watershed silver - new and old

[McCDig]

Went into the watershed in Baltimore Co. around mid-afternoon today following some gps coordinates that were supposed to lead to an old home site. Never found the site, but I did come upon a hunter campsite and began finding Lincoln memorials. A high 30s signal got my attention and it turned out to be a first for me....a Steiff sterling spoon. Scanned the area thoroughly but no more spoons were found.



I climbed back up a steep ridge to the high area I had descended and spent about a half hour scanning. A signal in the 20s came from about 4 inches down and right away I knew it was silver. It looks like a colonial-era button, elliptical and no makers or purity mark, which dates it at least to the 1800s.



Any help in dating the button will be greatly appreciated.


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[Inspector]

That's a great looking spoon considering how old it is & pretty valuable, great save, the button is an outstanding piece of silver & is a beautiful piece, congrats on a great hunt & HH

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Inspector. From another forum the silver "button" has been identified as a cufflink, possibly from the early 1800s.

 

[CreakyDigger]

Nice looking finds!

 

[RVRoamer74]

Gotta say I'm really likin that spoon...but that cufflink is just as awesome. You found two excellent finds McCdig. Congrats all over those keepers.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks CreakyDigger. Silver always looks better.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks RVRoamer! Pretty amazing that silver would turn up twice today in the woods.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Super finds. A solid silver colonial button is definitely a great find, silver spoon also sweet. Congrats

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!!!! Congrats!!!!!

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Randy! Sweet finds for sure.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks much! Blows my mind at the improbability of walking into the woods and coming out with silver. Detecting has its surprises for sure.

 

[toasted]

Oval cufflinks such as yours were used in the late 18th century but were more common in the 19th century I believe. Unless you are finding other colonial items in the area and little to no later stuff, I would say its 19th century. Rare find either way. Congrats

 

[McCDig]

Thanks toasted. Homesites in the immediate area were built between 1804 and 1832, but the area was settled from the early 1700s.

 

[washingtonian]

Wow! Two unique pieces of silver for sure. Well done!!

 

[smokeythecat]

The cufflink is most likely also early 19th century.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks washingtonian. Makes me think that if one cufflink fell, is the other close by?

 

[McCDig]

Thanks for the id, Smokey. Guess it wasn't your average Joe going about with silver cufflinks.

 

[secondstar]

Great saves! The spoon and cuff-link are both stunning!

 

[JerV3]

Those are both some nice finds.

Crazy how we can pick up items just wandering around.

Jer

 

[A2coins]

Wow you found a good spot for many more hints I love the spoon I'm still looking for my first piece of silver silverware. Good job