Dodged the raindrops yesterday to dig a Spanish cob + other colonial goodies

[Bill D. (VA)]

My buddy Dan and I were joined by his dad yesterday as we returned to the ragged cut cornfield site where we've managed to pull out 10 colonial coins and a variety of other artifacts in 3 hunts there. We've been hoping for the last few weeks that this field would be mowed down to the ground as promised by the farmer, and that the adjacent soybean field would be cut, and our wishes were finally granted, at least partially. The beans were all harvested, but only about half of the cornfield was cut down, and not the half we were hoping for. But we were still excited to have some new territory to swing our coils over. Everyone started finding a few artifacts here and there but nothing spectacular. Then I saw our good omen, a bald eagle flying by just to the north of the field. I turned to point it out to Dan, but he had seen it as well. He then jokingly commented that he saw it first so I was expecting the relic gods to shine on him shortly. But a few minutes later it was me that pulled out a silver surprise - a cute little Spanish cob. So maybe I did see the eagle a split second before Dan after all . He still had a fine day, but I'll let him share that and his dad's finds with his own post. About midday the rains started up and continued throughout the rest of the afternoon, but it was not enough to deter us from our quest. After a few hours we decided to check out another local site, but the hunters were in full force plus the beans were still in the ground. So we ended up at one of our ole standby spots - a small cut cornfield that has given up a large number of buttons plus a coin or two. We had some success there, but between the rain and it getting late we made the call head for home. In addition to the cob I dug a fatty 1859 IH, some misc colonial buckle pieces, about 17-18 buttons and other odds and ends. I also recovered another one of those crude, cast pewter buttons with a huge shank. And I'm a little unsure what the item is in the last 2 pics. Not sure if it had been bent in the field or if that's its original shape. Seems like I've seen this item in a reference book before but don't recall what it was. Hopefully someone will recognize it.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Bill - Excellent cob! It's been my experience here in New England, that the cobs get clipped down at least a 1/3 off the coin's original size with a rare exception now and then. I can see that you're still coming on strong, as the year is coming to an end. Pushing for another six-pence?

Thanks Jim. I don't think I've ever seen a cob dug that had not been clipped. That was obviously standard practice back in the day. And yeah, I'd love to find another one of those Lord Baltimore's, but that site is inaccessible until at least next fall. I guess one could pop up at another early site, but the chances of finding one are probably much greater in areas north of here, especially in the northern Chesapeake Bay area in Maryland. But you never know. Good luck to you in the search for your next tree coin.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I know what you mean. Several of the towns near me, plus the one I live in are 17th century. I have been doing extremely well, (I think) for just two years of looking. I have seven colonial coins, 1 post war/pre-federal (a connecticut copper), and a few nice coins from 1800's up to early 1900's then prob. a normal amount of the rest to date. Plus many nice colonial relics. It's been really great. I just saw your post about the sixpence, What a fantastic find! Extraordinary shape! Virginia has to be just as good. I'm constantly surprised at what I've been finding. I have been learning more about coins than I ever knew since restarting this hobby and It's a blast. Maybe tomorrow is my spanish day... lol or another Lord Baltimore maybe hehe So far, a colonial button brings a happy smile to my face.

I think you're gonna do just fine up there. Due to the tremendous amount of commercial activity that took place along the waterways of the Tidewater and Chesapeake Bay a large amount of silver coinage changed hands and was lost. Colonial silver is quite common to find down here in SE Virginia, and I'm up to 174 pre-1800 silver coins with some dating back to the mid-1500s. But for some reason the coppers are much harder to find in this area. I highly recommend you also branch out and include colonial pit digging whenever you're hunting an early site. You'd be amazed at some of the cool stuff that can be dug. Like the saying goes - one man's trash is another man's treasure. Good luck, and don't hesitate to send me a PM if you have any questions on how to find pits, research techniques, etc.

 

[Ed (Upstate NY)]

Love the cob. I have dug a few Spanish coins but never a cob. Still on my wish list !

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on another cob Bill. Not many of those turn up in my neck of the woods, I have only ever dug one.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Good eye on the Eagle, and getting a nice Cob. The last item could of had little stones or glass inserts, maybe a hairpin piece.

I think the consensus is that this small item had to be some kind of decorative hair pin. Back in colonial times it was very common for women to wear hair ornaments. I'm surprised we don't find more of those type of artifact around here.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

Well done guys as always!! Bill, I believe you found a similar button to the one I am posting for you to ID a date range for me, it is a small cuff button. The site had a structure from 1790 on it. Thanks and keep it up!

 

[Kirk PA]

Great finds, Bill. I always enjoy seeing what you unearth. I got out yesterday but only found 2 Colonial buttons and some other relics.

Kirk

 

[metalev4]

I thought you were due for some silver Bill. Nice cob! Glad you weathered the storm, looks like that site has more secrets yet.
-Evan

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Well done guys as always!! Bill, I believe you found a similar button to the one I am posting for you to ID a date range for me, it is a small cuff button. The site had a structure from 1790 on it. Thanks and keep it up!

Wes - I don't think ours match up all that well as far as the details go, but they could both be of the same general time period. Can you post a pic of the back? That would provide some additional help in dating it.

 

[HomeGuardDan]

As always I had fun man...I still think I saw the eagle first, but he was flying in your direction...

I have some catching up to do, but I am not complaining...I actually like my spur and spigot as the two best finds of my last two outings...just letting you get a somewhat comfortable lead before I come roaring back ha ha.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

Wes - I don't think ours match up all that well as far as the details go, but they could both be of the same general time period. Can you post a pic of the back? That would provide some additional help in dating it.

Bill, the back of the button is iron and heavly croded. On my group picture on my latest post you will see the only small cuff button with the grouping on right side.

 

[birdman]

Very nice! Still looking for my first cob. Now I just need to catch a nice storm to wash the beaches out a bit.

 

[The Rebel]

Another stellar hunt Bill! Love that cob!

 

[matt092079]

Great looking cob, bill! I don't know if we have any cobs up my way. I'm sure there's always a chance.

 

[Argentium]

Amazing Day ! That's a boatload of goodies for sure - dream site with out a doubt .

 

[HomeGuardDan]

Great looking cob, bill! I don't know if we have any cobs up my way. I'm sure there's always a chance.

Few and far between Matt, but they are found up there. Heck, two cobs were found at one DIV I was at...one by my buddy right in front of me.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Great looking cob, bill! I don't know if we have any cobs up my way. I'm sure there's always a chance.

Matt - since you've found quite a few colonial artifacts on that site of yours don't be surprised if a cob turns up one day. Like Dan said, others have turned up in NW Virginia so don't rule out the possibility.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Sweet cob, and some excellent buttons too. I love the button with the raised wreath design. Haven't seen one like that posted before.

This was really a great hunt for you two.

Congrats,

Buck

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

I think you're gonna do just fine up there. Due to the tremendous amount of commercial activity that took place along the waterways of the Tidewater and Chesapeake Bay a large amount of silver coinage changed hands and was lost. Colonial silver is quite common to find down here in SE Virginia, and I'm up to 174 pre-1800 silver coins with some dating back to the mid-1500s. But for some reason the coppers are much harder to find in this area. I highly recommend you also branch out and include colonial pit digging whenever you're hunting an early site. You'd be amazed at some of the cool stuff that can be dug. Like the saying goes - one man's trash is another man's treasure. Good luck, and don't hesitate to send me a PM if you have any questions on how to find pits, research techniques, etc.

Thanks so much for that offer! I try to do as much research as I can first, then walk the site looking for landmarks, (depressions that might have been wagon tracks, paths, where the big old trees might have been, high spots, low spots, etc. then I do a quick sweep looking for any "pockets" or concentrations. Then, I "mow the lawn' if the site is good in the least, I mow the lawn in three diff. directions. My AT Pro has some diff. frequencies too, I try those, Did learn online about wet ground as well.
This is just me trying to figure things out, not many people around here to talk to (that I know of) any help would be greatly appreciated.. I love to learn and would LOVE to find old silver, PM if you like.