Fur Trade Silver, Tinklers, and Buttons from the Dirt

[Fugazi]

Went out in a group outing with family and friends and had a killer day on a random new spot

The region was right but the area was untested and we hit the first button within 5min. Then a tinkler, then another...I think we went all day and the worst thing we dig was a headstamp, not a pull tab or .22LR in sight.

The ladies and kiddos were sharing my Ace 400 while I was taking my time to learn the Quattro, they clobbered me in finds. That little yellow metal dirt sniffer kept speedily cracking 30 - 80's all day and each time it was something good.

I haven't done much research yet but the "wagon wheel" jewelry and the silver earring (?) were the favorite finds of the day. The smaller button with a crown on it is also very interesting.

They did find on piece of silver with a makers mark, RG and it could be Robert Garrard from London 1810-1860 Garrard & Co Ltd silversmiths and its predecessors

Pretty cool to find both Native and British items mixed in together, kinda lets you put the whole trade story together in one place

We did find a large copper/brass sheet that was rolled up in a tube thats a bit of a mystery, It rang up in the high silver zone and I thought we hit the jackpot and I dug under a cedar tree for 30min. Was a bit disappointed when it came out but still a very interesting piece.

I hope the flattened musket ball was a test fire and not some sign of trouble! Found another chunk of lead that seemed like an ingot for smelting but it has a hole all the the way thru it like it could have been a net weight?

Anyway, thought I'd share our red letter day and wish you guys the best of luck on your next outing!

View attachment IMG_20180512_183404052.jpg View attachment IMG_20180512_183357831.jpg View attachment IMG_20180512_183427698.jpg View attachment IMG_20180512_183441977.jpg View attachment IMG_20180512_183506459.jpg

 

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[CRUSADER]

Interesting bit of silver.

The RG doesn't look anything like the hall-mark you quote, they had a bottom tail to the G, & yours looks more like a C. I've looked at all the RG & RC hallmarks I can find on this site;
Silver Makers Marks

& I can't find a match. Remember these were registered maker-marks & they need to be identical, including the cartouche (the shape of the stamp, in this case oval).
It maybe US made?? (No idea)

 

[glass half fool]

Do you have any more pictures of the copper roll. Might it have been some type of horn or part of a musical instrument ? .Nice items so far keep looking .

 

[Relicific]

Interesting bit of silver.

The RG doesn't look anything like the hall-mark you quote, they had a bottom tail to the G, & yours looks more like a C. I've looked at all the RG & RC hallmarks I can find on this site;
Silver Makers Marks



& I can't find a match. Remember these were registered maker-marks & they need to be identical, including the cartouche (the shape of the stamp, in this case oval).
It maybe US made?? (No idea)

Your right,it’s R.C., for Robert Cruickshank.
Excellent finds

Biography ? CRUICKSHANK, ROBERT ? Volume V (1801-1820) ? Dictionary of Canadian Biography

 

[Hawks88]

Some real cool finds. Congrats!

 

[releventchair]

Great/ fantastic recoveries!
The ball and cone earrings are sweet....
The broken piece is a luckinbrooch. The more Scottish originated have a more distinguished crown on top.
Pieces evolved ,and more owlish type hearts like yours turned up. Great piece.

 

[Fugazi]

Thanks for the additional information, I was able to confirm the makers mark as RC, for Robert Cruickshank...awesome info on the "luckinbrooch" as I had no idea what that item originated from.

I'll load some more pics of the copper tube a bit later, being Mothers Day and all I need to make sure other activities take priority or I might find myself sleeping outside

 

[BIENER]

Nice finds!

 

[Steve in PA]

Great hunt. Love that Indian trade silver.

 

[cudamark]

Thanks for the additional information, I was able to confirm the makers mark as RC, for Robert Cruickshank...awesome info on the "luckinbrooch" as I had no idea what that item originated from.

I'll load some more pics of the copper tube a bit later, being Mothers Day and all I need to make sure other activities take priority or I might find myself sleeping outside

If you can take your detector with you, That not be a bad thing!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions!

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Very nice "Fur Trade" items.....and that is definitely a "Robert Cruickshank" brooch! (well, part of one)

Iowa Dale

 

[Fugazi]

Do you have any more pictures of the copper roll. Might it have been some type of horn or part of a musical instrument ? .Nice items so far keep looking .

Took a minute and snapped a few more shots. This copper tube is similar in size to a copper roll/sheet I found a while back. Although this one looks darker/thicker. I wish I could date patina. I might have to post in "what is it" View attachment IMG_20180513_215932950.jpg

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Probably kettle brass & we'll never know what they were using it for. I have lots of pieces of kettle brass from Fur Trade sites. The stuff you're finding date to late 1700's, early 1800's.
I'd definitely be hitting that site again! Good luck!

Iowa Dale

 

[glass half fool]

Ia.FurTrade I think you are probably right Now that I see a closer view along with your observation , my first guess was not even close

 

[Aureus]

Phenomenal finds! Congratulations!