Three Hunts, 3 Days, Great Finds!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Last Friday I investigated an old archeological dig site, this is a lead that came from a couple of the local residents. This site was dug back in the 1980’s and was originally inhabited by the Native Americans. The site is located on a high point of land bordered by two streams, that thousands of years ago must have been a very busy village due to the sheer size of the dig site. I detected the periphery of the site and found the lead ‘M’, a chewed bone likely from a deer, part of a crotal bell and what I think may be half of a stone bowl used for crushing corn and wheat into flower. It was very peaceful and quiet on this site and it easy for me to imagine what life might have been like in this hill top camp.

On Saturday morning I headed back to the c1865 school site, all I managed to find was the 1859 LC for my efforts. In doing more online research of this location, I found a c1911 picture taken shortly after the sidewalk and the concrete porch were added to the front of the school. I noticed in the left-hand corner of the picture a swing set where a gravel driveway now sits. This is definitely something I need to investigate on my next trip!
On Sunday morning I headed back to my favourite old homestead site. This site has never let me down after over three years of detecting here with two different detectors. Here I found the 1852 Half Penny, the 1910 LC, the crotal bell, the 1961 silver Quarter, as well as, the glass marbles and button. I've included before & after pics of the coins prior to my restoration efforts. One of the most interesting finds was a heavily gilt naval button. This button was made by the S. Appel & Company of New York likely sometime in the 1860’s or 70s.

"The S. Appel & Co. NYC, Catherine St., later Fulton. Solomon Appel was a tailor & clothier from c. 1864 to 1915 and was listed as military and navy goods in 1900. The firm continued as Appel & Co. to 1935. This companies back mark is also found on many non-military uniform buttons including police and steamship buttons".

I'll let you know If I can get a positive I.D. on the Native American grinding bowl… I apologize in advance for all the pics!

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

Dave
My god man is there any thing left around your area you sure cleaned up in 3 days well done !
Gary

 

[treblehunter]

Nice job Dave, great finds and as always I love your pix!

 

[dts52]

Great finds, Dave.
HH
dts

 

[vpnavy]

Nice assortment of finds Dave. Thanks for sharing...

 

[Carolina Tom]

Excellent job. You have a nice assortment of finds too. The anchor button is really sweet. Really nice condition.

The landscape does look peaceful.

Congrats and thanks for the nice post.

Good luck to you sir.

 

[Phishfarmer]

Great finds! The "M" could be a "W" as well.

 

[scruggs]

Beautiful copper, silver and all the other finds you’ve made on a beautiful site! Good luck on all your return trips!!

 

[Evolution]

Some good stuff there. Sounds like it might be even better in the future......This picture made me think that if you ever get a side job as a DJ your name can be MC Crotal Bell.

 

[Kurios1]

I love the old coppers. I do prefer them in their original dug condition with that sweet green patina left on them. Just my preference. Some very nice relics to boot. Wonderful sight you have going there.

 

[smokeythecat]

Excellent job. Those coins cleaned up especially nice.

 

[Diggin Dude]

Really nice coins! I really like the small Crotal bell, well done! Congrats and HH

 

[washingtonian]

Nice old Canadian coins. Thanks for sharing!

 

[pepperj]

Well you had some great producing days Dave, not shabby at all for ending the season on a high note.Congrats
Looks like the door has slammed shut on the season (tear of regret)

 

[Tired Rooster]

Awesome hunts with some really great finds! Congrats

 

[TomW244]

Some good stuff there. Sounds like it might be even better in the future......This picture made me think that if you ever get a side job as a DJ your name can be MC Crotal Bell.

View attachment 1524703

LOL!!!

 

[Johncoho]

Nice finds. How do you clean your coppers to get them so nice? Congrats.

 

[CRUSADER]

 

[Eastcoasthunter21]

Yes sir , some cool finds. Hh gl

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave
My god man is there any thing left around your area you sure cleaned up in 3 days well done !
Gary

Thanks very much for your post Gary!
I sure hope so, as I'm a detecting addict and I'm not ashamed to admit it!
Dave

Nice job Dave, great finds and as always I love your pix!

Thanks very much Brad.
Hope you had another great year!
Dave

Great finds, Dave.
HH
dts

Thanks very much dts.

Nice assortment of finds Dave. Thanks for sharing...

Thank you Sir!
HH, Dave

Excellent job. You have a nice assortment of finds too. The anchor button is really sweet. Really nice condition.

The landscape does look peaceful.

Congrats and thanks for the nice post.

Good luck to you sir.

Thank you Tom.
As you well know, whenever a button comes out of the ground with this much gilt still on it, it's going to be a good one.
Dave

Great finds! The "M" could be a "W" as well.

You might be right there Phishfarmer.
A friend of mine who's a farmer told me it might be from a piece of 'White Farm Equipment'.
Dave

Beautiful copper, silver and all the other finds you’ve made on a beautiful site! Good luck on all your return trips!!

Thanks very much for your post Prospector.
Best of luck to you as well,
Dave

Some good stuff there. Sounds like it might be even better in the future......This picture made me think that if you ever get a side job as a DJ your name can be MC Crotal Bell.

View attachment 1524703

Think I'll start using 'MC Crotal Bell' as my my new avatar name Evolution!
But what I like even more is your motto... "So many old sites to hunt....so little time".

Best of luck to you,
Dave

I love the old coppers. I do prefer them in their original dug condition with that sweet green patina left on them. Just my preference. Some very nice relics to boot. Wonderful sight you have going there.

Thanks for your post and for your opinion regarding the verdigris on the coins Kevin.
I find so much more detail comes out when I lightly clean the coins that I find.
Of course, I don't clean anything that might have value to it.
These are simply everyday coins with little monetary or historic value to them.

Dave

Excellent job. Those coins cleaned up especially nice.

Thanks very much for your post Smokey.
Some folks like the 'restored' look and some prefer the 'natural' just out of the ground look.
Dave

Really nice coins! I really like the small Crotal bell, well done! Congrats and HH

Thanks Dude!
Whenever one of these old bells pop up, I'm always hoping it will be a crotal bell.
Dave

Nice old Canadian coins. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Sir!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

Well you had some great producing days Dave, not shabby at all for ending the season on a high note.Congrats
Looks like the door has slammed shut on the season (tear of regret)

I hear you about the weather Jim, at least in your area anyway!
Although I might have to trip over to the McLaughlin Cabin site tomorrow to do a soil check in the woods.
The only issue will likely be the amount of snowfall that we've received lately.

Awesome hunts with some really great finds! Congrats

Thanks Rooster!
Hopefully your detecting year isn't over in Alabama yet.
Dave

LOL!!!

That one was pretty funny Tom!
Dave

Nice finds. How do you clean your coppers to get them so nice? Congrats.

Thanks for your post and for your question John.
I restored the coins by hand using a bench mounted polisher with a fine brass wire wheel and then sealed them with a museum quality wax paste.
Dave

Cheers Cru!

Yes sir , some cool finds. Hh gl

Thanks very much Charlie, best of luck to you as well.
Dave