Surprising Find on the Grounds of the Old Asylum

silverfinder

Full Member
Dec 31, 2006
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Near me is an old, nineteenth century mental hospital. It's extensive, and the grounds have been hunted heavily long before I purchased my first detector back around 2000. I go there occasionally, hoping to find a coin or two that was overlooked. Usually, I come back empty-handed. Yesterday, however, I discovered a small patch that yielded a '24D dime and a several wheat cents. I returned there today, and hunted on the edge of a wooded stretch where some ancient trees stand, trees that were obviously planted a long time ago, such as English beech. In the soft earth under the antediluvian beech, I dug a disc that was only about 4" down. It was obviously copper, but thinner than the one large cent in my possession, which was purchased, not found. I thought I discerned some markings, but I wasn't sure, as they were very faint and the disc was very dirty. I put it away until I got home, rinsed it off, and....holy toledo. It was a colonial copper, my first. I went to Border's and looked at the new Redbook to identify the coin. It's apparently a 1786 Connecticut cent, mailed bust facing left. I'm afraid to clean it further, as you can see by the rough shape it's in. What surprised me was the that I found the coin in an area which I did not think had had any older homesteads which existed before the hospital was built. I'm going back there as soon as possible; maybe there are more coins or old buttons.
 

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Awesome find, Silver! Hope you find more on your return trip.

HH
;) RR
 

very exciting. :o
 

Holy toledo alright. She's a beauty mate. I wouldn't clean her too much...
Congrats and good luck for next time.
 

That's a sweet looking find, Silver. Hope your trip back produces more amazing finds.

HH
 

Looks to me like you might be onto something quite promising, the whole area around there could hold much more in the way of "old" coins and other objects. Would you be able to post some pics of the area for us???...pp
 

great find silver it looks to me tho that it is a george II english half penny i found 1 recently and it the bust looks the same congrats and hh

dylan
 

Very nice!

Nearby there is an old asylum (everything from inebriate to TB to mental through the years) that was a city unto itself from the Civil War on. Construction started in 1858. Power plant, firestation, farms, etc. on 250 acres of a hilltop. It's state owned at the present and 95% of it is vacant. I would love to get permission to hunt there but it's a no no (national landmark). We're trying to get it "foundationalized" to save the older buildings (the oldest looks like a castle).

The designer was Isaac G. Perry

engrave1.jpg


bia1926.jpg
 

state hospital grounds are always good.. Here in CA I have hunted on 3. Always good finds.. Good luck finding more... great pics as well...
 

SilverFinder, this is SilverSeeker. That is some great detecting work. However, since the oldest coin that you have presumably found now is copper, not silver, I hereby proclaim you to be CopperFinder. Great work...
 

One way to increase your luck on well hunted grounds is to hit the out of the ordanary places and like you did, sometimes it pays off. Well done and congrats big time! Good luck on return!! She's a beautiful coin!

Smiles!
BDoo
 

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