Finds From Early-Late 1800s Church & House Site

[Driftwoood]

Finds From Early-Late 1800's Church & House Site

I've been detecting this site for a month or so now and have recovered enough items for a pretty full post... maybe too full. The site is a Dutch Reformed church that was built around 1800 (still standing) and a few houses that are no longer there. One of the houses, I am told, was an Inn. I have been using a Garrett Ace 250... not the best, I know, but all I have for now. I look forward to getting a better detector and seeing what I have missed. There are one billion nails at this place!

First, the coins:
My son (the lucky dog) found the 1781 1/2 Real and the 1785 'Constellatio Nova' copper.


I dinged the 1845 LC with my shovel... arrgh.

Civil War 'DIX' token (1863 -this one has no date)

1865 Two Cent Piece (I love these coins!)

1891 IH Cent was found inside of a neat old match safe (I'll post it in the next section)... looks like it wasn't circulated for very long.

Well-worn 1893 IH Cent.

The most modern coin from the site -1945 'war nickel'.

...and there were a half-dozen wheats that were from 1910-1946. Since I don't know how many photos are allowed per post, I'll put this up and continue in a moment.

 

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[Driftwoood]

Next, the buttons: By the way, If anyone has any info to add on any of these items, please feel free to do so!





The Federal Navy button had an iron shank that has rusted away, so no photo of the back... it's just ugly.

 

[villagenut]

You got a good site, keep at it. I love the Nova!

 

[Driftwoood]

Here are a few odds and ends...
A great big brass buckle... it was really deep. I kept digging, though thinking it would be a beer can or something.

This is an ox shoe and what I believe is a very old horn knob. It is cast brass and threaded inside... the threads taper slightly from one end to the other.

'SALT UNION' Lead Seal from, I suppose, a bag of salt.

Two tiny pewter teacups!

Dog License Tags

Here's the match safe that the IH cent came in. It has a hunting dog inscribed on both sides. The coin was wrapped in straw or grass... pretty neat!

This is, I think, a railroad sign/signal reflector. It is made of brass with a glass ball in the top. I have found two of them so far.

 

[Driftwoood]

Lastly, these items are all stamped with the name of one of the past residents. I believe the three lead thingies are homemade fishing weights (they all weigh just over 2 ounces)... the site is near a good sized creek (Schoharie Creek). An 1860's map lists a 'D. Becker' and I think 'W.D. Becker was a later relation... maybe the son. I have no idea what the tag went to.

 

[Driftwoood]

@villagenut: Yeah, she's a beauty, eh?! Do you suppose it would be worth having something like that graded and slabbed by PCGS or something? I've never done that, but I've also never had such a historical coin before.

 

[Kentucky Digger]

I would get it graded by NGC or PCGS but no one else. It would come back as a details grade- almost all dug coins receive this grade.
Any questions please contact me - KY Digger

 

[laidback4sho]

Wow! Nice finds! Need to get you one of them Deuses and them nails will magically disappear.

Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk

 

[dfallis1]

Wow nice finds. You def got your moneys worth from that ace 250. Just imagine what else could be out there. Great work GL&HH

 

[jimzz977]

Nice looks like you found a great spot , congrats on your find (super cool)

 

[Driftwoood]

Wow! Nice finds! Need to get you one of them Deuses and them nails will magically disappear.

Thanks! Man, I'd love to make those nails disappear! I think that machine, though, is a little too spendy for me... I'll likely upgrade to an AT Pro soon... dunno if that will help much with the tiny iron, but I do need a waterproof machine anyways.

 

[Chizzy]

Amazing site!!! Keep after it.............!!!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats on the really sweet selection of finds. Wow!

 

[scruggs]

Really nice finds you made!