1817(13 stars) Large Cent

Woodland Detectors · Dec 12, 2009

Cold and snowy is forecast for the midwest. Our season has just got started. Fields are cut and some even plowed but, these finds came from the forest. The middle of no where. Sometimes it pays off to walk the woods with you detector. Most older homesteads or camps are not visible any more so, give it a shot! You never know who kicked the dirt, where there is now a blanket of fallen trees and leaves.
One find was a 1817 13 star variety Large cent. Here's a little history about it. Some 1817 pieces have 15 stars rather than the typical 13 stars. The reason for this is not specifically known, but most often attributed to the failing eyesight of Engraver Scot. The theory is that the first six stars were punched too closely together, so Scot added an additional nine at the same spacing to avoid an unbalanced space after the fifteenth star, thus saving the die; and, from appearances, the effort was successful. The 15 star is the rarer of the two.
If anyone can give some insight to the last photo as to what the round item may be? Update- Mickey mouse lock. Named for the shape like ears on top of the lock
Thanks! HHHH

treasurehound · Dec 14, 2009

Great finds Mike.

vayank54 · Dec 14, 2009

Some cool stuff. The plate looks to be in good shape even though it broken. It doesn' look like it crumbling apart. You might want to spray some clear coat on it or something. The piece of spoon looks to be ealy 1900's like you said, maybe a little earlier though.

gmsparky · Dec 14, 2009

that is really a nice find, don't see a lot of those.

umrgolf · Dec 14, 2009

just wandering around in the woods heh? :headbang:

i think the trip was a success... got an 1818 this year looks a lot like urs :laughing9:

KyFreeBird · Dec 15, 2009

Super nice Large Cent !!!!

JerV3 · Dec 15, 2009

Nice finds,

Some of the best sites I ever came upon where from walking the woods and letting the unit do the investigating. Most log cabin sites here in the NE don't even show on the maps. No trace or even sighn they were ever there.

HH Jer

Woodland Detectors · Dec 15, 2009

JerDfx said:
Nice finds,

Some of the best sites I ever came upon where from walking the woods and letting the unit do the investigating. Most log cabin sites here in the NE don't even show on the maps. No trace or even sighn they were ever there.

HH Jer

Thanks Jer. If I get lucky enough to find something of significance I kind of do a large circle around the area thinking there must be something else around here! And if the circle pattern involves detecting the swamp...so be it...Yes, I have found things in the swamp too!