BIG Silver Pocket Watch, an IH Cent & More!

[Wildcat1750]

It’s been a while since I’ve venture next door but my neighbor asked us to watch her house this weekend. I have a standing invite to always metal detect there, of course.

Eyes always to the ground I found a slope behind the deck with exposed shards of shell, glass, pottery, and quartz. The quartz was worked in the form of a point. I never paid much attention to this spot before so it was time to get out my machine.

My first good find was the iron lock. It has a brass keyhole, and the remnants of a brass dust cover.

Next came the 1864 IH Cent less than 10 feet away. It has a very nice dark green patina and no corrosion. That’s the way I like to find them!

5 feet further away came the best find of all. A fat, round, shiny target emerged and I was expecting it to be an aluminum can bottom or something. Out popped a beauty of a silver pocket watch, as shiny as the day it was dropped! It was pretty hefty to the feel. I shook it and could hear stuff rattling around in the case.

Swinging my way back to my yard I found a nice ladies pin with a reddish stone in it and a flat button to round out the hunt.

Not being able to resist, I have already opened the watch! It was surprisingly clean for all those years in the ground. The hinge on the front cover snapped but opened easily to reveal shards of glass and bits of watch dial. The face was surprisingly clean. The back cover also opened easily but the hinge snapped. Finally, after lubing the last hinge I was able to open the dust cover without breaking it, to reveal the watch serial number and maker.

I will follow up with more info about the watch as I get it...

American Watch Company
Waltham Mass.
WILLIAM ELLERY, BOSTON MASS
Serial No. 95622
1859 Model manufactured between 11/1/1863 and 12/31/1863
Source: http://www.nawcc-info.org/walthamdb/LookupSN.asp

Thanks for Looking!

 

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[btjbtj]

Oh my gosh, we love all of your finds! Especially the pocket watch and the brooch! Congrats. ~Lisa & John

 

[Gridwalker306]

That's a bunch of terrific finds!

The watch is really cool, and with the serial number of 95622, I think it was made in late 1863.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a nice assortment of finds

 

[port ewen ace]

the condition of the '64 IH makes it a seriously valuable find. the watch is STUNNING if I had an extra thumb, you would get that too

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Excellent hunt! Probably one of THE finest Indian Head cents I've seen here...the watch, brooch...all great! Congrats on a fine, fine day of detecting..ddf

 

[Tradertom]

Looks like you hit the jackpot. Really greet finds.

 

[DigIron2]

sweet lock and watch..64 very nice.

 

[smokeythecat]

Very nice.

 

[Wildcat1750]

That's a bunch of terrific finds!

The watch is really cool, and with the serial number of 95622, I think it was made in late 1863. View attachment 1375803

Thanks, J.Cache. You are right! I was able to look up the serial number at Serial Number to find more details. According to the Waltham handwritten ledger and the Gray Book printed serial number list it is an 1859 model made from 11/1/1863 to 12/31/1863.

 

[Indiana Mark]

Very nice finds! Congrats!

 

[Wildcat1750]

Oh my gosh, we love all of your finds! Especially the pocket watch and the brooch! Congrats. ~Lisa & John

Thanks, Lisa & John. The brooch still has a small red stone and must have been a beauty in its day when it was perhaps plated. The pocket watch is probably one of my top ten finds of all time now.
Thanks, trapperart, port ewen ace, dirtdigginfool, Tradertom, DigIron2, smokeythecat, Indiana Mark, and treblehunter!

 

[treblehunter]

Very nice finds!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Those are some great finds, and that Indian is unreal. What great shape.

 

[Ahab8]

Great hunt, beautiful finds and nice research. I have a few beautiful Indian heads....it's not easy finding them like that. I love the color. Most of mine come out a chocolate brown color. I'm guessing it may be due to my proximity to the ocean but I'm not sure. That picket watch is a beauty. Congrats on done great finds and w nice post

 

[JeffInMass]

Quite the great assortment of finds- love the pocket watch and sweet Indian- Congrats!!

-- Jeff --

 

[rick67]

That's an awesome day.
Take some care to clean the lock. You'll probably find the maker on front.

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

Wowza. That IH is AMAZING! Stunning pocket watch but that cent is the star of the show. Congrats on a tremendous hunt.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice finds, congratulations! The watch and lock are very cool!

 

[Wildcat1750]

Those are some great finds, and that Indian is unreal. What great shape.

Thanks, the soil was very kind, both to the IH Cent and the Watch!

Great hunt, beautiful finds and nice research. I have a few beautiful Indian heads....it's not easy finding them like that. I love the color. Most of mine come out a chocolate brown color. I'm guessing it may be due to my proximity to the ocean but I'm not sure. That picket watch is a beauty. Congrats on done great finds and w nice post

Thanks. I've found some pretty toasted IH Cents elsewhere in the yard. I was very lucky with this one and a couple of others I've found. I love doing the research that goes along with it. I have a pretty good hunch it belonged to Abraham L. Baldwin, the landowner who raised his family here during the Civil War years.

Quite the great assortment of finds- love the pocket watch and sweet Indian- Congrats!!

-- Jeff --

Thanks, It was a really cool day out!

That's an awesome day.
Take some care to clean the lock. You'll probably find the maker on front.

Thanks, I've started soaking the lock today in a bath of evapo rust. Can't wait to see the results!

Wowza. That IH is AMAZING! Stunning pocket watch but that cent is the star of the show. Congrats on a tremendous hunt.

Thanks! The IH Cent really cleaned up well for me - looks like it came right out of the pocket change.

Very nice finds, congratulations! The watch and lock are very cool!

Thanks, Professor! They go quite well together!