xcopperstax
Silver Member
- Sep 3, 2018
- 2,508
- 4,872
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett AT Max
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Back to my trusty colonial spot on a gloriously sunny yet cool crisp day. I started in the lower area that I haven't hit too much. I had to cross a small ice covered stream (we're talking 6-8 inches deep here) to get to this small area of land that is an island if the tide is high. A short time in I got a high 80's signal that sounded like something good. Out popped my very first counter stamped large cent. It had the Letters AS, BS, DS on the obverse and LS, RS on the reverse. The coin looked like it might contain a fair amount of detail, but alas upon cleaning it proved to be the typical corroded copper. I was able to narrow it down to being a coronet head large cent based on the liberty, hair and ear that I could discern from what was left. The only number I had was a 4 so it could be an 1824, or 34. I have no idea if those are initials of people or a business or a phrase. Any help on that would be great. That made my day but there was still time for more treasure! Next I found a 1928 buffalo nickel that is always welcome in my treasure chest. It was getting to be time to wrap it up when I got a 78 signal. Aha what could it be!? It was a coin that appeared to be a copper about the size of a quarter. I was thinking it could be a farthing or maybe something else that was foreign but it had to be old. Upon cleaning I found a left facing bust with an ever so faint 1773 and it was holed. On the reverse there was a log cab and an 1840. Well I knew that the cabin meant one of the presidents so in about one minute we had it identified as a William Henry Harrison presidential token / medalet. WHH was known as the victor of the controversial battle of Tippecanoe in which he won by his account but may have suffered more losses than the Native Americans who attacked them. As the governor of the Indiana territory he swindled the native tribes out of hundreds of thousands of acres of land therefore contributing to their overall destruction / genocide. He went on to govern Ohio where he pushed for slavery but was undermined by a slave owning Thomas Jefferson who did not want to open any more areas to slavery. WHH went on to be the oldest elected president at 68 where he gave the longest inaugural address at a whopping 2 hrs. He served the shortest term in office of one month before expiring. Another interesting tidbit about our complicated character is that he befriended a man named George Debaptiste who was an abolitionist and a conductor on the underground railroad. Debaptiste became his live in servant while they were friends and was at his bedside during his death in the whitehouse. Debaptiste went on to help hundreds (possibley into the thousands) gain their freedom from slavery. I can only imagine the conversations that went on between the two and if Harrison had lived out his presidency would the friendship have influenced any big decisions regarding the institution of slavery? It was a great day exploring the secret history of these woods I call friend. Thanks for reading!
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