GUDLUKK TOKEN LEADS TO G.A.R MEDAL CACHE

Stu Pedasso

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Hello,

The family decided to sleep in this morning. I took that opportunity to head to the river. I had been down there last year and the water was high. It has been dry and I knew more of the bank was exposed. Besides, it was too early to find permission at houses and I didn't feel like heading to the picked over parks.
I got down there and found the typical million alcohol container tops strewn amongst the beer cans, empty foam bait containers, and left over clothing articles. I started to cop an attitude.
The trail got a little thinner and the tangle of fallen over trees was getting harder to climb over. I wasn't getting any screw caps, but I was getting a lot of metal junk. I could see up ahead the path flattened out and got gravelier on a lazy outside corner of the river. I kept hoping that this may have afforded the perfect swimming hole back in the day. Even though today's water was a nice, smelly shade of military green.
By now I really had a bad attitude. No booty, the bugs were biting, no breeze, and the sun was reflecting off the water and scorching me. I made it to the worse batch of fallen over trees and gave up. I spun around to make a hasty retreat back to the truck when I got a 50 cent signal on the display. Typically these signals are junk. I about pooped when the first overturned gravel had a disk sitting on top of it. I wiped it abit and could plainly see a swastika on the side of the Rexall Drugstore token. I instantly decided to work my way from the impass back. The first two swings produced a quarter signal. And it was a 1907-s Barber, badly worn but none the less a keeper for me. Next couple swings in the area started a run of G.A.R medals. They just kept coming. A couple were even found laying on the surface!
I think I cleaned the area pretty well. But, there is a ton of brush right there. I think I will go back and hit it in the fall when the leaves are gone. If you have any info on those medals I would appreciate it. I did a quick google, and it looks like a couple I found were missing pieces yet.
Anyway, this was the second most fun I had with my detector. One the way back down the trail, I was sure hoping to find a little more silver to finish up the hunt. Sure enough, I managed to get a '41-D Merc! Also, a blown marble, pistol ball, wheatie, and a couple modern coins. If I did not find the good luck token, I never would have found the rest.

Stu
 

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incredible finds! Thanks so much for sharing the story and photos with us! Can't wait to see what else you find! :D :D
 

Man, I love the old stuff you found. Thanks for posting.

HH
 

diggummup said:
teverly said:
Could the second picture actually be a watch fob??
I dont think the G.A.R. was ever called SVA....
just an idea....Great finds..and i would think there will be more stuff there!!!
Terry
It's a G.A.R. medal,probably had a ribbon attached.It's listed-
Headquarters established at Brooklyn, N.Y. later removed to Columbus, Ohio. Fifty-third National Encampment, Colombus, Ohio
September 7-13, 1919
Membership: 110,357
The following officers were elected and appointed for the ensuing year:
Commander in chief James D. Bell, Brooklyn, N.Y.
(died in office)
Daniel M. Hall, Columbus, Ohio
Senior vice commander in chief Daniel M. Hall, Columbus, Ohio
Charles B. Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.
Junior vice commander in chief Charles B. Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.
Isidore Isaacs, New York, NY
Surgeon general Stephen I. Brown, Knox, Ind.
Chaplain in chief Rev. W.W. Gist, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Adjutants general Isidore Issacs, New York, N.Y.
Joseph W. O’Neall, Columbus, Ohio
Quartermaster general Cola D.R. Stowits, Buffalo, N.Y.
Judge advocate general William A. Ketcham, Indianapolis, Ind.
National patriotic instructor Hoseah W. Rood, Madison, Wis.


Nice little honeyhole you found there.Now get back out there and find some more! :)

So what does S.V.A. stand for??? also just thought it might be a fob as i have a couple ohio ones shaped just like.But i always like to learn.....
 

teverly said:
So what does S.V.A. stand for??? also just thought it might be a fob as i have a couple ohio ones shaped just like.But i always like to learn.....

S.V.A. is a former name of the organization now known as the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Auxiliary: http://www.asuvcw.org/hist.htm

S.V.: http://suvcw.org/
 

Wow, you just never know what will come out of the ground! I love finds like yours, that is what makes this hobby great!
 

UPDATE

I went back down there last weekend expecting to hit the mother load. I found diddly squat, save a couple memorials and one '45 wheat. I had a little more time to investigate the area. There are houses up on the hill. There is a lot of chunks of burned coal all up and down the face. I assume they were dumping all there junk down the side of the hill. I am guessing the quarter and the medals were dumped out as trash.
Anyway, I am going back in the fall when the foliage is thinner. I will keep you posted.

Stu
 

Diehard,

Yes, there are lots of rocks by the river. Matter of fact, it is a rocky county.
 

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