IRON Brigade: SEATED HALF DOLLAR and a Complete MUSKET LOCK PLATE!!

BuckleBoy

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Location
Moonlight and Magnolias
🥇 Banner finds
4
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Whites DualField PI, Fisher 1266-X and Tesoro Silver uMax
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hello All!

Got up this morning and got a call from HB who was jonesin' for a hunt after his spur and eagle button on Wednesday. Took a look at the truck thermometer and figured it would be a nice day to dig a few holes. :P

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So we set out for the site, bringing the probe so we could open up the privy too. ;D

When we got there, we did some probing for the privy, and indeed hit glass. :) We opened up a hole and started finding busted up china and bits of glass. So the hole got wider....and deeper... (We'd already asked the owner if this was o.k. and gotten the go-ahead on the privy dig.) Here's a photo of DiggerGirl down in there:

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We took turns digging, and picked up our detectors and swung when we weren't working the privy. Here's HB gettin' it dug. ;D

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We soon figured out that we were in a burn pit--we dug down to clay and found only charred items, a brass spoon, a harmonica reed plate, and broken china and stoneware. Few bottles, and not much worth reconstructing. :-\ So we covered 'er in and kept detecting.

My very first signal of the day was a good one. It was an overload--so I knew it was big, or shallow, or both...so I cut a big plug. Well let me say that we dig so few silver coins out here that it takes a second for it to sink in when we find one. What I wasn't prepared for was the SIZE of this one coming out of the ground. I was thinking "Nah--it can't be" when I bent over to get a closer look:

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My first instinct was "Cut Spanish Silver!" as I looked at the find--and when HB asked what I found, I think I said something like just a CUT SPANISH COIN. As I looked at the coin more closely, I realized it said "Half Dollar" on it! :o It is an 1858-O Seated HALF!

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Folks, it's been quite a few years since my last Seated Half find, and I am Thrilled.


We kept pounding the site, finding toe taps, organ reeds, harmonica parts, clock parts, and lantern tops. I dug a wierd, flattened/cut minieball closer to the cellar hole--all the while watching the Iron pile grow by the truck. (I know there's 40 lbs there from the hunt today.)

Then as darkness approaches, HB yells at me from across the site. I can see him holding up something in his hand--and I immediately knew what it was--a complete musket lock plate!

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Folks, I have never seen one of these dug before. I've dug pieces before, but no dice on a complete lock plate. The best part of this one is the condition--with some Slow electrolysis and a little luck, we might be able to read some markings.

Incredible hunt today, but I am Beat to Death. At least I can feel my fingers now. :tard:

So here is a shot of my finds for the day, along with HB's lock plate. If anyone can identify the model of gun this piece is from, please let us know. :thumbsup:

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The finds cleaned, and close-ups of some of the goodies:

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And a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to HB on this one. Good huntin' with you today, buddy. :thumbsup:

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And that's part of the reason we dig all the Iron. :wink:


Best Wishes and Happy Hunting,



Buckleboy
 

Upvote 0
BuckleBoy said:
ModernMiner said:
I keep forgetting to ask you. What is your new avatar?
-Doug-



Looks like Nuts of Steel to me.

8)

Ha, ha, ha. Now THAT is funny. ;D :icon_jokercolor: :tongue3:
They appear to be a bit rusty though. :icon_scratch: :icon_jokercolor:
-Doug-
 

Great finds as always,
It's funny how We can go out to the store or wherever on a windy cold day and hurry to get inside to where it's warm but when We do something We really enjoy,at least for me it just doesn't seem to matter.

Looking forward to your next discoveries.
Nova Treasure
 

I think the half dollar was a cool find.
Maybe the person sat down on a log well chopping wood for a rest.
The half falls out on the log.
He decides it's time to get lunch.Stands up and swings the axe down on the log and at the same time sees the half flying in two derections.
Any ideas as to why someone would cut a half dollar?
 

congrats on your hunt,lots of great relics
to bad the 1/2 wasn't hole,it still shows great detail.
super job with the pics,keep them coming :thumbsup:

fortbball9
 

Wow... awesome finds. The seated half is real nice. That lock plate is going to look mighty nice in a display case someday.

24 degrees in Kentucky? And, here I am complaining that it's 38 up here in Mass.... Didn't know it got that cold down there. Do you guys have to deal with snow too?

Congrats on the finds. You guys had a great hunt !!!! Awesome pics as usual !!!!

Brian in MA
 

rodgerdodger said:
Any ideas as to why someone would cut a half dollar?
Wanted some more of the sour mash, nah just kiddin.
 

rodgerdodger said:
Any ideas as to why someone would cut a half dollar?

To make a piece of jewelry or a decoration to be engraved on the side of their musket perhaps. I can think of lots of decoration-type-reasons...but I don't think this coin would've passed after that cut in it. And no economic reason to cut a coin that late in history...But the person could well have been alive when spanish silver was still being cut and passed.
 

WOW the detail on that SLH is totally awesome. Congrats. :thumbsup: :wav: :thumbsup:
 

BB another fantastic day hunting with you.Sorry we couldn't get Digger girl on the bottles, but I did enjoy lookin at the mud on her arse. :P That coin is in such fine shape ,hardly any wear.The steel find of mine, well it's gonna be the new avatar for me.

Gotta love that IRON

HB
 

peanut695 said:
Wow... awesome finds. The seated half is real nice. That lock plate is going to look mighty nice in a display case someday.

24 degrees in Kentucky? And, here I am complaining that it's 38 up here in Mass.... Didn't know it got that cold down there. Do you guys have to deal with snow too?

Congrats on the finds. You guys had a great hunt !!!! Awesome pics as usual !!!!

Brian in MA


We have snow--just not as much of it as you guys...but the ground freezes solid here eventually too. :-\ It was a little frozen on the very top today where the sun didn't hit it.


-Buckles
 

Hill Billy said:
BB    another fantastic day hunting with you.Sorry we couldn't get Digger girl on the bottles, but I did enjoy lookin at the mud on her arse. :P  That coin is in such fine shape ,hardly any wear.The steel find of mine, well it's gonna be the new avatar for me.

                                                                 Gotta love that IRON

                                                                                HB

You Dog! 

Get that Avatar goin!   :thumbsup: 

In terms of Avatars, looks like I've got the Nuts and You've got the Guns.   :D


Good huntin with you today.  Glad we could beat the cold to make some more great finds. 




-Buckles
 

Great finds. The lock plate is a super find in that kind of condition. Congrats on the seated half. :thumbsup:
Dman
 

Congrats on the Musket Plate. Too bad on the Seated Half, but it is still an awesome find, and another great day for your group!

WTG!
Neil
 

Neil in West Jersey said:
Congrats on the Musket Plate. Too bad on the Seated Half, but it is still an awesome find, and another great day for your group!

WTG!
Neil

Thank you, Neil! I like your avatar a great deal--such an enigma, and such a cool piece. :)
 

some always find the good stuff :thumbsup:
 

Congrats on a awesome hunt that half is a beautiful find keep up the great work! HH!
 

Looks like the Brigade strikes again! Absolutely fantastic bunch of finds but that seated half and the lock plate are stunning! I would have been doing the "happy dance" for the rest of the day upon digging those! Congrats to you Buck and congrats to the whole Brigade...
 

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You guys have a great spot there. That lockplate is a spectacular find. The Seated half is in perfect shape considering. Without the cut it would probably be in AU condition. What a find for you buddy. :thumbsup:
My 1859 Seated Half was found right in front of Kirk and Kyle when they were about 16 years old and I was showing them what its like metal detecting. I was jumping for joy and they were looking at each other and snickering. Congratulations. :icon_sunny:
Chris
 

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