Thursday, November 27, 2008

Turkey Day Swingin'

Ahhh Thanksgiving... not really one of my favorite holidays, but whatever. The morning started off hectic, running around trying to get milk and garlic before heading of to the g/f's parents house so she could make the mashed potatoes before it was time to eat. In all that mess, I took the time out to swing the MD in the front and back yard.

Right outta the gate a found a few pieces of trash and a '44 Wheat penny. I was pretty stoked at that point. Not even 5 minutes later I got a signal on my X30 that was jumping around between +32 and +40... so honestly, I was thinking I found some silver. But when I dug up the item, about 4 inches down... to my surprise it looked like a button. But not just any button. I've been doing this long enough now to recognize an older military button... it was just trying to find out how old.

As you can see from the image below, the front of the button shows an eagle with an anchor, and 13 stars. What you can't see on the back, is that it reads, Benedict & Coe... which was what the Waterbury Co (known to make old military buttons) was known as from 1829-1832. And the style matches that of an 1830s Federal Navy Button. Amazing!!!!



Other than this great find, I found 2 more Wheats, a '44 and a '52, along with a bunch of clad.

After that, it was off to my uncle Dan's for TDAY #2.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

TX Huntin', Nov 21, 23 & 25

I was able to get a good 3-4 hours of MD'ing in over 3 days of my week long trip to TX. I had been in contact with a guy by the name of Aaron Mclain of Granbury, TX's Parks and Rec Dept. about detecting in the town. And he graciously replied, short and sweet:

"I can only speak for the city parks and city athletic fields. We do not allow digging in the city parks. It can create uneven playing surfaces and hazards for others. You can visit the city beach and use the detector in that area and dig holes as long as they are covered back up. unfortunately, most of the Brazos River shoreline is privately owned and access is limited."

That being said, I took it upon my first day there to hit up the towns' beach upon the man-made Lake Granbury. Sadly, there wasn't much to be found there, only 4 coins... but hey, apparently the beach has only been there a few months. That same day I found a few more odds an ends, 30-06 brass casings, 4 more coins... and old iron tool pieces in my parents front yard. Nothing exciting.


Two days later I decided to try my luck in the area right next to my parents where I know there used to be a trailer that had been rented out. It's no longer there, but surely the people that lived there left something? The finds there were meager at best. A few coins, 40oz bottle tops, pull tabs, and lots of trash.


My last day of hunting ended up being a night hunt. We didn't get back from Austin until the sun was setting, so I grabbed a flashlight and made the most of it. All these finds were in the front yard and side yard. I'm glad I stuck at it, 'cuz I pulled a '41 wheat! WOO!


Tuesday, November 18, 2008

11/17 Parking Lot, Trantwood + ES Chapel

After dinner last night I had the itch. All this rain over the past week has really made hunting conditions ideal. As I was gathering my equipment I realized I couldn't find my flashlight. And well, hunting at night w/o one is next to impossible. First stop, Wal*Mart!

But as I got to my truck I thought to myself, I'll swing the MD right here in the grassy spot behind my truck in the parking lot here at the apartments. Granted, no light, but I'll see what happens. A few minutes later, I had pulled 10 coins... 9 memorials and a nickel. Pinpointers are so awesome

I made it out to the Wal*Mart that was on the way to the spot I wanted to hunt. Picked up a great light, very small, VERY bright, and a set of warm, finger-tipless gloves.

When I made it out to my destination, a school I had raided the TL's months before, it was cold. Probably about 40F if not colder, but with the gloves and my hoodie, plenty warm. The parking lot was packed, so I decided to hit up the field on the far side of the school next to the road. It has a baseball diamond and sees plenty of action. About an hour in I was getting a few hits here and there, but mostly trash. On the backstretch heading back to the truck I pulled a corroded wheat and a smashed up .925 ring! That would be ring #4, but only the first that is not junk. I didn't know it was silver until I got home, but sure was hoping while I was out in the field It's beat up pretty bad... any tips on banging it out?



I was about to head home when I remembered a friend and I were out this way a week or so ago and spotted a TL behind my grandparents church. So I drove the mile or so over to it and unloaded. Again, parking lot full, but everyone was leaving. I walked towards the back where the TL was and eff, the whole TL is fenced in, with the only access from inside the church There were a bunch of picnic tables around and a makeshift stone alter nestled off in the brush, so I hit that up and pulled a few more coins and this button of which I know nothing about.




Anyway, that was my night, probably about 2 hours of diggin. $1.09 in coins total.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

11/16 @ Tallwood, New Area

I'm not sure how much I'm liking this winter time digging. Come 5pm its just about too dark to hunt without a flashlight.

Just a lazy day, had some errands to run, decided to take out the X30 to my trusty school spot. I did however hit up an area I've never swung before, and it showed with all the trash. The two deepest digs, were about an inch past the hand guard on the Lesche... and both were cans

No coins of note, but did dig a neat little key that has a Lion on the front, a cut wire lock, and a wierd gear looking thingie.

$0.61 @ 11 coins.

World Coin Update: THANKS!

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone. So far, from everyone here who was generous enough to send me coins, as well as a few other acquisitions... I've grown to a rather large collection of coins from 47 different countries!

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Costa Rica
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
Dominican Republic
East Caribbean States
Fiji
France
Germany-FEDREP
Great Britian
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Latvia
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Portugal
Russia
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Arab Emerites
Venezuela

Sunday, November 9, 2008

11/9 Back @ Tallwood

I had about 45 minutes to kill today whilst waiting for the g/f's brother and sister in law to make it over to pic up an old 80s era bunk bed set that has just been sitting in the closet for the better part of two years.So I figured what the hey, house is clean, I'm gonna hit up my trusty school.


So in those roughly 45 minutes, I dug 20 holes and pulled 20 coins... and honestly, no kidding, NO TRASH! I went back to an area of the school that has already brought me 100+ memorials and a few other coins. This time around I ran the X30 with the sens all the way up. Glad I did!




Again, mostly memorials, but I did score a 1929 Wheatie in great condition (unlike my four others that are severely corroded) as well as a BI-CEN Quarter. I haven't seen much of them lately. I know most are probably in private collections now, but I remember in the 80s these things were all over the place.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

World Coin Update

I first want to thank two good fellas over at FMDF for informing me about the Krause Standard Catalogs for World Coins. Unlike in the US where one book, the Red Book can pretty much cover it all, coins worldwide need many volumes. Tom and Rudy, thanks!

I don't have any old foreign coins, nor am I seeking them, but I have plenty of contemporary pieces, so I decided to get the two volumes spanning 1900 to present.

Anybody interested in these books, Barnes & Noble and other book stores should have them in stock, or just try eBay where I was able to get both books new, for $13 less than I could at B&N with my Member discount.

I would now like to thank a few people who have been gracious enough to help in my quest for expanding my World Coin collection of low denomination issues. Many have even sent, or pledged items without wanting anything in return, and to that I can not be more humbled.

Mark from Idaho
Scott from Massachusetts
Kris from Indiana
Craig from Connecticut
Justin from Texas
Jim from New Jersey
Alan from England
Mike from Virginia
Joe from Ohio
Per from Norway

Thanks guys! From whatever you guys send off, and from the few low priced auctions from eBay, I hope to have a pretty neat collection.

I'll update everyone of the results when they come in!