Virgin Site - Old Coppers and Relics Everywhere!

BTV Digger

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Location
Northern VT
Detector(s) used
AT-Pro; Fisher F2; Tesoro Silver UMax
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Hi folks,

Well, the past two days produced my best combined hunt of the year. I was skunked out for the first half of yesterday on a permission site with two old homesite locations and an old school - all gone - just fields. Property owner was gracious but it had obviously been pounded as I literally found nothing! :BangHead: I had a backup site just in case and got permission after a friendly half hour on the phone talking history with the farmer. Turns out he had a ton of local knowledge, but was unaware of the site - again, a hayfield with no cellar etc. (1857 map only). It showed promise so I told myself if I could snag just a relic or two I'd call the day a partial success. Boy, was that an underestimation! I pulled up and immediately began pulling the goods. Diggable targets where everywhere. Certainly there was a good share of trashy signals as well, but as the finds were unearthed it became obvious this was a virgin site. :icon_thumleft: The finds were so nice that I had to return today. All and all about 2 hours yesterday afternoon and 2 more hours this afternoon making 4 hours of total hunt time. I'm sure there's more there, but I just got too darn cold being all exposed on a windy barren hill at 34F. Finds include: 3 Draped Bust Coppers including one which is cut (1798?, 1800 & 1803), a Conder Druid Penny Token c. late 1780s from Britain, and probably my biggest and best crotal bell ever (this makes 14 intact ones I've now found - nuts). Also shown is a beautiful little harness or saddle strap with a starbust pattern, as well as a number of buttons, buckles and other doo-dads. The Conder Token has writing around the edge and at first I didn't know what I had since it's so much bigger than an LC. All the finds date the site quite well for northern Vermont standards - c. late 1700s to the mid-1800s. Anyway, thanks for looking and be warned, a number of pics ahead!

John

1798_obverse.webp1798_reverse.webp1800_obverse1.webp1800_reverse2.webp1803_obverse.webp1803_reverse.webpDruid_obverse.webpDruid_reverse.webpDruid_edge.webpbell1.webpbell2.webprosette_front.webprosette_back.webpbutton1.webpwide_shot.webp
 
Upvote 51
East coast lies. Sick sick sick :BangHead:
 
Looks like you've got yourself a virgin site there- good luck in cleaning it out! Congrats on the great finds you've already made!

-- Jeff --

Thanks Jeff. Yeah, those virgin sites don't come along too often. The ones I've found through the years are usually subtle sites generally off the beaten path on less traveled rural roads. This one fit that mold to a tee.
 
Nice finds ! I believe your bell was made by Joseph Shipman born 1779, died 1859. Owned a foundry in New Britain Conn., thinking your bell would be 1801--1825 :icon_thumleft:

Great info Tom and thanks much. The approx. dates you give compare with the other finds nicely for a northern VT early homestead (1790-1830 or so).

John
 
Great looking coppers and that's one awesome #4 bell. Dug one a year ago the same maker and design but no number as yours has. It's one of my nicest bells yet. Congrats!

View attachment 1524854

Thanks much pepperj! It's probably my nicest one as well, or least in the top 2.

John
 
Crazy nice finds. Im loving that bell! [emoji2][emoji106]

Thank you much. I agree. I always love finding old coppers, but a big old intact bell like that takes the cake imo. HH!

John
 
Must be getting cold in Northern VT. Great finds!!

Thank you Scrappy. Yup, getting ready to shut it down for a few months as the snow and frozen, rock solid ground will make it darn near impossible to dig. Oh well...gives me plenty of time to clean relics from this past hunting season and to research new sites for next spring.

John
 
WOW! NOW THATS THE WAY TO END A SEASON!
COINgrats on an amazing couple hunts!

Thanks much! Yeah, definitely ended the season strong for a change!

John
 
Great hunt! Snow today is not helping us
\
 
That’s a sweet set of finds. Congrats on a hand full of big coppers.
 
Very very productive. I have to agree with you. That is a virgin site.
Congratulations on your finds.
 
That sure looks like an awesome site! Congrats, I'm sure there are more amazing finds waiting for you over there.
 
Awesome relic and old coin shooting! :occasion14:
 

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