Civil War NAVY...and a nice pile of colonial recoveries

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Hey guys,

Posting my last 3 hunts as a group with the nicest digs unearthed yesterday morning. All the same dirt, a tried and true...and pounded...colonial permission turned undocumented civil war camp. To date the site has given up 6 CW buttons, 3 confederate (all dug by Stef :BangHead:) along with 3 union varieties recovered by me. I target colonial era sites, so most of my digs are 18th century but its always nice with a surprise 2 piece pops out.

On to the good stuff- first target of the day yesterday after digging nothing my slaw tops on Friday. Strong signal on the CTX, 12-30 thinking ZLinc, flip the plug and immediate notice a small button in the plug.

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Initially I wasn't very optimistic as the union navy motif was copied well into the 20th century as blazer buttons, but once I saw the Scovill Mg Co backmark (1850-1865) I knew I had the real deal. She's still loaded with gilt, but I was happy to stop the cleaning process before losing the green patina. CW Era Union Navy Cuff...ending the 3 month slump.

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Nearby I received another scratchy signal...it's a dig everything kind of site...so flipped the plug and revealed a curious copper, ornate cuff?

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Isn't the mid 18th century octagonal or late 18th oval, rather something different. Perhaps an early stickpin as Brad (OutdoorAdv) suggested

Continued digging resulted in a pile of flat buttons in various conditions.

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My next favorite find of the day was another garbage signal among the iron...missed by even the 9" coil on the Deus.

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Certainly one of the most ornate buckles recovered from the site...with some silver wash still intact.

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Also dug a pair of iron buckles fresh out of electrolysis...yes I dig iron :laughing7:

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I suspect this pair is late 17th/early 18th century

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Just up was a broken horse tac buckle

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Switching gears, also recovered some killer bit/harness bosses. Again suspect these are late 1600 early 1700s

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Furniture hardware/drawer pulls

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Bullseye rosette without lead fill

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Only other CW relics were a few round balls and 2 percussion caps

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Victorian era relics included corset clips, gas lamp parts, harmonica reed, and parasol hardware

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Suspect this is part of a tankard handle

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2 other mystery items, I would like a bit of help on. First is a curious brass piece with gilt- the second a cast brass/brown piece found near a CW battery. Any help is greatly appreciated

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All in all another outstanding weekend in the dirt- these rounding out my favorites

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As always good luck out there and thanks for looking!

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Upvote 32

nov2101

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Jul 6, 2012
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Awesome finds.....I so want to visit the south so bad. Military sent me on a C130 but didnt have time in December. Id even pay for a personal local. I digress...Super historical finds.
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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Awesome finds.....I so want to visit the south so bad. Military sent me on a C130 but didnt have time in December. Id even pay for a personal local. I digress...Super historical finds.

I fly C-17's so hard to beat SC as a duty station for metal detecting
 

KENTUCKYWONDER

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You are a Digger! Congratulations on some dandy variety of digs!
 

K1DDO1979

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That's a lot of great stuff. The buckle and button look great cleaned up! [emoji106]
 

toasted

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Some nice digs. I especially love the knee buckle frame
 

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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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That's a lot of great stuff. The buckle and button look great cleaned up! [emoji106]

Thanks K1DDO, I find that less is more when it comes to these 2 piece buttons and gilt copper buckles...as soon as I say to myself 1 more round I stop. Seems like the last round always strips the patina
 

SC Keith

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Aug 25, 2010
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I fly C-17's so hard to beat SC as a duty station for metal detecting
Can't beat the variety of those nice finds! The Union navy really cleaned up well.We love to see you guys doing your approaches over the Grand Strand area where we live! (ATP certificate here)
Keith
 

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DownNDirty

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You really racked up! My favorite is the cuff link/stickpin-very ornate and definitely something different.
 

fredbug 67

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Oct 12, 2013
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Love the ornate buckle and navy button-all in all a terrific hunt! Thanks for sharing.
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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Can't be the variety of those nice finds! The Union navy really cleaned up well.We love to see you guys doing your approaches over Grand Strand area where we live! (ATP certificate here)
Keith

Yep we have quite a few low level routes that take us over there, never hurts to scout shorelines from the air while on approach to Charleston
 

Stef45

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Nice finds how bout you dig a Confed button next time! Geez! But great finds as usual. That square cuff/button/broach w/e it is it looks old and cool. Now if we could just find an area there where we don't get poison oak or ivy but still dig cool relics that would be great.
 

Keith Jackson

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Nice finds. Lots of variety. Is it possible that your first mystery item is a watch winder? Just a guess. If the other one was modern, I would say that it was a wall mount for a shower head.
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
5,581
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nice finds how bout you dig a Confed button next time! Geez! But great finds as usual. That square cuff/button/broach w/e it is it looks old and cool. Now if we could just find an area there where we don't get poison oak or ivy but still dig cool relics that would be great.

Yea every fricking time on that site, have a bit on my arms as well lol things we do for relics
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
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Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
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Nice finds. Lots of variety. Is it possible that your first mystery item is a watch winder? Just a guess. If the other one was modern, I would say that it was a wall mount for a shower head.

Had not considered a watch winder, but certainly a possibility
 

Bill D. (VA)

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That's quite a productive hunt Jon with a really nice assortment of finds, but where are the coins .... ha! Nice job on the navy and buckle.
 

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