My best Pre Revolutionary War Find EVER!

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Maryland
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XP Deus II
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I asked for help yesterday with identification, this was found yesterday, it is a 3" copper/brass round disc, and I couldn't figure it out. Since then it has been identified as a first half 18th century locking cover to a round box used to hold tobacco or snuff. The sun, moon and directional arrows act as keys that engage on the rear of the object to slip a slide into the bottom of the box to lock it. I believe if soaked in WD-40 for a few days, it would STILL WORK. There was something covering it, rotted cloth or something, I don't know what. It had turned to mush. Whatever it was helped preserve it. To own something like this back then, this would have been a "if you've got it, flaunt it" item. Expertly and wonderfully made, it was in a cut soybean field almost 18" down. I was digging a trash pit (only went to 3 foot as the ground was HEAVY with water and hard to dig), and I gave up and "circled" the pit with the Deus within 15' or so to see if I was "on" the pit or if there was anything else nearby.

The Deus was used with the factory settings with version 4.0 with Deus Fast Program, tracking ground balance and running the HF coil at 74khz. NO tweaks to the program.

I had a full sized shovel as when you'd put the shovel in the wet ground, it would make a sucking sound as you lifted the mud plug up!

The signal was a solid "81" but weak, and I thought it was a small piece of lead or something relatively shallow. Boy was I surprised!

The ones I found for sale were enormously expensive. I have found gold, silver and copper coins from the period, solid silver flatware, buttons, musket balls and parts, leather ornaments, forks, knives, axes, this thing is exceptionally rare.

Enjoy! And welcome to 2019, this was a heck of a way to finish off a year I didn't go out nearly as much as I did the year before!

IMG_1471.JPG tobacco box.jpg IMG_1472.JPG
 

Upvote 49

Rookster

Gold Member
Nov 24, 2013
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Congratulations finishing the year with a bang.:icon_thumright:
 

JmCraz8

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Apr 2, 2011
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Currently using: XP DEUS, T2 SE and the Garret Carrot lol
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What a way to end the year wowser!!
 

Aureus

Silver Member
Sep 5, 2016
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Eastern Canada
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That's an awesome find! I'm sure it will look great on display. Congratulations!
 

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smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,724
40,808
Maryland
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XP Deus II
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Thanks all. It was a solid but weak tone, I thought it was another confangled tiny piece of lead 5" down again. Wrong. Once in a lifetime find.
 

xcopperstax

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Sep 3, 2018
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Very nice artifact! Congrats on all your finds in 18 and wishing you some great one's in 19!
 

63bkpkr

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Aug 9, 2007
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Smokey, I've never seen one of those before and I would have to believe that it was not a Common Item among the Colonists in the Village! 18" down in saturated ground required a certain amount of perseverance on the part of the detectorist to locate. Job well done and thank you for posting this 'special treasure'!.................63bkpkr
 

Racso

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Apr 26, 2017
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That’s one beautiful looking piece and a great way to end the year. Good luck next year, HH
 

toasted

Silver Member
Jun 1, 2015
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Congrats. How were you able to date/identify it?
 

Eagle101

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Jul 22, 2012
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Congrats! i absolutely love the design. that's going to be the centerpiece of your display case. :occasion14:
 

Oct 5, 2014
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Beautiful piece, congratulations! :occasion14:
 

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smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
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63bkpr, and I didn't even HIT it with the shovel in the sucking mud!
 

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smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Maryland
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Toasted, I took a guess as to what it could have been a cover for. The hinge and locking piece are still there and intact, so I knew it was a hinged lid to a box of some kind, so I GOOGLED it under 18th century tobacco or snuff box.
 

toasted

Silver Member
Jun 1, 2015
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Minelab Equinox 600 XP Deus
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Toasted, I took a guess as to what it could have been a cover for. The hinge and locking piece are still there and intact, so I knew it was a hinged lid to a box of some kind, so I GOOGLED it under 18th century tobacco or snuff box.

At first, I thought the one picture was the actual piece you found all cleaned up. You may want to add that info in your original post as Im sure many including me are a little slow lol
 

Last edited:

dirtlooter

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Jun 5, 2014
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mid western ARK
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XP Deus with 9"LF and 9" HF Coils and 600 Equinox with stock and 6" coils
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another amazing find, if only you knew how to use that HF coil in 74kz! LOL. You still rock Lady! gotta love those surprises like that. :headbang:
 

Possum

Bronze Member
Nov 22, 2017
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Southeast Louisiana
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Congrats Smokey, also Congrats on a stellar year!!! "D"
 

Relicific

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Feb 2, 2017
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That’s a rare and unique relic.
Congrats
 

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