The best hunt ive had in years!

[HomesteadHunter]

The best hunt i've had in years!

A couple of days ago, I decided to take a long walk thru an old field, with hopes of finding an old homesite. I started to notice the odd piece of pottery, than the iron signals came. I followed the iron and debris, but much to my suprise I found alot more than a regular homesite. Here are some pics of my finds. They represent 2 hunts, totalling about 6 hours of hunting.



This is a group shot of the buttons. Their is 21 military buttons total, and including the flats, 47 buttons found at the site. Here are some close-ups.



This one is a real beauty. Its a gold gilted 89th regiment, and its nearly perfect. Aside from a few scratches, the gilt is complete.




This one is a Medical Staff button, and its in almost perfect shape as well. The gold gilting is nearly complete, and all the detail is there.


Here are some of the 34th regiments I found. They are a bit worn, but they are all complete.


Here are the 43rd pewters I found. They are kinda rough, but i'm happy to have them in the collection.



I found a real nice pair of US greatcoat buttons as well. They are backmarked "UNITED STATES", and they are both absolutely perfect and complete.




A nice british 1839 silver 6 pence, I was hoping to find some brit silver!.




And to cap the hunt off, I found a nice little 1847 half dime.

It was a blast getting to hunt a virgin site, i'm glad I found it!. No doubt the site will continue to produce over the years, i'll have to bribe the farmer to plow it good and deep.

Thanks for looking and happy hunting.

James.
HomesteadHunter.

 

[gibsondan]

Re: The best hunt i've had in years!

That Seated Liberty Dime has great detail. Nice finds!

 

[Kyle PA]

Re: The best hunt i've had in years!

you can find more.its a miletary campe .or base

After talking with a few experts on the topic....(Iron Patch)....i'm about 90% sure its an old homesite that had a large military presence. Judging by the variety of regiments found so far, and the area where the site was found, a homesite makes the most sense.

James
HomesteadHunter

Perhaps the homesite was used as an encampment or muster field at one time? I don't understand how so many early military buttons are found up in Canada. We have hunted homesites of French & Indian War, Rev War, and War of 1812 soldiers and captains, but we have not found as many buttons as you guys up in Canada do. An encampment or muster field would be more appropriate.

I'm not going to complain too much, though, because we find the Colonial coins in abundance down here in the states. 106 large coppers in the last 13 months of hunting to be exact (that is just detecting once a week, too). Just ONE 1820s infantry button was found in the last 13 months between my group and me.

That is a KILLER site, and I hope you clean it out until the place is bone dry!

Kyle

Yes, I've always wondered that. I'm not anywhere close to where any battles or camps were but every old site we find is almsot sure to give up at least one old military button. Our best sites would have between 10-20 Rev War buttons.

It is obvious that, once the soldiers came back from the war, they wore their military buttons on their civilian clothing. I'm sure that they did the same here in Central PA, but we would be lucky to even dig one...in an entire year of hunting.

 

[3RINGER]

Re: The best hunt i've had in years!

those sure are some great finds!
wtg

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: The best hunt i've had in years!

Excuse me for my ignorance, but which ones, if any, are Rev War? 34s and 43s?

No Rev War in the pic, all later.

 

[HomesteadHunter]

Re: The best hunt i've had in years!

you can find more.its a miletary campe .or base

After talking with a few experts on the topic....(Iron Patch)....i'm about 90% sure its an old homesite that had a large military presence. Judging by the variety of regiments found so far, and the area where the site was found, a homesite makes the most sense.

James
HomesteadHunter

Perhaps the homesite was used as an encampment or muster field at one time? I don't understand how so many early military buttons are found up in Canada. We have hunted homesites of French & Indian War, Rev War, and War of 1812 soldiers and captains, but we have not found as many buttons as you guys up in Canada do. An encampment or muster field would be more appropriate.

I'm not going to complain too much, though, because we find the Colonial coins in abundance down here in the states. 106 large coppers in the last 13 months of hunting to be exact (that is just detecting once a week, too). Just ONE 1820s infantry button was found in the last 13 months between my group and me.

That is a KILLER site, and I hope you clean it out until the place is bone dry!

Kyle

I didn't realize that the military buttons were so hard to come by up your way, that really suprises me. I'd say you easily make up for it with the beautiful colonials you continually find. As for the site, i'll be back there come fall time. In the meantime, I have found another military site, and this one is a few hundred acres from my back door!. Once I get a chance to hit it again, i'll post some pics.

James.
HomesteadHunter.