Hoped for Silver – Found Awesome Relics

I spent six hours today hunting this house.

It is the Futrell House Bed and Breakfast, located on historic Main Street in Cadiz, Kentucky. The owner is a friend of mine, Gary Polete.

The house was built sometime in the 1870’s by a town physician. His twin brother, also a doctor, owned the house next door (to the left). I went there today with high expectations of silver … but it was not to be.
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I managed to scrape 4 Wheat Pennies out of the ground – 1914, 1920, 1929, & 1958-D (a crying shame that 1914 didn’t have a “D” on it ), along with 15 other Lincoln memorials and two clad dimes (a grand total of 35 cents clad).

I was starting to think that the place has been hunted before, but as the day progressed and I began to find the Wheats, I started to wonder.

Then the cool relics started to appear.

First was this flat button. It still has green gilt over half the front. It measures 19 mm and reads, “EXTRA RICH GILT” on the back. It’s my first-ever flat button. I did the happy dance.

Then about an hour later I dug this button. I almost had an out-of-body experience. It is a 22mm uniform button with the state crest of Ohio on it. How did it come to be in this front yard? I have not a clue. I’m not quite sure of the period it came from, or what kind of uniform. I’ll post it in the identification section.

Then about a half-hour before dark I dug this little baby. It is an oxidized slug, single-groove, 9mm in diameter and 14mm in length. I’ve never seen one so small before.

SO, not a lot of coins, but plenty of awesome stuff. Enough to make me go back. I still have lots of yard to hit there. And Gary introduced me to the neighbors who own the other old doctor’s house. They gave me permission to hunt their property, too.

Here’s a picture of all my finds, including a copper-ish “whatsit.” Thanks for reading.

Geoff

Warm Spell = Swingin’!!

I got out for a couple of hours after work today. Hunted the yard of some friends of mine. Their house was built in 1951 … not very old, but my highest silver yield has come from a house built in 1950. I only managed to cover the front yard because I did quite a lot of digging … and I am a bit “hamstrung” while my Garrett Pro Pointer is still in the shop. I’m having to use by Bounty Hunter back-up, which is nowhere near as good.

All totaled I dug 28 coins … 10 clad quarters, 19 memorial pennies, and one Wheat Penny (barely … a 1958-D). Most of the clad is older – 60’s and 70’s. Been in the ground for a while. But there are a few Zincolns that are growing weird stuff. Our high-quality American coinage …

Here’s a picture for all you snowbound northern folk.

Tomorrow holds much more promise, though. I received permission last night to hunt the yard of a local Bed and Breakfast. (One of my old fishing buddies owns and operates the B&B … he’s done a bit of MD in days gone by, and has even been a CW re-enactor, which is really cool.) This huge Main Street home was built in 1903 by a prominent town doctor. I’m praying for piles of silver. I anticipate that it will take several days to thoroughly hunt this large property.

75 Coins Today – Including 4 Wheats from One Hole

I started out the day at an old farm house owned by one of my church families. It was built in 1924, so I had high hopes for silver. But it was tough hunting. The house has been a rental for some time, so it had lots of junk.

I finally hit an old pocket spill of six pennies. Four of them were Wheats – 1941, 1946-D, 1956, 1957-D. I also picked up an additional 85 cents in clad. Eight of those coins came from a single pocket spill. So, 34 coins from that site. Here’s a picture:

After grabbing some lunch, I went to our county recreation complex for a couple of hours. I hit some awesome clad there. 41 coins totaling $4.80. That includes this rockin’ bicentennial half dollar that I found under the swings. My second Kennedy! I also found a mood ring (hey, it’s a ring!) and this beautiful cross pendant (costume jewelry). Here’s a pic:

So, a pretty good day for January – 75 coins total – $5.65 in clad.

NOOB: Hunting Since 11.24.08 / Garrett GTP 1350 & Pro Pointer / Oldest Coin – 1912 Barber Dime / Silver Coins – 16 / Coin Count – 413/ Clad Total – $28.73 / Ring Count – 7

Looking for Civil War Relics

I tried to find evidence of the battle at Canton, Kentucky. I described the area in a previous thread. I hunted the top of the bluffs south of the modern-day bridge.

But I couldn’t really find anything. It turns out that some genius bull-dozed the entire place in the 1970’s. I’m told that there were several Indian mounds on that side that were simply pushed over the bluff into the lake. Unbelievable.

But I did find this awesome chain at about 5 inches in depth. It is 56 inches in total length, and the links are pretty large (see the penny and dime I found as a reference). Here’s a picture:

One link in the chain is different. It has a pivot point. Here’s a close-up:

I don’t know if it is Civil War era, or what it was used for. I tend to think it has something to do with a wagon and a team. If anyone knows, please let me know.

**Update – I posted this on the Friendly Metal Detecting Forum and someone identified it as a “Chase Chain.”  It is, in fact, a rear chase chain.  I believe that it was an artillery chase chain … most likely used to pull a Confederate cannon to the skirmish/battle at Canton.

Rain Sent Me Packing

Not much luck today. I returned this morning to the yard where I found the silver yesterday. Worked over the front yard sections I didn’t get to yesterday, as well as one side and part of the back. These areas had lots more trash and very few good signals. Just a few copper Lincolns and a bit of clad.

Well, I got hungry, so I ran down to Sonic for some breakfast, then went down to the school gym. Thought I might hit the other side of the main walkway. But I had only been swinging about ten minutes when it started to rain. So I high-tailed it home. Might go back this afternoon, depending on the rain.

Anyhow … I didn’t find much. 19 clad coins totaling $1.04 and one Wheat Cent. Interestingly, it was the first coin I dug after arriving at the school. It’s a 1945.

Here’s a picture of my finds, including a rabies tag. Pretty cool.

And here’s a close-up of the wheatie and the rabies tag.

Geoff
Kentucky Coinshooter

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NOOB: Hunting Since 11.24.08 / Garrett GTP 1350 & Pro Pointer / Oldest Coin – 1912 Barber Dime / Silver Coins – 16 / Coin Count – 319/ Clad Total – $21.72 / Ring Count – 6

112 Coins Today! A Great Start for 2009!

An all-round great day. My highest coin total ever, and some wheaties and silver to boot!

Here’s my story …

This morning I hunted a small section of ground outside the entrance of our local high school gymnasium. Here is a picture:

I hunted this small area (stayed inside the walkways) for 2 1/2 hours this morning and found 51 coins, all clad, totaling $4.13. I found a junker ring, too, but forgot to put it in the picture. Here are my finds:

This afternoon I hunted the front yard of one of my church members. The house was built in 1938, and I thought it should hold promise of silver and wheaties. Here is a picture:

Well … it didn’t disappoint …
I found 50 clads totaling $1.88. I also found 9 Wheat Pennies, including a 1927, 1946(2), 1946-D, 1947,1950-D, 1955-D(2), and a 1956-D. Interestingly, I found 22 pennies in one hole (a space approximately 12 x 12 inches).

I also struck silver on my first day out for the new year! I found a 1944 Merc in the hole with two wheaties. Then I found a 1946 Washington quarter as I was making my way to the truck to leave. Awesome!! I also dug a beautiful old brass skeleton key. Here is a picture of my finds, and a close-up of the silver, wheaties, and key.

Altogether for the day I dug 112 coins. $6.01 in clad, two silvers, and nine wheaties.

I’ll take that for a start to 2009!

My 2008 Finds … An Awesome 38 Days!

Actually, my 2008 has been very short. I only got a metal detector and started swinging on November 24. Just 38 days into the hobby, and here are my finds:

187 Coins Total

161 Clad Coins – $14.67
1 Kennedy Half
37 Quarters
37 Dimes
9 Nickels
77 Pennies

14 Silver Coins
1 War Nickel
4 Washington Quarters
1 Barber Dime (1912)
5 Mercury Dimes
3 Roosevelt Dimes

Other Historic Coins
1 Buffalo Nickel (1920)
11 Wheaties

I also found five rings. One 14k mother’s ring and a sterling silver rope ring. The other three were “costume” jewelry.

I hope it’s not just beginner’s luck, and that I’ll keep finding treasure in 2009! If it would just get a little warmer today, I’d be out swinging!

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NOOB: Hunting Since 11.24.08 / Garrett GTP 1350 & Pro Pointer / Oldest Coin – 1912 Barber Dime / Silver Coins – 14 / Coin Count – 187/ Clad Total – $14.67 / Ring Count – 5