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Colonial Goodies including another VA Half Penny and something you dont see to often

HomeGuardDan

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Colonial Goodies including another VA Half Penny and something you don't see to often

I got out on Sunday this past weekend with my good pal Bill D for another colonial hunt. I was able to get out a tad earlier than Bill so I spent an hour digging at an old standby spot and managed to uncover what I thought to be a pit – but then turned into the brick flooring of an old colonial structure. I eked out two big tombac buttons and a couple of other odds and ends before it was time to fill it in (for now).

Bill and I started out where I dug the ball last week. I posted a picture of it cleaned up – turned out to be either an 8lb French ball or a 9lb British ball. The condition made it difficult to pinpoint exact measurements – but I lean towards the 8lb French ball.

Bill managed to start the day off with a decent find and then things went quiet – I dug a few buttons here and there working the heaviest of iron patches. After a few hours things looked very bleak until I suggested hitting a new part of the property on the way out. I had a feeling that there was a site there but was not certain – walking back we initially saw no signs and then BAMM – brick, iron, and targets. We spent the final 45 minutes digging colonial goodies including buttons, coins and other odds and ends. I will let Bill share is finds, but my take for the day was 23 buttons, 1 VA Half Penny, the Candle Snuffer Stand (18[SUP]th[/SUP] century) musket balls, early 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century brass lock and other odds and ends. I included a picture of what a stand looks like...I recovered the top portion (holder) and the big piece of that was riveted (large disk) was found a foot away and may or may not be from the base.


This is one site that we both are eager to get back to!

HH
Dan
 

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Upvote 24
BTW - for those who aren't familiar with what a colonial candle snuffer looks like check out the pic below:

candle snuffer.webp
 
Great colonial relics, Dan! Those VA half pennies are among the prettiest colonial coppers! Nice on the I.D. as well. I have colonial sites here as well, but I still envy what you guys pull out. Always amazing.
 
Wow, what a great assortment of finds Dan. That brick floor is very intriguing and I hope you get back there in dig out around it!
 
Nice digs Dan and a nice ID on the candle snuffer stand. I have dug over a dozen of those little mickey mouse locks. Based on the sites where I have found them, I believe they date to the late 18th/early 19th century. You guys have another good hunt to look forward to on that site!

Agreed. I dig them here in my late 18th c. sites. My buddies in KY have dug them there too, in late 18th c. sites.

GREAT finds, and glad that ball cleaned up well. The candle snuffer stand is a great ID, and a cool item. By the way, I just bought an excellent book that has some great information in it. Don't know if you two are familiar with it or not:

American Artifacts of Personal Adornment, 1680-1820: A Guide to ... - Carolyn L. White - Google Books

It gives excellent dating info on the different styles of buttons, shoe buckles, knee buckles, and other items, often to within a decade or two based on design and construction.

Cheers,

Buck
 
Agreed. I dig them here in my late 18th c. sites. My buddies in KY have dug them there too, in late 18th c. sites.

GREAT finds, and glad that ball cleaned up well. The candle snuffer stand is a great ID, and a cool item. By the way, I just bought an excellent book that has some great information in it. Don't know if you two are familiar with it or not:

American Artifacts of Personal Adornment, 1680-1820: A Guide to ... - Carolyn L. White - Google Books

It gives excellent dating info on the different styles of buttons, shoe buckles, knee buckles, and other items, often to within a decade or two based on design and construction.

Cheers,

Buck

Thanks for the reminder about that book Buck. Its one that I've known about for years but for some reason never pursued obtaining a copy. I think its about time I did. Hope all is going well down south.
 
Nice work finding that spot, great finds.
 
thanks for the book buckle - like Bill I have come across it but never purchased...might need to order one now
 

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