217 year old silver in Southeast Missouri!

[silversweeper]

Have been hunting the farm of a newly acquired friend over the past several months. It had an old 1800's homestead on it at one time so I knew there were goodies to be found. I have meandered over large parts of some of the fields and found a few small hot spots. No major finds really, though. On one of my recent hunts I found a small area that I figure must have been a camping spot for settlers close by an all weather spring. I had found several flat buttons and some small caliber round ball, a few 44 colt bullets, and some odds and ends. Headed back there today to hit it a little harder in the hopes of finding some coinage. Found several more buttons, none with designs on the face, a few small pieces of lead and that was about it. Was getting frustrated and decided to head up the long hill back to my vehicle when I hit that last signal.......turned out to be my first piece of cut Spanish silver! And a prayer that I had kept muttering off and on for something with a date to go with my button finds was answered. The cut silver has the last two numbers of the date '97, which makes it a 1797 cut 8 Reale! Awesome find for Southeast Missouri! I've decided to concentrate more on quality and old finds this year as opposed to a large number of silver. Heading back to the same property next week. Probably not many finds left in this small area but there are several more acres to hunt.
And if anyone has seen a HEAVY duty stirrup like this one, let me know. It was deep in the field. I rarely dig deep iron but I just had a feeling about this one. Am working on cleaning it up some but can't imagine subjecting a poor horse to having this thing slapping it in the ribs!!

 

[EccentricInTexas]

Neat finds!!!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Great find.

 

[1stColonialRegiment]

Awesome, Congrats!
-1stCR

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Congrats on a great day of digging. Pretty lucky to find the one piece of that cut Spanish Reale that had the date on it.

Exactly what I was thinking. 8 to 1 odds against that happening. Talk about being lucky! Great find!

 

[Tenspeed]

Great finds! I hope you find another piece of silver next visit!

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on the bit! They are such a neat little reminder of days long ago. Each one is unique in some way. I'm sure that will be one of your favorite finds for years to come.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice variety of finds! Could the stirrup have come off a wagon, used as a step?

 

[silversweeper]

Nice variety of finds! Could the stirrup have come off a wagon, used as a step?

Not sure about that but can't picture how it would have been on a wagon. It has the one hole in the bottom, none in the top. Seems odd weight and manufacture for a stirrup but I don't have any other ideas for the shape/size. I've seen a lot of primitive antiques, farm equipment and etc. in my life and this doesn't look like anything I have seen besides a stirrup. May never know for sure. There was a blacksmith shop on the property so it could have been made on site.

 

[Missouri_John]

Very nice score, sir!!!!!! I'm getting ready to start digging again, now the weather is getting better here in Southeast Missouri

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Nice little one bit pie slice. You were very fortunate to have the date showing.

 

[N.J.THer]

I'm not real sure on that Great Seal piece. It is obviously post Civil War. Was found along the creek on the property and about 8 inches deep. It was either a fob or keychain piece. The bail was broken off. On the back is stamped "Genuine Bronze" but you can barely read it, took me a while to figure it out. I thought maybe it belonged to the present owner who was in the Marines in the Korean war but he says it wasn't his. Great old guy. I wish all property owners were like him!!!!

I have one with the bail attached and I believe it was a watch fob. Nice finds.

NJ

 

[jewelerguy]

sweet finds. love that cut silver!

 

[park pirate]

Outstanding finds..

 

[silversweeper]

Very nice score, sir!!!!!! I'm getting ready to start digging again, now the weather is getting better here in Southeast Missouri

.....and then there was today! Looking at about an inch of snow/ice already, John. I was getting used to not hearing the furnace running 24/7. Looks like it will be a few more days of winter for us. Regardless, unless it is just absolutely yuck out tomorrow........I'm going digging somewhere!

 

[Mach1Pilot]

Nice piece of 8 - and to find the part with the date makes it even sweeter - congrats!