Xraywolf
Silver Member
- Feb 28, 2005
- 3,576
- 4,360
- Detector(s) used
- Ace 400, AT Pro, equinox 800, Simplex,Vanquish 540
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
wow sweet, been a while since I have found something that old.
Got the bug kinda late about 7pm, already starting to get dark by nine.
There is this one very historic district about 10 miles from me that used to house a huge civil war facility. Don't think it lasted even to the 20th century, it was demolished long ago and a couple small buildings that were part of that complex remain as a city historical museum.
In front of those buildings is a large sunbaked field that has been empty for as long as I can remember ,,,, I have always wanted to hit this field but shied away because of the proximity to the museum.
There is a little river running behind it, my intention was to detect the banks, this had to be a very active area back in the day. In fact, I know it was, and the area by the river has never been developed at all. But there was a wall of plants and trees, and I really didn't feel like crashing through and risking poison ivy and stirring up clouds of mosquitoes, so I decided to finally hit that field.
Big mistake, I was getting some decent signals but the ground is absolutely rock hard, I couldn't dig in the earth .5" and I have a Lesche Samson. In addition to being sun baked, what little holes I managed to dig indeed had rocks and debris more than dirt, I get the feeling the whole area has a layer of fill over it, possibly from the buildings that once stood there.
Did find what looks to be an ornamental drawer knob, it was literally on the surface ,,, I'll post a pic of that if its anything special.
I couldn't take hacking into the ground like that so I drove around, I often drive around there hoping to find a tearout or construction. Whole area is a historic district and its hard to find any public property with potential ... So I drove past an old church, I used to take my son to boy scouts there. There is a grass lot next to the church, separated by a drivepath that leads to the main parking lot in the back.
Really an unkempt lot for this area, surprised they haven't developed it with something. The only thing they use it for is $5 parking for fireworks and carnivals at a nearby large park, so it looked like fair game to me, not a place not many would mind someone digging around.
Ground was pretty nice, was trampled from the vehicle traffic but right under was nice soft, super black soil. Anyways I tooled around digging here and there, I passed up some good signals because there is a quaint little house right next store separated by bushes but there was a window I could see a TV was on, didn't want to be intrusive and linger in that area.
So I detected my way back towards my truck was getting dark when I hit this thing. Dug a plug probably about 4" and this was in the middle, so not deep at all.
First thought was a Kennedy half, about that size. But too thin, and in the fading light I could tell it was not a Kennedy. 2 cent piece maybe, or a token ? Not sure but tokens this large are probably uncommon, I thought I had snagged a 2 center.
Could have wiped it off and looked at my magnifier in the truck but decided to let it wait, so I stuffed it in my pocket and went home. Made a couple stops so it was a good half hour, I was about bursting when I got home. Dog was moaning to go out but I said, not now boy.
Ripped down to the basement to the sink, I toothbrushed it off with warm water and could tell it was not a coin but some kind of token. Alot of writing on this thing, I thought crap, probably something religious from the 1970's.
Was pleasantly surprised when I found it was a pre 1915 dated token, says on 1 side:
This coin is worth $1.00 on your next suit or overcoat.
Limited to 1 coin to a garment.
Not good after June 1st 1915
JC Hasse and Sons
On the other side is more info on this store including its location in downtown Detroit.
Pretty cool, needless to say I will try my luck at this spot again.
edit: found this
http://tokencatalog.com/token_recor...758&inventory_id=254329&attribution_id=297431
Got the bug kinda late about 7pm, already starting to get dark by nine.
There is this one very historic district about 10 miles from me that used to house a huge civil war facility. Don't think it lasted even to the 20th century, it was demolished long ago and a couple small buildings that were part of that complex remain as a city historical museum.
In front of those buildings is a large sunbaked field that has been empty for as long as I can remember ,,,, I have always wanted to hit this field but shied away because of the proximity to the museum.
There is a little river running behind it, my intention was to detect the banks, this had to be a very active area back in the day. In fact, I know it was, and the area by the river has never been developed at all. But there was a wall of plants and trees, and I really didn't feel like crashing through and risking poison ivy and stirring up clouds of mosquitoes, so I decided to finally hit that field.
Big mistake, I was getting some decent signals but the ground is absolutely rock hard, I couldn't dig in the earth .5" and I have a Lesche Samson. In addition to being sun baked, what little holes I managed to dig indeed had rocks and debris more than dirt, I get the feeling the whole area has a layer of fill over it, possibly from the buildings that once stood there.
Did find what looks to be an ornamental drawer knob, it was literally on the surface ,,, I'll post a pic of that if its anything special.
I couldn't take hacking into the ground like that so I drove around, I often drive around there hoping to find a tearout or construction. Whole area is a historic district and its hard to find any public property with potential ... So I drove past an old church, I used to take my son to boy scouts there. There is a grass lot next to the church, separated by a drivepath that leads to the main parking lot in the back.
Really an unkempt lot for this area, surprised they haven't developed it with something. The only thing they use it for is $5 parking for fireworks and carnivals at a nearby large park, so it looked like fair game to me, not a place not many would mind someone digging around.
Ground was pretty nice, was trampled from the vehicle traffic but right under was nice soft, super black soil. Anyways I tooled around digging here and there, I passed up some good signals because there is a quaint little house right next store separated by bushes but there was a window I could see a TV was on, didn't want to be intrusive and linger in that area.
So I detected my way back towards my truck was getting dark when I hit this thing. Dug a plug probably about 4" and this was in the middle, so not deep at all.
First thought was a Kennedy half, about that size. But too thin, and in the fading light I could tell it was not a Kennedy. 2 cent piece maybe, or a token ? Not sure but tokens this large are probably uncommon, I thought I had snagged a 2 center.
Could have wiped it off and looked at my magnifier in the truck but decided to let it wait, so I stuffed it in my pocket and went home. Made a couple stops so it was a good half hour, I was about bursting when I got home. Dog was moaning to go out but I said, not now boy.
Ripped down to the basement to the sink, I toothbrushed it off with warm water and could tell it was not a coin but some kind of token. Alot of writing on this thing, I thought crap, probably something religious from the 1970's.
Was pleasantly surprised when I found it was a pre 1915 dated token, says on 1 side:
This coin is worth $1.00 on your next suit or overcoat.
Limited to 1 coin to a garment.
Not good after June 1st 1915
JC Hasse and Sons
On the other side is more info on this store including its location in downtown Detroit.
Pretty cool, needless to say I will try my luck at this spot again.
edit: found this
http://tokencatalog.com/token_recor...758&inventory_id=254329&attribution_id=297431
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