Multiple Spanish reales (one counterfeit), crotal bell, buttons, bits, coppers!

Scrappy

Gold Member
Mar 6, 2014
9,204
14,019
17th century
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Minelab CTX 3030 & XP Deus
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I was finally able to get out with one of the Bastrds of Bramble - Charlie aka. C-Dawg. He was kind enough to bring me to a spot him and Bart found, and they've had great results. Bart was unable to attend (watching a friend get shackled to a ball and chain), so it was Charlie and I.

We spent about 3 hours on the site in 100% humidity and 90 degree weather. Here's my scores.

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A Ferdinand VII 1/2 reale. No, don't adjust your headsets or crane your necks, it is a counterfeit. During cleaning I had a layer of silver flake off, so this was at least double-silvered. The base metal is white, perhaps a white tombac. Funny enough the counterfeit had me fooled in the field, even after 205 years. That's cool, and I love it.

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In my collection I do have an Regal example of a found Ferdinand VII half reale, so this is the side-by-side.

I also found another Spanish 1/2 reale - a Carolous IIII, no date (180X)

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And this one is real! Lol.

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Also a crotal bell, broken with a sunburst bottom. Likely mid-late 18th century.

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Da buttonz

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The bits: a nice shoe buckle frag, pistol shot, repurposed copper coin, and an 1863 fatty Indian cent.

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Matron head copper (roached)

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And unidentifiable farthing. Matches the weight and size. Oh well.


Happy Father's Day everyone,

Good digs

Steve
 

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Upvote 48
I commend you for going out in such conditions. A second commendation for you finds :thumbsup:
 

You are rocking it this year, Steve! Love that counterfeit real-I've never seen one of those.
 

Killer hunt Scrappy! Cool to add a counterfeit to the collection and it's nice to dig one of the bigger crotal bells. Congrats!
 

That counterfeit Spanish silver is awesome man. Now that I have a handful of the real deal, I wouldn't mind adding a fake one to the mix. Awesome hunt as usual man.
 

Counterfeit reals

That counterfeit Spanish silver is awesome man. Now that I have a handful of the real deal, I wouldn't mind adding a fake one to the mix. Awesome hunt as usual man.

I pulled a. It 8 real coin that was counterfeit
What a time explaining when that coin was cut !!
One of my favorite coins !! Hh gl.
 

Steve always great to get together with you ,
Although you did out coin me as usual !
With your 4 coins yesterday and my ONE ( 1870 Indian ) the most modern coin we have pulled there
That brings the coin count to near 60 pieces with about 20 being silvers from Spanish to seated coins
( the most modern silver found at the site
Great hunt as usual , hot sweaty but productive hh gl

It certainly is a very productive site. It must have held a lot of activity including trade, from the late 1700's-late 1800's. You wouldn't guess it now from the looks of the woods, but the finds tell a much different tale. Thanks again for the great hunt bud.
 

Congrats to you and young Charles! Looks like you boys had a great time.

I like the counterfeit. Specifically engineered to deceive!

Best of luck to you and the BOBs.

This one was very tricky. The metal beneath was white and when I did a little test scrape, it shined like silver. I've seen a fair share of copper-slug counterfeit but this one was something else....

Thanks for looking bud
 

Congrats on a great hunt, whoever found that site, Bart, Charlie, should be commended. Way to go Steve and Charlie for sharing.

Haha. Thanks Brad. Great site, great company. And yes, sharing is caring. Now when are you going to share some clams and striped bass?????
 

Well done Scrappy. You always seem to find the really early stuff. Even the "Fake Stuff" is impressive. lol
Congratulations

I appreciate that, but it was my group that found the site. The coin was dated 1812 before it flaked. I wish it didn't flake right there. Cheers
 

I commend you for going out in such conditions. A second commendation for you finds :thumbsup:

Thanks Steve. The weather left us both sloppy dripping messes. We only had three or so hours because of Father's Day, dunno how much more we actually could have done;)
 

You are rocking it this year, Steve! Love that counterfeit real-I've never seen one of those.

Thanks Glenn, it's been a good year - as for the fake - it's certainly the smallest denomination of counterfeit Spanish silver I've personally seen. Most are large. Cheers bud
 

Killer hunt Scrappy! Cool to add a counterfeit to the collection and it's nice to dig one of the bigger crotal bells. Congrats!

The expanded area that we've searched here ~2 sq kilometers has the heaviest concentration of Spanish silver I've ever seen. And a good number found by my group are counterfeit. Mine have all been authentic up until now
 

That counterfeit Spanish silver is awesome man. Now that I have a handful of the real deal, I wouldn't mind adding a fake one to the mix. Awesome hunt as usual man.

Thanks buddy. Now all I'm looking for is the most elusive silver of all up my way...cut silver!!
 

GREAT finds Scrappy! Love that counterfeit reale!

I recently dug a bell similar to yours in Pa. I haven't posted that hunt yet but maybe you can ID it for me? It has an "N" makers mark on it.

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Very nice Scrappy, I'm liking the counterfeit.
GEEZ I can dig bells it seems, but I'd be damned if I will ever see one Spanish Silver. Well done for the wet tea bag day.
 

At this point I undoubtedly prefer a counterfeit. I've lots of milled Spanish silver but never a counterfeit. Always wanted one! Cheers buddy. And PS - don't worry about finding that pesky modern milled reale. With the early stuff you find, you're bound to find some "brand new" milled Spanish. Lol


You're still coming up with the good stuff!


Now you have to shoot for the bigger prize... a struck counterfeit Spanish.
 

GREAT finds Scrappy! Love that counterfeit reale!

I recently dug a bell similar to yours in Pa. I haven't posted that hunt yet but maybe you can ID it for me? It has an "N" makers mark on it.

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I looked at an American bell reference since I didn't see any "N" marks from British manufacturers. I didn't find any "N" specifically, but there was the North family in CT that manufactured crotal bells. James North and Seth North if you want to try and dig further. My guess on age would be 1800-1850, but probably on the earlier side of that.

Cheer
 

I'm glad to read that some BOBs got out as a team and killed it again. I'm loving that counterfeit Spanish silver and hoping ya'll sprayed down for ticks. They are bad this year.
 

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