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Colonial G-O-L-D...field of dreams produces shocker!

Patriot Relics

Silver Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
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Golden Thread
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Location
Lowcountry, South Carolina / Richmond, Virginia
🥇 Banner finds
5
Detector(s) used
CTX-3030, Deus XP II
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hey guys,

Still in shock over digging this one yesterday at my latest site. This particular permission continues to defy explanation, not listed on any maps...Mills Atlas or otherwise. It appears the site was abandoned shortly after 1800 with the exception of a small union picket post nearby. My research continues as I attempt to pin down the family that owned this property during the 18th century. Regardless of who the land belonged to, it's clear that this southern family was loaded. So far the coinage has included a 2 pence rosa americana, 2 COBs, and 3 pre-1750s Spanish. I could only dream of the prospects of recovering a colonial gold coin, but managed to recover the next best thing. Here's the in situation shot, fresh out of the plug - Deus XP 11.7Khz 45VDI at 8 inches...not pictured is my jaw on the floor in shock.

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Quick rinse under the sink and wow...just wow (any other site I would have walked right over thinking it was small foil)

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Suspect the stone is blue turquoise, all the patterns are hand etched on the surface- 22K gold. I've reached out to a few experts to try and narrow the date range, but most have stated early 1700s. I've dug a few 18th century copper rings, 1 silver, but this target is without a doubt a find of my lifetime, and a very personal piece. Just incredible to think this stuff is still out there to be found after 300 years in the dirt.

Did score another stunning late 1600s/ early 1700s crystal/glass button

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The "modern" buttons came from the old picket post- pair of general service and a 1 piece patriotic eagle.

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In the pluff mud I also pulled a slamming brown bess butt plate, took a few hours to remove the salt corrosion- no regimental markings visible

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Also pulled a flintlock plate with MB stamped inside

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The flat buttons...there's more not pictured; nice variety of early blank slave wear, and highly decorative pieces (nearly all with no backmarks).

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Copper pin/brooch

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Padlocks

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Horse tac

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That about covers the spread, this week has been one I'll not soon forget, rattlesnake and a gold colonial ring within 7 days. Probably time to hang up the detectors as I'm not going to top these find anytime soon. Thanks for your comments and good luck out there!

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Upvote 198
What an awesome early recovery - find of a lifetime for sure. I can't get enough of that beautiful ring. Any chance you can post up some more pictures of it? Oh yeah, screw the banner and its rules, it isn't worthy of this awesome find.

Thanks screwy, I'll take a few more pictures when I get home and post them up
 
That thing is SCHWEET man! Just your run of the mill rev war, civil war, gold-producing, rattlesnake button producing, silver coin producing site huh? Congrats man, that ring is beautiful and really special.

Thanks Ryan, hopefully it continues to produce
 
That’s a banner any day
I know you’ve just dug a rattlesnake
With a banner but this should go up as well absolutely beautiful piece !
 
Damn! Congrats man! What a spectacular find! Colonial gold has evaded me for 14 years of detecting. It's definitely not easy to come by. That's a banner find all day long!

Thanks colonial dude, the stuff is still out there. Hopefully it's not 14 years before I see another :)
 
Put that baby up top! It absolutely needs to be there. Don’t deprive the good Tnet members of seeing this incredible high karat colonial gold ring scrolling across the BANNER. It gets no better than this. Colonial gold is near impossible to find. It’s such a stunning and beautiful personal item. Far better than a coin in my opinion because of its importance to one specific colonist. Ok I’m done blabbering on but my god that find is amazing!!!!

Thanks Abe, definitely love the personal aspect of the find... never in a million years did I expect that garbage signal to produce gold
 
That's why I dig everything my deus hits on an old place like that, even if I call it trash and 99.8 percent of the time its but I like being surprised once in a blue moon. Congrats on all them finds.. awesome recoverys

Honestly I was pretty excited for the 1 piece patriotic eagle, now it's just an afterthought lol
 
Beautiful ornate ring. Absent a Maker's Mark, gold rings are tough to date but given the date range of the other artifacts you've found I'd say you have a tremendously awesome early ring. Congratulations!

For sure Joey, definitely safe calling it Georgian, although site provenance has me comfortable with an 18th century range. The main structure was destroyed/abandoned no later than 1800 as no buttons with backmarks, 2 piece, or coins date after 1739 have been recovered. Waiting for experts to chime in
 
Wow that ring is beauty. You won’t be forgetting that dig in along time. Congrats! [emoji16][emoji106]
 
Wow! The ring is incredible! All incredible in my book but that ring, wow!
 
I voted banner on this one, I'm partial to old gold. It would be nice to see some more pix, are there any markings inside the band?
 
I voted banner on this one, I'm partial to old gold. It would be nice to see some more pix, are there any markings inside the band?

Main thread has been locked for editing, but here are a few close up pictures. No markings inside, just a small sizing mark at the base

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Great finds all round but that ring is amazing! I just voted banner for it. Nice work on the research and finding that site. It's really paying off for you and I'm really enjoying getting to see all of your finds!
 

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