brianc053
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,021
- Reaction score
- 3,723
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Sussex County, DE
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 3
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Equinox 800
XP Deus 2
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've posted, but my finds from a recent permission felt worthy of sharing.
The first thing I need to explain is that currently (in 2022) the site I hunted was not an obviously good location. But in 2016 - and even back into the 1700's - there was a house at this location. The maps of my area show it, but what's even cooler is that Google Maps' "Street View' feature shows it using this sort of time machine function. Check it out:
(story continues below video)
I used to drive by this house before the current owners tore it down (no regard for history1) and built their monstrosity of a mansion. BUT - the new owner was cool and didn't care if I detected down by the road where the old house used to be.
On the first day 15 minutes into the hunt I found the 1828 Large Cent pictured below. It's not in the greatest shape but at least I could identify it. I also found 2 buttons that first day (not pictured). I could only spend about an hour the first day, so I didn't cover much ground.
On the second day 15 minutes into the hunt (again) I found the first New Jersey Copper. I didn't know what it was until I got it home. Careful cleaning revealed that the coin was sadly in poor shape, but the expert I know from another source (first name Don - maybe some of you know him?) was able to ID it as a 1787 Maris 43-d, a very common variety.
I decided to apply a small amount of Classic Coin Conditioner using a very fine paint brush to just the highlight/relief areas. What do you think of this sort of highlighting?
Today was the 3rd day I visited the site, and the first hour was frustrating. I found basically nothing of note. But on my way back to the truck I passed through the area where the first NJ Copper was found, and - bang - another good signal, and another large copper. I didn't dare try to touch it in the field so I brought it home with dirt still caked on it (you can see this in the purple picture below). Next to the coin I also found a thimble and nearby there was an oval iron shape.
More on the coin in a minute, but the oval iron item appears to be a shoe or knee buckle from the 1700's. I didn't know they made them out of iron?!? (I thought they were all brass). Any suggestions for how to remove the rust? (So far I used a Dremel with wire wheel.)
As for the coin, I took between 1 and 2 hours to clean meticulously and that effort paid off with a New Jersey Copper that has a lot more detail. Don-the-expert quickly ID'd this one as a 1786 Maris 17-b, a rather scarce variety (he's only seen fourteen of them in his study).
Question: should I apply Classic Coin Conditioner to the highlights, or leave it alone?
Thanks for checking out this long post!
- Brian
The first thing I need to explain is that currently (in 2022) the site I hunted was not an obviously good location. But in 2016 - and even back into the 1700's - there was a house at this location. The maps of my area show it, but what's even cooler is that Google Maps' "Street View' feature shows it using this sort of time machine function. Check it out:
(story continues below video)
I used to drive by this house before the current owners tore it down (no regard for history1) and built their monstrosity of a mansion. BUT - the new owner was cool and didn't care if I detected down by the road where the old house used to be.
On the first day 15 minutes into the hunt I found the 1828 Large Cent pictured below. It's not in the greatest shape but at least I could identify it. I also found 2 buttons that first day (not pictured). I could only spend about an hour the first day, so I didn't cover much ground.
On the second day 15 minutes into the hunt (again) I found the first New Jersey Copper. I didn't know what it was until I got it home. Careful cleaning revealed that the coin was sadly in poor shape, but the expert I know from another source (first name Don - maybe some of you know him?) was able to ID it as a 1787 Maris 43-d, a very common variety.
I decided to apply a small amount of Classic Coin Conditioner using a very fine paint brush to just the highlight/relief areas. What do you think of this sort of highlighting?
Today was the 3rd day I visited the site, and the first hour was frustrating. I found basically nothing of note. But on my way back to the truck I passed through the area where the first NJ Copper was found, and - bang - another good signal, and another large copper. I didn't dare try to touch it in the field so I brought it home with dirt still caked on it (you can see this in the purple picture below). Next to the coin I also found a thimble and nearby there was an oval iron shape.
More on the coin in a minute, but the oval iron item appears to be a shoe or knee buckle from the 1700's. I didn't know they made them out of iron?!? (I thought they were all brass). Any suggestions for how to remove the rust? (So far I used a Dremel with wire wheel.)
As for the coin, I took between 1 and 2 hours to clean meticulously and that effort paid off with a New Jersey Copper that has a lot more detail. Don-the-expert quickly ID'd this one as a 1786 Maris 17-b, a rather scarce variety (he's only seen fourteen of them in his study).
Question: should I apply Classic Coin Conditioner to the highlights, or leave it alone?
Thanks for checking out this long post!
- Brian
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