who needs a metal detector?

[jerseyben]

...when you've got eyes!

So this evening Jim and I met up for a scouting mission to a mid 1800s site and although Jim brought his T2, I did not bring my machine so I walked along and helped dig targets. As I am walking around I had my eyes peeled to the ground and I'm noticing oyster shells, bits of glass, pottery shards, etc. I decided to look for bottles or interesting relics to pick up without a machine. Well, I come up over a mound of dirt and I find an obvious coin at the bottom. I pick it up thinking it looks like a nickel and I'm looking for the identifiable "Jefferson design". To my amazement, I spot a V on the reverse. Amazing, I just eye-balled a 1909 V nickel!
So, I decide to keep looking. I end up finding a piece of what looked like either bone or pipe and it turns out to be the stem from a clay pipe. I also eye-balled a nice old bubbly piece of aqua glass. Eventually heading back to the truck, I spot what looks like a rock but in a shape that made me take a second look. I pick it up and I think it could be a shotgun shell or maybe a button. I take it to Jim who identifies it as a button after finding the shank. It has letters on the inside that I cant identify.
Needless to say I will be heading back to this spot in short order with my machine next time!

 

[peanut]

That button looks Civil War to me!

 

[10claw]

jersey, looks to me like you have a fine military button.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Why waste the batteries? You are doing even better than the dowser.

 

[SouthJerseyJim]

Ben you have the eyes of a hawk. Should have put the detector away and just looked around too Nice finds! That button has me scratching my head. Looks like some kind of thistle and
a P. Or is it 2 letters? Gonna check my books now.

 

[Tony (NC)]

Good Eye!

I think your button may be "F.D." (Fire Department), but it's hard to tell from the photo. I'd be interested in seeing the back mark if you clean it any more.

 

[jerseyben]

That crusty stuff on the button is attached to it in some way. I actually scrubbed this button more harshly than any normal cleaning I would put my relics through. The crud is not coming off. The closest I can guess is is "F D" but Im not really sure. The site is supposed to be mid 1800s.

Best I can figure is the silver-lining to the recent hurricane/rain/flooding has washed away a lot of soil allowing these relics to become visible at the top of the earth. Just need to watch out for grouchy heavy equipment mechanics stuck in the mud.

 

[SouthJerseyRyan]

Was permission obtained for this site!!! YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION

Just kidding, have at it!!!



On a serious note Ben, good finds and I can't wait for my G PP to arrive.

 

[Deno]

Sounds like a good spot. Always take your detector.

Look and detect at the same time.

I have a buddie at work who has found 3 nice old

coins without a detector over the last 10 years or so

while hunting plowed fields for arrow heads.

 

[ES66]

Good eye!!

 

[Tony (NC)]

Ooooppppssss!

I think maybe we were looking at it upside down! How about "C.P." - City Police?

http://www.vintagebuttons.net/uniform4.html

 

[jas314]

Nice! Great eye's

 

[allen]

your eyes are better than my machine !!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Me

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Nice finds! If that is on the surface, there is no telling what you will find beneath!

My best eyeball find was also a Liberty nickel, and I thought it was the same date, but as you can see it is not!

Good luck there this weekend!!!

 

[wyattrr]

Well if you're offering...I'll take it. The way it looks you don't really need one.

 

[Th3Offspring]

not too shabby lol great eyeball finds!