1600's WILLIAM III, ROSA Americana, Colonial TRASH pit

Patriot Relics

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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Clean up post for my last couple hunts at a newly discovered colonial trash pit. Most of the targets have come out pretty rough given the harsh salt conditions, however a few nice display pieces have turned up. Got on the site with DownNDirty as a blind scout, so was thrilled with the results given the site was a bit of a mystery. This first piece was a bit of a head scratcher out of the mud. Looked a lot like a metal ingot...silver I dare say.

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This site has produced lots of early coins, and at least 3 contemporary counterfeits. I acid tested the ingot at home and it did have trace amount of silver. After taking it to a silver shop for professional analysis, it ended up being pewter (with minimal silver content). First pewter ingot I've ever seen, could have been used for buttons, spoons, or producing knock off coins.

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Nearby Glenn stumbled across a coin spill in the muck- he pulled a nice KGI with the Nox...and I worked behind him and dug 2 roached coppers with the CTX. Just inland, I dug what I thought was a slick copper. Luckily the profile and hair tie allowed for a definitive ID - King William III half penny. These were produced from 1695-1698 so definitely in the 1600s copper club :laughing7:

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Here's what it would have looked like

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Another nice coin surprise was my 4th Rosa Americana from the site - this one is a 1722 half penny variety.

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Crazy to score a 1600s and early 1700s copper from the same site.

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Dug another encrusted coin, definitely another early one, but to far gone. Electrolysis usually reveals a thin copper disk inside....

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Next up is one of the nicest shoe buckles I've ever dug. No idea how it survived the salt, but check out that patina.

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This one was dug in the same pit

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Normal assorted flats

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Was praying for a GW with this monster 35mm, but beggers can't be choosers. Still a nice civilian dandy.

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1600s Laden Spoon

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That about wraps it up, looking forward to a few repeat trips in March. Here's my favorites/group shot and as always thanks for looking.

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Upvote 67
Hi, nice finds, The concept of basic sanitation in British Empire was until 1751 .The idea was first introduced by Corbyn Morris in London. Trash pits in the 1600s ? Please explain ? TP

Hey TP, colonial folks around basically dumped their trash into the front yard until the late 1700s. At my earliest sites, they typically dumped the trash into piles which accumulated into pits over a few hundred years due to decomp of the organics. The pits are basically bone, glass, and pottery, and oyster shells piled on top of each other in a particular era (no formal sanitation, just concentration).
 

Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!
 

I'm pretty sure William III are 1695-1701...I can see 7 on reverse so its 1697...or 1700...awesome coin....I have a few of them.....after looking at position of the 7....I'd say 1700-1701...I could be wrong though.....lol
 

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Hi, wow great finds. Congrats:icon_thumleft:
 

Awesome finds sir.

Can hardly wait to see what shows up next.
 

Nice finds! That pewter ingot is pretty fascinating! Thanks for sharing!
 

A William and a Rosa. NICE! Love those little buckles as well. Great hunt. At first glance I thought the WIII was a William & Mary.

Thanks Jeff, the Rosas always come out bubbled and rough, but happy the slick copper had just enough detail. Hard to beat that deep green patina
 

What a great collection of finds! The pewter ingot is very interesting. I've never seen something like that before. Great collection of colonial coins too! The ornate shoe buckle is certainly drool worthy. Congrats!

Thanks monkey, the pewter ingot blew my headphones off...nearly discarded it as modern trash, but the crude nature of the casing had me wondering.
 

Wow..You just keep killin it. I need to know your secret for finding these sites.Good job.

I've got a few years head start on you, but really it's just research and lots of scouting. I don't post my trash hunts, but normally I just dig slaw and aluminum like everybody else :laughing7:
 

Awesome coppers and buckles. Pewter ingot is really cool, I’ve found 2 lead ingots at 1800’s sites, I guess pewter ingots pop out at really old sites. Congrats

Thanks PA, can't find another example like it. Guess the spoons and buttons had to originate as something like this
 

I think you should call it a treasure pit freakin amazing finds great post, Tommy
 

I'm pretty sure William III are 1695-1701...I can see 7 on reverse so its 1697...or 1700...awesome coin....I have a few of them.....after looking at position of the 7....I'd say 1700-1701...I could be wrong though.....lol

I can see what your seeing, but rotating it I see other numbers in the patina ha. Very well could be right, but certainly in the 1695-1701 range.
 

Colonial dream hunt
 

I've got a few years head start on you, but really it's just research and lots of scouting. I don't post my trash hunts, but normally I just dig slaw and aluminum like everybody else :laughing7:

I may have an interesting hunt coming up. Going up this weekend to scout it. If it looks promising I'll send you an invite. I'll send you a PM.
 

Some killer finds as usual VMI. I love the buckles and coins.
 

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