Amazing Colonial hunt, NJ copper cuff links and more!

70monte68

Hero Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
804
Reaction score
542
Golden Thread
1
Location
PA
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
TEKNETICS T2 SE
TEKNETICS T2 SE (back up)
MINELAB EXCALIBUR 2,
WHITES MX SPORT
Hey All, what a day!

First, I have to say I plain stumbled on to this site. I pulled over in a parking lot to make a phone call and was looking around and saw an interesting clump of trees. When I finished I hopped out to take a look. Found the usual pottery, shell and some brick. When I entered the woods, there it was a small little stone foundation, maybe 12' by 20'. Here are my finds. Also, after some research I found this on an 1867 map and by the fifties it was off the aerials.

Can anyone tell me more or date the locks?

Thanks
Don
 

Attachments

  • 001.webp
    001.webp
    114.2 KB · Views: 167
  • 002.webp
    002.webp
    57.7 KB · Views: 163
  • 004.webp
    004.webp
    52.4 KB · Views: 172
  • 006.webp
    006.webp
    63.4 KB · Views: 166
  • 008.webp
    008.webp
    431.7 KB · Views: 186
  • 009.webp
    009.webp
    92.5 KB · Views: 165
  • 007.webp
    007.webp
    80.2 KB · Views: 185
  • 005.webp
    005.webp
    65.7 KB · Views: 171
  • 003.webp
    003.webp
    91.2 KB · Views: 158
Upvote 14
CONGRATS on the great finds, I really like the cufflinks :thumbsup:
 

I definitely think it's pictured upside down, and do see the possibility of the mark being "H S", although the H appears to be off to the left a bit. Here's a negative image rotated.

View attachment 974139

Neil and Don, maybe I'm imagining things, but don't you think it could be "US"? I agree that the original appears to be upside down.
 

Neil and Don, maybe I'm imagining things, but don't you think it could be "US"? I agree that the original appears to be upside down.
I first thought US, but honestly, don't think there was a US when these were made. :) Probably is HS but not 100% certain, I asked Don to see if the other cufflink has the same markings, more interested in the word in the cartouche!
 

I definitely think it's pictured upside down, and do see the possibility of the mark being "H S", although the H appears to be off to the left a bit. Here's a negative image rotated.

View attachment 974139

When I look at this image, I see what terpfan sees, which is the curve at the bottom of the "1" forming the letter U and then the S. Best of luck on the ID!
 

Good eye to observe that clump of trees. A clump of trees in a cultivated field can often mean an old house site, since it would be too much work to remove the foundation stones, they often just plowed around it. Love the cufflinks - very unusual with the markings on the back.

Steve, always on the look out for sites lol... When driving it can be tough though, hate taking my eyes of the road. Good luck this year and look forward to some posts!


Don
 

Thats some nice stuff, like the two center...
 

I really like those Colonial cufflinks. Great find!

Kirk
 

I've never got a linked pair either, and only 3 singles.

Nice hunt.
 

The cufflinks are American made (to my surprise) PHILADA is the word in the cartouche and the letters are SI or IS, which I assume is the maker's initials, which I came up empty on finding. Venturing an age guess, 1800+- 10 years or so. however PHILADA was used on some buttons into the 1830s, but usually with a small "a" at end. Being in a cartouche, perhaps this is one of the earlier uses of that abbreviation for Philadelphia. I used to have a time frame for the abbreviations used for Philadelphia, but think it went into the computer wasteland of one of my computer crashes. I must say, very unusual seeing cufflinks of that age with any type of backmarks, great find for sure. Posting some pics that Don (the finder) sent to me and it plainly shows the lettering..........
Don
 

Attachments

  • PHILADA backmark cufflink.webp
    PHILADA backmark cufflink.webp
    72.7 KB · Views: 81
  • SI or SJ  PHILADA  1800 era cufflink.webp
    SI or SJ PHILADA 1800 era cufflink.webp
    168.2 KB · Views: 74
Don,

Thanks for your help and advise!
Don
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom