1848 colonial large cent and etched brass!

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
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Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
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I went on another sifting trip and found a few more nice pieces. I was able to find my first large cent, dated 1848. The condition isn’t great, but considering the soil conditions, I feel it’s as good as it’s going to get. The brass piece was a surprise. It was something I’ve passed over multiple times, but my detector hit it at just the right angle to register up consistently. I wasn’t too excited about it when I first dug it, as the lettering was not visible previously, but once I lightly cleaned it, the etching was made visible and appears to possibly be a name. The lettering appears to be added after the item broke, as the name appears to be complete and the lines beneath the letters are completely intact. I Apologize for the photos from my hand, as my family just remodeled our house and I don’t want to get any dirt on the new countertops.🤣🤣
 

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Upvote 19

Florida Finder

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Dec 17, 2020
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I went on another sifting trip and found a few more nice pieces. I was able to find my first large cent, dated 1848. The condition isn’t great, but considering the soil conditions, I feel it’s as good as it’s going to get. The brass piece was a surprise. It was something I’ve passed over multiple times, but my detector hit it at just the right angle to register up consistently. I wasn’t too excited about it when I first dug it, as the lettering was not visible previously, but once I lightly cleaned it, the etching was made visible and appears to possibly be a name. The lettering appears to be added after the item broke, as the name appears to be complete and the lines beneath the letters are completely intact. I Apologize for the photos from my hand, as my family just remodeled our house and I don’t want to get any dirt on the new countertops.🤣🤣
Nice largie! Congratulations
 

pepperj

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Feb 3, 2009
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Congrats on getting your first LC

Now it will come up better if you give it a soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide.
Lots of the organic crud will come off leaving better details.
Then some do soak in different solutions.
The Andre pencils will do a good job also.

Then again it's all yours now, and a first is always a great day.
 

villagenut

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Oct 18, 2014
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Looks like it says Hurris Roberts? ....and dont worry bout the hands, have you not seen the tnet hand models holding their finds with their caloused palms and their manicured nails. Yours are in need of some work:laughing7:
 

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Nathan6309

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
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Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
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Thanks everybody for the congrats! It was definitely a surprise, as most coins from that area have dated from the 1880s to the 1890s, but the house site appears on maps all the way back to the 1840s and could potentially be even older. I’ve got some other finds from a previous trip that I forgot to post, including an 1893 Indian head penny, so I’ll be sure to post those when I get the chance. This site has produced a lot of firsts, so I’m gonna keep hammering it hard until I’m certain Ive cleaned it out!
 

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Nathan6309

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
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Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
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All Treasure Hunting
Congrats on getting your first LC

Now it will come up better if you give it a soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide.
Lots of the organic crud will come off leaving better details.
Then some do soak in different solutions.
The Andre pencils will do a good job also.

Then again it's all yours now, and a first is always a great day.
Thanks pepperj for the cleaning options! I was considering doing a finer clean, as I feel there is definitely more detail beneath the crud. I’ll look into these methods and see which might be the best plan of attack for my particular coin. Coins this old are definitely a first for me, as the majority of my coins have dated at the oldest the 1880s, so most of those coins aren’t quite as frail as this large cent.
 

Coinstar magnet

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Apr 5, 2020
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Beverly Massachusetts
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Looks like it says Hurris Roberts? ....and dont worry bout the hands, have you not seen the tnet hand models holding their finds with their caloused palms and their manicured nails. Yours are in need of some work:laughing7:
The hand model comment stirs memories of George Castanza and Seinfeld...
 

Digger RJ

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Aug 24, 2017
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I went on another sifting trip and found a few more nice pieces. I was able to find my first large cent, dated 1848. The condition isn’t great, but considering the soil conditions, I feel it’s as good as it’s going to get. The brass piece was a surprise. It was something I’ve passed over multiple times, but my detector hit it at just the right angle to register up consistently. I wasn’t too excited about it when I first dug it, as the lettering was not visible previously, but once I lightly cleaned it, the etching was made visible and appears to possibly be a name. The lettering appears to be added after the item broke, as the name appears to be complete and the lines beneath the letters are completely intact. I Apologize for the photos from my hand, as my family just remodeled our house and I don’t want to get any dirt on the new countertops.🤣🤣
Nice!!! Congrats!!!
 

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Nathan6309

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
As to the name, I believe it might read "Hurris Putents." I will try to hit it again with some intense light and magnifiers to see what I can come up with. After a quick search online, I have been able to confirm that both names exist, but I havent been able to find any record of a putents in botetourt.
 

DCMatt

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Oct 12, 2006
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Herndon Virginia
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brass ashtray.JPG
I can't quite make out the name. It may be a piece of a brass advertisement ashtray. I doubt it is the name of a local person.


brass piece.jpg
 

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Nathan6309

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
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Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
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All Treasure Hunting
View attachment 2030074 I can't quite make out the name. It may be a piece of a brass advertisement ashtray. I doubt it is the name of a local person.


View attachment 2030075
Agreed, DCMatt. I’ve scoured through every census record and map I could find, and there’s no reference to this person, so it definitely could be off of an advertising piece of some sort.
 

DCMatt

Gold Member
Oct 12, 2006
10,356
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Herndon Virginia
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I found a company called 'Harris Patents Co.' In the early 20th C they made valves and some kind of internal combustion engine. Maybe your bit is from a valve key/knob? Leonard B. Harris was the patent holder.
 

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Nathan6309

Nathan6309

Full Member
May 15, 2018
205
668
Botetourt County, Va
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Ace 350, Macro Siplex +
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I found a company called 'Harris Patents Co.' In the early 20th C they made valves and some kind of internal combustion engine. Maybe your bit is from a valve key/knob? Leonard B. Harris was the patent holder.
Wow! I believe you hit the nail right on top of the head DCMatt. That is some incredible sleuthing work on your behalf. Thank you so much for the assistance with that piece, as I wasn’t really covering any ground with my research. I’ll look into them more and see what I can find.
 

Hunk-a-lead

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Dec 20, 2020
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I went on another sifting trip and found a few more nice pieces. I was able to find my first large cent, dated 1848. The condition isn’t great, but considering the soil conditions, I feel it’s as good as it’s going to get. The brass piece was a surprise. It was something I’ve passed over multiple times, but my detector hit it at just the right angle to register up consistently. I wasn’t too excited about it when I first dug it, as the lettering was not visible previously, but once I lightly cleaned it, the etching was made visible and appears to possibly be a name. The lettering appears to be added after the item broke, as the name appears to be complete and the lines beneath the letters are completely intact. I Apologize for the photos from my hand, as my family just remodeled our house and I don’t want to get any dirt on the new countertops.🤣🤣
great saves, wtg
 

Gare

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Very nice you did good !!
 

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