DOUBLE WASHINGTON INAUGURAL DAY

[RelicHunter97]

First of all.....WOW!

OKAY back on track! So a while ago, perhaps a week ago, I noticed that a field that has been very productive for us in the past had been plowed up and rained on. This field has given up many great finds, for me personally I have found an 1805 large cent, an 1820 capped bust dime (in amazing condition), my War of 1812 Massachusetts Artillery button, and my Washington inaugural button. I know of many other great finds that have come from here, but I don't want to take up the post with those finds :P

Fast forward to yesterday, I received a call from my cousin Norma, asking me if I wanted to come over, and later that night join them to an excursion to the woods. (Norma is a sasquatch enthusiast so we like to go out and try to gather evidence of its existence. We usually do this around a campfire, listening for howls, etc.) Anyways, I said yes, and I arrived at Bob and Norma's house around 3:15. It did not take long for me to mention the field which was in prime condition, even more so since it was raining. Since it was still early, Bob and I decided to go check it out. We got there a little after four. I was borrowing his MPx metal detector that his daughter bought him as a spare. It didn't perform well though, iron was reading like pull tabs and half dollars, and it was unusable. So he called be over after a little while and offered to share his XLT with me, he would do a row down the field, when we reached the end, I would take over. So he finished his row, and then it was my turn. I got about thirty feet into the row when I got a strong signal reading between 22 and 30 on the VDI. Since I had the detector, he dug it and pinpointed it. We could see it in the dirt, a little button. He then picked it up and gave it to me. I took it and wiped the dirt off, and I could not believe what I saw. "Are you kidding me?" I whispered to myself. My jaw was dropped down low, and Bob was like "What? What is it?" I said "Long Live the President..." It took me a minute to recuperate and get back to reality, but I was absolutely elated. At the time, I felt bad, because if Bob hadn't invited me over to use his machine, then that button would have been his. But those feelings would not last. "Okay. Now you go and find one," I told him. Who knew he could be so obedient?

We were three rows down the field (it was his turn then mine and now it was his turn again), and about twenty feet away from where I found my button, Bob got a signal. He pinpointed it with his detector, and said "One inch deep." "Not even!" I replied, as it was right on the surface: a button, shank side up. He reached down to pick it up, but I stopped him, asked if I could take a picture first. He said of course, and made a joke about it being another GW button. I took the photo below, and then picked it up. When I removed the dirt from the face, I couldn't help but laugh in amazement. "Long live the president!" I said, to his disbelief. I had to assure him that I was not kidding, and we were just both in shock and awe. Two rare buttons, two guys, one detector, one field, one day. Nothing could top that. (Well, perhaps a tree coin :P)

Okay! Thank you all for reading! Happy Hunting!

-Anthony

EDIT: My other finds for the day were three buttons, a parasol piece, a thimble, some pottery, and some whatzits.
Also, past auction sale prices for this particular button include $1,400 (in rough shape), $6,050 (in comparable condition), and $17,000 (very publicized auction, extremely fine condition). Though these are all from before 2006, so I do not know how the market has changed. I'm hoping I can get at least a few thousand for it! Cheers!

[Brian C.]

Awesome finds.

[Garrett424]

Sweet finds.
It's amazing how something so old can still be so close to the top.

Congrats.

[johnnyi]

Awesome! and hearty congratulations! The documented history of the "Long Live The President" varieties, has always seemed to me the most interesting of them all, but I'm partial for obvious reasons. Now to go figure out how to vote BANNER

[RelicHunter97]

Top right corner of the post, "NOMINATE BANNER," red button. Thank you for your vote!

[el remolino]

Some great finds and an even better story. Thanks for sharing.

[Iron Patch]

Those are the kind of days you will never forget... and think back on many times and smile!

[Bubba65]

CONGRATS on one AWESOME DIG, my Banner vote is in

[bootybandit]

Awesome find! You got my vote

[RelicHunter97]

Thanks, you guys! And @IronPatch, definitely!

[Iron Patch]

Thanks, you guys! And @IronPatch, definitely!

You actually brought back a memory for me. It was quite a few years ago and we were trying a new field and as soon as we started getting a few signs there could be a site, my friend dug an early military button I would have liked to get over. I said now I have to find one, and maybe 20 minutes later I did. I've made that same comment many times since... I have to find one of those... and it has never happened again.

[treblehunter]

Great find, very nice thread, it doesn't get much better then this! Got my vote.

[70monte68]

Wow, they are beautiful! I have like 5 pounds of old buttons and not one of those, yet! lol enjoy the find

[RelicHunter97]

You actually brought back a memory for me. It was quite a few years ago and we were trying a new field and as soon as we started getting a few signs there could be a site, my friend dug an early military button I would have liked to get over. I said now I have to find one, and maybe 20 minutes later I did. I've made that same comment many times since... I have to find one of those... and it has never happened again.

Ha! Funny how that happens. I remember when Bob found his first one back in 2010, we had actually JUST been talking about finding an inaugural button on the car ride over. Strange things happen sometimes!

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice digs.