldest towns on Long Island. Now, when I say passive, I mean passive. There is nothing there, no swing sets, nothing but mowed grass, with no obvious parking. For the past month, this field has giving up four 18th century Spanish reales (Rob found two in nice shape dated 1783 & 1784, and I found two in bad shape, though I can read the 17 but not the two last numbers on one), seven large cents dated from 1802 to 1842, an 1850 Seated Liberty half dime, two civil war tokens (one dated 1863), an 1867 shield nickel with rays, several Indian Head pennys (earliest 1859) and about 40 or 50 19th century and late 18th century buttons. To top it off, we both think the field has been done before, since most of the finds were iffy positive signals at 5 inches deep. Apparently, the first ones into this field picked off the easy targets. Also, we've found only two pre-1964 coins (a 1930s Merc and a wheat penny). It seems this field has either post 1980 clad or 19th and 18th century coins and relics. Here are four pictures of my best finds. The highlights are: Pre-1702 William III copper (can't read anything on it, but there is enough of the portrait to positively identify),?several Pre-1760 King George II coppers, an 18th century Dutch? copper with a crown and an X, (reverse side has two words horizontally but cant read), five large cents 1802, 1807, 1836, 1842, and one I cant read the date, an 1837 hard times token (I follow in the steps of my illustrious predecessor) an 1850 half dime, circa 1810-1850 petal (bottom of bell has flower petals) sleigh bell, marked V.S (research shows it's Vine Starr East Hampton, Conn.) two civil war tokens (one has 1863 with an indian head to obverse, with cannon and flags reverse, and the other has Army & Navy to one side, with the quote "The Union Must And It Shall Be Preserved), 1864 two cent piece, 1867 shield nickel with rays, 1907 Barber Quarter, 1928 Standing Liberty Quarter, 1889 Paris Exposition Watch Fob, an early to mid 19th century Navan Cavalry button with Irish Harp to center, two spanish reales in bad and worse shape, 18th century silver plated button with floral design, owl face button, and a possibly 17th century or earlier coin or token with rampant lion to center (piece broken off ). Sorry for going on so long, but there's one more cool find. In the first picture, you can see the leather remnants of a coin purse I dug up in the woods. I got a penny, dime, quarter reading at four inches, and pulled out the coin purse in pieces, but still had to open a flap to reveal 67 cents -two Washington silver quarters (1935 & 1941), a 1942 silver Mercury dime, a 1948 nickle, and two wheat cents (1945 & 1947). The two quarters and the dime are in the picture.
Hello, my name is Bill from Long Island. I am new to this forum, but I used to post on the White's forum; though I find this one has more interesting finds posted. I've only been metal detecting since last October, but I've been very lucky for two reasons. My metal detecting partner Rob, has been MDing for about 20 years and he's led me to some great sites, both old sites that he hunted years ago (that continue to give up finds) and new sites. He's really taught me the ropes about how to go about finding old and interesting items. The second reason, is that Long Island was settled in the 1600's. Lately, both of us have been detecting a large, approximately 15 to 20 acre passive town park here in one of the oldest towns on Long Island. Now, when I say passive, I mean passive. There is nothing there, no swing sets, nothing but mowed grass, with no obvious parking. For the past month, this field has giving up four 18th century Spanish reales (Rob found two in nice shape dated 1783 & 1784, and I found two in bad shape, though I can read the 17 but not the two last numbers on one), seven large cents dated from 1802 to 1842, an 1850 Seated Liberty half dime, two civil war tokens (one dated 1863), an 1867 shield nickel with rays, several Indian Head pennys (earliest 1859) and about 40 or 50 19th century and late 18th century buttons. To top it off, we both think the field has been done before, since most of the finds were iffy positive signals at 5 inches deep. Apparently, the first ones into this field picked off the easy targets. Also, we've found only two pre-1964 coins (a 1930s Merc and a wheat penny). It seems this field has either post 1980 clad or 19th and 18th century coins and relics. Here are four pictures of my best finds. The highlights are: Pre-1702 William III copper (can't read anything on it, but there is enough of the portrait to positively identify),?several Pre-1760 King George II coppers, an 18th century Dutch? copper with a crown and an X, (reverse side has two words horizontally but cant read), five large cents 1802, 1807, 1836, 1842, and one I cant read the date, an 1837 hard times token (I follow in the steps of my illustrious predecessor) an 1850 half dime, circa 1810-1850 petal (bottom of bell has flower petals) sleigh bell, marked V.S (research shows it's Vine Starr East Hampton, Conn.) two civil war tokens (one has 1863 with an indian head to obverse, with cannon and flags reverse, and the other has Army & Navy to one side, with the quote "The Union Must And It Shall Be Preserved), 1864 two cent piece, 1867 shield nickel with rays, 1907 Barber Quarter, 1928 Standing Liberty Quarter, 1889 Paris Exposition Watch Fob, an early to mid 19th century Navan Cavalry button with Irish Harp to center, two spanish reales in bad and worse shape, 18th century silver plated button with floral design, owl face button, and a possibly 17th century or earlier coin or token with rampant lion to center (piece broken off ). Sorry for going on so long, but there's one more cool find. In the first picture, you can see the leather remnants of a coin purse I dug up in the woods. I got a penny, dime, quarter reading at four inches, and pulled out the coin purse in pieces, but still had to open a flap to reveal 67 cents -two Washington silver quarters (1935 & 1941), a 1942 silver Mercury dime, a 1948 nickle, and two wheat cents (1945 & 1947). The two quarters and the dime are in the picture.
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Those are some awesome finds, dont worry about going on too long 
Thanks for sharing and welcome to the forum! 
