Colonial goodies - lead for silver and why dont you have a drink....

[HomeGuardDan]

Colonial goodies - lead for silver and why don't you have a drink....

I got out on Saturday with my good pal Bill D. and my father (who was up visiting) joined us for a day of colonial relic hunting at one of our latest sites. The day started out slow and to be honest, it stayed slow, but consistent all day. I was a little astonished at the total once I cleaned everything up, though we were steadily digging stuff.

While I was not able to get over silver like Bill (his cob) and my father (cut pistareen), I was able to bring home some unique pieces. My favorite piece was this early (1700s) spigot including the key. I hit a nice patch of iron and debris and hunkered down digging a few buttons and other odds and ends. I located the broken key first, then the main valve and searched on and on for the barrel to no avail. A short time later my father walked up and he was holding the missing piece (which he generously gave me) that he recovered on his initial pass through this particular spot.

Earlier in the morning I was hitting an area where a few buttons came from including a very early and crude molded/cast lead button with the shank still intact. A short while later I located what I initially thought was a blob of melted lead until I turned it over. I first thought it was a seal, though I was perplexed as the reverse was nothing more than a melted blob of lead, then after cleaning it off, it appeared to be a pistareen (shield) punched into it. I had recovered an early seated liberty version years ago in a CW camp and thought that this must be the case. However, after more cleaning, now I am unsure...very cool either way. Some angles I see the pistareen and others I don't. I will let you be the judge.

One of my last finds of the day was the portion to an early candle snuffer (I think). These seem to turn up in this area quit a bit as Bill recovered a portion of one a few years back on the same farm and I a stand a mile down the road. The broken candle holder rounded off the day of big finds along with plenty of lead, brass buckles and broken shoe buckles.

My total for the day was 25 buttons (initially thought 24 until I found the broken one mixed in with a bunch of sheet brass). No coin for danny boy, but a pile of colonial goodies none-the-less. I'll get them next time, Bill is now 1 silver coin up on me and a couple of coppers as well - i have some catching up to do.

HH

Dan

 

[TokenMan]

Man o man...that's a pretty sweet day right there!!! Awesome!

 

[Ahab8]

Man I would love to see your museum at home lol

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Had another great time Dan, and it was good to see your dad and watch him dig silver (again!). That's pretty cool you found all those parts for the barrel tap. If we could only do that with pottery and glass .... That lead button with the design is intriguing as well. I thought for sure that was the impression of the reverse side of an early 1700s pistareen. I'm really surprised with all those targets you pulled out that at least one of them wasn't a coin. I wouldn't be too concerned about our friendly competition as you usually figure out a way to put me in your rear view mirror. Looking forward to the next time ....

 

[Tony in SC]

The barrel tap is OLD!! nice, Tony

 

[sgt tee]

Are you guys just digging or do you have metal detectors?? Maybe list what machines are being used

 

[birdman]

Killer day of digging you guys had!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Are you guys just digging or do you have metal detectors?? Maybe list what machines are being used

We use detectors to hunt around colonial house sites that we've researched. I use a Fisher F75, and very recently just started using the new F75 SE. Dan uses a Garrett AT Gold. Both of these machines are great for getting target separation in heavy iron. We also do some "just digging" when we locate colonial trash pits that can have anything from pottery, glass and clay pipes to buttons and coins. We generally find these through detection of large iron at depth although other techniques are also used.

 

[DigIron2]

The place must be loaded digging buttons like that.I bet there is allot of old money around.The spigot is beautiful,rare to see them coming up all intact.I always just get bits and pieces.HH

 

[sgt tee]

Thanks for that update, I would remain there for a bit finding the stuff you are pulling, maybe you will pull the old mason jar out of the ground soon

 

[pepperj]

Pretty nice day of digging in my books, liking the barrel tap which would make the day right there.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Thanks for that update, I would remain there for a bit finding the stuff you are pulling, maybe you will pull the old mason jar out of the ground soon

Unfortunately, mason jars didn't come around until 100+ years later.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Thanks for that update, I would remain there for a bit finding the stuff you are pulling, maybe you will pull the old mason jar out of the ground soon

Typically if I see a pile of Mason Jars and nothing older...I turn and run ha ha. Those lids annoy me to death at a house site.

Bill is correct, we detect but also do dig pits when we find them.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

The place must be loaded digging buttons like that.I bet there is allot of old money around.The spigot is beautiful,rare to see them coming up all intact.I always just get bits and pieces.HH

We've pulled a good bit off this site, though to be honest it is one big area with many multiple sites that we keep uncovering. We filmed a video for Garrett one of the first times we hit the site...we had previously dug 10 or so coins in two trips, since then I believe we are pushing 30 colonial coins from this one site. Not a bad problem to have.

 

[The Rebel]

Dan I'm always impressed with the quality of your finds!

 

[DigIron2]

We've pulled a good bit off this site, though to be honest it is one big area with many multiple sites that we keep uncovering. We filmed a video for Garrett one of the first times we hit the site...we had previously dug 10 or so coins in two trips, since then I believe we are pushing 30 colonial coins from this one site. Not a bad problem to have.

Not a bad problem to have at all.I have been seeing the stuff you and Bill have been posting for about a year or so now.You guys tear it up man!Keep finding all that neat history,I can't speak for every place ,but development is terrible around here.Everything is good until the old people are not around anymore, then land is sold,and the next thing ya know there is more concrete.HH-gl to you guys.Look forward to seeing some more of your finds.That tap you found is spectacular.

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Looks like a good day of digging to me! I hope your friendly rivalry with Bill goes in your favor on the coin total - you still have 23 days, 2 hours, and 10 minutes - Go! You may get ahead of him on quantity, but he'll be tough to beat in terms of quality with his six-pence find.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Looks like a good day of digging to me! I hope your friendly rivalry with Bill goes in your favor on the coin total - you still have 23 days, 2 hours, and 10 minutes - Go! You may get ahead of him on quantity, but he'll be tough to beat in terms of quality with his six-pence find.

Jim - if we were looking at 2014 Dan would have already smoked me with all his water hunting silver. But our contest runs for the current season (fall thru spring) so its way too early to be calling the winner. But if the past is any indication then it will come down to the wire yet again.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Dude look at all the lives you have connected with! Each item has a story! A coin is passed from hand to hand but a relic is personal story! Awesome!