HomeGuardDan
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2011
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- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
- 🥇 Banner finds
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- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
A day of calling my shots and a final hour find! (early 1700's Farthing) PLUS an ID!
Whelp, Bill and I got out yesterday to check on some new sites. Our goal was one particular farm that we have been eying where an on-going conversation has been occurring with the owner. It was one of those, "yes" but not the best time right now" sort of sites. Well wouldn't you know it, before I left town to meet Bill my cellphone rang and permission was FINALLY granted, though with conditions. We were only allowed access to one portion of the farm as we need to go back and speak with the owner about the other (and more promising) area. The owner had mentioned that they had unfortunately run folks off the land prior, so Bill and I did not know what to expect.
After driving in and parking where the owner instructed, we immediately set out to check a promising and high sandy field. No sooner than taking 5 steps did we each begin seeing brick and pottery and within a few moments I spotted a broken colonial pipe stem with a partial remaining bowl laying on the ground - WOW I felt like it was game on! Unfortunately, we spent the next few hours scrapping together what we could as the site had been hunted hard, illegally over the years. This probably would have been a very productive site otherwise. Well it was not all for nothing, as finds were there if you worked for them. Bill may or may not have found a keeper (will let him show you) and I managed a few myself. As I mentioned about the sand, it was beautiful and the relics were in amazing shape. My first heart attack was the 1920's merc dime. I just knew it was a colonial silver...not to be. Then a heavily silver plated buckle (heart) popped out and while I like it, the first glimpse of silver also had me going. Other odds and ends that I picked up were the piece to a musket sideplate with a dog or dragon's head etched into it. The early eagle drum or banjo tensioner device, the broken fixed spur, broken shoe buckles and a nice little native american gem eyeballed in the field. After a quick lunch, I told Bill I wanted to go back to a spot that we had just each dug a button as I "knew there would be more there."
I managed seven buttons from that site (6 from that specific area) including a set of linked-buttons (or cufflinks) that I really would appreciate an ID on. I know they are 1700's and very similar to the other spanish commemorative or decorative style (pillars or Hercules or reale die casts). The crown looks less English to me and there is an inscription under it. The best I can make it either GO?RNA or CO?RNA. I am most positive about the "NA" and also know it is either a "G" or "C" that begins the inscription. The ? is unknown, but looks like a I,L,J, etc. and the "R" is not positive as it could be an E,B,P . They are very cool and would love to make the connection. I did come across a few towns through word association, but I believe this is more dedicated to an individual or event.
Well towards the end of the day we decided to check out a few more fields at another site as we had not been over to that area this season. As how our season as gone, they were all planted in winter ground crop/cover. We were left to only hit a old and less reliable site. That being said, I felt like a coin could be there as it produced a number of them in prior seasons. We have hit it hard, but I did tell Bill "I bet another coin can show up" and sure enough one did. After about an hour with only two buttons, a broken shoe buckle and a musket ball to show, and in the 11th hour and 58th minute, out popped a nice gem. a 1730's George II Farthing! Believe it or not, this is my first 100% identifiable farthing. I have dug a couple suspects over the years, but too worn to be certain. I was on cloud nine all the way back to the house.
My total for the hunt was 9 buttons (10 if you count both cuffs he he) a handful of musket balls, some scrap lead and partially melted from where the early settlers were pouring shot, and the other items mentioned. It was a fun day and I certainly can't wait to get back to this site and check out more of the property. Despite scoundrels sneaking in over the years, the promising parts are next to the owners homes, so I think we will have good luck!
I spent the trip home smiling to the heavens for if nothing else, good weather and another memory in the books!
HH
Dan
Whelp, Bill and I got out yesterday to check on some new sites. Our goal was one particular farm that we have been eying where an on-going conversation has been occurring with the owner. It was one of those, "yes" but not the best time right now" sort of sites. Well wouldn't you know it, before I left town to meet Bill my cellphone rang and permission was FINALLY granted, though with conditions. We were only allowed access to one portion of the farm as we need to go back and speak with the owner about the other (and more promising) area. The owner had mentioned that they had unfortunately run folks off the land prior, so Bill and I did not know what to expect.
After driving in and parking where the owner instructed, we immediately set out to check a promising and high sandy field. No sooner than taking 5 steps did we each begin seeing brick and pottery and within a few moments I spotted a broken colonial pipe stem with a partial remaining bowl laying on the ground - WOW I felt like it was game on! Unfortunately, we spent the next few hours scrapping together what we could as the site had been hunted hard, illegally over the years. This probably would have been a very productive site otherwise. Well it was not all for nothing, as finds were there if you worked for them. Bill may or may not have found a keeper (will let him show you) and I managed a few myself. As I mentioned about the sand, it was beautiful and the relics were in amazing shape. My first heart attack was the 1920's merc dime. I just knew it was a colonial silver...not to be. Then a heavily silver plated buckle (heart) popped out and while I like it, the first glimpse of silver also had me going. Other odds and ends that I picked up were the piece to a musket sideplate with a dog or dragon's head etched into it. The early eagle drum or banjo tensioner device, the broken fixed spur, broken shoe buckles and a nice little native american gem eyeballed in the field. After a quick lunch, I told Bill I wanted to go back to a spot that we had just each dug a button as I "knew there would be more there."
I managed seven buttons from that site (6 from that specific area) including a set of linked-buttons (or cufflinks) that I really would appreciate an ID on. I know they are 1700's and very similar to the other spanish commemorative or decorative style (pillars or Hercules or reale die casts). The crown looks less English to me and there is an inscription under it. The best I can make it either GO?RNA or CO?RNA. I am most positive about the "NA" and also know it is either a "G" or "C" that begins the inscription. The ? is unknown, but looks like a I,L,J, etc. and the "R" is not positive as it could be an E,B,P . They are very cool and would love to make the connection. I did come across a few towns through word association, but I believe this is more dedicated to an individual or event.
Well towards the end of the day we decided to check out a few more fields at another site as we had not been over to that area this season. As how our season as gone, they were all planted in winter ground crop/cover. We were left to only hit a old and less reliable site. That being said, I felt like a coin could be there as it produced a number of them in prior seasons. We have hit it hard, but I did tell Bill "I bet another coin can show up" and sure enough one did. After about an hour with only two buttons, a broken shoe buckle and a musket ball to show, and in the 11th hour and 58th minute, out popped a nice gem. a 1730's George II Farthing! Believe it or not, this is my first 100% identifiable farthing. I have dug a couple suspects over the years, but too worn to be certain. I was on cloud nine all the way back to the house.
My total for the hunt was 9 buttons (10 if you count both cuffs he he) a handful of musket balls, some scrap lead and partially melted from where the early settlers were pouring shot, and the other items mentioned. It was a fun day and I certainly can't wait to get back to this site and check out more of the property. Despite scoundrels sneaking in over the years, the promising parts are next to the owners homes, so I think we will have good luck!
I spent the trip home smiling to the heavens for if nothing else, good weather and another memory in the books!
HH
Dan
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