Brendan M.
Hero Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 649
- Reaction score
- 10
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Warrensburg, New York
- Detector(s) used
- White's DFX, Bullseye II pinpointer, Gray Ghost Headphones
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Hello and Happy Easter!!!! 
So, the "Spoon Graveyard" has slowed a bit, and you know how the wanderlust goes, so I set out this weekend with a thirst for new adventures. On a mission to find an old colonial schoolhouse site, I grabbed my XLT and hit the woods.
I'd read that the original one-room school was located at the crossing of two old dirt roads, which to my excitement I discovered now lying dormant and forgotten, lost amid many acres of open woods (thank you, Google Earth!). Finding the general place wasn't too hard, but narrowing it down would take some work (still in progress). I started on Friday and just dug in, first trying a hilly piece of the road, running across a creek. The soil was very rocky so it was slow going, but a beautiful spot, and the weather was nice so I forged ahead.
After a trashy, non-productive downward search from the top of the furthest hill (which was too close to residential homes, and thus, too modern), I got my first find right by the creek crossing: a copper-nickel "fatty" Indian Head (date unknown, but has to be circa 1859-64). It was a mere 1.5 inches down, and surprised the heck out of me, lifting my spirits greatly.
From there as I made my way back up the hill in the other direction (closer to my potential school) things picked up. The sides of the hill steepened (erosion) on either side of the road, so I started scanning the sides, and sure enough things picked up. I soon dug my second Indian of the day -- a nice 1899. Before heading home I also nabbed three wheats (two from the '20s and one from the '40s) and a bunch of neat relics (a padlock, an old suspender clip marked "Paris", a spoon fragment, a button, and a few other whatsits).
Then I wake up this morning to find the sun greeting me. Great minds think alike, and so I grabbed my phone to call Joe G., and I notice he'd just left a message 15 minutes earlier. We were in for a great day.
I took Joe back to the spot, and this time we pounded the woods, really swinging through a lot of underbrush and leaves. All I can say is it was tough work, but quickly became obviously worth it: Within the first hour or so I got a sweet signal 4 inches down, and out came a nice green Matron Head Large Cent (after cleaning, I believe it's an 1816, but it might be an 1826 -- tough to make it out). I was pumped because not only is it my first LC since two years ago, it's also the first I've found with any kind of decent detail. I could've gone home happy from there.
So of course I show Joe my find, and he's psyched too, so he snaps a pic after we give it a quick rinse. Then it's back to the woods.
We go for a bit more, and after another hour and a half or so I get another killer signal (88-89 VDI, 5 inches down). I know it's going to be a good target, so I dig a big plug, and when I flip it sure enough a nice big green disc is sitting right on top (with a shovel nick, despite my attempts at avoiding it). My second old copper for the day! Thanks, Easter Bunny!
The second one is either really old and/or really worn, as there is no detail at all, and it's thinner and lighter than the Matron I found. Could be Colonial... I rounded out the day with a 1956D wheat, a hefty bullet slug and some other knickknacks, as well as a handful of clad.
No LCs for Joe today unfortunately, but he DID find some interesting bullets, whatsits, etc., himself. All in all a great day and a super good time in the field with my hunting buddy. Of course, we both agreed we'd go back. We've got copper fever!
Thanks for reading and looking. Have a happy holiday!
Cheers and HH,
Brendan
So, the "Spoon Graveyard" has slowed a bit, and you know how the wanderlust goes, so I set out this weekend with a thirst for new adventures. On a mission to find an old colonial schoolhouse site, I grabbed my XLT and hit the woods.
I'd read that the original one-room school was located at the crossing of two old dirt roads, which to my excitement I discovered now lying dormant and forgotten, lost amid many acres of open woods (thank you, Google Earth!). Finding the general place wasn't too hard, but narrowing it down would take some work (still in progress). I started on Friday and just dug in, first trying a hilly piece of the road, running across a creek. The soil was very rocky so it was slow going, but a beautiful spot, and the weather was nice so I forged ahead.
After a trashy, non-productive downward search from the top of the furthest hill (which was too close to residential homes, and thus, too modern), I got my first find right by the creek crossing: a copper-nickel "fatty" Indian Head (date unknown, but has to be circa 1859-64). It was a mere 1.5 inches down, and surprised the heck out of me, lifting my spirits greatly.
From there as I made my way back up the hill in the other direction (closer to my potential school) things picked up. The sides of the hill steepened (erosion) on either side of the road, so I started scanning the sides, and sure enough things picked up. I soon dug my second Indian of the day -- a nice 1899. Before heading home I also nabbed three wheats (two from the '20s and one from the '40s) and a bunch of neat relics (a padlock, an old suspender clip marked "Paris", a spoon fragment, a button, and a few other whatsits).
Then I wake up this morning to find the sun greeting me. Great minds think alike, and so I grabbed my phone to call Joe G., and I notice he'd just left a message 15 minutes earlier. We were in for a great day.
I took Joe back to the spot, and this time we pounded the woods, really swinging through a lot of underbrush and leaves. All I can say is it was tough work, but quickly became obviously worth it: Within the first hour or so I got a sweet signal 4 inches down, and out came a nice green Matron Head Large Cent (after cleaning, I believe it's an 1816, but it might be an 1826 -- tough to make it out). I was pumped because not only is it my first LC since two years ago, it's also the first I've found with any kind of decent detail. I could've gone home happy from there.
So of course I show Joe my find, and he's psyched too, so he snaps a pic after we give it a quick rinse. Then it's back to the woods.
We go for a bit more, and after another hour and a half or so I get another killer signal (88-89 VDI, 5 inches down). I know it's going to be a good target, so I dig a big plug, and when I flip it sure enough a nice big green disc is sitting right on top (with a shovel nick, despite my attempts at avoiding it). My second old copper for the day! Thanks, Easter Bunny!
The second one is either really old and/or really worn, as there is no detail at all, and it's thinner and lighter than the Matron I found. Could be Colonial... I rounded out the day with a 1956D wheat, a hefty bullet slug and some other knickknacks, as well as a handful of clad.
No LCs for Joe today unfortunately, but he DID find some interesting bullets, whatsits, etc., himself. All in all a great day and a super good time in the field with my hunting buddy. Of course, we both agreed we'd go back. We've got copper fever!
Thanks for reading and looking. Have a happy holiday!
Cheers and HH,
Brendan
Attachments
Upvote
0
)
