2016 Best of the Best!!!!

[Ahab8]

It's snowing here in Maine and I'm not giving up but I likely will only be able to hunt the shore with my GPX. I didn't get out much this summer but had some killer hunts. Lots of marked 1812 pewters, a pile of early coppers in great condition from one site that has ties to one of my ancestors. A gorgeous 1749 came from this same site and the star of the show for coins was a very scarce 1749 Unbarred A farthing that's easily the nicest copper I've eve found. I also pulled a 1653 heavily countermarked copper cob and a few other 17th century finds including 2 complete Latten spoons and a marked pipe bowl. On the relics side I had a great year. Some of the highlights were 7 or 8 shoe buckles....3 being complete. I found a ton of pewter spoons and my first button mould (thanks IP). My favorite relic by 8 miles is the colonial silver Luckenbooth brooch. Love that thing. A few other things were a few colonial links, my first flint and a really nice mystery piece from the ancestors colonial site. I guess it was some sort of leather ornament.
I also wanted to mention that I made a few great friends this year brought together by this great hobby. Scrappy and OutdoorAdv came up and we had a blast. Also want to thank all of the members who are so helpful with identification and information about the finds. Incredibly knowledgeable folks on this forum. You all know who you are. Thanks Guys

Best Coins:
1749 Unbarred A regal farthing error


1749 Pillar & Globes Real



1723 Woods Hibernia Copper



1653 Countermarked Copper Cob


Ancestor Site Nicer Coppers



French Billon Coin (1590s?)



17th Century Finds:
Complete Latten Spoons
Seal Top


The Family


Lluellin Evans marked Pipe Bowl


Favorite Relics:

1812 Buttons
Regiment of Artillerists


Script Infantry


General Service US


Regimental Buttons



The Family


3 Complete Shoe Buckles


Button Mould


Gold Picker (GPX FIND)



My Baby....Colonial Scottish Silver Luckenbooth Brooch

 

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[RobRieman]

Killer stuff Abe. Congrats on all your great finds! I would love to be able to swing in a place with that kind of history.

 

[Argentium]

Wow ! That's a fine year worth of high quality finds ! nice pics too - Cheers !!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

What a beautiful collection of keepers, congratulations!

Those spoons are absolutely killer! Of course everything else is fantastic!

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on a great year Abe! You definitely made the most of your opportunities.

 

[CRUSADER]

1 day, I would like just 1 of those whole spoons.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

What a year Abe! Your ancestors copper coins are absolutely stunning... what a site. I am happy to say I witnessed 66% of your complete shoe buckles see the light of day in 225+ years. That 1653 Spanish cob is the oldest coin I've ever seen dug and it was a thrill to see you pull that too. Too many great times to mention, and the best times I've ever had hunting with friends. A huge Congratulations on a fantastic year Abe. I cant wait to see what 2017 brings for you.

 

[Ccarson]

Awsome finds. I was wondering if you found any buttons that might of come from that button mold ?

 

[trapperart]

That is an impressive bunch of finds congrats

 

[Scrappy]

Wow Abe. Seeing all those finds together is simply an amazing site. Those spoons far and away are my favorite finds. Just the look of them takes me across the ocean to a different time, and look like something I'd more expect to see dug in England. The Luckenbooth is another example that belongs in a museum. We all try to reach back as far as we can here in the "New World", but you consistently push the outer limits further than most.

Great old coppers in exceptional condition, and the Hammered copper is outstanding. Most of all, it was a great time digging beside you buddy. I was a great time hunting with people that live and breathe relic hunting. Online you make it look easy, but anyone who knows you well understands how much work you put into your hunts/finds. My hat is off to you and your finds. Seal buddy I'm sure also feels the same way.

 

[ironhorse]

You hit every nail on the head and checked off every box!
Top marks for the season you just had!
The stories you attached to your finds alone are treasures, congratulations on your year!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

What a wide ranging assortment of early finds there Abe - very impressive to say the least. Although your quantity wasn't amazing (due to not digging much), your quality was about as good as it gets with a number of very unique finds. And you topped it off with that big, chunky gold flake which is unbelievable considering where it was recovered. But my favorite has to be that complete, early spoon. Those just blow me away. Congrats man on a stellar 2016!!

 

[The Patriot]

Stunning finds there...I'm still drooling...Got lots of favorites in those pics but the Luckenbooth stands out to me...wonder why lol....Congrats and here's to a better year coming ....

 

[BigWaveDave]

No doubt, if I lived in Maine, you would still find all that, and maybe more....
Congrats on another great year!

 

[Isaac]

Congratulations on an incredible 2016 season!!! I always am looking forward to your posts on here. I've been mostly lurking here lately and not posting much. I LOVE those spoons, that brooch and button mold are such unique finds and are huge additions to your fast-growing collection, and to top it off, you get to hunt sites your ancestors' occupied! How awesome is that!?!?! Happy hunting, Isaac

 

[ARC]

Looks like another fantastic year.
"Well done" is an understatement.

Keep on keeping on.

 

[TheGreatNorth]

WOW! Now that is a nice pile. That Farthing and the Brooch steal the show for sure. It's just icing the cake that you got to find a lot of the stuff on and tied to your ancestors. Have a good winter, and let's hope for an early spring!

 

[Z.K.]

Knowing how rarely you got out, it really is great to see what you produced. Like watching a guy win races with one arm and one leg tied up. And in spite of it, your passion for the hobby in general and support for everybody else was undiminished. Super classy.

Hoping you get lots more time in 2017, and looking forward to what that brings.

 

[Aureus]

Awesome finds Abe! You had an amazing year! Hope you find a nice British Rev War belt plate in 2017 or at least a Loyalists one ;-) Great job on those super early amazing looking coppers and the brooch. Those tend to elude me.

 

[DownNDirty]

What can I say, Abe? That is an amazing bunch of KILLER finds especially to have been found in just one year. I know you put a lot of work and I'm sure did tons of research to find the sites. Congratulations on a banner year (pun intended).