A 1795 Halfpenny - My first Condor -Added 1796 Liberty Cap photo

[Don in SJ]

This morning I went back to the homestead that I got my 2nd 1793 Half Cent at about a week ago. My son told me, make sure you find a silver! Meaning, the condition of the Half Cent and all the buttons found there on my first hunt showed the soil is very acidic.

Well, the 30 minute walk to the site was a nice one, the woods were damp from rain last night and that helps with the signals and as I got to the homestead I got to take some photos of the area this time, believe me folks, this is one hard area even for me to hunt, I had to fight the Laurel for every foot of swing room, thus I used my ML smaller coil today.......

The Half Cent was found next to a Well hole, at least I think that is what it was, and this morning I found a mound which is usually indicative of a none cellarhole homestead from the late 1700s in this area.

Next to the mound area I got a couple great signals, the first one which I was 100% positive was going to be a copper, well it was, but not a copper coin, a hunk of copper with a funky arrow on it??

With the disappointment of that not being a coin or large button, within two feet of that I got another high sweet coin sound, and this time I was rewarded with a Copper, not a silver but after cleaning and Identifying the copper, I would take that anyday over a Half Real........

I ended up with a nice tombac design button and a cuff sized flattie. This site did not give up much, it is hard to hunt, but also rather confined to a small area, so probably occupied by an individual who worked elsewhere and basically just lived at this site, no farming. No thimbles, only a piece of Iron pot and other relics were not to be found..

OK, when I got home, Identifying the copper proved to be a challenge, first off it is in sad shape, but second, it had marks on it that told me right away it was not copper I ever found before!

After getting some help from a C4 member, who suggested it most likely was a Condor token, I went to the website that shows a lot of them and eventually I found it!

1795 Yorkshire York Halfpenny Condor Token!!(Clifford's Tower) My first Condor Token, and thus the first 1795 Halfpenny of this type, yes I have a 1795 US Half Cent already.

This Condor Token is a D&H 63 variety Obverse: A view of a Cathedral with YORK 1795 on it. Reverse: View of Castle & Drawbridge CLIFFORD's TOWER AD 1100 Edge Lettering:York built A.M. 1223 Cathedral Rebuilt AD 1075

Even though it is in sad shape, it is my first Condor and it was a beautiful coin, and not sure how many Condors made it here in the 1790s and later, but in England they were widely used (but not legally)

I may add to my post a coin my son found this afternoon, he went back to the area where we got the three 1798's two weeks ago and today got a 1796 Liberty Cap Large Cent, so both of us are still having a great year, but soon to slow down due to underbrush growth and ticks. Today I had the honor of getting my first tick to visit me, he did not stay very long for the visit though!!

NOTE: Last photo has my coin and a SAMPLE of one not corroded

ADDED: A photo of my son's 1796 Large Cent he found this afternoon........
HH

Don

 

[coltdavis]

Awesome finds, as always! cant believe i almost missed this post! keep it up Don HH

 

[Don in SJ]

That arrowhead mark is the broad arrow property mark of the British Navy. Very interesting.

My son first said that to me when I sent the photos, if you notice the file name I gave it for the post was BritishBroadArrowmaybe. I have no idea what the piece of copper is broken off from, but that darn piece was supposed to be a copper coin, not a piece of copper, but I guess having the arrow on it makes that hunk somewhat special.

Don

 

[99Brown]

Awesome! finds like always!

 

[spdnj]

Very nice Don, hey what happened ai thought you were moving to the ETrac??

 

[Don in SJ]

Very nice Don, hey what happened ai thought you were moving to the ETrac??

I don't ever remember saying about getting an Etrac, if anything I said I would get a used XSII or SE, never the Etrac in the next half decade, overpriced, overhyped and it does not have the features I love about the XS. Again, location and experience and research are the main factors in success and NOT an overpriced, new detector, most of my finds can be found with just about any detector that is capable of 4-8 inches of depth, only a few finds are deeper and only a few are next to an iron object that require experience with your detector to pick it out. My son does just as good as me if not better with his CZ70, again, location, experience and research are the keys to good times.

Don

 

[allen]

those are some fantastic finds !!!

 

[spdnj]

Oh too funny, I am on another forum and there is another Don in South Jersey who said he was getting a ETrac a few weeks ago, I assumed it was you. LOL Sorry about that one.

Very nice Don, hey what happened ai thought you were moving to the ETrac??

I don't ever remember saying about getting an Etrac, if anything I said I would get a used XSII or SE, never the Etrac in the next half decade, overpriced, overhyped and it does not have the features I love about the XS. Again, location and experience and research are the main factors in success and NOT an overpriced, new detector, most of my finds can be found with just about any detector that is capable of 4-8 inches of depth, only a few finds are deeper and only a few are next to an iron object that require experience with your detector to pick it out. My son does just as good as me if not better with his CZ70, again, location, experience and research are the keys to good times.

Don

 

[CRUSADER]

From the top of my head, that does look like a British Military marked piece called a crowsfoot (I think).

Your off to a great start this year, much like us. Although we are now desperate for land until the harvest.

 

[N.J.THer]

Don,
As always great finds and thanks for the education.
NJ

 

[dfx willy]

wow don great finds! i guess i dont have to detect anymore i can just check out your great finds with alot less work. congrats . willy.

 

[Hill Billy]

Great post Don,photo's are nice as well.Keep finding the old stuff.


HB

 

[Iron Patch]

That arrowhead mark is the broad arrow property mark of the British Navy. Very interesting.

My son first said that to me when I sent the photos, if you notice the file name I gave it for the post was BritishBroadArrowmaybe. I have no idea what the piece of copper is broken off from, but that darn piece was supposed to be a copper coin, not a piece of copper, but I guess having the arrow on it makes that hunk somewhat special.

Don

Most likely off a gun part. I have a piece of sideplate with the broad arrow stamp. Can't think of any other brass relics I've seen the mark on, of course common on iron.

 

[John (Ma)]

Looks like a tough spot to hunt, but is paying off well. Congrats.

 

[COUNTRY GIRL]

That is one unique token! I always learn something new in your posts and look forward to the lessons. I'd be curious to learn more about the arrow and your thoughts of what it came off. 2009 has been good to you so far can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

 

[Don in SJ]

That is one unique token! I always learn something new in your posts and look forward to the lessons. I'd be curious to learn more about the arrow and your thoughts of what it came off. 2009 has been good to you so far can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

CG, I have reached the conclusion, after a IP and another individual who has found similar pieces that it is part of an old trigger guard. I also compared it to some of my previous trigger guards I have found and the curvature, thickness is correct so I will call it part of a trigger guard with the British Mark (Broad Arrow) on it.

The broad arrow mark has been used over the years by the Office and Board to signify at first objects purchased from the monarch's money and later to indicate government property The broad arrow frequently appeared on military boxes and equipment such as canteens, bayonets and rifles.


Don

 

[Iron Patch]

That is one unique token! I always learn something new in your posts and look forward to the lessons. I'd be curious to learn more about the arrow and your thoughts of what it came off. 2009 has been good to you so far can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

CG, I have reached the conclusion, after a IP and another individual who has found similar pieces that it is part of an old trigger guard. I also compared it to some of my previous trigger guards I have found and the curvature, thickness is correct so I will call it part of a trigger guard with the British Mark (Broad Arrow) on it.

Don

That's the part I would have guessed. Have found plenty of pieces over the years but never a complete one. Dang plough.

 

[PACO]

NICE EARLY COPPERS DON............I LOVE THE WOODS ATMOSPHERE. GREAT HUNTING..............PACO

 

[STH69]

great area

 

[The Buzzard King]

WOW, Cool stuff, and cool site!
Nice finds.

 

[JerV3]

Nice finds Don.

That token is something else. Just has a great patina on it. You are so fortunate to have great soil around you. Alot of my coppers are eaten up.

Man and when you find a site it's 200 yrs old. My sites seem to be newer. Then here and there I hit the early site. I found a really nice one Sunday pre 1876 right. Nothing bu wheats and a barber quarter.

Couple older buttons flats. And a few suspender clips from that time range. Money was oftly thin in those times I guess. I have yet to score a reale or anything pre 1850 silver. I know I'm getting the depth to find them. I'm finding everything but the silver. Was it just that rare.

HH Jer