plugcutter84
Full Member
I had the day off today so I got a few chores done around the house and then decided to take my detector for a walk. I went to a new property that is heavily wooded, so I didn't have very high hopes of finding anything but I figured it could be a good scouting mission for the fall. The area had a good amount of civil war activity during the early part of the war. I've been told the property dates to the 1730's. I got to the site at around noon and realized the briars and undergrowth were going to be a real challenge... Along with all the beer cans and shotgun shells! I climbed to the top of a ridge and started swinging along a narrow deer trail. Dug a few pieces of trash, and suddenly got an unexpected high tone while I was navigating my way through a thorn bush. I love it when that happens! I new it had to be a coin, and I figured modern quarter. I literally only dug about 3 inches and popped out a quarter sized coin. It only took me a split second to realize what I had, a drapped bust large cent!!! I coulda left right then and there and been a happy camper, but I had to see what else I could turn up. Ended up digging three pieces of lead, pretty sure one is a fired .69 cal round ball, the others are too hard to tell. Also dug a small bell which I believe is a relatively modern hunting bell for a dog. The last target I dug is the small brass case. The two halfs were about 5 feet apart, scanned the area hoping there might have been some coins inside but no luck. I walked back to the truck grinning ear to ear, and I can't wait to get back there again! When I got home I was surprised by how well the large cent cleaned up. 1805, my oldest US coin to date! All i did to clean it was a light dry brushing and gently rubbed the heavy dirt with a q-tip. I don't know if I should try to clean it any more than this... any thoughts? Thanks for looking, HH!
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