HomeGuardDan
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Yesterday's Colonial Snow Dig...kept the coin streak alive in Copper & Silver!!!
We received a blanket of the "white stuff" here in Virginia on Friday. Not to be deterred, my good pal Bill D and I decided to go do some digging. We had to wait for the roads to somewhat become clear, but by noon we were out for our half-day snow hunt. It was cold, a little wet and fairly slow at first.
After a couple of hours and only a few buttons I hit a little iron patch and began to slow down and dig iffy signals. First I dug a button, then a part of a shoe buckle, and then a nice piece of cut spanish silver popped up. It was just a few minutes earlier that we were discussing whether or not our coin streak at this site would continue, it looked bleak (5 consecutive hunts with one of us digging a colonial coin).
After digging a couple of musket balls (some with sprus still on them) I dug a test hole and located a very deep and fairly sizable pit. Running out of day light, we filled it in after the test hole and will return on our next trip to dig it out, full of brick, pottery and bone, hopefully it will pay off. A few feet away I received a deep but large high-tone. Digging down close to 18" I popped out this large brass cap/lid/top of some sort. (An ID would be appreciated if possible). Once removed from the hole, I noticed the same color of dirt and flakes of bone and brick. Sticking the loop down in the hole I was surprised to hear another tone...once more dirt was removed, out popped this beauty of a VA Half Penny! Two Coins!!! Our streak was saved and I was happy. UPDATE: (I initially posted that I did dig one early pewter Pillars of Hercules button, but it is basicaly rotten.) I thought I could make out the left pillar on the left). (image of the back) (New image provided of the front.) Upon cleaning the button I was able to make out a "1st" on the fact. It appears it is some sort of a regimental button, but none of any kind I am familiar with. Any thoughts would be helpful!
I ended the day with 11 buttons, a few pieces of colonial buckles, and some lead. The two coins were the highlight. The big brass item is solid cast, and looks to have had the middle broken out. Any ideas?
HH
Dan
We received a blanket of the "white stuff" here in Virginia on Friday. Not to be deterred, my good pal Bill D and I decided to go do some digging. We had to wait for the roads to somewhat become clear, but by noon we were out for our half-day snow hunt. It was cold, a little wet and fairly slow at first.
After a couple of hours and only a few buttons I hit a little iron patch and began to slow down and dig iffy signals. First I dug a button, then a part of a shoe buckle, and then a nice piece of cut spanish silver popped up. It was just a few minutes earlier that we were discussing whether or not our coin streak at this site would continue, it looked bleak (5 consecutive hunts with one of us digging a colonial coin).
After digging a couple of musket balls (some with sprus still on them) I dug a test hole and located a very deep and fairly sizable pit. Running out of day light, we filled it in after the test hole and will return on our next trip to dig it out, full of brick, pottery and bone, hopefully it will pay off. A few feet away I received a deep but large high-tone. Digging down close to 18" I popped out this large brass cap/lid/top of some sort. (An ID would be appreciated if possible). Once removed from the hole, I noticed the same color of dirt and flakes of bone and brick. Sticking the loop down in the hole I was surprised to hear another tone...once more dirt was removed, out popped this beauty of a VA Half Penny! Two Coins!!! Our streak was saved and I was happy. UPDATE: (I initially posted that I did dig one early pewter Pillars of Hercules button, but it is basicaly rotten.) I thought I could make out the left pillar on the left). (image of the back) (New image provided of the front.) Upon cleaning the button I was able to make out a "1st" on the fact. It appears it is some sort of a regimental button, but none of any kind I am familiar with. Any thoughts would be helpful!
I ended the day with 11 buttons, a few pieces of colonial buckles, and some lead. The two coins were the highlight. The big brass item is solid cast, and looks to have had the middle broken out. Any ideas?
HH
Dan
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