Don in SJ
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- May 20, 2005
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Yesterday morning I decided to check out a new area and after an hour or so of exploring, finding no evidence of any homestead, I decided to head back to the truck, as so often happens in this situation, I spotted a small plateau in this somewhat hilly area and walked to it and I started to get some iron hits! 
Then I saw the confirming evidence that I look for in our part of the state, Grapevines! All of a sudden there were quite a few growing up the trees and even though there was no evidence of a building ever being there, I knew from past experience this was someones home most likely back in the 1790-1830 era.
My first diggable target was a no doubt about it coin reading , so I was thinking of filming the recovery, but in the past that has been a jinx, sort of like it guarantees instead of a coin it would be a large button!
Instead I just cleared the leaves from the pinpointed area, stuck my digger in the ground and took a "before digging" photo.
The coin evidently was in the bottom of the hole, since it must have been freed when my hand scooped out the rest of the loose dirt and then I saw the coin lying in the outer area of the dug dirt pile.
My first thought was a Coronet Large Cent, which to me is somewhat of a disappointment, but would be happy with the find regardless. I did not have much more time and hunted for about 15 more minutes at the new site and got part of an old hinge? and a keyhole cover and a UNK that I have found before and have no idea what the tubular piece of copper/brass might have been used for.
When I got home it took awhile before I had time to look at the finds, so I put them in hot peroxide and had to run some errands. I emailed my son about the new site and the fact I thought I found a Coronet Large Cent and looked like it might clean up good. Well surprise, surprise, when I returned home and removed the coin from the peroxide, it was still heavily encrusted
now that is a bad sign, usually means not in good shape when you have a "cement" like coating on a copper. But, as I took a wet q-tip to remove what crud did loosen up, I saw it. A SHIELD, I was thinking, don't tell me I have another NJ copper! I quickly turned the coin over to try and see some detail on the other side and sure enough, after some q-tip work, a horse head and plow became visible!
I just confirmed that I had found my 3rd New Jersey Copper this month! Also, the only 3 coins I have found so far in 2011 have all been NJ Coppers. I never, ever thought something like this would happen, in 30 years of hunting, I have found my fair share of NJ coppers, but usually more like 1 or 2 in a year if lucky and some years none. So to find 3 in one month, is just so special for me.
So I continued cleaning the coin and it was becoming obvious to me that this one just was not going to clean up much better with peroxide, so I let it dry, and analyzed that maybe I will now try picking with round toothpicks. After 2-3 hours of attempting to make it better, I did see improvement, but there was just no way the coin will be a looker. I finally gave up on trying to remove the remaining crud and just put a very light coat of Blue Ribbon Coin Conditioner on it, which helped also to remove some more of the crud, but some details now a bit harder to see.
I was surprised of the condition, I expected a copper from this area to be in great shape, but maybe the next one from there will be, I always joke that when I find one like this, that it must have been one where deer pee on in a regular way.
Here is a photo of the three NJ coppers found by me in February.
I expect to return next week to this site, I sure hope it is hiding at least one more copper for me, who knows, maybe my 4th NJ for 2011.......
Don
Then I saw the confirming evidence that I look for in our part of the state, Grapevines! All of a sudden there were quite a few growing up the trees and even though there was no evidence of a building ever being there, I knew from past experience this was someones home most likely back in the 1790-1830 era.
My first diggable target was a no doubt about it coin reading , so I was thinking of filming the recovery, but in the past that has been a jinx, sort of like it guarantees instead of a coin it would be a large button!
Instead I just cleared the leaves from the pinpointed area, stuck my digger in the ground and took a "before digging" photo.
The coin evidently was in the bottom of the hole, since it must have been freed when my hand scooped out the rest of the loose dirt and then I saw the coin lying in the outer area of the dug dirt pile.
My first thought was a Coronet Large Cent, which to me is somewhat of a disappointment, but would be happy with the find regardless. I did not have much more time and hunted for about 15 more minutes at the new site and got part of an old hinge? and a keyhole cover and a UNK that I have found before and have no idea what the tubular piece of copper/brass might have been used for.
When I got home it took awhile before I had time to look at the finds, so I put them in hot peroxide and had to run some errands. I emailed my son about the new site and the fact I thought I found a Coronet Large Cent and looked like it might clean up good. Well surprise, surprise, when I returned home and removed the coin from the peroxide, it was still heavily encrusted
now that is a bad sign, usually means not in good shape when you have a "cement" like coating on a copper. But, as I took a wet q-tip to remove what crud did loosen up, I saw it. A SHIELD, I was thinking, don't tell me I have another NJ copper! I quickly turned the coin over to try and see some detail on the other side and sure enough, after some q-tip work, a horse head and plow became visible!
I just confirmed that I had found my 3rd New Jersey Copper this month! Also, the only 3 coins I have found so far in 2011 have all been NJ Coppers. I never, ever thought something like this would happen, in 30 years of hunting, I have found my fair share of NJ coppers, but usually more like 1 or 2 in a year if lucky and some years none. So to find 3 in one month, is just so special for me.
So I continued cleaning the coin and it was becoming obvious to me that this one just was not going to clean up much better with peroxide, so I let it dry, and analyzed that maybe I will now try picking with round toothpicks. After 2-3 hours of attempting to make it better, I did see improvement, but there was just no way the coin will be a looker. I finally gave up on trying to remove the remaining crud and just put a very light coat of Blue Ribbon Coin Conditioner on it, which helped also to remove some more of the crud, but some details now a bit harder to see.
I was surprised of the condition, I expected a copper from this area to be in great shape, but maybe the next one from there will be, I always joke that when I find one like this, that it must have been one where deer pee on in a regular way.
Here is a photo of the three NJ coppers found by me in February.
I expect to return next week to this site, I sure hope it is hiding at least one more copper for me, who knows, maybe my 4th NJ for 2011.......
Don
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