Relic MOTHER LOAD- 1600s Spanish, British neck stock, and a CANNON!

Patriot Relics

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Hey guys,

Been on a bit of a streak lately, scouting out and landing on some of the most productive sites I've ever hunted. After last week's picket post discovery, I decided to branch out and hit the few remaining areas on my radar that did not reflect colonial occupation. Threw out the normal plat map comparisons and just went out hiking to a few spots that remained undiscovered. Needless to say, I've been back 3 times since Sunday and it has been ridiculously productive. I'll start with a bucket lister I've been hoping to dig for some time now - 18th century toy cannon. This one is a bronze alloy and still looks like it would fire (usually these are found with cracks after kids of the 1700s would overload them with powder) :laughing7: Here's fresh out of the plug

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Bit of dry brushing and a coat of wax

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A top 5 find in my relic display without a doubt

When I swung over the next target, I nearly did a back flip...I'm not one for coin shooting, but a Spanish 1 Real cob from the 1600s is not just any coin. Any cob experts please chime in with details on the assayer/age.

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Only a few feet away I going another slamming and out pops a massive 32.5 mm copper (2.4mm thick)

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The size rules out most colonial coins I am aware of, suspect it's part of the same cob spill...see pictures on page 3 - 1722-1723 Rosa Americana 2 pence! No doubt this dirt was occupied far earlier than I expected. Recover another pair of roached silvers, a 17X9 globe and pillar 1/2 real as well as a smooth 1 real (I think).

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When I swung over this target I thought for sure I had a plate - banging 94 on the Deus...out popped a curious piece of copper. I could tell it was marked so wrapped it and brought it back to the truck.

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After a bit of research I realized it was an early thermometer, suspect late 1700s early 1800s. Blood heat, Sum'r Heat, Temp Heat, and Freez :laughing7: Took me 2 days, but I eventually found the missing piece. Don't recall ever seeing one of these posted on Tnet

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The only military pocket I recovered was a small concentration of British rev war relics- pewter button (X 5 regiment), neck stock buckle, and powder horn top.

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Early 1700s rat tail pewter spoon & stamped copper bowl

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Nice assortment of fancy dandy buttons late 18th century

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Definitely get the feeling these folks had money

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Assortment of other buttons (there's more but I'm out of room)

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This one is interesting, can't quite find an exact match online - Holy Mary religious pendent

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Colonial copper ring

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Sling and strap buckles

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Furniture hardware

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Copper ruler fragment

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Leather boss, flintlock side plate

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Think that about covers it...hopefully the pictures speak for themselves. Still in shock with the diversity of finds from an undocumented homesite, clearly occupied heavily in the 17th and 18th century. Between the silver cob, toy cannon, and copper thermometer I could be happier. As always thanks for your comments and good luck digging.

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Last edited:
Upvote 88

bonepicker

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Im speechless. outfreakinstanding. you are on a roll.
Perhaps the large copper disk is a jeton.
 

DeepseekerADS

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Good gracious, maybe you need to buy a larger house!!!

Finds to drool about there!
 

gwdigger

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Yeah, incredible digs. Wow. I think your spanish coin is a counterfeit 2 escudos from south america. Bogota maybe?
 

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Rookster

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Now we're metal detecting. Congrats :notworthy:
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Im speechless. outfreakinstanding. you are on a roll.
Perhaps the large copper disk is a jeton.

Certainly a possibility bud, the edge tough is irregular (sharp points that occur on the rim, seems like this would have been done intentional?) Hopefully mack will weigh in
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Yeah, incredible digs. Wow. I think your spanish coin is a counterfeit 2 escudos from south america. Bogota maybe?

Certainly looks like an exact match - would they have made a counterfeit out of silver? Any details on a tighter date range
 

gwdigger

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Certainly looks like an exact match - would they have made a counterfeit out of silver? Any details on a tighter date range
I guess they could've passed off a gold plated silver coin as a 2 escudos. It looks 17th century to me, early 18th maybe. I'd sure be a happy camper to dig that thing. Am quite fond of early counterfeits.
 

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hunting deer

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Awesome finds! These are the threads I look forward to! Congrats!! I had to tell you I found a similar thermometer strip this spring. I'll dig it out and post a pic.
 

villagenut

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I bet there are still some heart stoppers in that soil just waiting for you to pull them out.
 

gwdigger

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What does platinum look like after 300 years in salt or brackish water. The reason I ask is that platinum was worthless back in the colonial era and many colonial gold coin forgeries made from platinum are known.
 

GaRebel1861

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I'm going to vote banner on that toy cannon. All nice finds no doubt but that cannon is the bomb! Good luck!
 

Kray Gelder

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OK. You're done for the year. You have to leave some for the rest of us. NOT! Fantastic spot and finds. You earned those relics, digging in this "Blood heat"! Congrats!
 

Argentium

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Ridiculous ! I get excited if i find a wheatie ! a merc. and I'm calling my friends on the phone - I can't imagine a site like that !!!
 

Relicific

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That’s one heck of a site u got there.
Congrats on all those cool finds.
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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I guess they could've passed off a gold plated silver coin as a 2 escudos. It looks 17th century to me, early 18th maybe. I'd sure be a happy camper to dig that thing. Am quite fond of early counterfeits.

Thanks for the info GW, I'll see if I can confirm the base metal purity
 

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