INCREDIBLE HUNT!!!!!!!!Freezing My A$$ Off

[Ahab8]

So I woke up early and started getting dressed, fired up and ready to go! Looked at the temp 12 degrees....REALLY? My lady who is much more intelligent than I am said " Honey just stay home with me and rest today". Hmmmm this sounds pretty smart, so I did the exact opposite and headed out I wanted to go to the spot I pulled the 4 ugly coppers from yesterday but knew it would be frozen solid. So I went to a spot that I've always wanted to check out. It's just a perfect spot for a colonial homestead. It's a point that sticks out into a small bay. It's on the edge of a river with easy access to the ocean. Only problem is that there's no record of settlement out there. But I didn't care about that. I believed there was something there. Out of the vehicle at 7:18 and ready for a very long hike. Perfect day for it as I figured it might warm me up. First find was a toasty copper in the way out. Random drop I'd say.
I set the T2 up in disc mode today at sens 99 and 0 disc. I love this set up and my baby was nailing the goodies today. Next find was a tiny little button about the size of a thumb tack head at 6".

The next area I found was an old stone bridge that crossed a small creek. I dug a brass bell first thing

Then I got a mid 80s hit down about 8". Out comes a small button. Thought it odd that it rang up so high and thought it might be silver, which would be a first. I'll get to that later
I also found a small pewter piece shaped kind of like a tear drop and it's flat on one side. Not sure how to clean this piece. Any ideas are welcomed

After this I decided I was going to work my way up the rivers edge. Not expecting anything but I knew a few miles downriver there was at least two 17th century homesteads. I wasn't even going to swing in the hike but decided I should, very good decision. I got a beautiful 88-89 signal down about 8-10". Dug way down and scanned the plug. Still in the hole. So I dug way down and popped that out, checked the hole and it was out. It had fallen out if the dirt and I finally found it. Heeeeellllll yes! An 1802 Real that looked beautiful. Pretty damn psyched as it's been a very long time since I've found any Spanish. And my first Carolus iiii. A couple feet away I dug a flat button and this iron piece that just looks interesting to me and familiar for some reason.


I also found this oxen shoe close by and it's much different from the other hundreds that I pave dug. It seems much better constructed and has a groove in it. Yes I'm posting an oxen shoe lol

Here's the other iron I found

A few feet down river I got a banging 90 signal and out came my 4th complete shoe buckle


About this time I was going to continue my trek down river to the 17th century area but I came to a spot where there was a rock face on one side and a steep cliff down into the river on the other. Slippery leaves in between. So I did the smart thing for a change and turned around.
Things got even better when I got home and rinsed my silver button. Not only was it silver but it was made of a 1772 Carolus iii half real. I absolutely LOVE this thing

 

[Ahab8]

Great finds Ahab, the coin looks sweet, my favorite's got to be the coin button (don't see those every day)

Thanks buddy. Funny story for you. I wrote out that long post and posted it up. Well it was nowhere to be seen. So I started looking at other threads. Sure enough my entire post was under your thread lol. Had to delete it and start over

 

[Ahab8]

Huge congrats on the killer hunt, you said you were going after silver today and you didn't disappoint the viewers. The cufflink/button is a great find and I believe it could be either one, seen them being posted up over the years and there's a huge button reference link someplace that I've read up on the coin/buttons.
This was one of the other ones that was posted up from 2010 http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...panish-silver-1781-1-2-reale-made-button.html
There is others on the Google search engine also from other forums.
Great day out Abe, congrats on the days finds.

Thanks Pep! Appreciate the link bud. Fun to see others

 

[Ahab8]

Oh man Abe, you might have been frozen, but your T2 was smokin'!! That was an awesome hunt with 2 spanish silvers and that cool bell and buckle. I have an almost identical bell, and the very first colonial silver I dug was a 1/2 reale with a little spot of solder where a shank was attached. And its the only one like it I've ever dug. You're really adding to your collection, and I still think you're hot on the trail to another incredible find. Keep at it, weather be damned

Thank you Bill. I really liked the 99 sens 0 disc setting on the T2. This place is so remote that I can crank it up with no issues. It was just plucking out the goodies today. Some were pretty darn small and very deep. I'm convinced that lots of machines wouldn't touch some of the tiny items I've found at depth

 

[Ahab8]

Happy 2015 to you! Abe you found the spot and nailed it. The ladies must also love you.

Cheers buddy on those silvers and the site find!

She loves me but she gets VERY frustrated with me at times

 

[Ahab8]

Definitely a killer hunt and well worth freezing your A$$ off! The half real with the solder marks was made into a cuff link, in my opinion. I have dug several of the brass facsimile type, but also two that were made from actual half reals. Here is the nicer one made from a 1764 half real.

Steve that's a real beauty. I read that there's tons of the facsimiles so I'm happy to have the real deal. If I'm not mistaken the facsimiles are double sided? Or am I mistaken? You must have quite the collection of great finds.

 

[doninbrewster]

Beautiful stuff you found. Great buckle, really nice 1 real and the cufflink/button. All great finds. From the photo, it appears to me the cufflink was made from a contemporary counterfeit coin. Call it just a gut feel, but I've seen lots of them. Almost makes it more interesting. Any way you look at it, great finds.

 

[Deno]

This great hobby has made us all do some crazy things at

one time or another. Congrats on your will and your finds.

 

[Ahab8]

Beautiful stuff you found. Great buckle, really nice 1 real and the cufflink/button. All great finds. From the photo, it appears to me the cufflink was made from a contemporary counterfeit coin. Call it just a gut feel, but I've seen lots of them. Almost makes it more interesting. Any way you look at it, great finds.

Don it certainly looked a bit off to me especially on the edges. Just has almost a copper look where the edges are eroded a bit. But I was surprised it rang up so high for such a small item. I'll post up a good close up. It dies look off

 

[pepperj]

Vino sent me this link
View attachment 1101682

I think that was the article that Vino sent over to you that I was referring to in an earlier post Abe. I'm still confused on how it's been determined its intended use between the button and a link. Then again it's one of the easiest things for me to be is being "confused"
Patriotic & Commemorative Buttons
This cast brass cuff link button's device mimics the reverse design of a Mexico City mint eight real coin variety produced during the 1772-1803 period. Believed to have been made in peninsular Spain, this example was probably made during the latter portion of the period cited.
Would this be the right one from the linked article?

 

[Ahab8]

I think that was the article that Vino sent over to you that I was referring to in an earlier post Abe. I'm still confused on how it's been determined its intended use between the button and a link. Then again it's one of the easiest things for me to be is being "confused"
Patriotic & Commemorative Buttons

Yeah it's hard to tell but to me the "shank" looks as though it's more in the form of a cuff link. But I'm easily confused too lol

 

[BARKER]

Hi el pardon;SWEEEEEEET. !!! PEACE:RONB

 

[RelicMedic]

So worth the frostbite Abe!! Stellar hunt!!!!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Abe - as I mentioned earlier, your bell is very similar to one I found years ago. These are called "shop" bells that were used over shop doors, but also had a variety of domestic uses. They were generally made from "bell metal" which is a pewter-copper alloy. For more info you can refer to Ivor Hume's book "All the Best Rubbish". A pic of my bell can be seen below. Cool find!

 

[hunting deer]

Congrats on the finds! Awesome story! I'd like to head up your way sometime. Sounds like a place steeped in history. The silver coin button looks priceless!

 

[Ahab8]

Thanks guys. Yes my area has ridiculous history. You just can't be afraid to trek a few miles over some tough terrain....and possibly strike out. But that's what it takes around here.
So I took some close ups and believe Don to be right about the half real cuff link being a counterfeit. I also posted a giant bird band and some pretty cool ice formations

 

[Lord Verdigris]

Some of my best finds come from winter hunts. No way I would retire for the season. No pain no gain. Haha
Great finds!

 

[Diggin Dude]

Those are incredible discoveries!!! Thanks Vino for finding that article on coat and cuff buttons. Congratulations !!

 

[Vino]

So that bird made it from DC. To maine..
Pretty cool..Also the button being counterfeit is even more cool..
Great hunt..Although it looks like hard work to me..lol

 

[mangum]

Great colonial finds!

 

[sandchip]

Wonderful finds with a great story to boot. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us, Abe.