1732 George II Halfpenny and Other Colonial Goodies

[Brendan M.]

Hello Again Everyone!

I went back to the colonial spot yesterday where I plucked out that sweet British square poll camp axe recently while hunting with Mr. Magoo (http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,438447.0.html). Chris couldn't make it this time, so I braved the remaining weeds and ticks alone, and it turned out to be a pretty decent haul. This site just keeps producing.

I started out in the vicinity where I dug the axe a couple of weeks back, and after digging the beginnings of a series of old iron rosette nails, I hit a lovely signal by a tree and dug my find of the day: a 1732 George II halfpenny, in pretty nice shape all things considered. This was about 20 minutes into the hunt. Don't you love it when the rest of the day is gravy?

Then I began to carefully search again the perimeter of where I believe the structures stood. Focusing slowly on the really overgrown spots that probably haven't been hit as hard, I kept digging wrought nail after wrought nail, but the other finds came as well. I dug a nice lead seal with another heart imprint (just like the axe; different letters inside though -- this looks like "PID"), then a flat one-piece button, some lead slag and a few interesting iron pieces.

After that I made the final significant find of the day: I must've hit a spot where someone was keeping the horses (or maybe a small smithy?), because I dug three horseshoes all in the same 2x2 area. Take a look at these -- the two similar ones aren't like any I've seen before. Does anyone know anything about these?

Not a bad day for a few hours of digging. This might've been my last hunt before the snow, so thankfully it was a good one!

Cheers and Happy Holidays,
Brendan

 

[JW15]

Congrats on a nice colonial copper!

 

[BosnMate]

Regarding the horseshoes. Two are what are called "bar shoes." The blacksmith, farrier, horse shoe'er heated the heals red hot, then bent them so they overlapped in the back, then heated them in the forge to a welding heat, and hammered, actually welded them together by driving the molecules of iron together, then he flattened the weld, and sort of spooned the center. Why did they do this. There are a number of reasons. Usually this is done to correct foot problems that the horse is having. Lets say the horse's feet have grown out too long for a long period of time, or thrush has eaten the "frog," which is a pliable structure at the heel that allows the foot to expand when weight is put on it, or for some other reason the animal gets contracted heels, and comes up lame. The farrier trims the foot to where it's supposed to be, then builds a bar shoe that will apply pressure to the frog which is located at the center part of the heel of the foot, then he cuts a leather pad, packs the foot with tar and oakum, which helps keep the foot moist and/or keeps the thrush away, places the pad on top of that, then nails the shoe on, causing constant pressure on the frog, thus expanding the heels, which eventually cures the contracted heels and the horse "comes sound.". Another big reason for a bar shoe is because there is no place on one side to nail the shoe, usually due to the hoof being broken off, but perhaps the shoe'er can get four sound nails on the other side. He'll build a bar shoe, and draw a toe clip, and perhaps side clips, then nail the shoe on, so the protected foot can grow back out, which happens at the rate of 3/8's to 1/2 inch a month. From looking at the photos I'd say that's what you found. It kind of looks like he was trying to build up the heel on one side, like perhaps that side of the heel was missing, and perhaps he didn't have much hoof wall to nail to. That's not how I'd of built up the heel, but again, I wasn't there. At any rate, you have found two corrective shoes, and it's entirely possible that with these shoes on, the owner was able to continue using the horse. The shoe with out the bar is a hind shoe with caulks, pronounced "corks," that were for traction. The two bar shoes, besides having the one side built up, also have toe grabs, or toe corks, which is for traction, which makes me think that the owner was able to continue to use the horse with the corrective shoe on. I"m modifying this post, I want to add that the bottom bar shoe is for a front foot, the other is iffy, but sort of looks like a hind shoe to me.

 

[Brendan M.]

Regarding the horseshoes. Two are what are called "bar shoes." The blacksmith, farrier, horse shoe'er heated the heals red hot, then bent them so they overlapped in the back, then heated them in the forge to a welding heat, and hammered, actually welded them together by driving the molecules of iron together, then he flattened the weld, and sort of spooned the center. Why did they do this. There are a number of reasons. Usually this is done to correct foot problems that the horse is having. Lets say the horse's feet have grown out too long for a long period of time, or thrush has eaten the "frog," which is a pliable structure at the heel that allows the foot to expand when weight is put on it, or for some other reason the animal gets contracted heels, and comes up lame. The farrier trims the foot to where it's supposed to be, then builds a bar shoe that will apply pressure to the frog which is located at the center part of the heel of the foot, then he cuts a leather pad, packs the foot with tar and oakum, which helps keep the foot moist and/or keeps the thrush away, places the pad on top of that, then nails the shoe on, causing constant pressure on the frog, thus expanding the heels, which eventually cures the contracted heels and the horse "comes sound.". Another big reason for a bar shoe is because there is no place on one side to nail the shoe, usually due to the hoof being broken off, but perhaps the shoe'er can get four sound nails on the other side. He'll build a bar shoe, and draw a toe clip, and perhaps side clips, then nail the shoe on, so the protected foot can grow back out, which happens at the rate of 3/8's to 1/2 inch a month. From looking at the photos I'd say that's what you found. It kind of looks like he was trying to build up the heel on one side, like perhaps that side of the heel was missing, and perhaps he didn't have much hoof wall to nail to. That's not how I'd of built up the heel, but again, I wasn't there. At any rate, you have found two corrective shoes, and it's entirely possible that with these shoes on, the owner was able to continue using the horse. The shoe with out the bar is a hind shoe with caulks, pronounced "corks," that were for traction. The two bar shoes, besides having the one side built up, also have toe grabs, or toe corks, which is for traction, which makes me think that the owner was able to continue to use the horse with the corrective shoe on. I"m modifying this post, I want to add that the bottom bar shoe is for a front foot, the other is iffy, but sort of looks like a hind shoe to me.

Wow...Thanks for the info! Any idea what date you'd put on those?

 

[Nooberz]

Sweet early KG. Very good shape as well!

 

[joeyfresh]

Nice oldies Brendan! I'm a sucker for old lead seals especially if it confirms some of my research on an area.

 

[DiggerDave in Pa.]

Nice oldies Brendan! I'm a sucker for old lead seals especially if it confirms some of my research on an area.

Looks like a good hunt to me. The lead seal is pretty cool. Thanks for sharing. DD.

 

[IAsoldier]

Man Ill be out there day and night.

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

Regarding the horseshoes. Two are what are called "bar shoes." The blacksmith, farrier, horse shoe'er heated the heals red hot, then bent them so they overlapped in the back, then heated them in the forge to a welding heat, and hammered, actually welded them together by driving the molecules of iron together, then he flattened the weld, and sort of spooned the center. Why did they do this. There are a number of reasons. Usually this is done to correct foot problems that the horse is having. Lets say the horse's feet have grown out too long for a long period of time, or thrush has eaten the "frog," which is a pliable structure at the heel that allows the foot to expand when weight is put on it, or for some other reason the animal gets contracted heels, and comes up lame. The farrier trims the foot to where it's supposed to be, then builds a bar shoe that will apply pressure to the frog which is located at the center part of the heel of the foot, then he cuts a leather pad, packs the foot with tar and oakum, which helps keep the foot moist and/or keeps the thrush away, places the pad on top of that, then nails the shoe on, causing constant pressure on the frog, thus expanding the heels, which eventually cures the contracted heels and the horse "comes sound.". Another big reason for a bar shoe is because there is no place on one side to nail the shoe, usually due to the hoof being broken off, but perhaps the shoe'er can get four sound nails on the other side. He'll build a bar shoe, and draw a toe clip, and perhaps side clips, then nail the shoe on, so the protected foot can grow back out, which happens at the rate of 3/8's to 1/2 inch a month. From looking at the photos I'd say that's what you found. It kind of looks like he was trying to build up the heel on one side, like perhaps that side of the heel was missing, and perhaps he didn't have much hoof wall to nail to. That's not how I'd of built up the heel, but again, I wasn't there. At any rate, you have found two corrective shoes, and it's entirely possible that with these shoes on, the owner was able to continue using the horse. The shoe with out the bar is a hind shoe with caulks, pronounced "corks," that were for traction. The two bar shoes, besides having the one side built up, also have toe grabs, or toe corks, which is for traction, which makes me think that the owner was able to continue to use the horse with the corrective shoe on. I"m modifying this post, I want to add that the bottom bar shoe is for a front foot, the other is iffy, but sort of looks like a hind shoe to me.

Nice info, Bos'n!
I try to learn something new every day........So, you made my day with your VERY interesting post!!
Dale

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Another sweet day of recovery! Fantastic coin, seal and that flat button! That sight is a great one and will undoubtedly keep producing through persistence. Wish I could've joined you! All the best!

 

[LI Tom]

Very nice old Copper and seal,Brendan.It's great you can still hunt this late in the year.

 

[DigginThePast]

Nice group of finds all the way to the rosette nails. Lovin the condition on the 1732.

 

[Brendan M.]

Very nice old Copper and seal,Brendan.It's great you can still hunt this late in the year.

Thanks, Tom! How's the hunting down by you?

 

[Brendan M.]

Nice group of finds all the way to the rosette nails. Lovin the condition on the 1732.

Thank you sir!

 

[Brendan M.]

Another sweet day of recovery! Fantastic coin, seal and that flat button! That sight is a great one and will undoubtedly keep producing through persistence. Wish I could've joined you! All the best!

Thanks, Chris. I'll take you back there ASAP, provided the weather holds a little longer....

 

[bookfisher]

Hey Brendan,

Just saw this post and the axe post. That axe sure is a fantastic find, especially how it cleaned up so well. Needless to say, I think you have a lifetime of unlimited area to hunt up there. Continued good luck!

Bill

 

[BosnMate]

Wow...Thanks for the info! Any idea what date you'd put on those?

Date horse shoes? I don't know, horse shoes are still the same today. Bar shoes and corrective shoes are still being made. Horses still have the same foot problems they had when Adam named them. I don't really know how a person would pin a date or even an era to a horse shoe, except by dating the things that were being found with and around the shoes. There are some modern shoes, like aluminum racing plates, and rubber pavement shoes, but you have probably heard a rose is a rose is a rose. Well, iron horse shoes are horse shoes are horse shoes. They've been around for a long time, and they all kind of look alike.

 

[kuger]

Wow...Thanks for the info! Any idea what date you'd put on those?

Date horse shoes? I don't know, horse shoes are still the same today. Bar shoes and corrective shoes are still being made. Horses still have the same foot problems they had when Adam named them. I don't really know how a person would pin a date or even an era to a horse shoe, except by dating the things that were being found with and around the shoes. There are some modern shoes, like aluminum racing plates, and rubber pavement shoes, but you have probably heard a rose is a rose is a rose. Well, iron horse shoes are horse shoes are horse shoes. They've been around for a long time, and they all kind of look alike.

yep

 

[Brendan M.]

Hey Brendan,

Just saw this post and the axe post. That axe sure is a fantastic find, especially how it cleaned up so well. Needless to say, I think you have a lifetime of unlimited area to hunt up there. Continued good luck!

Bill

Bill! I was waiting for you to weigh in on these!

Yeah I was really stoked by the axe especially. It's such an odd feeling whenever I pull something that hefty out of the ground; I can imagine the poor soldier who spent his days swinging that thing 'round the clock. This is what the archaeological purists will never understand -- leaving something that beautiful in the ground to corrode away for eternity would be the greatest sin of all. I feel truly fortunate to be able to rescue some of this precious history, like so many of us do.

Two years in and I'm really starting to enjoy hunting these rugged North Country woods. And yeah, it could definitely keep me busy until the end of my days (provided I don't pack up and head to Europe first). Like I said, you gotta come visit! You won't want to leave.

How are things by you? Any luck down on LI these days?

 

[Brendan M.]

Wow...Thanks for the info! Any idea what date you'd put on those?

Date horse shoes? I don't know, horse shoes are still the same today. Bar shoes and corrective shoes are still being made. Horses still have the same foot problems they had when Adam named them. I don't really know how a person would pin a date or even an era to a horse shoe, except by dating the things that were being found with and around the shoes. There are some modern shoes, like aluminum racing plates, and rubber pavement shoes, but you have probably heard a rose is a rose is a rose. Well, iron horse shoes are horse shoes are horse shoes. They've been around for a long time, and they all kind of look alike.

Gotcha. Just thought I'd ask. Thanks again for all the excellent info!