A Day on the Texas Frontier. Fort relics and a Bust 1/2 Dime

[NZ49er]

Howdy all,

Started the day with no real plan. Headed to the next town over where a frontier fort had been built in the early 1850's. The fort is off limits, but I was hoping to find an area in the nearby town to hunt. Got permission for some privately held baseball fields on the main road and figured I'd find a few mid-twentieth century coins to help with my silver count. Almost immediately I started hitting round balls. The day went on and the finds continued to pile up.

Turns out I was in an untouched 1850's cavalry campsite. Got lots of .69 balls, some smaller calibers as well. A couple of Dragoon Overcoat buttons (my first). Also got the face of a 2-piece Eagle I button along with a pewter eagle cuff and a 2 piece eagle cuff. The surprise of the day was my first half-dime. 1832. She's been holed, has been in a fire, and has a heck of a plow strike, but I'll take take it! This is my earliest US silver. Wasn't even on the radar or bucket list. Figured the odds of finding one in the areas of the country that I hunt were astronomically low.

Also got a rotten Classic Head 1/2 cent. Also wasn't expecting to find one of these in my area. Can't even get a date off of it. Got the usual camp lead along with some later bullets: a fired colt army .45 and a few 45-70s (?).

I'm headed back next Sunday. Gonna put some of the finds in a shadowbox for the property owners.

Thanks for looking,
NZ49er

 

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[NZ49er]

Just cleaned that eagle cuff a bit. It's and Eagle A! Artillery were there as well

 

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[Steve in PA]

Nice finds. I have spent some time on the Texas frontier west of Graham, so that stuff looks familiar. I've dug dragoon, rifleman, artillery, infantry, greatcoat, and kepi buttons, plus lots of 4 hole underwear buttons. Gomez and Mills (multi ring sharps) bullets, Jeff Davis hat badges, and all sorts of relics from the 1850s Texas Frontier, but never a coin or a plate. Good luck next time out

 

[JerV3]

Those are some great finds.

A lot of digging there.

Jer

 

[A2coins]

Jeez amazing that's a lot of cool relics. Yes ha
..Well done

 

[Lone Star]

That's great. Nice location. I just scoped out a few near downtown Houston this morning.
Ever been to any of the Pecos river locations?

 

[artyfacts]

Great hunt. Lets see some cleaned up pics of the half dime.

 

[NZ49er]

Never been to the Pecos area. Here's the coin cleaned up. She's a bit rough:

 

[cannonball]

Fun finds, Nice time frame. Congratulations

 

[NZ49er]

Got one of the Dragoon (Correction: Great Coat. Thanks Steve In PA!) buttons cleaned up pretty well. Thick crusts on the brass in the limestone based soils.[ATTATCH=CONFIG]1796008[/ATTACH]

 

[Steve in PA]

Got one of the Dragoon buttons cleaned up pretty well. Thick crusts on the brass in the limestone based soils. View attachment 1796008

That is a General Service "Great Coat" button. Your Dragoon buttons will have a D in the eagles shield.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

That half dime will clean up just fine!! Looks like a nice spot and the shadow box is always a good way to get back in there!!

 

[NZ49er]

That is a General Service "Great Coat" button. Your Dragoon buttons will have a D in the eagles shield.
View attachment 1796091 View attachment 1796092

Thanks for the correct I'D! I need to get a copy of Alberts.

 

[Steve in PA]

Thanks for the correct I'D! I need to get a copy of Alberts.

I have Albert's and Tice's books. These pictures were from Tices. Albert's has more info on earlier US buttons. Tice has more on the CW era buttons.

 

[civil_war22]

Omg. Love that