1587 Elizabeth I hammered sixpence from southeast VA

[Bill D. (VA)]

A hunting partner of mine had recently gotten a tip from an out-of-town friend about a couple sites including a beach. She invited me to go with her yesterday to check them out today since the tide was running real low. Anyway, neither of those sites worked out and on the way to our Plan B site we saw a field that looked inviting. We eventually found out who the owner was and where he lived so we went and talked to the guy and his son-in-law for quite a while. He told us it would be OK to go ahead and hunt. The field was rather small and right on the main road so we weren't expecting much. But we started digging a few early buttons right away and eventually started seeing a little brick followed by the iron patch. This was within 100 ft of the main road which was a little unusual. I found a couple more buttons then a nice holed 1782 half reale pops out! Then I found one of those 1600s nipple buttons which was a good clue as to the age of the site and also prepared me for the next target I dug - an Elizabeth I hammered silver coin!! Later after a little straightening and cleaning I saw where it was dated 1587 (425 years old!). I had been trying to get my partner to come hunt that area of the field with me and she finally came over. Then, just one row over she pulls out a very nice 1742 large British copper (half penny). I also found a shallow trash pit just behind the house site that I need to expand upon later. Dug some early brick, oyster shells, iron, ash and one decent sized piece of white pottery (the base of a bowl or small dish). It was a total luck-out to end up at this place and then to find an early colonial homesite, but many times that's how the best sites are found. This was the 8th 1500s silver coin I've dug in the area over the last 3 years. Can't wait to get back out in the field again. HH ..... Bill

 

[baywalker]

VA. is got to be the best place to find relics in the good old U.S of A. banner for sure.


Jonnie

 

[testing123]

major congrats on the hammered! How deep was it?

 

[JW15]

Outstanding old silver find! They don't get much older than that in the US so big congrats for such an old and rare find!

 

[Argentium]

Bill , I just re -read your post and was amazed to see that you have found eight silvers from the
1500's , I'm not sure I've found eight silvers from the 1900's in the last three years ! and I live
in one of the oldest continuously settled areas in the U.S. . Argentium.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Congratulations on the 1587 Elizabeth I hammered silver Bill!!!
Sounds like you've just scratched the surface of that site!

Look forward to seeing what other treasures come to light!
Dave

 

[jewelerguy]

wow how cool is that?

 

[steelheadwill]

Great finds there Bill
nothing better than hammereds & Cobs IMO.
Well deserved finds! Congrats & more to you

 

[SouthJerseyJim]

Bill just amazing. Your in prime territory and it shows. Banner Find

 

[snowdogg70]

i think im voting banner too way to go!!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

major congrats on the hammered! How deep was it?

It was practically a surface find. Maybe 2-3" was about it. Came in like a big piece of an aluminum can so it was a complete surprise. I love it when that happens!

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

SWEET coin Bill! i'm voting Banner as well CONGRATS man!

 

[Kirk PA]

I am not surprised anymore when I see you digging these Hammered silver coins. I hope you dig the trash pit at this site. Oh Boy! This is the best hobby! It seems like this site had a long occupation.

Keep the passion high!

Kirk

 

[Deepdiger60]

Around 350 to 400 years history in that area fantastic finds you have my banner vote on this one Jim

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Sheesh Bill....another hammered!! How far from water were you?

Joey - here where I hunt in the Tidewater area of southeast VA you're never very far from water. And since most of the early sites depended on the water as a means of transportation and for commerce that's where many were located. This particular site was within a 1/2 mile of navigable water so it was typical as far as location goes. The site where I found the hammered caches was in a similar location near a navigable creek.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Outstanding! Great saves! What type of detector were you using?

 

[BuckleBoy]

Isn't it great how no matter how the day has gone so far, luck can still lead us to a great find? So many times, I've followed whims and been rewarded far more than I ever expected. This is an amazing find. Congratulations!

Cheers,


Buckles

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Outstanding! Great saves! What type of detector were you using?

I was using an F75, but any detector could have found the hammered coin as it wasn't any deeper than 2-3". As far as the rest of the stuff, you just need to go slow in the iron patch and dig every signal that has any potential including all the low VDIs as many times they could be small buttons or tombacs, and maybe one day a gold coin. So my rule of thumb especially at colonial sites is to dig it all.

 

[hikeinmts]

Congratulations on another nice pre-USA silver find. You are an "old coin magnet."
Hitting the right places, and continuing to hunt.....you will find the stuff.
I've found older here in S. Korea, Bill,,,,,,,but none better. (And I'd trade you all my
pre-1,000 a.d. coins for one of your pre-USA coins.) Tremendous!!!

 

[Don in SJ]

Bill, what can one say other than just outstanding on getting your 8th 1500s silver piece! I hope to see more over the years from you and awaiting your recovery of a relic or two that will knock our socks off from that early period!

I forgot to say, the nipple/pimple button is on my list, just have not found a site old enough yet, but they are here in our area.

Don

 

[birdman]

I am blown away! It is a dream of mine to find an early site like that in the states.