Interesting day today, and got a silver first!

[mr helton]

Today I went to the oldest house in the entire smallish city I live in. It was built in 1830. I asked the couple if I could dig as they were leaving and they said sure, so I dropped off my wife and son and headed over there immediately.

The place was LITTERED with square nails. Seriously it was like nothing I had seen. Everything I dug has 4-6 nails in the hole with it. Had I been using my F2 I would have just had to leave because I think it wouldn't have been able to handle all of that. Luckily I have a Spectrum XLT that I've been borrowing for a week now, and it performed pretty well despite all the iron. I found a neat ice skate and belt buckle under a clothesline, and then found my first merc!

I try not to set high expectations for any digs but I won't like, I was picturing late 1700s and early 1800s silver and large coppers lol. They HAVE to be there though, I just know it. Just gotta get through all the nails.

I left earlier than I wanted because the husband left and I could tell the lady felt uncomfortable with just her and her children. If I go back I'm thinking I will bring along my 7 year old nephew to ease that.

Later tonight I went with my dad for a short hunt at a park that was just a big empty lot even until the early 70s when the entire neighborhood was built. Didn't expect to find anything but new clad, but somehow managed to pull out 2 wheats including my oldest wheat yet, a '25 with no mint mark. No pic of those two unfortunately, because they are currently in the tumbler being cleaned.

Anyway here's the stuff from the 1830 house worth showing.

Thanks for looking and HH!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[wvwildman]

nice finds congrats HH

 

[Sovereignelite]

Congrats on your silver! I find that the oldest most prominent most visible places seem to be cleaned out. I hunted several (six) 1800's properties on the same street which only yielded a total of 2 Indian heads and about 10 wheats! I find more at the out of the way back street properties that aren't on the main drag. That said, with all the square nails there you may find something with some patience. BTW small talk will some times ease tensions if a person seems uncomfortable around you: you can always talk about the weather etc

 

[mr helton]

Thank you that's good advice! I was thinking the same thing about the nails, maybe because there are just so many, most people who have hunted it in the past gave up early on. It's also true, my best finds so far have come from houses off the beaten path. This one is right on a main road.