JackalopeZL1's Big East Coast Adventure!!

[JackalopeZL1]

Happy New year everyone!!!! I have a little bit of a story of my First East coast metal detecting adventure. Me being from the West Coast I often find myself absolutely jealous of the east coast folks and the much older history available for detecting. A couple months ago I got a open invite to do some detecting with Treblehunter from here on the TNET forums. I said what the heck, bought my plane tickets, reserved my rental car and Hotel, It is official I am committed

So the big day arrives when I have to jump on the plane. After finding the best way to get my CTX on the plane I boarded in Sacramento and 8 or 9 hrs later I landed in Philly. Heck Just leaving the Airport I saw houses that were way older than most on the west coast and it had me excited.

So the next morning I met up with Treblehunter and we went right out to one of his permissions. It is a hay field that had a house from the 1700's on it once upon a time. He showed me some locations and where he had hunted and said go for it. I have to say I am so impressed with Brad(Treblehunter) The guy is one of the nicest, generous and thoughtful folks I have ever met. A true ambassador of the hobbie!!

The first day of detecting you would have thought it was mid march with 65* tshirt weather on December 27th?? I had prepared for freezing so this was a absolute joy to start the week off with. And boy did it start off good, About 10 minutes into the hunt I got a clear and clean 12/13 on the CTX about 4 inches down. Popped the plug and Boom My first Shield nickle. And it had Rays!! So 1866 or 1867 My new oldest coin..










From there it just got better. I spent a few days with Treblehunter going to a few spots he had permissions to hunt and it was awesome. I ended up with many many Buttons, a couple silver washed and a few Gold gilt, A draped bust large cent(now my oldest coin 1796 to 1807) 3 Flying eagle cents(3 year minted coin 1856, 57, 58), 3 or 4 Indians the oldest being a Fatty 1863, A sterling silver whatsit, Glass top to a ink well, a bunch of buckles, and so on. Pics below. In the end It was a trip I will never forget and I want to throw another thank you out to TREBLEHUNTER! I can't wait to go back east again. I truly would have been happy with a couple of wheat pennies and the experience of traveling back east. But it turned out to be much more. Now to plan for next time!!

 

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[JackalopeZL1]

 

[JackalopeZL1]

 

[driftless]

Great story and nice finds! Must have been a blast.

 

[vpnavy]

Nice finds Jackalope! Thanks for sharing...

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats on a really nice hunt and post. Glad you got some keepers.

 

[BARKER]

Hi Jackalope; Glad you got to see a part of NE. One thing I noticed is that 1864 Indian Head. Look at the ribbon coming down from the Head Dress. If you see the Letter L there you have a Key dated Indian. There was the 1864 No L and the 1864 L Variieties. Yours is in strong XF Condition but because of the Corrosion you drop it by one Grade to VF - 40 ok. The L Variety in VF Condition is Listed in the Red Book at $190. The No L is listed at $45 ok. Nice finds all around. Some of the flat One Piece buttons are from the 1700's & one or 2 I saw are 1810 - 1820 ok. Glad you had fun. Come back sometime. There is more stuff waiting for you ok. PEACE:RONB

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Thanks for the info. Very appreciative. That 1864 is actually one of Treblehunters he found that hunt. I will make sure he knows.

I am hooked now, I think when I retire in 11 years I am moving back there. But until then a couple trips a year will have to do let me know when you want hunting partners!!

 

[treblehunter]

I'm so glad I saved that hay field until you got here. I seriously was worried, I mean think about it, I never know when I'm going to stop finding stuff? I went through that hay field one day for two hours before you came out and found one Large Cent, a fatty Indian and a bunch of buttons/relics. I'm really glad you got to find some colonial goodies. I had not noticed until I seen this post, but I found that very same button


I have not been back there yet, I plan on taking a friend tomorrow and see what we come up with? It was raining yesterday and all day today also, I'm thinking it should be an interesting day tomorrow with the ground re-soaked. You are very welcome, I'm hearing the silver Mafia are coming to New Jersey in April maybe you could swing by again for a mob hunt, lol

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Let me know the date!!!

Did you date that button?

 

[treblehunter]

I keep forgetting to tell you thanks for the photography lesson with my phone. I do believe I will get much better pix now with that way of doing it.

 

[treblehunter]

Let me know the date!!!

Did you date that button?

I'm the wrong guy to date buttons, I don't have any of the $150.00 button books, I find them and hope someone with some of those high price button books help me with ID's lol

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Heck. You have always posted great pics.. and man I would love to find all the awesome items you find!! We need more silver though huh? Lol

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Holy smokes, this may be something here

 

[gunsil]

Glad to see you had a good hunt here in the east!! Now you will start to get the idea you may have to move back this way just to hunt old sites every day!!

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Look at this!

 

[cudamark]

8 or 9 hours to go from Sacto to Philly? Who you flying with....the Wright brothers? . Nice finds!

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Lay over included...lol

 

[cudamark]

I hate those. I'd rather pay a little extra (if necessary) and fly non-stop.

 

[Patriot Relics]

Glad to see you putting that new CTX to work on the east coast, lord knows I've put a least a 1000 hours behind your old machine since you graciously parted with it thanks for all the great pictures