Good end of year hunt!

[scratcher]

These are my keepers from this weekend. I wasn't expecting much but feel I ended the year very well. I was hot when I reluctantly had to quit today, but falling snow and my detector don't mix too well. My last target was I think my best, a Cruickshank cross! I'm thrilled to find this and it is among my best. He was a silversmith from Montreal, active between 1773 and 1809. The role these trade pieces played in the early history of the US and Canada make them special finds for me.

You will see some other tradesilver pieces(a couple brooches, beads, etc.) along with one of the most interestingly engraved pieces I have found. I believe it is a tinkler, hairpipe or bead. It is very small and incredibly detailed. I had to use a magnifying glass to make out horses, lions, a fleur-de-lis? and what looks like a makers mark and other perhaps initials. I'm wondering if the second larger initials are of the engraver? maybe Native? I don't see how this was accomplished without a loupe or magnifier of some sort. My pictures somewhat show the detail. This may end up being my favorite find of the day.

I also found a half reale(1783), another bullet mold, a poor-shape 41st of Foot pewter button, another pewter button that I would bet was at one time a good one(I can only make out the rim), some tacks, etc.....

If anyone has any input on the engraved piece, please let me know.

 

[SkyPirate]

Nice!

 

[umrgolf]

Nice finds love the cross

 

[Iron Patch]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, 1812 41st and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

 

[pepperj]

Nice looking silver, awesome silver cross! Great Hunt.
The banner for sure.

 

[scratcher]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, early military button and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

Thanks IP, I am still pretty fired up

 

[mcmich]

Banner for sure!

 

[Iron Patch]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, early military button and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

Thanks IP, I am still pretty fired up

They get me going because it's all stuff that's pretty rare to find here. Three of us have hunted together for ten years, mostly just two of us the last 5, but we have only ever found one piece of trade silver. Can't image how many thousands of holes since and nothing. You had quite a day for sure.

 

[scratcher]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, early military button and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

Thanks IP, I am still pretty fired up

They get me going because it's all stuff that's pretty rare to find here. Three of us have hunted together for ten years, mostly just two of us the last 5, but we have only ever found one piece of trade silver. Can't image how many thousands of holes since and nothing. You had quite a day for sure.

Yea I have been lucky with the sites I have. When a piece like this comes up and only a fraction is visible, the adrenaline rush is pretty heavy when you uncover the rest and it's whole. They are easy to screw up

 

[pepperj]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, early military button and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

Thanks IP, I am still pretty fired up

They get me going because it's all stuff that's pretty rare to find here. Three of us have hunted together for ten years, mostly just two of us the last 5, but we have only ever found one piece of trade silver. Can't image how many thousands of holes since and nothing. You had quite a day for sure.

To think there was a reported 40,000 pieces produced in 1801. Here's a interesting write up on him.
http://www.jckonline.com/article/286855-Trade_Silver_North_America_s_Jewelry_Heritage.php

 

[allen]

that is one great looking piece of silver !!

 

[Iron Patch]

Good, that's a great hunt. Probably in the range of a killer hunt.


A Trade silver cross & brooch, silver real, early military button and musket ball mold! = BANNER all the way.

Thanks IP, I am still pretty fired up

They get me going because it's all stuff that's pretty rare to find here. Three of us have hunted together for ten years, mostly just two of us the last 5, but we have only ever found one piece of trade silver. Can't image how many thousands of holes since and nothing. You had quite a day for sure.

To think there was a reported 40,000 pieces produced in 1801. Here's a interesting write up on him.
http://www.jckonline.com/article/286855-Trade_Silver_North_America_s_Jewelry_Heritage.php

It's simply just a matter of history not putting many here. We have dug things that are probably much rarer, but coins and buttons are just that, coins and buttons, not trade silver. Our one find was a silver heart brooch with a crown above, and the two of us were disappointed because it first appeared to be a early military relic. It was only after the Cladman did some looking did he realize what he had.

 

[dave-enc]

terrific finds scratcher thanks for sharing
hh
dave+bobbie

 

[Deftone]

Amazing! Banner indeed.

 

[scratcher]

That is a really nice collection of fur trade material. The cross is stunning, of course, but I also really like the highly decorated tinkler.

Beautiful stuff you lucky devil!

I am also "into" the tinkler. It's even nicer when you can rotate it left to right under magnification and let the engraver 'speak' to you.

Thanks for all the nice replies and banner noms, all. I won't hold my breath for the banner, though, as I don't think enough members know about trade silver and how hard it is to find. However, I do think a brooch made it now that I think about it....

 

[pokerdad911]

Nice, I totaled my clad for the summer and I got 142.00. Keep it going.

 

[Nana40]

Wow! What can one say about those finds? I couldn't imagine finding those items. Simply amazing! The detail on that one piece...must have taken quite a while for someone to make that. And the cross! Beautiful! Congrats on ALL those finds!!

Nana

 

[scratcher]

Wow! What can one say about those finds? I couldn't imagine finding those items. Simply amazing!

Nana

Thanks, Nana. It's all about that grassy strip between the road and sidewalk

 

[johnnyi]

Absolutely awesome! What a way to go out!!! I love the cross and butlet mold, hair thing, and any pewter button is a score considerng how darn fragile they are! Really, You must be on cloud 9 after a day like this. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[hikeinmts]

Your title for this thread has to be the understatement of the year. Great hunt, great finds.
The cross is beautiful, and the tinkler has seen the hands of a skilled workman, whether Anglo or Indian.
Are you hunting in Canada or the U.S.? I couldn't get that info.
I was hoping for an end of the year hunt, something like that. But, end of the year in S. Korea is real snowy and cold, cold, cold. Won't be able to break into the ground until the spring thaw.