1820s ARTILLERY, Colonial Silver...IMPERIAL CROSS!

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

While you all up in the frigid north hunker down for the winter, the lowcountry has been in the high 60s over the last couple days. Needless to say amazing weather in combination with Xmas leave ensured I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel on my 2016 season. Hit 2 very different sites over the last 2 days, both ended up producing some killer relics. First permission has the remains of a homestead deep in the woods, the structure is long since gone. It's the kind of site where random swinging in the forest lands you on a huge iron patch and assorted surface brick. Earlier this year it gave up a Light Artillery and a domed eagle button. My hopes were high to score another early military button before the close of 2016.

Weapon of choice today was the trusty CTX- about 10 minutes into the iron I started walking in a circular pattern to help vary my conventional grid. Employing this method and digging questionable signals, I managed 3 nice heavy flat buttons.

20161222_220543.jpg 20161222_220552.jpg 20161222_220622.jpg 20161222_220636.jpg 20161222_220658.jpg 20161222_220704.jpg

I've pounded this site so finding any non-ferrous among the iron was a great sign. Next up was the remains of an old pewter spoon and small tacks.

20161222_215446.jpg 20161222_215449.jpg 20161222_215558.jpg

The CTX's final target was also my main objective of the day, 1 piece domed L. H. & SCOVILL Artillery Eagle button, manufactured by the partnership of Leavenworth, Hayden and Scovill, in the 1820's. This partnership is the earliest of the Scovill backmarks. She's toasty but the eagle with A on the shield is still there.

20161222_220057.jpg 20161222_215851.jpg 20161222_215831.jpg 20161222_220225.jpg

Here's a better example from Ridgeway's website

Capture.PNG

Satisfied with my CTX, I returned to the truck to prove to my DEUS that my trusty minelab had gotten it all...or so I thought

Working the same perimeter, all that remained were the faintest whispers, the vast majority deep bent nails. That being said, I did pull a few small deep buttons that were missed on the first pass.

20161222_220729.jpg 20161222_220745.jpg

Also recovered a tiny buckle- any ideas as to its use?

20161222_220404.jpg 20161222_220349.jpg

As the site went quiet, I expanded the search area away from the iron patch. After another hour without so much as a chirp I started heading back in to the truck, excited to clean up the artillery button. While following the path out the Deus screamed on an 81...had to be clad. Reached down, flipped the plug and saw this beauty-

20161222_172234.jpg

I've dug a number copper of thimbles in the past put never solid silver. Similar to a present-day tailor’s thimble, these sewing rings were designed to apply the pressure sideways. They are also known as open-top or ring-type thimbles, and have complemented their more conventional counterparts from the earliest times.

20161222_214234.jpg 20161222_215315.jpg 1312693494095.jpg

Sadly no makers mark but acid test did confirm solid silver- suspect this one is late 1700s to early 1800s.

Here's another I dug nearby...clearly the investment in silver in the 1700s was a good call

20161222_220521.jpg 20161222_220423.jpg


Now I'm going to share the pictures of last weekends recovery before the story and let you make your own conclusions

What you do think you've got when this is at the bottom of the plug??

20161222_215417.jpg 20161222_215427.jpg

If you guessed 1960s anti-establishment surfer hardware you must have worn one as a kid :laughing7: After digging it and seeing 1813-1914 with the typical imperial german iron cross I though for sure it was a WWI trophy. Never in my widest dreams did I think it was a re-purposed 1960s symbol created by famous custom car designer Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.

This one is an early variation, but you can definitely see the surfer soldered to the back of a 1914 Iron Cross Badge Imperial German 1st Class WWI badge.

Among the other finds was this decorative stamped copper rosette :dontknow: and another mystery piece.

20161222_215400.jpg 20161222_215405.jpg 20161222_215619.jpg 20161222_215624.jpg

Heading up to Richmond for the holiday so that lowcountry dirt will have to wait until after the Christmas. All in all a couple outstanding hunts in some uncharacteristically warm weather. Thanks for reading and Merry Xmas!

20161222_221310.jpg 20161222_221827.jpg
 

Last edited:
Upvote 35
OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting

Scrappy

Gold Member
Mar 6, 2014
9,204
14,019
17th century
🥇 Banner finds
7
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030 & XP Deus
Primary Interest:
Other
That button rocks bud! I've wanted one ever since Brad dug one a while back. Killer find
 

OutdoorAdv

Bronze Member
Apr 16, 2013
2,457
3,350
East Coast - USA
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus,
GPX 4500,
Equinox 800,
AT Max
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Wow, awesome hunt man :icon_thumright: That silver thimble is incredible and not even smashed. Got a mess of brass ones, but hope to see a silver one in the dirt one day. Great buttons too.
 

OutdoorAdv

Bronze Member
Apr 16, 2013
2,457
3,350
East Coast - USA
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus,
GPX 4500,
Equinox 800,
AT Max
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
That button rocks bud! I've wanted one ever since Brad dug one a while back. Killer find

I lucked out with those two emerald green infantry ones, but I'd sure like an artillery button. Never found an artillery button from any time period. I would imagine there are more infantry buttons out there than any other types.
 

Oct 5, 2014
31,886
35,425
Massachusetts
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Garrett: AT Pro, AT Gold & Infinium; Minelab: Explorer SE, II; Simplex; Tesoro: Tejon & Outlaw; White's: V3i
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
You did very well, congratulations! :notworthy:
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Well in the immortal words of Big Daddy.....a box of donuts go a long way or not all magazines are paper some are a pile of bricks. Well Jon you know what I'm saying. Good digs and have a safe trip.

Spot on buddy, back in the lowcountry next weekend
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Wow, awesome hunt man :icon_thumright: That silver thimble is incredible and not even smashed. Got a mess of brass ones, but hope to see a silver one in the dirt one day. Great buttons too.

Thanks Brad, still a week left in the 2016 season. Maybe another early button left among the iron...probably time to break out the sifter
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Congrats on the 1821 to 1834 era eagle button , nice hunt



The buckle looks to be a colonial 1720 - 1790 era garter type from its very small size and no anchor type chape according to figure no. 732 , 733 , 734 here http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Whitehead.pdf

Great reference material on the buckle leddel, certainly confirms my suspicions for the date range
 

Stef45

Hero Member
Jan 7, 2016
781
1,228
SC
Detector(s) used
Minelab Safari
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice job with these finds! That thimble is pretty awesome, still haven't found one yet. Glad you could find some good relics while i was driving to the in-laws house! circle back soon and we will find some more treasure.
 

DirtStalker

Bronze Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,246
3,336
Upstate SC
🥇 Banner finds
3
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice job with these finds! That thimble is pretty awesome, still haven't found one yet. Glad you could find some good relics while i was driving to the in-laws house! circle back soon and we will find some more treasure.

Nick too late now. Once he hangs that Big Daddy Surfers medal around his neck you'll only find him on Folly Beach making tie dyed t-shirts and hanging 10 and only answering to Capt Dude
 

Palmetto Pony

Sr. Member
Aug 21, 2016
265
337
SC Lowcountry
Detector(s) used
XP Deus /Teknetics T2 Classic/Garrett Pro Pointer II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Awesome finds Jon. You certainly had a mixed bag. Seems you were on a vengeance to make up for my "cherry" find weren't ya?! LOL
Enjoy your vacation and I look forward to seeing what you bring back from the Richmond area. Just make sure the wife doesn't catch you sneaking the detectors in with the luggage. Merry Christmas and HH!

p.s. I didn't think you were old enough to know who Big Daddy Roth was!:laughing7:
 

Palmetto Pony

Sr. Member
Aug 21, 2016
265
337
SC Lowcountry
Detector(s) used
XP Deus /Teknetics T2 Classic/Garrett Pro Pointer II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nick too late now. Once he hangs that Big Daddy Surfers medal around his neck you'll only find him on Folly Beach making tie dyed t-shirts and hanging 10 and only answering to Capt Dude
Ya know he'll be at McKevlin's because that's where ALL of the cool surfer dudes hang out!:laughing7:
"Capt. Dude"...Priceless!!!
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nice job with these finds! That thimble is pretty awesome, still haven't found one yet. Glad you could find some good relics while i was driving to the in-laws house! circle back soon and we will find some more treasure.

I always find my best stuff when your out of town haha definitely more out there so we'll circle back next weekend
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Nick too late now. Once he hangs that Big Daddy Surfers medal around his neck you'll only find him on Folly Beach making tie dyed t-shirts and hanging 10 and only answering to Capt Dude

I told my wife I was going to put it on a nice chain and gift it for Xmas to her :laughing7: did not go over well
 

WHADIFIND

Gold Member
Apr 9, 2012
12,060
38,114
South of the Mason-Dixon Line
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT-MAX
Garrett AT-PRO,
Garrett Groundhog,
Pro-Pointer,

Jack Hammer!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Lovely finds! WTG!

Is that a number I see on the band around the thimble?
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,708
5,565
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Awesome finds Jon. You certainly had a mixed bag. Seems you were on a vengeance to make up for my "cherry" find weren't ya?! LOL
Enjoy your vacation and I look forward to seeing what you bring back from the Richmond area. Just make sure the wife doesn't catch you sneaking the detectors in with the luggage. Merry Christmas and HH!

p.s. I didn't think you were old enough to know who Big Daddy Roth was!:laughing7:

Thanks John, probably swing a bit on my grandfather's farm, no noteworthy history but you never know
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top