On Cloud Nine now...after work hunt with Mirage-we both score large cents!

[Danimal]

Bob and I were contemplating leaving the woods and heading home. It was now dark and becoming difficult to keep from walking right into a dead branch right at eye level and poking your eye out. Unbelievably right after we walked into the woods after hauling ass to my new hotspot after work I hit another swwwweeeeet signal and popped yet another large copper outta the ground (my 4th in 3 days). Bob shook his head in disbelief and yet I could see a renewed determination in his eyes. This big copper was not in the same general location as the last three and while we poked our coils into nooks and crannies we discussed our own pet theories on the wheres and whys for the target's locations. Were they scattered along a direct path from the home to the privey maybe? A smattering of small square nails seemed to indicate maybe a shed or wooden outbuilding. Maybe the outhouse itself as there was a sunken depression perhaps 15 feet away. Now...seeing another one freed from the soil he knew...not hoped...there were more. Not 10 minutes later Bob scored his own. And then he hit silver. And then I hit what looks like a Civil War token. And then buttons flowed. And a dropped musketball. Things were staring to click and I gotta tell you folks, I haven't been this jacked since the very early days at the Iceberg when Bob and I felt so damn confident that we were practically willing the coins out of the soil.
Here, tonight, we had equal adrenaline flowing but it was different somehow because of the age of the finds. But darnit it was dark. What to do? After a short discussion while we calmed down we left our machines in the woods, walked to an exit point to the abandoned road leading to the cellarholes (marking the spot with my shovel) and hiked back to our cars. There we geared up with LED headlights and, giddy like schoolkids walked quickly back into the now pitch dark woods chatting away about what was happening. I have night hunted quite a few times, but not with this kind of hightened expectations. Something you folks need to consider is...Bob has been hunting a while longer than me. Bob is VERY good at what he does and knows the Explorer inside and out. I have been at this hobby just over two years and I feel like I am where I need to be considering the time I put into this hobby (way of life really). NEITHER of us had up until a week or so ago ever dug a large cent. Last year I skipped right past them and dug a 1792 Hibernia Half Cent, but no LC and they were at the TOP of my "to find" list. Now...I was finally in an area that I knew had them...and it's allll mine!
After a while though, the adrenaline wore off...the woods grew even darker making orientation towards where we were and where we were working harder. With no more high tones happening we decided to call it a night.
The great thing is, this spot is one of MANY in this area. It's obviously virgin ground. I think expectations will remain high for a while. This makes 5 large cents in three days along with period silver and tokens.
Here's a few pics. Hope you TNetters enjoyed hearing about this. I think Bob will add to this thread with his own finds.
For those of you who aren't excited about a large cent or two or three, it HAS to be because you have been there...done that. Then you gotta remember what it was like.

My finds from 2 hour hunt tonight. Undatable Braided Hair LC, small token with what looks like rifles crossed and a wreath, dropped musketball and other old lead strips, instrument reeds, buttons, part of a pewter utensil and a pristine AAA safety badge.

closeup of LC

closeup of possible CW token

buttons and reeds


I'll be back there this Friday after work and all day Sat and Sun.

HH all!!

 

[Danimal]

Dan, most of my best "cellarholes" never showed on any maps!

Don

Gotta start somewhere Don
It was the 1906 map I found that first clued me in that this large area wasn't just a huge wooded area.
I have hunted LARGE amounts of seemingly random wooded areas in N Ohio and only a few times found anthing other than shotgun shells indicating human activity other than modern trash.

 

[bookfisher]

congrats on your booty the hard work always pays off

Thx txkickergirl!
Now I just have to figure out how to get time off work to go down to the County Archive and view the 1850s maps on microfilm. They are only open M-F till 4pm. The ojnly maps I have of the area date from 1906. If I can narrow down our seaches to the older properties the odds go up.

Who needs maps - just keep doing those areas you're in. If you find old stuff, stay and concentrate, if you don't move on. Just let your sixth sense and metal detecting radar be your guide!

I had quite the conversation with the head of the Archive Dept.. for the county the area is in. While I was specifically referring to a specific road where about 15 homes used to be in 1906 he was looking at a 1849 map of that area on microfilm and said that there were NO homes on THAT road in 1849 (though the map showed the properties had all been sold)
He then looked at a 1870 map and MOST of the 15 homes were there. He and I then agreed that the majority of those homes were built around 1870 (ALL were taken down in the 1960s). While I have only briefly hunted that area on that road (it's deer season there right now) the finds were consistant with 1870s homes.
The area where all the LCs have been found is a few miles away closer to what was then the main roads. Behind one of the cellarholes we found a MUCH older cellarhole (where the Draped Bust cent was found) and that tells me that SOME of them are VERY old. If I can get down there he'll let me look at the microfilm maps from 1849 and make hand-drawn copies. If I can mark on my satt image maps where the oldest homes were we will save time looking for the good stuff.

Also, remember, Ohio was settled in the mid 1700s, so just about any open, undisturbed land (farms and woods) most likely had activity 150 or 200 years ago. Finally, what's woods today, may have been farmland 200 years ago. And as we all know, some of the best coins have been recovered from farmland. I not saying don't do research it can only help, but I guess what I am saying is, as long as there is much open space(woods and fields) that you can hunt on, in the that whole general area of where you found those large cents, I would hunt everywhere! Cause there are really no records (or very little record) of what was in that area in 1800 or earlier, so sometimes to find the real early stuff, you have to stumble upon it. If you need help covering ground let me know (just kidding). But, on the other hand, your off to a real great start, so who am I to argue with success. One final thought though: when your out in the field, just follow your instincts.

 

[halfdime]

Way to go, guys! That large cent of Bob's is one he'll treasure. This may not yield volume like the Iceberg, but it sure looks like quality.

 

[Nana40]

Well, I ain't been there and done that and I am SOOOOOO excited for you guys! What some awesome finds ya'll! I look forward to reading about your finds and adventures at your new site! You got a name for this site yet?

I'm so happy for you two! Many congrats!

Nana

 

[cheese]

Awesome! I found my first large cent around a year ago, and it's still my last. I remember how I looked at it, realizing what it was, and not believing I actually dug one up and was holding it in my hand. It's a feeling I can't wait to get again!

 

[romeo-1]

Nicely done...you've got a helluva sweet spot!

 

[Mirage]

Well, I ain't been there and done that and I am SOOOOOO excited for you guys! What some awesome finds ya'll! I look forward to reading about your finds and adventures at your new site! You got a name for this site yet?

I'm so happy for you two! Many congrats!

Nana

Thanks Nana. One of these days I hope to make it down to Bama (or whatever you call it).
I am working with those MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) guys a lot but haven't been down there to AL since at least a year ago.

As for a name...It's a different beast than the Iceberg...not that easy...

I hope this is not the only "old" site we find. A couple more show promise.

Bob

 

[ZoSo71]

Dan & Bob... Great Finds!!!! (It's Nate's turn now)

I have to agree about spending countless hours in the woods on a hunch, Only to find a handful
used up shotgun shells. That seems to be the "norm" here in Ohio. Unlike other areas in the US
not everyone can go out and dig a pouch of old coppers. Alot of research time is required and getting permission
is another battle to fight.

The excitement is back in Metal Detecting!

There you have it!

HH
ZoSo71

 

[Danimal]

Dan & Bob... Great Finds!!!! (It's Nate's turn now)

I have to agree about spending countless hours in the woods on a hunch, Only to find a handful
used up shotgun shells. That seems to be the "norm" here in Ohio. Unlike other areas in the US
not everyone can go out and dig a pouch of old coppers. Alot of research time is required and getting permission
is another battle to fight.

The excitement is back in Metal Detecting!

There you have it!

HH
ZoSo71

Dave...you in for Saturday??
Meet for breakfast at daybreak to go over things and then an all-dayer? Hopefully Don will join us too. My permit allows three people.

 

[ZoSo71]

Just try and stop me........I'm in..

Thanks for the invite...

I'll give you a ring this afternoon...


ZoSo71

 

[EDDE]

*i just puked in my mouth a little bit*
"WHITES STRIKES AGAIN "
*yawn*
8)

 

[Danimal]

*i just puked in my mouth a little bit*
"WHITES STRIKES AGAIN "
*yawn*
8)

LOL EDDE!...out of the 5 large cents found here the past couple days I think only one was deep enough where it was difficult to find. Most were where just about any machine would've worked.
Location location location.

 

[Don in SJ]

Just for info on what to expect, we have averaged 4-7 coins at each early 1800 era homesteads, usually if one is found at least 4 can be expected, if more than 7, than it is big smile time.
Our homesteads for the most part were occupied by common laborers, those who worked at saw mills(mostly tree cutters), grist mills, iron forges and some associated with water related industry, such as fishing, pirating, and trade commerce...There were no big farms in my area in late 1700's to early 1800's, most places had small plots where they raised there own. A lot of the homesteads were squatters living on big tracts of land owned by those who ran the iron industry, tree cutting and etc, thus most never showed on any maps..

Our coins are NOT easy to find, ask those who live in my area who have never found any! We have worked hard to find what we do and only through thorough research and getting out there and walking miles have we succeeded.

Nowaways, the vast majority of possible sites are going by the way of development like so many other parts of the country and finding old permissible sites is getting harder each year.

Don

 

[Danimal]

Our coins are NOT easy to find, ask those who live in my area who have never found any! We have worked hard to find what we do and only through thorough research and getting out there and walking miles have we succeeded.

Are the areas you hunt open to the public Don?

 

[ZoSo71]

Our coins are NOT easy to find, ask those who live in my area who have never found any! We have worked hard to find what we do and only through thorough research and getting out there and walking miles have we succeeded.

Nowaways, the vast majority of possible sites are going by the way of development like so many other parts of the country and finding old permissible sites is getting harder each year.

Don

Very well said Don..

HH
ZoSo71

 

[Don in SJ]

Dan,most areas are open, township or city/town land, however, hunting clubs are a good source for attaining permission, they seem to have control of a lot of land in our area and are usually pretty good about permission.

Years ago, most of our area was mostly owned by large developers who bought thousands of acres for future investments, the land was used by all for hunting and other activities, those lands have now diminished greatly, since, now housing developments sit upon them.

The sad part in our area is that State Forest is off limits, and that is thousands of acres with plenty of old sites. The state usually only allows detecting by permit at a few designated swimming areas, and that is about it. The archies have a lot of power in New Jersey. But that is another story.

 

[oknorom]

this all sounds so sweet! i've only found one large cent. a holed 1839 in a private scraped yard in riverside ca. the home wasn't that old, maybe 40's or 50's, but the area was all orange groves when the city was incorporated in the 1880s. maybe mine was dropped by some kid who got into his dad's collection. i'd like to think it was dropped back in the 1800s. i'll never know..

but sites like the one you're working, you KNOW these were early drops. that's exciting, and i wish you guys the best of luck in your continuing quest for large coppas!

 

[Danimal]

this all sounds so sweet! i've only found one large cent. a holed 1839 in a private scraped yard in riverside ca. the home wasn't that old, maybe 40's or 50's, but the area was all orange groves when the city was incorporated in the 1880s. maybe mine was dropped by some kid who got into his dad's collection. i'd like to think it was dropped back in the 1800s. i'll never know..

but sites like the one you're working, you KNOW these were early drops. that's exciting, and i wish you guys the best of luck in your continuing quest for large coppas!

Thanks Oknorom and congrats for finding one where you did. I fully expect to find more old coins there for the next few trips to that same area.

Oh...and it's a "Copper"...
Just like Bob's dime is "Silver" (I know I know...I'm no fun )

 

[Colonial Zoyboy]

Dan & Bob... Great Finds!!!! (It's Nate's turn now)

I have to agree about spending countless hours in the woods on a hunch, Only to find a handful
used up shotgun shells. That seems to be the "norm" here in Ohio. Unlike other areas in the US
not everyone can go out and dig a pouch of old coppers. Alot of research time is required and getting permission
is another battle to fight.

The excitement is back in Metal Detecting!

There you have it!

HH
ZoSo71

Even in PA, you have to do your research or you will not be as successful. My two uncles hunted in the same county that PACO, KirkPA, and I are currently pulling unbelievable amounts of coppers out of in the 1990s. During these years, they never pulled out a Colonial and they only found the occasional stray large cent. Therefore, just because someone lives in PA, NJ, MA, CT, etc., it doesn't mean that they are going to find handfuls of coppers everytime they go out.

 

[ZoSo71]

Therefore, just because someone lives in PA, NJ, MA, CT, etc., it doesn't mean that they are going to find handfuls of coppers everytime they go out.

Hmm.. I guess my post came out wrong..I was just expressing the fact that here in Northeast Ohio finding a spot with a decent history that may contain older coins is kinda slim. Either the state owns the land or a greedy corporate entity owns the land. If we had access to these "off limits" sites.. We could also dig handfuls of coppers.. Dan's research into this older area
and gaining a permit within Ohio, I'm sure was not an easy task. Like many other states
taking a metal detector into state owned land could get you some serious fines. The state holds alot of the older lands in Ohio.

HH
ZoSo71