Scrounged out a very small cut silver today

Bill D. (VA)

Silver Member
Oct 7, 2008
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SE Virginia
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Detector(s) used
F75 SE (land); CZ-21 (saltwater)
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Other
Went back to the site Dan and I've been hunting recently that's produced a lot of colonial silver and other early finds. Spent the first part of the hunt roaming around the huge 150 acre field trying to land myself on another hotspot. But after 1.5 hours and not the first relic or coin in my pouch I decided to hit the area that Dan and I hunted last Saturday in the snow where we both dug silver. Spent a good while there and could only come up with one keeper, but it was a nice intact 1600s trapezoidal buckle. Shortly thereafter I headed back to the other side of the property to continue gridding the area around the knoll where we've made quite a few finds. Things were again going quite slow until I finally moved to the downslope on the back side of the knoll and started getting a few hits. After being frustrated by digging 2 IHs back-to-back I got an erratic and low-to-mid range hit that didn't really impress me, but when I got it out of the hole it was a solid "42" on my F75. At that point I figured it was just a button, piece of lead, or scrap brass as cut silver generally reads in the upper 50s on my machine, but I was a little shocked when I finally located a very small cut piece in the dirt pile. This may be the smallest cut piece I've dug, but silver is silver and that was a great way to end the day. I'm sure there are a few more scattered finds to be made here, but I think its time Dan and I refocus our energies on a new site. And we will definitely be doing that this weekend if Mother Nature doesn't spoil things. But the forecast is not looking good for the 2nd weekend in a row.
 

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Upvote 14
Nice digs as usual ! That is some small pocket change :icon_thumleft:
 

After being frustrated by digging 2 IHs ..... but I think its time Dan and I refocus our energies on a new site...

Now, let me get this straight. You were "frustrated", by digging not one but 2 Indian Heads?! In a row!!!???? ;)

Well, I think I'd suggest you to not look for a new spot. Probably just bore you to death with all those nasty 1800's coins getting in your way.
( I'll go hide now.)

HH!
 

Now, let me get this straight. You were "frustrated", by digging not one but 2 Indian Heads?! In a row!!!???? ;)

Well, I think I'd suggest you to not look for a new spot. Probably just bore you to death with all those nasty 1800's coins getting in your way.
( I'll go hide now.)

HH!

When you're hunting a small spot that's produced 9 colonial silver coins it's very easy to get upset when what could easily be an early coin turns out to be an IH. And twice in a row - that's just not fair!
 

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When you're hunting a small spot that's produced 9 colonial silver coins it's very easy to get upset when what could easily be the early coin turns out to be an IH. And twice in a row - that's just not fair!

LOL :icon_thumright:
 

150 Acres is a lot of field to hunt! A big field for me is 25 acres. That silver was almost litteraly a needle in a haystack:headbang:


VPR
 

That cut piece is 1/8 of a 1 real. I have dug 1/4 of a 1 real before, but never saw such a small cut as that. I like your little pointy ended buckle. What are those two items at the bottom of group pic - the ones with the pincer like ends?
 

Great stuff, Bill! That silver is TINY! Shows off the strength of the F75 for sure!
 

WTG Bill, glad you had a good day out...after this week in the office I am going to need a full day of digging this weekend.

BTW is that part of a trigger guard?

Dan
 

That cut piece is 1/8 of a 1 real. I have dug 1/4 of a 1 real before, but never saw such a small cut as that. I like your little pointy ended buckle. What are those two items at the bottom of group pic - the ones with the pincer like ends?

It's definitely from a 1 reale Steve, but appears to be a slightly smaller cut than 1/8 although I'm sure that was the intent. Also, I believe those 2 items at the bottom of the pic are parts to some kind of buckle. We've found a large quantity and variety of buckles and buckle pieces at this site along with an abnormal amount of silver, but the buttons finds have been relatively few. Still not sure if this was a house site due to the very minimal amount of brick, pottery and iron. Could have been an early military camp I guess.
 

WTG Bill, glad you had a good day out...after this week in the office I am going to need a full day of digging this weekend.

BTW is that part of a trigger guard?

Dan

Thanks buddy. At first I thought that large brass piece was part of a heavy spoon handle, but after getting it home and checking it out that's definitely not what it is. And I don't believe its a trigger guard either due to its size, weight and insufficient curvature. Check out the pics below as they may help with the ID. I'm also adding a pic comparing the tiny silver I dug yesterday with a standard 90-deg wedge piece. Big difference!

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Thanks buddy. At first I thought that large brass piece was part of a heavy spoon handle, but after getting it home and checking it out that's definitely not what it is. And I don't believe its a trigger guard either due to its size, weight and insufficient curvature. Check out the pics below as they may help with the ID. I'm also adding a pic comparing the tiny silver I dug yesterday with a standard 90-deg wedge piece. Big difference!

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Bill,
I disagree entirely man. That is a part to a trigger guard, it is bent "away from the curve," but I can see on the outside the portion with would extend up the stock as a brace. It looks similar to that or a Brown Bess, though could be a tad small. It could easily be from a hunting rifle (kentucky, PA, etc.) as they had slightly thinner brass guards, or from an early pistol. Keep in mind I have pulled two brown bess sized balls from that site in two trips as well as a part to an escutcheon.

Dan
 

That is one little gem of a cut silver piece there! Plenty of other nice finds too!
 

360k.gif Youre still on fire :icon_thumright:
 

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