1854 UC Halfpenny, Skeleton Key – Homestead Finds

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I found this c1840 home site on an old map of my area, I approached the farmer and he gave me the go ahead to detect it. I hit this site for 3hrs on Saturday afternoon, before the rains came on. The finds were few and far between for a while, that is until I found the approximate location of where the house stood. It was originally a wood frame structure and likely only lasted for 25 – 30 years before it burnt, this is evident by the wide spread of the finds by the plows over this 5 acre site. Some of the more interesting finds were the skeleton key, the Upper Canada Halfpenny, the pottery and of course, the horse teeth!

My new friend ‘Don the Farmer’, showed up right on cue to disk the field for me for my return hunt.

I plan on returning here tomorrow morning, thanks for looking!
Dave

 

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[Digger RJ]

Very Nice!!! Great Detail!! Congrats!!!

 

[Aureus]

Those are pretty good finds Dave, congratulations! The site does show potential, good luck on your next visit.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Great relic and old coin hunting!

 

[DigToChina]

They cleaned up nicely. Great finds.

 

[HCW]

Very nice. Lucky you.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Very Nice!!! Great Detail!! Congrats!!!

Thanks for your post and support as always Randy!

Those are pretty good finds Dave, congratulations! The site does show potential, good luck on your next visit.

Thank you Anton, I'm heading back this afternoon as they're calling for rain here this morning.
Hope you're staying safe in Quebec,
Dave

Great relic and old coin hunting!

Thanks for your post Professor.
Dave

They cleaned up nicely. Great finds.

Thanks buddy, it sure beats sitting at home watching Netfix all day.

Very nice. Lucky you.

Thank you Sir!

 

[xcopperstax]

Your bank token and key came out looking really nice! Congrats on the well researched location! Thanks for sharing

 

[WVExplorer]

Love the old farm home sites. Some of my best finds come from them.

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice looking bank token

 

[Georgivs]

Cool key, I love finding them almost as much as coins

 

[WannaDig3687]

I love the skeleton key! Looks like a fun hunt. I hope you find some more goodies.

 

[A2coins]

Good job on the research and permission I love tokens I have 2 they are the same token lol That is an awesome find I like the key also I have alot of empty buckets and I have one for a skeleton key Good going and hope to see a gold coin on your next trip my friend... Stay safe out there Dave Tommy

 

[caretaker]

I dug one like that in a home with a dirt cellar, great find

 

[cmthunder]

Nice finds Dave keep diggin

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Your bank token and key came out looking really nice! Congrats on the well researched location! Thanks for sharing

Thanks for your post Mr Stax.
This was only a short 3hr hunt, unfortunately the field was seeded with corn the next day by the farmer.

Looks like I'll have to wait until the fall harvest to hunt it again.
Dave

Love the old farm home sites. Some of my best finds come from them.

I feel the same way my friend!
Detecting these places is like detecting a time capsule, the relics lost here by the early settlers of our country are still here almost asking to be found by us.

Best of luck to you,
Dave

Nice looking bank token

Thanks Steve, they always look nicer if they haven't been pee'd on by farm animals for 150 years.
Dave

Cool key, I love finding them almost as much as coins

Thanks for your post Georgivs.
I don't find many complete iron examples, mainly the brass ones, so finding one that's complete is a bonus!
Dave

I love the skeleton key! Looks like a fun hunt. I hope you find some more goodies.

Thank you for taking the time to post on my thread WD.

Hope your Dad is doing well... I bet he'd love another hamburger this weekend!
Dave

Good job on the research and permission I love tokens I have 2 they are the same token lol That is an awesome find I like the key also I have alot of empty buckets and I have one for a skeleton key Good going and hope to see a gold coin on your next trip my friend... Stay safe out there Dave Tommy

Thanks very much Tommy!
There were 750K - 1.5M U.C. Halfpenny & One Penny Tokens produced for each year from 1850 - 57, so I tend to find a lot of them.
They also had a relatively small area of circulation at that time period, although they've been found across North America.
Dave

I dug one like that in a home with a dirt cellar, great find

That example is in nice condition looks like it circulated for a long time before it was lost.
I heard a theory years ago... "that most coins that are lost, are lost within 10 years of being in circulation".

This explains why, if the soil has had good drainage or as long as the coin hasn't been pee'd on by animals for years, they come out of the ground looking like mine does.
Dave

Nice finds Dave keep diggin

Thank you my friend, hope you and your son are doing some outdoor exploring these days.
Dave

 

[diggerranger]

[emoji106][emoji106]

 

[Argentium]

Good looking finds there ! Love the skeleton key
that's still on my list , I'm guessing you'll be working that site for a while ..

 

[PullTabPete]

Great Finds.

My oldest coin to date is a 1852 UC bank token,

Good luck finding more treasure.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

[emoji106][emoji106]

Thank you

Good looking finds there ! Love the skeleton key
that's still on my list , I'm guessing you'll be working that site for a while ..

Thanks for your post Arg.
I hope so as well, this was only a 3hr effort on Saturday, so there has to be more to find.
Dave

Great Finds.

My oldest coin to date is a 1852 UC bank token,

Good luck finding more treasure.

That's a nice looking token Pete, it looks to be the size of a 'One Penny' when compared to the quarter.
It appears to be a great condition as well.

Thanks for your post,
Dave