2 Cent Piece and Some Cool Mysteries

[paleomaxx]

In canvasing the fields around where I found the Vermont Copper I've noticed that nearly all the old pieces are in one strip that goes from the road to that spot on top of the hill. Since I figure that must have been the path that everyone took, I've been hitting it very hard and it hasn't disappointed yet! Below is just what I found in a few hours this afternoon.



The 1864 2 cent piece is great since I've always wanted to find one and it's actually in reasonable condition. The ground here seems to be randomly very gentle or very rough with copper coins. The brass cap and cone are the head-scratchers. The cone is unfortunately in two pieces. Thankfully I didn't hit it with the shovel, but just the dirt clod breaking apart was enough to snap the tip off. It's definitely brass and it has these interesting concentric markings along the entire length. I tried to get good pictures of them so you can see. There's no writing anywhere on it, but there are two holes at the wide end. Any ideas?

The brass cap has some early threading on it, could it be from an oil lamp? I found several other pieces of oil lamp a few days before and they were relatively close and of similar thickness/material.

 

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[Evolution]

Congrats on the two center. I found one today as well.

 

[paleomaxx]

I saw that; apparently if you want 2 cent pieces Upstate NY is the place to be!

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on your finds

 

[btjbtj]

Sounds like you had a great day! Don't know what the other items are, but congrats on the two center! -Lisa & John

 

[treblehunter]

Congrats on the two cent coin, I want to find one or more of those!

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[against the wind]

The elusive 2 Center,,
Congrats to you,,
I'm still looking.

 

[OldSean]

Could the cone be a candle snuffer?

 

[port ewen ace]

possible tip to a cane. I have dug 2 brass similar, always with small hole/s for securing to wood. check the '64 for large or small motto, be gentle removing the dirt to save patina, soft brush with wet baking soda

 

[Trezurehunter]

Congrats on the 2 Cent Piece. If your finding them in farmers fields, they will always be a little rougher because of the chemicals, and constant movement when they disc the field and turn it over. The ones I have found that are the nicest, have come out of private yards. We have some real nice black dirt in our parts. Plus, when they were dropped in the yard, they typically didn't move around that much. ( until you dig them up ) !

 

[deershed]

Congrats on the 2 center!!

 

[Twin Picks]

Great finds, especially the 2 cent. Could the cone be a sword scabbard tip?

 

[paleomaxx]

Twin Picks I think you nailed it! I looked on google images and the dug scabbard tips look very close to this one. What a strange little road this is turning out to be!

 

[ScaredOfClowns]

Great hunt. Congrats especially on the 2-cent piece - those are hard to find, and yours is in great shape. The only one I've found was super green and toasted.

 

[A2coins]

The cone thing a flag topper or tent pole piece Great finds that sounds pretty exciting Ill look for more posts Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Kool stuff , esp. the coins . You write "you are on a trail to the top of a hill " ,
Do you have any clues as to what once existed on the hilltop .

Love those mysterious sites !

dawg

 

[paleomaxx]

I've definitely been trying to figure out what was there. The original house on the property is mid to late 1700's which a 1747 KG II half penny in the front lawn nicely confirmed for me! But these artifacts are all leading from the main road away from the site of the house. I did find a map of the area in the library of congress online archives from 1851. It shows the house and one structure in this field that's simply marked "t.r." with nothing corresponding in the legend.

There have been 12 of those brass pins so far and three leather rivets in addition to the whole and broken halter pieces. My current theory is that t.r. stands for tack repair and that the farm had a small stand for travelers passing through town. The 2 cent piece doesn't support the theory though since on the 1858 map of the same area the extra building is gone and the coin is 1864. I'll keep looking though, each new piece is a new clue!