My last two hunts have been at a very early long forgotten sawmill site, circa 1760's or so. No homestead has been found, just relics and coins from what most likely was just a work area related to the isolated sawmill.
One week ago I got my first coin at this site after two previous hunts yielded a couple of more recently lost Indian Head pennies and 4 shoe and knee buckles from the 1700s.
The first coin was a 1699-1701 William III Halfpenny and on that day, a week ago I also got some beautiful cufflinks, a two hole blowhole type button, and the nicest high quality decorative pewter spoon. Yesterday in the same area I go another piece of a silver plated shoe buckle and two old coppers in the same hole!
The first copper was very thin for a coin and on the XS it was not upper right but middle upper right, so I was fairly certain it was a coin or a large copper button. After I retrieved this copper I rescanned the hole and still had the same type of reading, except now it was a tad more to the upper right but still not where Large Cents register. I scooped out more dirt and the 2nd copper appeared.
After some rather lengthly cleaning processes at home I got good identities on both coppers and when I cleaned the shoe buckle piece, found out that had quite a bit of silver plate left on it.
The first copper, my oldest to date is a CHARLES II IRISH Halfpenny, era 1680-1684, I suspect mine is a 1682, since I thought the the second number appeared a bit while it was wet and holding it at different angles, but I will list it with the date range for record purposes.
The second copper, which at first I thought was just another counterfeit KGII Halfpenny (due to its light weight and diameter) but the bust indicating an Irish KGII Halfpenny and after cleaning, the crown and harp were barely visible on the revervse. Base on the bust being a younghead, its date range is 1736-1755.
The Charles II Irish Halfpenny was 26mm in diameter and weighed only 77.2 grains, and the KGII Irish Halfpenny, also very light at 86.4 grains.
I am including photos of all the finds that are most likely period from the sawmill (early to mid 1700s). This site was abandoned prior to the Rev War.
Don
XS with SE Pro Coil
One week ago I got my first coin at this site after two previous hunts yielded a couple of more recently lost Indian Head pennies and 4 shoe and knee buckles from the 1700s.
The first coin was a 1699-1701 William III Halfpenny and on that day, a week ago I also got some beautiful cufflinks, a two hole blowhole type button, and the nicest high quality decorative pewter spoon. Yesterday in the same area I go another piece of a silver plated shoe buckle and two old coppers in the same hole!
The first copper was very thin for a coin and on the XS it was not upper right but middle upper right, so I was fairly certain it was a coin or a large copper button. After I retrieved this copper I rescanned the hole and still had the same type of reading, except now it was a tad more to the upper right but still not where Large Cents register. I scooped out more dirt and the 2nd copper appeared.
After some rather lengthly cleaning processes at home I got good identities on both coppers and when I cleaned the shoe buckle piece, found out that had quite a bit of silver plate left on it.
The first copper, my oldest to date is a CHARLES II IRISH Halfpenny, era 1680-1684, I suspect mine is a 1682, since I thought the the second number appeared a bit while it was wet and holding it at different angles, but I will list it with the date range for record purposes.
The second copper, which at first I thought was just another counterfeit KGII Halfpenny (due to its light weight and diameter) but the bust indicating an Irish KGII Halfpenny and after cleaning, the crown and harp were barely visible on the revervse. Base on the bust being a younghead, its date range is 1736-1755.
The Charles II Irish Halfpenny was 26mm in diameter and weighed only 77.2 grains, and the KGII Irish Halfpenny, also very light at 86.4 grains.
I am including photos of all the finds that are most likely period from the sawmill (early to mid 1700s). This site was abandoned prior to the Rev War.
Don
XS with SE Pro Coil
Neat looking Spoon also! Some very neat old stuff you've been finding and hope many more items and coins are waiting for your next return trip. Good Luck and HH to you.
