1799 Draped Bust LC and other finds from the creekside

[relicmeister]

Spent a few hours today in the woods along the brook, one of my favorite places, especially on a beautiful summer day. The group photo shows some of the finds, including a tiny horseshoe, a fired
musketball, a gear, parts of an old copper box, a spoon, a flat button, and the top of a (salt?) shaker.
The old Oldsmobile key (circa 30's?) next to the '43 merc was a surprising and cool find.

My best find was the 1799 Draped Bust Largy, which came out of the loamy, sandy soil in decent
shape, especially the obverse!

This was found not far from the KG II I found two weeks ago. I'm gonna go back over and over
cause I know there are more old coins to be found!!!

I also secured open-ended permission to hunt a large old farm whose property goes all the way
to the river. The house dates to late 1700's, and the old road ran through the property. This local
farm will keep me busy for quite some time to come. Happy Hunting

 

[park pirate]

Man that LC is in very nice condition ..congrats..

 

[MUDSLINGER]

wow super old coin. it is frustrating more detail isn't visable. heck i would be doing cartwheels anyway

 

[DigIron2]

Very nice coin my friend!your salt shaker top might be the end of some kind of water purifier?

 

[coinman123]

Finding any American coin from the 1700's is a incredible find, right now I am 6 years off with my 1805 LC (mintage 941,116).

 

[tigerbeetle]

The Legendary 1799 Cent

 

[Steve in PA]

Always nice to dig a 1700s Large Cent, although some dates are "nicer" than others. Still you got more evidence with two coins now that there may be a site nearby that could pay out big time!

 

[relicmeister]

Always nice to dig a 1700s Large Cent, although some dates are "nicer" than others. Still you got more evidence with two coins now that there may be a site nearby that could pay out big time!

You might be right, Steve. Check that- I HOPE you're right, Steve. If there is such a spot I intend to find it!
There are still a great many acres to be explored. I have also been finding a lot of wrought iron square nails
and this site has produced my oldest colonial buckles to date, so I figure there must be an area that had a structure on it
in the mid to late 18th century. It might be further along than I've gone yet.

 

[Old Dude]

With a very nice DB already found, I am sure you won't quit until you do find that structure. Good luck hunting it!

 

[Old Dude]

“The rarest cent is 1799. This is curious as a considerable number are known to have been coined in that year. There is a legend that a ship-captain bought a large number of them immediately after they were coined and took them to the west coast of Africa. But a better reason for their disappearance is to be found in the fact that the metal was unusually soft, and the inscription therefore soon wore away.“

Another version of the cent’s alleged African slave trade connection was quoted in the January 1918 issue of The Numismatist:

“The rarest cent is that of the series of 1799. It is said that the scarcity of this issue is due to the fact that a firm in Salem, Mass., which was then engaged in the slave trade, procured a large quantity of them from the Mint, and after drilling holes in each one, shipped them to Africa, where they were given as ornaments to the chiefs in exchange for slaves.”

Still another version of the legend claimed the ship transporting the cents to Africa sank during a storm.

The above quotes and statements come from tigerbeetle's link. I had never heard this. Thanks for the info, TB!

 

[Ahab8]

That's a nice find rm! I love hunting by historic rivers and streams. Most of my best finds have come from these locations