This Colonial-Era Find Has Me Stumped!

Erik in NJ · Dec 9, 2012

Continued to work the Colonial-era house for a couple hours this afternoon. Yesterday I found some very cool iron relics (yet to be posted) including two heavy iron rings bringing my total to three there so far. Dug an IH cent (1903) and Merc dime literally almost at the surface. A nice little finial and another today (spherical with a nipple). I also unearthed a broken pewter spoon end and 1/2 of a silver plated handle to another utensil as well as a couple other interesting relics

I decided to try a section today that had yielded nothing on my initial random walk on my first visit to the property. I fairly quickly got a sweet deep signal that I thought would be a silver dime. Turned out to be a Draped Bust Large Cent! My second in a month! This one is pretty toasted but you can make out the bust when it's wet...will be treating it with hot peroxide to see what happens. I know what area I'll be going back to now and gridding in the future.

Today's biggest surprise was a colonial-era pewter relic that was quite deep and beautifully cast. The diameter is about the size of a half dollar on one end and large cent on the other. It's about an 1-1/4" tall. It has a hole in the side for something and a thin lip on the inside of the smaller end. The detail is amazing! No idea what it is, but it's just a beautiful colonial relic. It was deeper than the Draped Bust Cent in the same undisturbed strata near the cent. I hope it turns out to be something special!

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

JimDon said:
I think it is part of an ink well set.

JD-- looks like you were right re the ink well and helped steer us down the right path! Grant found an exact match though we haven't narrowed down the timeframe yet. I still believe it dates back to the early 1800s at least. Thanks for your help!

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

granthansen said:
SWEET!!! You must find the cat now. It can't be too far, so I'd say dig every darn signal you get near the original dig.

Hi Grant! I only had a little time to mess around there yesterday. Just the Draped Bust cent I first unearthed will motivate me to grid this area and dig everything. Would be nice if the cat is there, but the break near the base makes me believe the cat may have been removed at some point. The lid, if there, should give a nice signal. This inkwell was pretty deep in dark soil at 10+ inches. Thanks again for the great ID!!

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

fishstick said:
Simply AWESOME ERIK!! I luv seein things that no one else has seen, makes it that much more special.. That truly is a one of a kind piece and place. Can't wait to see what comes up next bud.. CONGRATS.. HH

Thanks for your kind words! This has been a pretty special site, giving up some unique finds. This is my first dug ink well and even without the cat I think it displays quite well. The Draped Bust cent, though a bit toasted, was a real treat to find. I still need to try and clean that one up a little. Best, Erik

Wildcat1750 · Dec 10, 2012

That cat is lurking out there somewhere.

What a unique find, Erik and some stellar detective work, Grant! That cat has to be out there somewhere.
Nick

BixbyTreasure · Dec 10, 2012

It would seem that it wasn't just made with a cat and a tree stump. I found one very similar with a horse, and one with a bulldog and am still looking to see if I can find any mfr or date info. Possibly made in Germany, although I am have no luck finding out more than that.

oldsalty19 · Dec 10, 2012

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

BixbyTreasure said:
It would seem that it wasn't just made with a cat and a tree stump. I found one very similar with a horse, and one with a bulldog and am still looking to see if I can find any mfr or date info. Possibly made in Germany, although I am have no luck finding out more than that.

Hi Miss Bixby! Nice to see your lovely face again--been a while :hello:

! Can you please post some pics of the ones you found on this thread? Thanks!

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

oldsalty19 said:

Rick (Nova Scotia) · Dec 10, 2012

Erik,

Your DB LC if so weak you can only see it when wet, then you might loose all detail in the hot HP. If there is any corrosion to speak of ? Just a word of caution. A coin that is identifiable is better that a completely toasted disc.

Your still having a good time at that yard.

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

Rick (Nova Scotia) said:
Erik,

Your DB LC if so weak you can only see it when wet, then you might loose all detail in the hot HP. If there is any corrosion to speak of ? Just a word of caution. A coin that is identifiable is better that a completely toasted disc.

Your still having a good time at that yard.

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your post. Yes, sad to see a beautiful old coin like this so toasted. I just used a bit of soap and water on it and I could make out the outline of the bust. I'll take it easy with the peroxide and then give it a coating of bees wax. There's not much hope of restoring much detail, but it is a Draped Bust Large Cent (my second now in about a month!).

o_zarkman44 · Dec 10, 2012

Is it some kind of tea pot? The pour spot may have broken off leaving the hole in the side. Plus it has a flange on top that could hold some kind of lid. Very interesting piece.

stewielouie · Dec 10, 2012

Sweet ID on that, who woulda thunk it!!

Erik in NJ · Dec 10, 2012

o_zarkman44 said:
Is it some kind of tea pot? The pour spot may have broken off leaving the hole in the side. Plus it has a flange on top that could hold some kind of lid. Very interesting piece.

That thought crossed my mind when I dug it (as did napkin holder), but it's been IDed as an old pewter ink well (see photo above). There would have been a glass or ceramic insert that held the ink and there was a hinged lid that covered the top.