Pocket Dump w/Standing Lib, Merc & Buffalo. Excelsior button help

[doninbrewster]

Got permission to hunt a home site where the home was built in 1780. I was advised owner was a hoarder. Got there and realized it wasn't going to be good. They had taken 10 dumpsters worth of trash out of the yard. Did give it some effort to weed through the trash signals which were everywhere and found a few clad. Figured my only hope was the woods, most of which was very steep and could never have been cultivated. Headed up one hill and saw a sign in the woods. When I got closer I saw there was a small cemetery with about 10 stones dating from 1876-1926. I noticed behind this cemetery hidden in the woods was a small flat area someone could have spread out a blanket for a picnic or just relax. They did that many years ago when they visited deceased relatives. Hunted this area for a while and only got one good signal and it was really solid and showing 5". A few days earlier I got a signal like this in the woods and figured it was either a silver quarter or large cent. It was a CT copper. I figured the same thing this time and was tempted to get out my phone and try and video the dig, but I didn't. Sure enough, silver quarter and when I rechecked the hole I came up with a Merc and buffalo. You just never know.

While I was at this place I also tried the woods on the other side of the house and came up with this Excelsior button. Back says extra quality. Anyone have any info on this?

 

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[vpnavy]

Nice finds! Thanks for sharing...

 

[treblehunter]

Great hunt and finds, I'm not sure I understand about the yard, I guess he was hording everything was stored in the yard? Might take a long time, with a little coil, but weed out the trash to find the treasure. GL

 

[wheatfinder13]

Sweet pockets ill!

 

[Argentium]

That's a very nice pocket spill - I'd spend some time around there ! Early SLQ's with a date are a tough find .

 

[dirtlooter]

sweet finds

 

[park pirate]

Awesome..

 

[cjon455]

sweet digs!, I hate when a spot has "the look" and ends up being an iron infested wasteland, looks like you improvised and snatched up some loot!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your brass 3-piece button (see chart showing 1-piece, 2-piece, and 3-piece button forms, below) is a New York State Militia Officer button. The "Excelsior" on it is that state's motto. That specific version of NY Militia button was in service from the 1850s through about 1900. Button-backmarks saying nothing but "Extra Quality" has existed ever since about 1800 (and is still in use today), so that backmark can be extremely difficult to time-date. However, your brass 3-piece NY State Militia Officer button has the narrow version of flat rim around it, so you it dates from 1850 into the 1870s. The narrow, wide, and extra-wide versions of rim on them is shown in the scan below.)

 

[46Wheat]

Nice digs. Thanks for the pics

 

[doninbrewster]

Your brass 3-piece button (see chart showing 1-piece, 2-piece, and 3-piece button forms, below) is a New York State Militia Officer button. The "Excelsior" on it is that state's motto. That specific version of NY Militia button was in service from the 1850s through about 1900. A button-backmark saying nothing but "Extra Quality" has been in ever since about 1800 (and is still in use today), so that backmark can be extremely difficult to time-date. However, your brass 3-piece NY State Militia Officer button has the narrow version of flat rim around it, so you it dates from 1850 into the 1870s. The narrow, wide, and extra-wide versions of rim on them is shown in the scan below.)

Thanks for your help on this. I figured it had something to do with NY because of the excelsior, but had no idea what. One of these days I have to get a copy of Albert's book. Thanks again.

 

[g-olden years]

Wow! Nice finds! Keep returning to that site despite the problems with it. Hoarders tended to hide money not only within their houses but also near fence posts, so try to figure out where fences & cross-fences used to be. Even a small property probably had some animal pens either fenced or walled in with stones. My son dug his oldest coin, a lovely 1848 silver dime, within a couple feet of a fence-line & I dug an old silver & seed rosary very close to that same fence! It was a short remnant of a farm fence with just a few decaying posts left and was right next to modern shopping center. Have fun! Andi

 

[beez0404]

Some very nice finds. Congratulations. Love that button a lot!!!!

 

[coinman123]

Nice details on that Standing Liberty Quarter!