2013 was SMASHING !

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

A great year it was in many ways. It started with the first hunt of the year (Mar 14) with a banner find 1862 New Brunswick 10 cents with double punched 2. Good luck continued on, and broke some records, namely most coppers, and most silvers in a season by big margins. Recovered quite a few good old silver coins along the way including another banner on Oct. 25.

70 different days hunting, about 350+ hours total. About half of those spent with ZDD.

154 Colonial coppers, of those at least 23 were 1700’s coins, and 11 were the very large 34mm coins. The total is more than the last two years combined, and included a few firsts. Previous best year was 69.

20 Canada LG cents

38 Silver coins, 8 are 1700’s, 6 Spanish, 2 French.
7 are 1800’s, British, USA, and Can., the rest 1901 to 1960’s

189 old buttons, 11 tombac, 10 pewter, 1 drilled shank, 1 blow hole, 7 military.

From the top ten list, I got first French Silver, (1710, oldest dated silver so far) First Victorian quarter, and first artillery button (2 actually, different sizes).

Other firsts were a 1700’s silver spoon (ship), and a small trade axe (tomahawk).

I don’t expect to repeat these numbers next year or maybe never again, unless I get that cache, or hoard which is always number #1 on the wish list every year.

I am thankful to be able to hunt as much as I do, and thankful to have a good friend to do a lot of it with.

The pictures. (Were tken at larger size than I normally do so should open up for a decent look.)
The lot of it, grouped by site as found.


A pile of the coppers, canada lg cents on the right.



My few military buttons.



Best buckles...hope to find the other half.



Some of the "firsts" coppers, A 1814 RH 1P Scarce, 1815 Magdalen 1P scarce, first countermarked GEO 3, first decent GEO 1 hp.



Some Silver.



Spanish Silver, 1723, 25, 47, 55, 76 2 reales, 1783 half real.



Oldest Silver, 1710 french 30 deniers.



The "Ship" Spoon.



And the 2 Banners.



And one of Misc. One bent up, and one broken shoe buckle frame...a good one still on the list.



HAPPY NEW YEAR !
and Good Luck out there.
Rick

BTW the start new thread box is missing on the annual finds forum, or I would have put this in the right place.

[s.tan]

Fantastic Rick! I just wish that we had the same kind of history out here on the West Coast (B.C.). Best of luck in 2014! Looking forward to seeing your finds.

[ironhorse]

Outstanding post Rick!

You had a really great year punctuated with great finds! I've had some years that just never seemed to stop producing and thought that they could never be topped, but then they were topped, no reason to believe you can't have another awesome season with the area you live in and the sites you're hitting you should have an equally great year with persistence and hard work.

You just got a bunch of the the easy ones this year, squeak out some of the hard ones and you'll do well lol

[Ahab8]

Rick you had an incredible year! The sheer volume of great items is incredible. I really like a couple of the buckles you found. The amount of copper coinage is truly amazing as well. Congrats on an incredible year and I want to thank you for being a huge help to me as I was just getting started this year. Have a great New Year and I hope you you find that cache in 2014. All the best, Abe

[Greylock]

I've been waiting for this post and its as awesome as I thought it would be. Even though I've seen you post most of this I'm still amazed. Some incredible finds and hopefully the luck will continue.

[surf]

A Most Excellent Year. sir!

[Zodiacdiverdave]

I must say Rick that this year was, to say the least amazing. You are a digging machine and this post has just proven that.
Great post Rick and I know you will have another smashing year again in 14. I had a blast hunting with you and had some very memerable times too. I expect that we will do even better next year.
ZDD

[Chuxter]

Great finds! This was my first year detecting and I have been inspired by all of your finds! Hope 2014 treats you just as well. I am looking forward to early spring, and finding some silver coinage. Once again thanks for sharing and helping out us Newbies.

[leafsforever3]

Absolutely amazing year Rick! all those countless hours of digging has yielded you some great bounty. Hell of a pile of Copper AND Silver, Lead... everything. 2 Banners.. wow what a year. Good job!

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Outstanding post Rick!

You had a really great year punctuated with great finds! I've had some years that just never seemed to stop producing and thought that they could never be topped, but then they were topped, no reason to believe you can't have another awesome season with the area you live in and the sites you're hitting you should have an equally great year with persistence and hard work.

You just got a bunch of the the easy ones this year, squeak out some of the hard ones and you'll do well lol

Glad you did "LOL" french silver is not easy.

[romeo-1]

That's a banner year!!!

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Rick you had an incredible year! The sheer volume of great items is incredible. I really like a couple of the buckles you found. The amount of copper coinage is truly amazing as well. Congrats on an incredible year and I want to thank you for being a huge help to me as I was just getting started this year. Have a great New Year and I hope you you find that cache in 2014. All the best, Abe

Thanks a lot Abe, I'd help any decent person...which you are. You're on the right track, and you'll do fine. Good luck my very good friend.

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

That's a banner year!!!

Thanks Romeo

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I must say Rick that this year was, to say the least amazing. You are a digging machine and this post has just proven that.
Great post Rick and I know you will have another smashing year again in 14. I had a blast hunting with you and had some very memerable times too. I expect that we will do even better next year.
ZDD

I like your optimism, and I do believe it too !

[gleaner1]

Awesome, very hard to find words to comment. Nice work Rick