Stubborn 17th-19th Century Site offers up lots coppers & buttons but no silver yet.

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Stubborn 17th-19th Century Site offers up lots coppers & buttons but no silver yet.

I made my latest trip this past Monday to a new site that has produced 17 coppers so far. I've made about six trips in total this spring, recovering lots of buttons and coppers, but no silver coins. I'm hoping for a silver coin or two, as the site has lots of potential with a history relating to key events in King Philip's War. I'm told that the field has never been searched prior to my arrival. Here are some photos -


This group shot needs to be updated as the pile is getting a bit bigger.


King William & King George I coppers. Most coins are heavily corroded and barely identifiable.


This is a cool button made from a King William copper.


Back of the King William copper still has a complete shank.


Nipple-type leather mount and dress button. They should date from the 17th Century.


Georgian-period lion's paw footing for a sewing box, jewelry box, etc.


brass dividers - damaged - fodder for the plows


Artillery button (1814-1821 perhaps) still soaking in mineral oil


Early 19th Century Navy button


Does anybody have information on this mystery button?


backside of mystery button


My buddy has identified this as a button for the Diplomatic Corp - early 19th Century. I'm told it's listed as an OD-6C in the Alberts book. Unfortunately, it's missing the shank.


backside of the Diplomatic Corp button


Should I try to clean the button further. I've read about using aluminum jelly for cleaning buttons. It appears that gilt remains under the green patina.

Well, that's all for now. Good Hunting to All.

 

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[gsxraddict]

i wouldnt clean it anymore

GREAT FINDS BTW

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Iron Patch]

That's some good stuff!

RN Surgeon In Hospital - 1805
After this issue, a Surgeon will use
same design as a Captain's Button.
In Use 1805-1812

Diana's Buttons - Reference - British Navy Buttons

 

[vpnavy]

Nice finds Silver Tree Chaser!

 

[cjon455]

amazing pile of finds ya got there, im working a site very similar to yours, its a small cornfield that had some type of structure on it in the 1800s, and ive pulled 9 large cents out of there, a couple fatty Indian heads, and a 2 center, and about 30 buttons my NEWEST coin is the 2 center (1864) I worked the debris field area hard back and forth, up and down, side to side and didnt snatch a single silver. Im waiting for them to plow it so i can get back there and clean it up some more, Good luck at your site, im sure u have a silver or two just waiting to be rescued

 

[JohnnyMac]

Cool finds

 

[pepperj]

It's a great site for producing coppers and buttons many really good looking items already, hope your luck changes on the silver.

 

[Nutriasub]

Great hunt, and it's going to produce silver for sure!!

 

[Evolution]

Wow. That's definitely an old site you have there. Don't see the William halfpennies and George I's turning up too often. Great finds. Get back there and hunt that site again.

 

[Iron Patch]

Looking at the pics I would not clean that button because in many cases once the green is gone the surface is black, so you'd be trading nice patina for stripped surface. When it's more corrosion and ugly it's worth cleaning, but not when it's as nice as it is. Any higher end collector would tell you to leave it alone, and I'm talking about the ones who have no problem with cleaning when it's the right thing to do.

 

[matt092079]

Doesn't look stubborn to me. Those are some great finds even if there is no silver. Congrats!

 

[Iron Patch]

Doesn't look stubborn to me. Those are some great finds even if there is no silver. Congrats!

Exactly. The typical dug silver coin is not anywhere near as good as many of those finds.

 

[swamp yankee]

Congrats and don't try to clean them any further as they look great now! Good that you're saving them from being destroyed by the plow/acid rain/fertilizer/ect. Would love to find a nice untouched site like yours,suggest checking around nearby "landmarks" big rocks/trees for a nice silver cache. HH in the new season!

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Exactly. The typical dug silver coin is not anywhere near as good as many of those finds.

Iron Patch - Yes, the site is producing some nice early finds, so I should not focus so much on getting early silver. It's just the anticipation! I'm the first to search this site, and there's lots of history connected to the early house than once stood there. It appears that the land was settled by a community leader who became an Admiralty Judge under King William in the late 1600's, which might explain the coin/button. It was perhaps worn as a symbol of his office. Thanks for the advice on cleaning the buttons and the fast ID on that Royal Navy button.

 

[matt092079]

Not saying you shouldn't want silver, though. lol None of us mind digging silver anything, but these finds are just as good in my book.

 

[Iron Patch]

Iron Patch - Yes, the site is producing some nice early finds, so I should not focus so much on getting early silver. It's just the anticipation! I'm the first to search this site, and there's lots of history connected to the early house than once stood there. It appears that the land was settled by a community leader who became an Admiralty Judge under King William in the late 1600's, which might explain the coin/button. It was perhaps worn as a symbol of his office. Thanks for the advice on cleaning the buttons and the fast ID on that Royal Navy button.

Even when it gets thin it could still be there. We once hunted a spot that gave up at least 150 large coppers and only one early silver, and I kid you not it was the last coin!


I do like that William button, and can't really dismiss your thoughts on it because I have never seen another. It's 20 times the find being a button.

 

[hogge]

Those are some awesome finds! NICE AVATAR! What state was that found in?

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Those are some awesome finds! NICE AVATAR! What state was that found in?

It was found in RI. If you want to see some other photos and my experience getting it slabbed (a mistake), check out one of my replies to Oxbowbarefoot's thread on his Oak Tree Shilling.

 

[wvwildman]

nice finds congrats HH