First swing, silver ... big... I think?

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Quick lunch hunt to an old cellar hole in park woods that I have been to several times. Opening way up now with the briars and leaf layer down.

Hiked 5 minutes, eyed the bushes I wanted to swing around to start, turned machine on, lowered to ground and it starts going crazy. Thought, man my brand new coil is toast again, can't be. So I lower sensitivity and it still is screaming high tones. This time I complete full swing and it actually sounds like a target, albeit overload. So I take a super shallow scoop and there is a pocket watch case. Think, cool another brass case at least my detector is fine, place in pocket continue short hunt. Rinsed off.


I think this is solid coin silver from 1850's, not plated as I do not see any brass coming through or cracks through plating exposing corroded brass underneath. I have literally found 50+ pocket watch cases all have been plated silver or occasionally plated gold. This could be my first solid silver case, if so a bucket lister for me! (I have found over 100+ spoons, all plated as well...)
Here is the small handful. Pretty cool lead medic I believe, WW1 or WW2, not sure.



If any pocket watch experts out there can provide ID, that would be great.

Good luck out there!

 

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[CoinFetcher]

coin means coin silver. 90%

I’m not an expert.


Nice pocket watch recovery! Go find the rest of it please

 

[13dolphins1]

coin means coin silver. 90%

I’m not an expert.


Nice pocket watch recovery! Go find the rest of it please

I also believe this to be true. So the name could be a local maker and the owner of the coins would supply the silver coins and extra for cost of labor and the maker would make the silverware or in this case a watch. Not 100% sure but I would guess 90% made from coins.

 

[grasshopper]

Looks like they were in operation 1875-1956.

https://pocketwatchdatabase.com/guide/case-companies/keystone-watch-case-co

Edit: could be wrong. This forum post shows 1859: https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/keystone-watch-case-company-usa.85500/

Fantastic find!

 

[xr7ator]

NICE!

 

[against the wind]

American silversmiths / switched from 90 % silver, (coin), over to 92.5% silver, (sterling), in the early 1880's. This was done to match the purity of Silver being used by European silversmiths.
Congratulations on your finds.

 

[WaterScoop]

Very nice recoveries

 

[washingtonian]

Heck ya, what a cool find. That is a big ol piece of silver. Nicely done!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice finds, congratulations!

 

[Kurios1]

That looks silver to me. Very cool old watch part. Love the lead dude and hem weight too. It really is sad your lunch hunts kill most of my all day marathons.

 

[thrillathahunt]

Nice piece of silver!!!!!!

 

[creade]

Excellent hunt love that watch and figure that is a great spot you have there!

 

[Ogre1190]

Nice job! That thing woulda blown the screen off my machine. 😂

 

[HighVDI]

Congrats on some great finds!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice finds. If its stamped "coin", it is silver.

 

[Subterranean]

Congrats on the great saves. Your toy soldier was made by Barclay, circa 1935-42, and it referred to in their catalog as, "746 Army Doctor." There may be more where he was found! Cheers, Sub

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Congrats on the great saves. Your toy soldier was made by Barclay, circa 1935-42, and it referred to in their catalog as, "746 Army Doctor." There may be more where he was found! Cheers, Sub
View attachment 1561412

Thx Sub for the ID! Next time I'm there I'll be on the lookout for the rest of his platoon.

 

[VooDoo710]

Right on great find for sure. You seem to be lucky with that and spoons

 

[WHADIFIND]

Love it when that happens!
Nice!

 

[$stinger]

Nice digs! I found a similar watch cover almost blew my eardrums out when the coil got over it... Go back and find the rest of it