Spanish Silver and other relics from this past weekend

[Steve in PA]

Was able to get out and dig a few holes this weekend. The initial plan was to water hunt a river site at an old crossing where an 1818 Inn stands next to the river. However, my AT Gold went bonkers soon after entering the water. Thought at first the coil must have leaked, but it was still chattering wildly even after disconnecting the coil. With water hunting out of the question, I went to one of my old reliable colonial spots where they had just mowed the hay. Didn’t dig a whole lot of keepers, but I did get a 1785 half real. This makes 15 silver coins for me from this tavern site (13 Spanish, 1 Draped Bust dime, and 1 Capped Bust half dime). I have also dug 30 coppers here which is an incredible 2 to 1 copper to silver ratio.

I also dug an interesting whatzit pictured below. It looks to be about ¼ of whatever it was. I was thinking a large furniture escutcheon, but the rim is raised on both sides. My other thought is that it may be a piece of a sword guard, but I am only lukewarm on that idea.

 

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[Greylock]

Nice digs. I like the Spanish silver. Wish I could find more of them out this way.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Nice going on the silver Steve. I'm amazed at how many folks are finding places to hunt this time of year. Not the first field in my neck of the woods has been cut yet. And many are in soybeans and it'll still be 6 weeks or more before they get cut. BTW - that mystery piece looks like it could possibly be part of a colonial sword hilt. Is it big enough to be from one of those?

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice going on the silver Steve. I'm amazed at how many folks are finding places to hunt this time of year. Not the first field in my neck of the woods has been cut yet. And many are in soybeans and it'll still be 6 weeks or more before they get cut. BTW - that mystery piece looks like it could possibly be part of a colonial sword hilt. Is it big enough to be from one of those?

Bill, that was one of my thoughts - sword guard or hilt. The piece I have is about 2.5 x 1.5 inches. It is fairly thick brass, about 1/8 inch thick in the thinnest areas. I wasn't able to find any other pieces. They must be too deep to reach. Hopefully they will plow this field someday.

 

[VOL1266-X]

Nice Reale Steve. Glad to see that your wrists are well as proven by your recent finds. I hope you tear it up this fall. WTG & HH, Q.

 

[Evolution]

Congrats on adding another Spanish silver to your totals. Sounds like you've pulled an incredible amount of coins from that site. Keep at it.

 

[BurntBear]

Very nice!

 

[70monte68]

Steve, congrats on the silver. Sounds like a great spot and a nice one to have as a back up. Good luck with the coil.

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Thats a great silver save there Steve !!

 

[dirtlooter]

great finds, hope you get the Gold ironed out

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice digs. I like the Spanish silver. Wish I could find more of them out this way.

I have noticed that you New England diggers seem to find a LOT more coppers than Spanish Silver. The Virginia diggers find a LOT more Spanish Silver than coppers. I would estimate that I find one Spanish silver for every five coppers. I have found 62 Spanish silvers over the years with 17 of them being cut pieces.

 

[flyinryan2]

Good finds. Love seeing that silver in a clump!

 

[dig kzoo]

Sweet finds! My AT gold did the same, off for repair it goes.

 

[Greylock]

I have noticed that you New England diggers seem to find a LOT more coppers than Spanish Silver. The Virginia diggers find a LOT more Spanish Silver than coppers. I would estimate that I find one Spanish silver for every five coppers. I have found 62 Spanish silvers over the years with 17 of them being cut pieces.

1 in 5 would be nice. I'm not sure how many coppers I have but I would guess 250 coppers to 1 Spanish silver. It's kinda neat to see how states or sections of the country were influenced by other countries.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

1 in 5 would be nice. I'm not sure how many coppers I have but I would guess 250 coppers to 1 Spanish silver. It's kinda neat to see how states or sections of the country were influenced by other countries.

Things are totally reversed down here in Tidewater Virginia. Over the last 15 years I've dug 169 colonial silver coins versus maybe 50-60 coppers. And about 1/2 of all the coppers are 1773 Va halfpennies. So that would put my overall ratio as being about 3 silvers for every copper. That sounds great, but I really enjoyed digging an unusual number and variety of early coppers last season, and hope that trend continues when the fields eventually become available in a few weeks..

 

[Bubba65]

Congrats Steve on digging some more Spanish always fun to dig those

 

[Steve in PA]

Sweet finds! My AT gold did the same, off for repair it goes.

I just got done playing with mine. Turned it on for the first time since Saturday and it was doing the same thing. Took the battery pack out, then put it back in and the problem is solved!

 

[rodarian]

You always seem to find the coolest stuff. Love it.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Good hunt Steve. That has been some productive site. 15 silver from one site is what I'd call "rich" The best site for old silver we ever came across had I think 6 or 7.

My copper to silver ratio is at least 5 to 1, and probably closer to 8 or 9 to 1.