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

Patriot Relics

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Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Here's a better example from Ridgeway's website

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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.

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

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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-

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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.

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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

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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??

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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.

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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!

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Last edited:
Upvote 35

SOSDIVING

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Apr 2, 2014
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Wake Forest, NC
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White's Surfmaster II VLF
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WOW, that SILVER thimble is a museum piece, just think of the history and fingers behind it. Thanks for finding! and sharing
 

OP
OP
Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
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Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
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CTX-3030, Deus XP II
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WOW, that SILVER thimble is a museum piece, just think of the history and fingers behind it. Thanks for finding! and sharing

For sure SOS, I've dug a dozen of the copper thimbles but this silver open top is certainly a notch above. Thrilled to add it to the display
 

CRUSADER

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May 25, 2007
40,820
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ENGLAND
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The buckle is an 18th C Breech/Knee Buckle.
 

treblehunter

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Jun 18, 2013
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11,295
New Jersey
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I found a very similar thimble, silver tailors thimble and I have found those tiny buckles also. Very good hunt, great button/buttons. Congrats.
 

flintlock

Full Member
Aug 6, 2007
117
66
Nice assortment of relics and I especially like the early one piece Artillery button and silver thimble, wtg!
 

dts52

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Jun 20, 2015
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NW CT
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Great finds. I'm in Charleston for Christmas week and the weather is beautiful here. Quite a change from 5 below zero the morning we left CT. Someday I'll come down here with my AT Pro and make some great finds.
HH
dts
 

Carolina Tom

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Apr 4, 2014
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Charlotte
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Very well done Jon. That thimble is just awesome. Wow. The old eagle button is sweet too.

Congrats and happy holidays!
 

DirtStalker

Bronze Member
Sep 26, 2014
2,246
3,336
Upstate SC
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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.
 

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Patriot Relics

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Feb 6, 2014
3,705
5,528
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
4
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Great finds. I'm in Charleston for Christmas week and the weather is beautiful here. Quite a change from 5 below zero the morning we left CT. Someday I'll come down here with my AT Pro and make some great finds.
HH
dts
Charleston is great over the holidays, sadly I'm on the road heading north to visit family...may need to invest in warmer clothes lol
 

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