1600's WILLIAM III, ROSA Americana, Colonial TRASH pit

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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Hey guys,

Clean up post for my last couple hunts at a newly discovered colonial trash pit. Most of the targets have come out pretty rough given the harsh salt conditions, however a few nice display pieces have turned up. Got on the site with DownNDirty as a blind scout, so was thrilled with the results given the site was a bit of a mystery. This first piece was a bit of a head scratcher out of the mud. Looked a lot like a metal ingot...silver I dare say.

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This site has produced lots of early coins, and at least 3 contemporary counterfeits. I acid tested the ingot at home and it did have trace amount of silver. After taking it to a silver shop for professional analysis, it ended up being pewter (with minimal silver content). First pewter ingot I've ever seen, could have been used for buttons, spoons, or producing knock off coins.

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Nearby Glenn stumbled across a coin spill in the muck- he pulled a nice KGI with the Nox...and I worked behind him and dug 2 roached coppers with the CTX. Just inland, I dug what I thought was a slick copper. Luckily the profile and hair tie allowed for a definitive ID - King William III half penny. These were produced from 1695-1698 so definitely in the 1600s copper club :laughing7:

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Here's what it would have looked like

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Another nice coin surprise was my 4th Rosa Americana from the site - this one is a 1722 half penny variety.

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Crazy to score a 1600s and early 1700s copper from the same site.

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Dug another encrusted coin, definitely another early one, but to far gone. Electrolysis usually reveals a thin copper disk inside....

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Next up is one of the nicest shoe buckles I've ever dug. No idea how it survived the salt, but check out that patina.

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This one was dug in the same pit

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Normal assorted flats

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Was praying for a GW with this monster 35mm, but beggers can't be choosers. Still a nice civilian dandy.

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1600s Laden Spoon

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That about wraps it up, looking forward to a few repeat trips in March. Here's my favorites/group shot and as always thanks for looking.

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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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Ahab8

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Oct 15, 2013
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Seems like these would be more common with all the uses for pewter in the 1700s. Can't seem to find another example, but it's an interesting piece.

I am surprised you don’t see more pewter ingots. With button molds and spoon molds being out there.
 

Dirtwisher

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Nov 1, 2013
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Killer site! Love the spoon and the Rosa. It must be awesome digging a pit. “A trash pit is like a box of chocolates...”
 

Al.relics

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Jan 28, 2019
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Outstanding finds Jon, nice job indeed!
 

Ken C

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Nov 18, 2017
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Really nice collection of finds, congrats! Love the William!
 

Brian W

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Nov 9, 2007
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Great oldies for sure...love finding shoe buckles and colonial coins....I looked up pewter ingots in American colony's...very cool find...it was first in Virginia in 1610....and Massachusetts in 1640...used right up to 1800....very unique...that is a very nice site...can't wait to see what else turns up!
 

Rubka888

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Nice! Looks to me that you have a William and Mary double busted copper like this one. So nice! Will and Mary.png
 

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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,569
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
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Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Great oldies for sure...love finding shoe buckles and colonial coins....I looked up pewter ingots in American colony's...very cool find...it was first in Virginia in 1610....and Massachusetts in 1640...used right up to 1800....very unique...that is a very nice site...can't wait to see what else turns up!

Thanks for the info on the ingots, can you share the link to the research?
 

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