2 Back to Back 18th c Bucketlisters

Wildcat1750 · Oct 4, 2020

This last week I decided to try a Colonial field site that was completely altered by new construction. Most of the topsoil was stripped, then respread to 4" deep over highly compacted subgrade. I was out there to find a very small piece of lost jewelry for a friend that never turned up, unfortunately.

Day 1: Recon. Harmonica reed and flat button without a shank... some potential here.

Day 2: Rock hard, bone dry ground and bits of trash. Returning to the car in the dark I switched the AT Pro to STD Zero for the heck of it and just swung blind... BAM. Loud bell tone and even though it was dark I was sure I had a Large Cent of some sort. It was until I got to the car that I rubbed it up a bit to reveal a pattern of circles on the reverse which transformed itself into a 1787 Fugio Copper!...Fairly toasted but a Fugio Copper all the same!

Day3: You guessed it. I left work early to hit that site again with a lot more daylight. It wasn't more than 10 minutes into the hunt I hit a strong 87 in Pro Zero mode and 4" down. A thin copper disc flipped over to the side of the hole. It was so thin I was sure I had a large flat button and turned it over to search for the shank. No shank! I rubbed it up a bit and slowly began to spell out CONSTELLATIO, and then NOVA! BTW: This coin was only lightly brushed with a soft, dry toothbrush and I promise to leave it that way.

I have been at this awesome hobby for over 20 years now :hourglass:

and these are my first U.S. coins from the 1700s!!! :occasion14:

Edited 10-25-2020: Based on the Die Clash located on the Obverse I believe that this Nova Constellation Copper is a Crosby 1-A variety.

Thanks for Looking!
Nick

iloveshinythings · Oct 4, 2020

Awesome!!!! Congrats. &#55357;&#56845;

toasted · Oct 4, 2020

Congrats. Two coppers Ive never found

tnt-hunter · Oct 4, 2020

You proved it pays to give unlikely places a try. With the construction and earth moving you might have been skunked, but instead you got 2 fantastic finds. Both I have not found in my 18.5 years of detecting and I may never find them, but we never know what will come out of the dirt. Keep working the spot, you might continue to get lucky. A big congratulations on your bucket listers. Stay safe and keep swingin.

villagenut · Oct 4, 2020

Two coppers I will never find....congrats

Digger RJ · Oct 4, 2020

Super!!! Congrats!!!! Wow!!!

Wildcat1750 · Oct 4, 2020

iloveshinythings said:
Awesome!!!! Congrats. ��

Thanks, iloveshinythings! I never expected a run like that!

toasted said:
Congrats. Two coppers Ive never found

Thanks, toasted! That's 2 I never thought I would!

tnt-hunter said:
You proved it pays to give unlikely places a try. With the construction and earth moving you might have been skunked, but instead you got 2 fantastic finds. Both I have not found in my 18.5 years of detecting and I may never find them, but we never know what will come out of the dirt. Keep working the spot, you might continue to get lucky. A big congratulations on your bucket listers. Stay safe and keep swingin.

Thanks, tnt-hunter! I knew the site had some history but was highly altered. Plus others have hunted it sucessfully. I think it helped to have reduced topsoil depth for my AT Pro. I wouldn't have tried that spot if I hadn't offered to help my friend find her jewelry.

villagenut said:
Two coppers I will never find....congrats

Thanks, villagenut! Probably 2 I will never find again.

Digger RJ said:
Super!!! Congrats!!!! Wow!!!

Thanks, Digger RJ! I'm still trying to calm down. :thumbsup:

Terry Soloman · Oct 4, 2020

AMAZING! Congratulations!! :occasion14:

Erik in NJ · Oct 4, 2020

Congrats on some outstanding finds!! Beautiful coins and a great story. I hope you find much more in that field...it's giving up a lot more than my Colonial-era house is :laughing7:

Noah_D · Oct 5, 2020

Congrats! Thanks for sharing with us!

Wildcat1750 · Oct 5, 2020

Terry Soloman said:
AMAZING! Congratulations!!

Thank you, Terry Soloman! Needles to say I went home and had a fancy beer! :occasion14:

Wildcat1750 · Oct 5, 2020

Erik in NJ said:
Congrats on some outstanding finds!! Beautiful coins and a great story. I hope you find much more in that field...it's giving up a lot more than my Colonial-era house is

Thanks, Erik in NJ! It's more like the perimeters of the building and parking area now that construction has taken place. I will give the site a rest for now, until we get some significant rain. Each hole requires some serious work with my Lesche shovel! :unhappysmiley:

Wildcat1750 · Oct 5, 2020

Noah_D said:
Congrats! Thanks for sharing with us!

My pleasure, Noah_D! FUGIOS and NOVAS are not unheard of on this forum, but I never dreamed I'd get a crack at finding my own! :thumbsup:

Jeff H · Oct 5, 2020

That is a lovely Nova :icon_thumright:

That is a copper I haven't been able to put my coil over yet. Makes me like yours even more. :laughing7:

Wildcat1750 · Oct 5, 2020

Jeff H said:
That is a lovely Nova That is a copper I haven't been able to put my coil over yet. Makes me like yours even more.

Thank you, Jeff H! It is surprisingly thin too...not like the Fugio Copper or your typical Large Cents.

Trezurehunter · Oct 6, 2020

Congrats on those nice old coppers.

pa-dirt_nc-sand · Oct 6, 2020

Definitely amazing bucketlisters! Congrats

terpfan · Oct 6, 2020

Great saves, congrats. Both of those coins remain on my wish list.

Steve in PA · Oct 6, 2020

Congrats! Both of those coins are on my Bucket List. But the odds of finding them are much better in Connecticut than anywhere else, although I do know of two Nova's dug here in SW PA.