North NJ rocks! Many firsts, including cops being called on me

[granthansen]

I knew I'd have 2 hours free time to detect on Sunday (2/17), from about noon to 2pm at which time I'd have to leave, clean up, and head to my mom's birthday party. I woke up to see it was 29 degrees and 30mph winds. I went outside with the dogs and said, "Grant, you have a sickness if you detect today." Well, I'm sick. I bundled up head to toe, and put on my new waterproof Helly Hansen rubberized pants. So worth the $22. I dare say I felt balmy and didn't even notice the wind. I went a few blocks away to a vacant house where my step-father is the real estate agent and had gained me permission. I've been once before and found a beer token and gas valve, but nothing much else. This day I would target the side and back yards, which had basked in the sun all week long. The soil was ideal. Soft and didn't fall apart.

On the side yard I gridded, and up the first past just found aluminum shards. Around my turn was a bush and I got a 12/29 and 12/30 on the CTX. It would ring 12/29 on the left swing, 12/30 on the right. So I dug. Out came a washer, NO! Square hole! Chinese coin? Yes, definitely looks like an old Chinese coin. Cool!



A few feet away I got more aluminum shards, a nickel, and then another Chinese coin! My first!



I started to wonder about migrant Chinese railroad workers and maybe this meant something to my town's history that I didn't know about, but then again, we're not on the west coast. Hmm...

About an hour in I looked up and saw 2 policemen. My first encounter with cops! "Whatcha doing?" I explained that I have permission etc., and they were really cool. A neighbor had called since the house had been vacant for so long and they saw me out there. Actually nice of the neighbor to be looking out. They left and wished me luck.

I wound up finding another Chinese coin before I set my sights on the back yard.

Got all the way up one side and then got a good signal. I popped the plug out and a GIANT coin stared me in the face, and I could clearly see a left-facing bust. George!! I gasped and fell back. I grabbed it and poured the rest of my bottled water over it to see it clearly. Not as old as I hoped but still very cool: 1916 King George V penny. A first for me:



I still couldn't get over the size of it. My alarm set for 2pm, I knew I had 15 minutes left. Probably enough to finish off the yard. Then I got a really messy hit... numbers jumped all around. Well, why not dig, right? Out pop 2 more Chinese coins on top of each other. My pro pointer was lighting up. Another Chinese coin! And another! Then a few nails, and then another coin! My first coin spill! I also retrieved a few small bullet shells from the same hole, which gave me a creepy feeling that perhaps there was a scuffle that led to the spill. My alarm started to sound. Crap! I have to go. Ug, still more in this hole! I managed to retrieve 12 more coins (15 total for the day) before I had to pack it up. Didn't want to but my mom's b-day party beckoned.



I will be back soon to retrieve the rest. I was able to ID the smaller one (I measured it at 22mm but this site has it as 23mm):
Ching Dynasty - Tao Kuang coins
Tao Kuang Coins (1821-1850 a.d.) - Obv.: Tao Kuang T'ung Pao; Rev.:
Right: Manchu Ciowan - The Board of Revenue mint, Peking
Left: Manchu Boo - coin

The larger coin I have measured at 23mm (so maybe it's 24mm)?

Other cool finds that I have to ID:

Vintage toy car, measures 3.75"


Cowboy on horse? Measures 1.75"


Toy train, oil tanker, measures 3.75:


Oh, and I saw a neighbor outside gathering all his garbage that was blowing around (not sure if same neighbor who contacted police). But I chitchatted with him a bit and he told me when he bought his house that he found a lot of railroad relics. He wound up going inside, and coming back out and giving me one of them! A vintage railroad insulator. Another first!



And finally, some misc finds from the day:

 

[history hunter]

nice finds! That looks like a good place.

 

[granthansen]

Nice finds! Thumbs up for the Helly Hansen Rain Gear too! I bought a full suit about 4 years ago and they have been great! Even got stuck in blackberry brambles chest high and the rain suit saved me from god knows how many thorns without a single hole put in the suit! Made me a customer for life on that trip!

Yeah, I was skeptical since I had a Helly Hansen jacket once and the zipper was no good, but the rest of the jacket was great. These pants have made me a new believer and I'll probably get the matching jacket. Or maybe a jacket and whole 'nother set in case I ever do a weekend trip.

 

[granthansen]

haha im in northern nj too and i woke up and was like noppeeee not today lol , looks like a good hunt especially like the king george still havent found one of those

Well, like I said, I'm sick! LOL The soil was actually perrrrfect... you just have to find the spots that bask in the sun all week. Other parts were like concrete. No fun!

This is my 2nd George of the year (2nd overall too)! First was 17?? King George II half penny found in Mt. Holly. Who'da thunk it?

 

[chkn]

I've been reading that chinese would bury coins underneath and around the yard of a house for good luck. You might want to check around the steps and even in the corners of the yard. Stuff could be anywhere. Don't know if there's a cellar or crawl space to look into. Lot of it would probably be around the entrance (front door area) and even underneath the front walkway (if they ever tear that up, get in there!)

Also, sometimes I believe the people who put in lawns would put some type of coin in the lawn to bring good luck but you've probably already nailed that one. It would probably be a newer coin though.

 

[relicmeister]

worth braving the cold and wind for I'd say. A great batch of finds Grant.

 

[granthansen]

So, I think I have 3 varieties of Chinese coins, and as I've stated earlier I think I've identified the first one below as:

Ching Dynasty - Tao Kuang coins
Tao Kuang Coins (1821-1850 a.d.) - Obv.: Tao Kuang T'ung Pao; Rev.:
Right: Manchu Ciowan - The Board of Revenue mint, Peking
Left: Manchu Boo - coin

They measure anywhere from 22-24mm (kinda warped).

 

[granthansen]

BTW, Except for the first one, I don't know which is the correct orientation!