Narthoniel
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2008
- Messages
- 1,755
- Reaction score
- 6
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Virginia Beach
- Detector(s) used
- Excal 2 and E Trac
Hello,
For the past couple months I have been hunting a wooded site that has given this newbie and unbelievable number of old coins. Every few hunts another great coin or two finds its way into my treasure album. In the last month or so, I have made a few trips out with some great hunts, and some not so great.
Memorial day weekend saw me digging, and to my shock and surprise 4 large cents were waiting for me. The biggest shock came at home when 2 turned out to be draped busts. They are worn bad but you cannot mistake it that she is facing right.
The next 2 times I went I had very dismal results with one sunny spot. A pretty little 1895 Indian came out to play. Other than that I spent 4-5 hours with very few targets to speak of.
Saturday I went back for more and had a whopping 1 target to show for an hour's diggin. It was about that time a friend from Tnet arrived(Klava) for a weeks vacation and we talked on the celly telly for a few. I complained about my poor hunting and shortly we hung up. Not 5 minutes later I get my second signal, and it was a dandy. He sure was surprised to hear about the large cent I dug so soon after grumbling
. About 40 minutes later I sent him another message to celebrate a second large cent.
At that point I was ecstatic and thrilled. I love finding old coins, but the next one blew me away(and still does).
Less than 20 minutes after the second large cent, and not 15 feet away I picked up a decent signal. 12-43 is good, but more often than not its a modern copper memorial penny. I have dug a few here and expected no more. I pinpointed casually, dug a sloppy hole with my massive shovel, and flipped out a bit of dirt with the spade. Had I known there was silver in that hole I would have dug a 12 inch wide hole(not 5 inches) gone 8 inches deep(not 4 inches) and dug with my fingers after the plug was cut. When my pinpointer showed me the coin my eyes popped out. Silver the size of a nickle can only mean one thing - sure ain't American!
Knowing the dangers of field cleaning, I wrapped my new treasure still caked in dirt in a napkin and placed it in a nice safe hard case. I have found a few Spanish silver here before, and I expected this to be like the others(1770s to 1800s). When I later removed some of the dirt I could not believe my eyes. There was no bust - this was a pillar coin!! I was and am stunned by the detail on this coin. I have not had to zap this one with electrolysis, where every other silver(over 20) from this site has needed it.
So, after all the hype, here she is. My oldest coin! 1744 one reale from the reign of King Philip the 5th of Spain and the Indies!!!
I hope I did not bore anyone, and I hope also that you get to dig a treasure that makes you as happy as this one does me. My only dilemma now is: do I leave it be, or zap it to make it nice and shiny and clean? Opinions are welcome!
Thank you for reading and Happy Hunting!
Anthony
For the past couple months I have been hunting a wooded site that has given this newbie and unbelievable number of old coins. Every few hunts another great coin or two finds its way into my treasure album. In the last month or so, I have made a few trips out with some great hunts, and some not so great.
Memorial day weekend saw me digging, and to my shock and surprise 4 large cents were waiting for me. The biggest shock came at home when 2 turned out to be draped busts. They are worn bad but you cannot mistake it that she is facing right.
The next 2 times I went I had very dismal results with one sunny spot. A pretty little 1895 Indian came out to play. Other than that I spent 4-5 hours with very few targets to speak of.
Saturday I went back for more and had a whopping 1 target to show for an hour's diggin. It was about that time a friend from Tnet arrived(Klava) for a weeks vacation and we talked on the celly telly for a few. I complained about my poor hunting and shortly we hung up. Not 5 minutes later I get my second signal, and it was a dandy. He sure was surprised to hear about the large cent I dug so soon after grumbling
. About 40 minutes later I sent him another message to celebrate a second large cent. At that point I was ecstatic and thrilled. I love finding old coins, but the next one blew me away(and still does).
Less than 20 minutes after the second large cent, and not 15 feet away I picked up a decent signal. 12-43 is good, but more often than not its a modern copper memorial penny. I have dug a few here and expected no more. I pinpointed casually, dug a sloppy hole with my massive shovel, and flipped out a bit of dirt with the spade. Had I known there was silver in that hole I would have dug a 12 inch wide hole(not 5 inches) gone 8 inches deep(not 4 inches) and dug with my fingers after the plug was cut. When my pinpointer showed me the coin my eyes popped out. Silver the size of a nickle can only mean one thing - sure ain't American!
Knowing the dangers of field cleaning, I wrapped my new treasure still caked in dirt in a napkin and placed it in a nice safe hard case. I have found a few Spanish silver here before, and I expected this to be like the others(1770s to 1800s). When I later removed some of the dirt I could not believe my eyes. There was no bust - this was a pillar coin!! I was and am stunned by the detail on this coin. I have not had to zap this one with electrolysis, where every other silver(over 20) from this site has needed it.
So, after all the hype, here she is. My oldest coin! 1744 one reale from the reign of King Philip the 5th of Spain and the Indies!!!
I hope I did not bore anyone, and I hope also that you get to dig a treasure that makes you as happy as this one does me. My only dilemma now is: do I leave it be, or zap it to make it nice and shiny and clean? Opinions are welcome!
Thank you for reading and Happy Hunting!
Anthony
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