1923 Merc From My Own Front Yard

Ohio Jerry · Feb 8, 2009

A couple days of 50 degree weather here in eastern Ohio has melted the snow out of my yard and though there is still a frozen layer about three inches down I'm able to cut through it :thumbsup:

I went to my front yard this afternoon covering ground I've been over and over again without any high hopes but I was surprised to find some clad, 4 wheaties and 1923 Merc!!
One of the neatest finds is this valve stem cap/tool made by The Dill MFG. Co. Cleveland,Ohio with a July 13,1915 pat date.
We've had snow cover and bitter cold the past month so it sure felt good to be able to dig a few holes today. HH :icon_sunny:

Jerry

rjw4law · Feb 9, 2009

Hint: check the back yard.

Nana40 · Feb 9, 2009

A year! And you still have silver! :icon_scratch:

Gotta love that silver! 8)

Nana :wink:

michigan michael · Feb 10, 2009

Love the merc. I see you had a new quarter too! I hate pulling those out. You get a dirt covered quarter size coin with some weird design half visible. Ohhhh The excitement!

Oh, its a new quarter $:-\$ Well its still 25 cents. Have to justify it. lol

haylen · Feb 10, 2009

oldhippiecoinhntr · Feb 11, 2009

Looking at your first picture I see something that brings back memories of my youth. The object at the top left of picture, right above the tube, does anyone want to make a quess as to what it is? I know what it is, haveing dealt with them a lot in the 1950's and early 1960's. Have not seen them or seen them used since those days. Just some trivia..............lets have some quess's, and I will let you know who is right. Hint; "the sky is falling !".

Ohio Jerry · Feb 11, 2009

oldhippiecoinhntr said:
Looking at your first picture I see something that brings back memories of my youth. The object at the top left of picture, right above the tube, does anyone want to make a quess as to what it is? I know what it is, haveing dealt with them a lot in the 1950's and early 1960's. Have not seen them or seen them used since those days. Just some trivia..............lets have some quess's, and I will let you know who is right. Hint; "the sky is falling !".

Oldhippie,this is the fourth one of these aluminum "whatzits" i've dug at my homesite in the past year and I don't have a clue what they are. i posted one on the "what is it" forum last summer and got a ton of responses but no definite identification...wanna make my day? :wink:

oldhippiecoinhntr · Feb 13, 2009

Hello again...........! The object at the top far left above the tube; is a blinder or blind for a chicken. The hint was a qoute of course from Chicken little, I had hoped someone else on here would remember those days in the 60's, and chickens, thought Chicken Littles qoute would be enough.

For many years in the 50's and early 60's my grandparents were in the bussiness of buying and selling chickens. They bought them live on the farm, and on the hoof so to speak. They had a slaughter house, and would butcher them, and process them, and by the next day, there were on lots of local store shelves. They also went door to door, and sold them to customers. They did this until the goverment required meat to be inspected to be sold, that took care of selling fresh off the farm meat to stores. At least that is how I remembered it. The grandkids had to help. When we moved here in the 60's my mom and dad took it over.

I went on many buying trips with my grandparents to get chickens. We got a lot of chickens with these on them. I have a couple that I found detecting my grandparents farm recently. Brought back memories. :'(

good memories.

Near as I can remember the purpose of these, was to try to keep the chickens from pecking each other. I dont think they were real successfull? If you wonder how these go on..............they go on the beak, with the curved part over the top of beak, and the needle or pin then goes thru blinder on one side, thru the nostril at top of beak, and out the other side. The blinder supposedly kept the chicken from seeing the poor victim chicken, (victim chicken?) and couldnt see to peck.

Not such exciting news, or interesting as gold coins, but another identifying piece of info, in case someone finds any in future. Hope this helps.

Twin Digger · Feb 13, 2009

I'll find one some day.. But I'm a rookie. check out my find's from the North Country.

[youtube=425,350]LTIVUo0cLvk[/youtube]

Thanks.. Keep Saving America!!!

Twin Digger

OPUS1 · Feb 13, 2009

Wheaties and silver, breakfast of champions

Nice finds :thumbsup:

HH

mpostma · Feb 13, 2009

Hey Twin Digger,
Where in the North Country were you diggin?
I was watching your video, wanted to see how you were getting through all that frost and snow to get to the goodies.

Jerry is an honorary Michigander. I know in the winter that is a dubious title at best. Anyone that will brave the snow, frost and mud as he does is not just dedicated, he is an md animal. My hat is off to you Jerry!

Good Luck,
Mark

silverfreak · Feb 13, 2009

Nice find O.J.....and close to home...very close to home :thumbsup:

Ohio Jerry · Feb 13, 2009

oldhippiecoinhntr said:
Hello again...........! The object at the top far left above the tube; is a blinder or blind for a chicken. The hint was a qoute of course from Chicken little, I had hoped someone else on here would remember those days in the 60's, and chickens, thought Chicken Littles qoute would be enough.

For many years in the 50's and early 60's my grandparents were in the bussiness of buying and selling chickens. They bought them live on the farm, and on the hoof so to speak. They had a slaughter house, and would butcher them, and process them, and by the next day, there were on lots of local store shelves. They also went door to door, and sold them to customers. They did this until the goverment required meat to be inspected to be sold, that took care of selling fresh off the farm meat to stores. At least that is how I remembered it. The grandkids had to help. When we moved here in the 60's my mom and dad took it over.

I went on many buying trips with my grandparents to get chickens. We got a lot of chickens with these on them. I have a couple that I found detecting my grandparents farm recently. Brought back memories. good memories.

Near as I can remember the purpose of these, was to try to keep the chickens from pecking each other. I dont think they were real successfull? If you wonder how these go on..............they go on the beak, with the curved part over the top of beak, and the needle or pin then goes thru blinder on one side, thru the nostril at top of beak, and out the other side. The blinder supposedly kept the chicken from seeing the poor victim chicken, (victim chicken?) and couldnt see to peck.

Not such exciting news, or interesting as gold coins, but another identifying piece of info, in case someone finds any in future. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the id Oldhippie and for your story. I appreciate it cause as a kid in the early 60's my aunt and uncle worked a 100 acre farm and did a lot of their own butchering. I learned at a young age the origin of that saying about "running around like a chicken with your head cut off" My aunt let one go one day after taking it's head off on the chopping block and that sucker ran down the lane like no body's business..quite a disturbing image really

Apparently these blinders are still in use,i found them on the net,you can buy them in packages of 25. Thanks again,Jerry

oldhippiecoinhntr · Feb 14, 2009

STill avialable? Really? Would never have quessed. But then again, I havent looked to buy any.

When you mentioned the chicken with head gone running down the lane, that picture does bring back memories of that also. Yea disturbing, especially to young kids.I did remember that when the heads fell to ground, the eyes stayed open, blinking, and the beak would open and close for several minutes. And that made me feel bad for the poor chicken. :'(

. I remember thinking the chicken was likely trying protest. I remember when they butchered turkeys, cutting thier heads off, they would thrash, and run around for some time around the farm yard, before they were gathered up, and processed. Some memories are better forgotten maybe?

halfdime · Feb 14, 2009

As they say, a Merc in the hand is worth two in the bush. That's the beauty of having your own property; you can always give it another look, and you never know.

davew0710 · Feb 14, 2009

Awesome finds. I just found out the former owner of my house was an MD'er. Nothing here older than 10 years. >:(

mlayers · Feb 14, 2009

who says that you have to travel all over town to find the good stuff. WTG...Matt

teak · Feb 14, 2009

Congrats!

I too was a little bored the other day and detected the front yard, glad I did!! Found a 1842 Large One Cent!!

Ohio Jerry · Feb 14, 2009

Twin Digger said:
I'll find one some day.. But I'm a rookie. check out my find's from the North Country.

[youtube=425,350]LTIVUo0cLvk[/youtube]

Thanks.. Keep Saving America!!!

Twin Digger

Nice video Twin Digger!

silverfreak said:
Nice find O.J.....and close to home...very close to home

Hey Bryce! hows it going? Nice thing about swingin in my yard is i can have a bud lite sittin on the edge of my porch and when i get a little dry i can just swing by the porch for a sip :thumbsup:

mpostma said:
Hey Twin Digger,
Where in the North Country were you diggin?
I was watching your video, wanted to see how you were getting through all that frost and snow to get to the goodies.

Jerry is an honorary Michigander. I know in the winter that is a dubious title at best. Anyone that will brave the snow, frost and mud as he does is not just dedicated, he is an md animal. My hat is off to you Jerry!

Good Luck,
Mark

Thanks Mark,being an honorary Michigander doesn't mean i have to root for the Lions does it?

Sorry,that was low..They should get some really good draft picks this year eh?

OPUS1 said:
Wheaties and silver, breakfast of champions

Nice finds

HH

Thanks Opus1!!

halfdime said:
As they say, a Merc in the hand is worth two in the bush. That's the beauty of having your own property; you can always give it another look, and you never know.

If theres any downside ,i think my neighbors think i'm a lunatic LOL..they politely wave but i KNOW what they're thinkin

davew0710 said:
Awesome finds. I just found out the former owner of my house was an MD'er. Nothing here older than 10 years.

Thanks Dave!!

mlayers said:
who says that you have to travel all over town to find the good stuff. WTG...Matt

True,plus if i don't have a lot of time,I can be swinging at home in a matter of minutes :thumbsup:

teak said:
Congrats! I too was a little bored the other day and detected the front yard, glad I did!! Found a 1842 Large One Cent!!

Cool Teak!! Did you post it? I love diggin LC's

teak · Feb 14, 2009

No I havent posted the Large One Cent, it is so worn and thin, you can see some of the stars and the date in the sunlight, the back actually has better detail, i will try to get a good image and post.