Bill D. (VA)
Silver Member
I've been trying my hardest to get back into an awesome new site that I've only been able to hunt once for a half day when Evan visited over 3 weeks ago. But due to a continual stream of hunters and other guests staying at the property, the overseers have not allowed me access. I was earlier able to get into a small, remote field that was part of this property for 3 times, and made some nice recoveries including the sword guard, 5 colonial coins and over 50 buttons. And I got the green light to hit that site again yesterday afternoon, but when I arrived I could immediately see the field had just been planted and, of course, was now off limits. While in the area I drove over to check on the other big site, and that too was planted. It's been very frustrating knowing I have permission to hunt this fantastic site, but can't find a way to get in there. But now it'll have to wait for the fall, and hopefully circumstances will be better at that time.
On the way out I passed the house owned by an elderly lady I had met a few weeks ago, and she had let me hunt her back yard which was the site of a major archaeological dig about 25 years ago. I had dug a surprising number of items seeing how a huge area had been excavated and sifted, and most of my finds came from that spot. Yesterday I decided to roam around the perimeter of the dug area, and again recovered a couple buttons, a large shoe buckle piece, a musketball, and another watch winder part. But when I got home I realized what I thought was a thin flat button was actually some kind of small copper coin. I used the hydrogen peroxide method of cleaning (which really hasn't worked all that great for me in the past), and it did reveal a couple of small details. From the close-ups below, there appears to be an "H" at both the 9 and 10 o'clock positions on what's likely the reverse. And you can see the stippling around the perimeter on the front which is a common feature on early coins. I don't have a positive ID yet, but have a feeling its a small denomination 18th century Spanish copper. If anyone recognizes it please let me know.
It's been a fun and successful season, and I'm now looking forward to consolidating my best finds, writing a few articles, doing research for the fall, and getting out for some water hunting. Hopefully the boring summer will pass by quickly, and I'll be back in the fields before you know it.
On the way out I passed the house owned by an elderly lady I had met a few weeks ago, and she had let me hunt her back yard which was the site of a major archaeological dig about 25 years ago. I had dug a surprising number of items seeing how a huge area had been excavated and sifted, and most of my finds came from that spot. Yesterday I decided to roam around the perimeter of the dug area, and again recovered a couple buttons, a large shoe buckle piece, a musketball, and another watch winder part. But when I got home I realized what I thought was a thin flat button was actually some kind of small copper coin. I used the hydrogen peroxide method of cleaning (which really hasn't worked all that great for me in the past), and it did reveal a couple of small details. From the close-ups below, there appears to be an "H" at both the 9 and 10 o'clock positions on what's likely the reverse. And you can see the stippling around the perimeter on the front which is a common feature on early coins. I don't have a positive ID yet, but have a feeling its a small denomination 18th century Spanish copper. If anyone recognizes it please let me know.
It's been a fun and successful season, and I'm now looking forward to consolidating my best finds, writing a few articles, doing research for the fall, and getting out for some water hunting. Hopefully the boring summer will pass by quickly, and I'll be back in the fields before you know it.
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