Tenspeed
Hero Member
- Mar 22, 2009
- 518
- 219
- Detector(s) used
-
Currently: Minelab Equinox 800, Minelab CTX 3030, Minelab E-Trac, Garrett Pro Pointer AT
Past: XP Deus, Xterra 70, Ace 250
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
UPDATE: Information on this medal is scarce, but from what I could learn, only 2.000 to 3,000 were made. I contacted The South Carolina State Museum and they did not have this medal in their collection, so, as of last Thursday, it now has a new home in the museum so that anyone that wants to learn more about South Carolina history can view it in person.
Sorry for the long winded nature of this post. I haven't posted in over a year since I haven't really had anything special to post, but I thought one of my recent finds was unique enough to share.
Friday afternoon, I found a 1918 France – WWI 371st Division Commemorative Medal (US Negro battalion from South Carolina on loan to the French army, one of approximately 3000 made) (see a clear picture and history at this link: http://www.cointalk.com/t4903/ ). This medal was created by the French Govt’ in 1918 to commemorate the support of the 371st Division that was loaned to them by the US government. Evidently a member of this Unit was from the town I live in and it was lost in this yard.
But I get ahead of myself. Here is the whole story.
I am currently in a long outage and am working 21 straight days (mixed 10 and 12 hour days) so I only have an hour or so on the 10 hour days 3 or 4 afternoons a week to hunt. I thought my town was mostly hunted out, but was I ever wrong!! I have 37 silver coins from the town I live in (49 total) and am really surprised by this. The one yard I am talking about now has given me 5 silvers along with 2 firsts for my detecting career.
I was out hunting curbs in an older part of town last week and was approached by a gentleman who lived in the house on the corner. He turned out to be the nicest guy and actually owned the houses on two of the corners where I was hunting. He is 81 and was born in one house and then moved into his grandparents, which is the larger of the two houses, at 7. He offered to let me hunt the yards of both of his homes (larger one built in 1910 and the other in 1929). The larger, older, home is on a double lot and has a very large yard. He is so friendly and knowledgeable that it is hard to get any hunting in when he is outside.
After our conversation I immediately headed for the front yard of the older house with the large yard. I started finding wheaties (1917 and two mid 1940’s) and then found my first ever BARBER Quarter (1912). I showed it to the owner who had come out to show me a picture of the house from the 20’s. I was so excited I could barely talk.
I was back the next afternoon for about an hour and hunted the front yard beside the house. This is where he said the neighborhood kids played football and baseball in the 30's and 40's because it was the biggest yard on the street. 3rd base was near the street and they used to have balls go out in the street and down the storm drain to be lost forever!! Between third base and the pitcher I found three merc’s (1935S, 2 x 1941), my first ever BUFFALO Nickel (very crusty with strong 1936 date), and ten wheat pennies. I found no new coins this hunt.
My last opportunity to hunt was Friday afternoon for about an hour. I was hunting in a line from home to second and towards first base. I was kind of bummed because I only found 2 memorial pennies until I got this blaring 12-47/12-48 on my E-Trac. I just knew it was a silver quarter. This big brown disc (1 5/8 inches) that was bigger than a silver dollar came out. I threw it in my pouch not really knowing what it was. Shortly after I came up with a 1928 D Merc to end the hunt because it was getting dark. I gently cleaned it and was able to ID it as the WWI Commemorative Medal for the 371st division.
This yard has been unbelievable! 1918 WWI Medal, 5 silvers (1912 Barber Quarter, 28D, 35S, 2 x 41 Mercury), 1936 Buffalo with like new date, 13 wheat pennies and only 4 pieces of trash.
I may actually get a day off tomorrow and my partner and I are going to try to hit the back yard and the second house.
HH
Sorry for the long winded nature of this post. I haven't posted in over a year since I haven't really had anything special to post, but I thought one of my recent finds was unique enough to share.
Friday afternoon, I found a 1918 France – WWI 371st Division Commemorative Medal (US Negro battalion from South Carolina on loan to the French army, one of approximately 3000 made) (see a clear picture and history at this link: http://www.cointalk.com/t4903/ ). This medal was created by the French Govt’ in 1918 to commemorate the support of the 371st Division that was loaned to them by the US government. Evidently a member of this Unit was from the town I live in and it was lost in this yard.
But I get ahead of myself. Here is the whole story.
I am currently in a long outage and am working 21 straight days (mixed 10 and 12 hour days) so I only have an hour or so on the 10 hour days 3 or 4 afternoons a week to hunt. I thought my town was mostly hunted out, but was I ever wrong!! I have 37 silver coins from the town I live in (49 total) and am really surprised by this. The one yard I am talking about now has given me 5 silvers along with 2 firsts for my detecting career.
I was out hunting curbs in an older part of town last week and was approached by a gentleman who lived in the house on the corner. He turned out to be the nicest guy and actually owned the houses on two of the corners where I was hunting. He is 81 and was born in one house and then moved into his grandparents, which is the larger of the two houses, at 7. He offered to let me hunt the yards of both of his homes (larger one built in 1910 and the other in 1929). The larger, older, home is on a double lot and has a very large yard. He is so friendly and knowledgeable that it is hard to get any hunting in when he is outside.
After our conversation I immediately headed for the front yard of the older house with the large yard. I started finding wheaties (1917 and two mid 1940’s) and then found my first ever BARBER Quarter (1912). I showed it to the owner who had come out to show me a picture of the house from the 20’s. I was so excited I could barely talk.
I was back the next afternoon for about an hour and hunted the front yard beside the house. This is where he said the neighborhood kids played football and baseball in the 30's and 40's because it was the biggest yard on the street. 3rd base was near the street and they used to have balls go out in the street and down the storm drain to be lost forever!! Between third base and the pitcher I found three merc’s (1935S, 2 x 1941), my first ever BUFFALO Nickel (very crusty with strong 1936 date), and ten wheat pennies. I found no new coins this hunt.
My last opportunity to hunt was Friday afternoon for about an hour. I was hunting in a line from home to second and towards first base. I was kind of bummed because I only found 2 memorial pennies until I got this blaring 12-47/12-48 on my E-Trac. I just knew it was a silver quarter. This big brown disc (1 5/8 inches) that was bigger than a silver dollar came out. I threw it in my pouch not really knowing what it was. Shortly after I came up with a 1928 D Merc to end the hunt because it was getting dark. I gently cleaned it and was able to ID it as the WWI Commemorative Medal for the 371st division.
This yard has been unbelievable! 1918 WWI Medal, 5 silvers (1912 Barber Quarter, 28D, 35S, 2 x 41 Mercury), 1936 Buffalo with like new date, 13 wheat pennies and only 4 pieces of trash.
I may actually get a day off tomorrow and my partner and I are going to try to hit the back yard and the second house.
HH
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, it brought back memories of a poem I read at school by Wilfred Owen.
