JimBeHuntin'
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
- Messages
- 1,154
- Reaction score
- 4
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Down East North Carolina
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett AT PRO (As of 10/2011)
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
The beans were finally harvested, it's not raining, and I had 2 1/2 hours before dark ... finally a chance to hunt the old plantation I recently got permission for. This old site is about 3 miles west of our town and within 1/2 mile of the river. It was supposedly the site of an early plantation and the old home was torn down about 30 years ago. There is still a grove of huge oak trees that line what used to be the entrance road to the old home that gives an approximate location for the old house. I understand that the old house was used by many families over the years up until the time it fell in on itself and was burned. The gentleman who built the plantation (Jno. Dunbar) was born in 1798 and died in 1867 ... he is buried in the family cemetery about 200 yards from the home site. I had high expectations for this site but I knew at least one local detectorists had been to the site some years ago (the owner told me the guy asked permission about 20 years ago). I decided to hunt the field area at the back end of the oak grove. It was great hunting because the land was moist but not muddy and the bean stubble was very low. I started finding iron targets almost immediately and then some horse and farm related items next. My first two coin finds were 1916 and 1917 wheat cents. At this point I began to think the other detectorist may have cherry picked the site but all of a sudden I get that tone that is oh so sweet. I dig a plug and as I flip it out of the hole I see the beautiful reverse of a nice Swamp Penny (that's what the old folks around here call them) or Large Cent as they are better known. Just before dark I dug my last coin which was a no-date Buffalo nickel. After cleaning the LC it appears to be an 1835 though it is tough to read. I had a great time and dug some neat relics as well such as horse combs, spoons, an old key hole, and other neat stuff. One unique item looks like a coin with a square hole in the center and is smaller than a dime. It has a reeded edge, and appears to say something like: side 1 = ? pat April 10, 1877 and side 2 = I can't quite make it out. Maybe some of you might know more about this item. I am looking forward to my next trip to this spot which I hope to be this weekend. Thanks for looking ~ Jimmy
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That large piece at the top of your first picture is the brass piece off of an old level. I found one like it some months back. Any writing on yours? 
