First Hunts of 2017- Earliest COPPER to date, CW/Colonial Cleanup

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Hey guys,

For the first time in a long while the lowcountry felt like winter. 20-40 degrees with rain certainly made for some miserable digging this past weekend, but the combination of sifting and swinging ended up producing some outstanding relics. This site has been pounded...a honey hole permission from early 2016 that Stef45 and I hit at least 50 times. Non-ferrous targets were nonexistent which is why we had begun clearing large section with the sifter on Saturday. While this method has unmasked a few missed targets, more impressive is the shear volume of pottery and iron recovered.

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Sifting did produce 1 small flat button with a ton of gilt

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On Sunday, before we commenced sifting again, we decided to swing the pounded sections and try and identify areas with large pottery/pipe stem deposits...test pits. As I worked my way over the site I got a screaming signal...deep. I remember seeing the remnants of a plug and asking Stef if he had already dug it...well he had, but not quite deep enough. Very nice 35mm dandy with flower design and silver wash. No GW but I'll take it

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Only a few feet away the CTX got another slamming signal at 8-9 inches. This time I called Stef over and showed him the bottom of the plug.

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Keep in mind we don't often dig coppers down here in SC (3 total last year) so I am stoked. Pull it out expecting a KGIII, but not quite.

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Careful cleaning revealed the familiar head of KGI and a date- 1718, predating my earliest Rosa Americana from 2014 by 4 years!

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Seemed like a combination of cold wet soil amplified the discrimination of both machines as the targets kept coming. Another silvered flat button 33mm

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Here's a group shot of the gilt varieties

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Also managed a few others in various conditions

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Another surprise came late in the day, and is only the second union button to originate from this confederate site. Nice little kepi eagle button with blank back

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Other CW camp digs included a leather rivet, tent grommets, and an equipment buckle.

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This small key was recovered in the same plug as the federal eagle button, guessing a field desk key :dontknow:

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This one is also a head scratcher- based on the construction (sand cast bronze) it appears to be an early 18th century watch/clock key. Any additional information is appreciated

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Rounding out the digs were the remnants of a Rhenish jug circa 1750.

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Another outstanding start to a new season, hopefully signs of better relics to come. As always thanks for looking and good luck out there!

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Upvote 29

Palmetto Pony

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Aug 21, 2016
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Looks like a GREAT way to start the year Jon. Congrats!
 

Chizzy

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Really enjoyed your narrative and walk back through history, VMI........keep us updated, please!!
 

OutdoorAdv

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Apr 16, 2013
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Awesome job Jon! I really like the color on that early KG1. Glad to see your sifting and its funny to see those piles of iron and pottery, since they look identical to what I find up here in trash piles. Hope you get some more to that Rhenish jug too. Looking forward to some more... so many times I thought there couldn't possibly be more at my big site and then I stumble into a section that has more keepers and it renews my hope.
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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Oh boy,, looks like that site came back to life.
Congrats on some sweet finds.

Thanks buddy, certainly proof that no site is ever hunted out. Still wondering what role temperature and moisture play in target separation and amplification
 

Carolina Tom

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Apr 4, 2014
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Congrats on all of the sweet finds Jon.

That KG1 is an excellent recovery sir. I also really like the little skeleton key.

Best of luck to you.
 

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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
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Detector(s) used
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Awesome job Jon! I really like the color on that early KG1. Glad to see your sifting and its funny to see those piles of iron and pottery, since they look identical to what I find up here in trash piles. Hope you get some more to that Rhenish jug too. Looking forward to some more... so many times I thought there couldn't possibly be more at my big site and then I stumble into a section that has more keepers and it renews my hope.

Hopefully that snow bank clears soon so you can back into that dirt Brad. We were at the point where random test plugs was the only way help with sift site selection but with all the new non-ferrous target I suspect we are on a privy. Stef dug down nearly 2 feet without hitting clay which means we may be in for a serious excavation
 

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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That's an excellent set of finds Jon. Is that key hollow or solid at the end? It may be a padlock key, but overall I'm definitely going with lock key over winder.

Also congrats on the dump halfpenny! Why they're called dump I haven't the foggiest. Those are not easy finds. Keep at it man!

Steve
 

montcalm

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Jan 31, 2015
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Nice story and great find good site!My killer is the Georges I HP with this nice patina. I got one before him and many after II III and counterfeit but not this one ( I )and lot are n,t that nice shape.Up North like here with -4 and snow bank all around till Marsh, just make us dream looking at your post! :-) You have a regal HP ( official) look heavy and thick ,around my place most are thin counterfeit 5-6-7 grams.
 

DownNDirty

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Jun 1, 2015
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Jon, Way to go finding that old copper-you are very lucky that the date is legible given the condition of it. Also it looks like you are having a ball with the sifter, which is a good activity to warm the bones on a cold day. Did you convert the sifter to a rocker type yet?
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,709
5,580
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
That's an excellent set of finds Jon. Is that key hollow or solid at the end? It may be a padlock key, but overall I'm definitely going with lock key over winder.

Also congrats on the dump halfpenny! Why they're called dump I haven't the foggiest. Those are not easy finds. Keep at it man!

Steve
Hey Steve, the first key pictured is solid and has no opening at the top. More curious is the second copper key, why would it only be designed on one side...:dontknow: has a definitive key shape but isn't very heavy duty
 

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