Colonials in the Marsh

[johnnyi]

The marsh called me back again today. At this point I can' help myself, I have to know what is there. I could only spend three hours because I had to pick my poor cat up from being neutered, so I hit the little high spot once again where I'd found the swagger stick. This time the shotgun shells weren't bad; maybe half a dozen in all because I'd picked so many out already. What is left is deep signals, and many brass/copper signals break and sputter like iron. Numbers are meaningless on the machine.

Again at real depth (red gravel) I'm finding lots of red pottery and clam shell (a good 18+ inches down!) . It seems to deep for English pottery, and I think it may be an indian settlement before settlers moved in. It will be near impossible to sift, as for every hole I have to dig through a crisscross of roots.

Today I dug a broken tombac button, a cuff button, broken shoe buckle, and various shards of metal and a few square nails which had showed promise as good signals, and the coins.

The 1745 king George 2nd was a fairtly decent signal. I used Don's method to clean this one side (haven't cleaned the versos yet. Soaked therm both for three hours in peroxide and used a q-tip. (sorry Don, I put olive oil on them afterwards for the picture )).
The 1736 farthing was a signal I wouldn't have dug anywhere else, just a hint of a tweek, and then iron breaks. It looks as though it was lost near the day it was struck. It's possibly one of my better condition farthings i've ever found, possibly due to the depth and different gravel which might have protected it. (just looked at it again, it seems it was against a little bit of iron which probably helped save it and which mightr be why the signal was so terrible!)

The unworn condition and dates of the coins has me wondering if this little oasis in the marsh was settled long before the War of !812, and that the arms on the British swagger stick might prove to be revolutionary rather than 1812. It's definately showing to be more than just a place where people camped, but instead where they might have lived.

 

[johnnyi]

Thanks fellow tnetters . Breezie, it's too small for a ring, it's just a worn link to something, very irregular thickness. I just pictured it because it was one of the few deep objects found today.

 

[Iron Patch]

Farthings aren't posted nearly as much as halfpence. I think one of the last farthings posted was dug by romeo-1. Great job, John, and continue to uncover the secrets from the marsh.

Yep, was a George II.

I always knew there were far less Farthings dug, but about a year ago when I went through my box of coppers I was surprised to see just how low the % is. With there being such low circulation numbers you would almost think we'd see more cut halfpennies.

 

[kuger]

nice finds johnny and the peroxide tip is just what i.ve been looking for..cheers

Awesome finds Johnny,I knew that marsh would reward ya sooner or later!Congrats!
Des,make sure the peroxide is boiling,before you add your coin

 

[pjroo33]

Great finds! That site looks VERY VERY promising!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

You found a couple of beauties there! They cleaned up real nice. Even better than the "newer" KG III I posted on Sunday!

The peroxide worked well on them. How did the obverse come out?

Keep digging that marsh!

 

[johnnyi]

You found a couple of beauties there! They cleaned up real nice. Even better than the "newer" KG III I posted on Sunday!

The peroxide worked well on them. How did the obverse come out?

Keep digging that marsh!

Thanks Neil. I haven't done the "q-tip" treatment on the obverses yet, and will have to soak them a little more before I do. I think they will look pretty good though. One thing I didn't do was boil the peroxide. Maybe I should have, but I'm still a little skittish about overkill on this old fragile stuff. Now it's supposed to rain in a while with heavy winds and coastal flooding, so I'm going out the door with a plastic bag this time and retrace my steps with hopefully sensitivity boosted to 28 if the machine and my ears can take it. So many years of hurricanes and debris and silt make this one of the few spots where a lot of depth is the key to finding anything old.

 

[shaun7]

I'm going to get some Peroxide

Man, you're not kidding Shaun! I actually argued with Don months ago about peroxide, then finally I tried it. All those decent coins I'd try to raise dates on with an eraser, or soak in olive oil for six months! It's enough to make a grown man weep! One caution though, it will work if there's a heavy crust, but it won't do much if there's actual corrosion. Luckily these were preserved in crust.

Johnnyi, could you tell me how you use the Peroxide please? Why boil it, and what is the q-tip thing?

Thanks Shaun

 

[scratcher]

I'm going to get some Peroxide

Man, you're not kidding Shaun! I actually argued with Don months ago about peroxide, then finally I tried it. All those decent coins I'd try to raise dates on with an eraser, or soak in olive oil for six months! It's enough to make a grown man weep! One caution though, it will work if there's a heavy crust, but it won't do much if there's actual corrosion. Luckily these were preserved in crust.

Johnnyi, could you tell me how you use the Peroxide please? Why boil it, and what is the q-tip thing?

Thanks Shaun

The peroxide works faster when it is hot. I put about an inch or two in a styrofoam cup and heat in the microwave about 15 sec until it boils. The styrofoam holds the heat longer and you don't have to heat as many times. Put the coin in after you heat it in the micro!

 

[shaun7]

I'm going to get some Peroxide

Man, you're not kidding Shaun! I actually argued with Don months ago about peroxide, then finally I tried it. All those decent coins I'd try to raise dates on with an eraser, or soak in olive oil for six months! It's enough to make a grown man weep! One caution though, it will work if there's a heavy crust, but it won't do much if there's actual corrosion. Luckily these were preserved in crust.

Johnnyi, could you tell me how you use the Peroxide please? Why boil it, and what is the q-tip thing?

Thanks Shaun

The peroxide works faster when it is hot. I put about an inch or two in a styrofoam cup and heat in the microwave about 15 sec until it boils. The styrofoam holds the heat longer and you don't have to heat as many times. Put the coin in after you heat it in the micro!

Thanks Scratcher

 

[allen]

congrats on those awesome coins !!

 

[wyattrr]

Wow great finds...Coins came out great after cleaning. Impressive

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Very Nice J.
And I'm so surprised on how they cleaned....Mine are coroded

 

[Iron Patch]

I'm going to get some Peroxide

Man, you're not kidding Shaun! I actually argued with Don months ago about peroxide, then finally I tried it. All those decent coins I'd try to raise dates on with an eraser, or soak in olive oil for six months! It's enough to make a grown man weep! One caution though, it will work if there's a heavy crust, but it won't do much if there's actual corrosion. Luckily these were preserved in crust.

Johnnyi, could you tell me how you use the Peroxide please? Why boil it, and what is the q-tip thing?

Thanks Shaun

I wouldn't worry too much about heating it. I've probably used it as long as most, and I'm sure have cleaned more coins than almost all, and don't see a need to heat it. A lot of times I want to keep some of the color so I'm not in any hurry.

 

[Ironman!]

!

Hi Johnny - Nice finds and saves!

Yes, I too have been cleaning my finds for years with the peroxide Q Tip method. Check out my post and you can see how my eagle buttons cleaned up!

My method - As mentioned before, heat up some hydrogen peroxide in the microwave for 1 - 2 minutes as you will get more reaction time on letting it do it's duty by removing the crud. After the bubbling has stopped use a Q Tip to remove any more crud. This method might have to be repeated more than once depending on buildup. When you have taken it as far as you can before rubbing the patina off with your Q Tip use another Q Tip with a fine coating of vaseline to remove the dullness and seal and preserve!

Hope this helps and again great saves!
Ironman!

 

[Garabaldi]

johnnyi, what a couple of great looking coppers. Congrats. Keep diggin, there must be silver in dem marshes.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Well, your premonitions about hunting the marsh certainly paid off!

Those are BEAUTIFUL coins--and that is one of the nicest farthings I have seen posted on this forum, Ever.


Bravo!

 

[timekiller]

Have not been on in awhile just catching up buddy! Your instinct on the marsh is doing you well it looks.Very Nice old Coppers there Johnny!

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

Dats what I like to see. Keep up the good work.
Chris

 

[Sofaman36]

WOW!!! Simply amazing! HH

 

[JerV3]

That's a really nice old copper man

HH Jer