West Jersey Detecting
Gold Member
I was on my way home with about 2 hours of daylight remaining. I called my wife to let her know my ETA and she said she was out and wouldn't be home till the Phillies game started. I seized the opportunity and swung by one of my local sites. I have been detecting this one for about 8 years on and off. In the past I have found Indian Head cents, Liberty Head Nickels, Wheaties and old buttons, but other than one toasted copper coin, I have never found a coin older than a "fatty" Indian Head.
When I got to the site, I decided to take advantage of the areas where some of the thick vegetation had died off due to the drought. I left the path for a barren patch and was immediately greeted with the bouncy tone typical of a button at about 5 inches. I dug a plug and found a flat button The button has a nice back mark "Treble Gilt" with an early eagle over it. This dates it to circa 1800-1820. A quick dig with a flat button is always a good sign. A few feet away I got a similar signal and dug a shotgun shell. Another few feet away I got a jumpy but sweet sound which seemed a bit too large for a Wheatie. The V3 read a depth of 5 inches, but there was nothing in the large plug. My pinpointer was detecting something, but it was more like 8.5 inches down. I dug the soil out with my hand and was surprised at the King George copper in my hand. I finally got a decent colonial after all these years at the site! It appears to be a 1775, but it may be a 1773 or 1772.
I spent the next hour digging some trash and a few early Wheaties. It was getting dark so I headed back to the car. On the way I got a nice signal in a spot right off the main path that I must have passed within inches of before (as well as countless other people who have detected here). It was 4.5 inches down with a 71 VDI. I figured one more Wheatie would not be a bad way to end the day. The soil was very gravelly at the spot and it took quite a bit of work to finally get the coin I was looking for. I was able to see the word Liberty and the profile due to the setting suns long shadows. My first Draped Bust Half Cent and my first half cent in more than a year!
Unfortunately my cameras zoom broke again! (Sand and zoom lenses are not a good combination) So until I invest in digital camera number 5, scans will have to do.
The KGIII cleaned up nicely, but the cleaned coin does not scan as well as the dirty one. The Draped Bust is toasty with no date, but still it is a nice find for me.
When I got to the site, I decided to take advantage of the areas where some of the thick vegetation had died off due to the drought. I left the path for a barren patch and was immediately greeted with the bouncy tone typical of a button at about 5 inches. I dug a plug and found a flat button The button has a nice back mark "Treble Gilt" with an early eagle over it. This dates it to circa 1800-1820. A quick dig with a flat button is always a good sign. A few feet away I got a similar signal and dug a shotgun shell. Another few feet away I got a jumpy but sweet sound which seemed a bit too large for a Wheatie. The V3 read a depth of 5 inches, but there was nothing in the large plug. My pinpointer was detecting something, but it was more like 8.5 inches down. I dug the soil out with my hand and was surprised at the King George copper in my hand. I finally got a decent colonial after all these years at the site! It appears to be a 1775, but it may be a 1773 or 1772.
I spent the next hour digging some trash and a few early Wheaties. It was getting dark so I headed back to the car. On the way I got a nice signal in a spot right off the main path that I must have passed within inches of before (as well as countless other people who have detected here). It was 4.5 inches down with a 71 VDI. I figured one more Wheatie would not be a bad way to end the day. The soil was very gravelly at the spot and it took quite a bit of work to finally get the coin I was looking for. I was able to see the word Liberty and the profile due to the setting suns long shadows. My first Draped Bust Half Cent and my first half cent in more than a year!
Unfortunately my cameras zoom broke again! (Sand and zoom lenses are not a good combination) So until I invest in digital camera number 5, scans will have to do.
The KGIII cleaned up nicely, but the cleaned coin does not scan as well as the dirty one. The Draped Bust is toasty with no date, but still it is a nice find for me.
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Very nice digs.
still awaiting my first KG III aside from two VA halfpennies.. too bad about the draped bust, was hoping she would clean up, but still a good one 
!
sorta in the same shoes . Great Fall season to you 
