Detecting Martha’s Vineyard (Colonial Copper, Spanish Silver and more!)

[Locke]

Hello folks, another work trip, another chance to bring my Equinox 800 along for the ride (I’m actually two trips behind and still need to post Amsterdam Part 2 and Digging in Latvia...those posts will be forthcoming).

In short, I spent about two weeks on the Vineyard. Work schedule allowed me to put in a few hours of beach digging each night and another 2-3 hours of land digging each each morning.

The night beach hunting was a little lackluster, about 50 bucks of clad, one silver ring and a 1952 silver quarter.

The exciting part was the land digging, many bucket listers this trip!

Some buckles; my favorite being a complete shoe buckle/with all moving parts I believe dates to around 1720-1790?


Some buttons; would love to get some more info on the very top and the very bottom button/belt decoration. The top button could be silver, but I’m not 100% sure.


I wish these guys were in better condition, but still killer finds for me; first was an 1835 Capped Bust Dime and a Type 1 (small star 1851-1853 (cant see the last two digits of the date), 3 cent pice).


Then came a surface find!! I believe it eroded out of the embankment of the road after the rain and fell onto the ground! George II Half Penny (I can only see the 17XX but it should date somewhere between 1727-1760).


Finally the highlight of my trip...something that made all the hours I’ve put into this worth it...Spanish Silver! 1 Reale minted in Potosi, Bolivia. I was hitting nothing but shotgun shells for the better part of the morning, then out of no where pops out this little beauty!


A few other odds and ends;


Hope you all enjoyed!

 

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[treasurehunter313]

Amazing

 

[Jose The Goon]

Great finds !!! Congrats !!! All on a great scenic little island to boot !!

 

[Iffy Signals]

Wow awesome! Right around the corner from me.

 

[Mudflap]

That's some cool stuff!! I should drag out the kayak and paddle over there some time....

 

[Gridwalker306]

What a hunt! Wow, those are some killer finds, I don’t even know where to begin. That buckle is amazing, as well as the silvers.

I dug the very same item that is in the bottom of your 3rd picture, only I dug it in England a few years ago. I was told it’s as old as the 1600’s, and would have been mounted to the leather used in horse tack/harness etc.

 

[Locke]

What a hunt! Wow, those are some killer finds, I don’t even know where to begin. That buckle is amazing, as well as the silvers.

I dug the very same item that is in the bottom of your 3rd picture, only I dug it in England a few years ago. I was told it’s as old as the 1600’s, and would have been mounted to the leather used in horse tack/harness etc. View attachment 1746444

That’s exactly it!! Thanks for honing me I’m on the date. I was thinking something on the same lines (belt decoration). I dug it in the same forest where i found the “flower” button directly above in the photo. Btw you got some beautiful buckles there yourself!

 

[Gridwalker306]

That’s exactly it!! Thanks for honing me I’m on the date. I was thinking something on the same lines (belt decoration). I dug it in the same forest where i found the “flower” button directly above in the photo. Btw you got some beautiful buckles there yourself!

Glad to help! Looks like you had really good spots to hunt there, finding things that old.

When I dug that pic out it made me want to get on a plane back to England lol. Someday...

 

[WG2020]

Locke, your hunts definitely paid off, you have some great finds. The complete buckle looks amazing as well as the 1 reale piece - both cleaned up really nice. Good luck with your hunts. Walt

 

[washingtonian]

This is one heck of a post man. I’d wet myself if I found any number of those items. Way to go man!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Yes, the leather decoration is 17th C, and can go on belts as well as horse's & yes the complete shoe buckle is 1720-90.
You also have 2 broken 17th C Spur Buckles.
The button with the holes is an 18th C blow-hole type. Never seen one in solid silver, only plated !

 

[califteacher]

It never ceases to amaze me, what is under the surface, waiting to be found. Your hunt yielded some amazing finds. The surface find of the King George II is amazing. I am glad that your hard work paid off for you. Just save something for the rest of us, okay?

 

[R_Arn15]

That's Awesome!!!! I would love to hunt up in the northeast and find some colonial artifacts and coins!!! Maybe one day.
Great finds and happy hunting

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Horst]

very well done - big congrats on this outstanding find!!!!

 

[Joe-Dirt]

WOW!! Super nice stuff, great job, congrats!!!!!!

 

[Aureus]

Great finds! Congratulations!

 

[tomsneck]

Wow. Awesome finds Locke. Love the capped bust. Next time ur on the island pm me. Maybe we can link up. Live on Chappy and have a bunch of spots!!

 

[xcopperstax]

Wow excellent post. The shoe buckle is killer. Very nice Spanish that looks like it was probably dropped in the 1700's!!!.... and the capped bust dime is awesome no matter what shape it's in. The surface KGII is amazing. The fact that nature just kind of put that coin there to find is really neat. Thanks for sharing this tale of treasure!

 

[tanz 82]

Ahhhhh well you’re the man!!!!!!!!