Finally!! KGIII and a NJ copper and a few relics

[Don in SJ]

After a long drought of getting buttons, buttons, and more buttons, although I really only hunted a few times since last April, but still it does get to you when you have not found an old coin for almost 9 months!

I went to a new site this morning, had to mountain bike it to the site, and of course when I was done hunting I went back to the bike and the front tire was flat, no pump, no repair kit with me, so I did what I had to do, rode most of the way back (luckily it there was some downhill and solid sandy road) and called the wife when I reached paved road and had her pick me up and take me to my truck a bit further away!

So, I ended my drought with a what I think is a 1771 KGIII Halfpenny (counterfeit of course) and to my surprise another NJ Copper, my 21st! The first target I dug though was a complete frame of a shoe buckle and that brought a smile to my face, since it help date the site occupation time for me right away, the coppers confirmed that along with one Tombac button.

The reason I mention dating the site is becuase I found another one of those "harness hardware" decorative pieces, and I also found a what looks like the other half, this one made of lead and not similar to the previous decorative pieces found by me and others. I am now convinced they have been used in the 1700s despite claims of being more 1800ish. I think they must have been used for whatever purpose for a long time.

So, at least I got the monkey off my back and got a copple coins, not sure I will be doing mountain biking again anytime soon, unless I get a true mountain bike with better tires, been using a hybrid and the road tires seem to attract briar, broken glass all the time. Back to walking in the future.
Group photo at the site

Photo of the immediate site, just a small area with crumbled brick pieces in the ground and some Jersey stone near the surface, but all relics found within 30 feet of the occupation site, nothing in the outer permeter areas.

The ground was not too kind to the coins, did the best I could on cleaning and preserving them .

And a photo for Buckleboy and friends to add to the data base on the in my opinion still unresolved issue of these decorative pieces with the bracketed other half found together sometimes.


Although I have not hunted much for various reason in the past year, I did look back in my records and to my pleasant surprise, 17 out of the last 18 coppers found have been from the 1700s and the only one that was not 1700s was an 1801 Large Cent. Must be the reason all the buttons have been mostly Tombacs and flatties with no backmarks.
Forgot to include in the group photo the trigger guard part found

Don

[CASPER-2]

Nice hunt = congrats!

[hogge]

What's the variety on the Jersey Don?

[Don in SJ]

What's the variety on the Jersey Don?

My 5th M.43-d........

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

Nine month drought--Kicked. Nice finds. Spare tube and quick fills should take care of future bicycle flats. I've fixed hundreds out in the Pa. woods back in the day. Those coins get my excitement up for sure. Congrats.
Chris

[Don in SJ]

Nine month drought--Kicked. Nice finds. Spare tube and quick fills should take care of future bicycle flats. I've fixed hundreds out in the Pa. woods back in the day. Those coins get my excitement up for sure. Congrats.
Chris

This is an old GIANT hybrid, bent front wheel, broken rear brake, prone to flats ever since I started riding it off road, it seems to love green briar thorns, but also have trouble with the spokes puncturing the tube at times due to the damage to the wheel from a header I took many moons ago on a hunt. It does not have quick releases for the wheels, so I would never think of repairing in the woods, just time to pick up a true mountain bike with heavy duty tires and tubes. Or, quit riding off road and stick to my road bike riding without detecting.

[ModernMiner]

Great to see another fine post from you Don.
Exercise and 1700's recoveries too. A great day indeed. Congrats.
Thanks for posting that harness piece backing. Never saw one of those yet.
-MM-

[Sniffy]

WAY TO GO DON!!!! That NJ looks pretty sharp!

[TomPA]

Don, on your next bike ride, I predict that you uncover a tire pump and repair kit! As for the 'harness hardware', the few that I've recovered have always been at sites that date from the later 1700's to 1810.

[Goldirocks]

Glad to see that you got out Don. It seems that you always get some goodies when you have been laying low for awhile. I know how much you love to find those Jersey Coppers Great finds and may I suggest you hit some of the yardsales this spring and get yourself a better bike. Was good seeing you last month.

[Bill D. (VA)]

That was quick Don. You were just telling me yesterday that due to a number of circumstances you haven't been able to hunt in a while. Now you have 2 nice coppers in less than 24 hours. Glad you could get out, and hope to see more finds from that site soon.

[johnnyblaze]

Nice NJ copper man

Love the saddle piece,"These are a big debate"...


Blaze

[Bubba65]

Nice digs Don, Congrats on breaking the drought

Bubba65

[Don in SJ]

That was quick Don. You were just telling me yesterday that due to a number of circumstances you haven't been able to hunt in a while. Now you have 2 nice coppers in less than 24 hours. Glad you could get out, and hope to see more finds from that site soon.

LOL Bill, I think I went becuase of you. I am paying a price for today with back pain, but it was worth it!!

Don

[Woodland Detectors]

Congrats on the 21st copper Don! Wow. I really like the buckle as well. Great to see you posting.

[Steve in PA]

Nice coins and relics Don! It is only appropriate that the guy doing the NJ Copper study finds the most NJ Coppers Glad to see you sniff out a new site too

Regarding those decorative oval pieces, the ones I have found at sites that spanned the 18th and 19th centuries have had the designs cast into the piece. The ones from earlier sites had the designs incised or hand tooled into the piece.

[Bramblefind]

Awesome hunt Don! Great finds

Glad you made it back ok At least it looks like it was well worth the trouble!

How do the backs of the coins look?

[Hill Billy]

Great to see you got out to do some digging Don. I would go through withdrawls waiting that long.
Congrats on your coppers and other goodies.
Get back out there.

HB

[artyfacts]

Don, You are the NJ Copper Man-gnet, nice finds. Found a oval plate like the one you have pictured at a 18th century site also. Look into a Tens Unit for your back pain, these little suckers work for me... Arty

[BuckleBoy]

Don,

It is Wonderful that you were able to get out and dig, and great to see your typical high quality of great finds. Sounds like a bicycle investment may be in order.

Congrats on the NJ. Regardless of condition, that's a great coin to see. Nice to find another of those two-hole items.

And yes, those pieces have got to be a version of the "U-shaped" piece.

Well done, my friend.



Best Wishes,


Buckles