Relic MOTHER LOAD- 1600s Spanish, British neck stock, and a CANNON!

Patriot Relics

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Hey guys,

Been on a bit of a streak lately, scouting out and landing on some of the most productive sites I've ever hunted. After last week's picket post discovery, I decided to branch out and hit the few remaining areas on my radar that did not reflect colonial occupation. Threw out the normal plat map comparisons and just went out hiking to a few spots that remained undiscovered. Needless to say, I've been back 3 times since Sunday and it has been ridiculously productive. I'll start with a bucket lister I've been hoping to dig for some time now - 18th century toy cannon. This one is a bronze alloy and still looks like it would fire (usually these are found with cracks after kids of the 1700s would overload them with powder) :laughing7: Here's fresh out of the plug

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Bit of dry brushing and a coat of wax

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A top 5 find in my relic display without a doubt

When I swung over the next target, I nearly did a back flip...I'm not one for coin shooting, but a Spanish 1 Real cob from the 1600s is not just any coin. Any cob experts please chime in with details on the assayer/age.

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Only a few feet away I going another slamming and out pops a massive 32.5 mm copper (2.4mm thick)

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The size rules out most colonial coins I am aware of, suspect it's part of the same cob spill...see pictures on page 3 - 1722-1723 Rosa Americana 2 pence! No doubt this dirt was occupied far earlier than I expected. Recover another pair of roached silvers, a 17X9 globe and pillar 1/2 real as well as a smooth 1 real (I think).

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When I swung over this target I thought for sure I had a plate - banging 94 on the Deus...out popped a curious piece of copper. I could tell it was marked so wrapped it and brought it back to the truck.

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After a bit of research I realized it was an early thermometer, suspect late 1700s early 1800s. Blood heat, Sum'r Heat, Temp Heat, and Freez :laughing7: Took me 2 days, but I eventually found the missing piece. Don't recall ever seeing one of these posted on Tnet

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The only military pocket I recovered was a small concentration of British rev war relics- pewter button (X 5 regiment), neck stock buckle, and powder horn top.

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Early 1700s rat tail pewter spoon & stamped copper bowl

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Nice assortment of fancy dandy buttons late 18th century

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Definitely get the feeling these folks had money

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Assortment of other buttons (there's more but I'm out of room)

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This one is interesting, can't quite find an exact match online - Holy Mary religious pendent

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Colonial copper ring

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Sling and strap buckles

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Furniture hardware

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Copper ruler fragment

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Leather boss, flintlock side plate

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Think that about covers it...hopefully the pictures speak for themselves. Still in shock with the diversity of finds from an undocumented homesite, clearly occupied heavily in the 17th and 18th century. Between the silver cob, toy cannon, and copper thermometer I could be happier. As always thanks for your comments and good luck digging.

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Last edited:
Upvote 88

dig deeper now

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better keep that site super quiet, I would not want 50 more detecting it to find what they could. VERY HAPPY HUNTING
 

Ahab8

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That canon is a ridiculous recovery! One of my favorite relics! I took a friend to one of my sites and he dug a gorgeous one. That one hurt....a lot! But I finally got one. I’m going to give a BANNER nod on the canon. I never vote on the collection as s whole. One item has to stand alone for me. That early canon does it for me. That’s my kind of early site and I would sift the hell out of that place. You’ll be shocked at what’s in that dirt with that much stuff coming out
 

Iron Patch

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Nailed it IP! 33mm and the thickness is a match. Crazy how easy it is to see now that I know what I'm looking for


Mine is one of my fav. dug coppers. Funny thought, I may be the only other person here who has dug a toy cannon, Rosa, and cob. I just didn't do it on the same hunt! :)
 

cheffer

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Holy cow. You could open up a little museum with just this one post. Truly impressive work, congratulations.
 

pa-dirt_nc-sand

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You are killing it with your research. Awesome super early virgin site. The canon is super cool. Congrats on your hoard!!
 

GB1

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very great hunt
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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better keep that site super quiet, I would not want 50 more detecting it to find what they could. VERY HAPPY HUNTING

Definitely one of those sites you only find once and a long while... I'll bring the friends out to give it a shot
 

Whyme

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Wow unbelievable finds! :icon_thumleft::icon_thumright: Send me the GPS coordinates please. LOL
 

lowcountry

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Long time no talk!!! Amazing finds my friend!!! Haven't been out much at all....there is a Costco sitting on my favorite spot😑😑😑 Hit me up on here so you can get my new #
Josh
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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That canon is a ridiculous recovery! One of my favorite relics! I took a friend to one of my sites and he dug a gorgeous one. That one hurt....a lot! But I finally got one. I’m going to give a BANNER nod on the canon. I never vote on the collection as s whole. One item has to stand alone for me. That early canon does it for me. That’s my kind of early site and I would sift the hell out of that place. You’ll be shocked at what’s in that dirt with that much stuff coming out

Thanks Abe, I nearly spilt this post up, but I wanted to be true to form. One incredible piece of dirt
 

OP
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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

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Mine is one of my fav. dug coppers. Funny thought, I may be the only other person here who has dug a toy cannon, Rosa, and cob. I just didn't do it on the same hunt! :)

Haha yea the cob is only my 3rd in 5 years, dug a Rosa 1/2 a while back, but the toy cannon is one of a kind for me
 

Mackaydon

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The 'cross' side of the coin resembles a 2 escudo coin from the reign of Carlos II (1665-1700) or a 1,2,4 or 8 escudo from the later reign of Philip V.
But since the coin is not composed of gold, it can't be an escudo.
if it were authentic, it's denomination could be estimated by the coin's weight: 27.46 grams as the standard for a 8 reales or 8 escudo coin; proportionately less for lower denominations of 4, 2, 1 and 1/2.
Don.......
 

Iron Patch

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Haha yea the cob is only my 3rd in 5 years, dug a Rosa 1/2 a while back, but the toy cannon is one of a kind for me

I'm 8 cobs, 1 Rosa, and 3 Cannons. :) So in 5 years you're ahead of pace! (based on my 17) :headbang:
 

bonepicker

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Congrats on getting the ID on that copper. IP is the man.
Definitely a banner worthy hunt. So many awesome finds.
That cannon is sweet, and definitely on my list.
I have never seen a thermometer like that, that thing is super cool, and in pretty darn nice condition. I love the text on it. You should think about getting that thing restored.
The counterfeit Escudo is sweet too, sucks its not real, but its still pretty neat. And just think if there were counterfeits being passed around on that land, surely there were real ones there too.
Buttons, ruler frag, pendant, ring, spoons, etc, etc, etc.
My vote is going in.
 

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