My Favorite Find of 2011

I didn't post this when it occured because I wasn't sure how interesting it would be to everyone else. However, with the beginning of a new year I find myself in a reflective mood, so I'm going to post it anyway. :grin:

My first memory of metal detecting is from 1969 when I went with my parents to hunt at the Old Settlers Grounds in Iola, IL. I was six years old at the time and just went along to watch. I have related this story here before, and a shortened version of it appears in my bio. I remember sitting on a wooden bench and watching as my mom and dad dug a hole that was right in front of the bench. As my dad scooped out a pile of dirt I said, I see something that looks like a penny and pointed to the object. My mom picked the coin up and rubbed the dirt off of it, and I will never forget her excitement as she exclaimed, It's an Indian Head penny! It was dated 1903. My mom put it in a 2x2 some years later and I still have it in my coin collection.

Fast forward to November 24, 2011. We were all sitting in the family room at my parents' house after Thanksgiving Dinner, and I expressed an interest in maybe going metal detecting since I had brought my E-Trac along. My dad decided that he couldn't join us because he was having back troubles at the time, but my mom and I jumped in the car with no particular destination in mind. When I asked my mom if she had any ideas about where to hunt, she said, How about the Old Settlers grounds? I didn't know if the place still existed but she assured me that it did, so we made the drive to Iola, IL.

When we pulled up I couldn't believe it, the place looks exactly like I remember it with a couple of exceptions; the wooden bench was gone and there was a nice, new sign. I couldn't resist taking some photos.
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My mom said that they still have the Old Settlers Reunion once a year on this site. This place has been well-known amongst detectorists for decades and has been hunted to death. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist trying my luck for nostalgia's sake. My mom sat at a picnic table and watched as I hunted for about an hour and a half. She suggested areas that looked promising to her, near the pavilion or by a big tree, etc. I ended up finding only one coin, a 1919-S Lincoln Cent. I put it in a 2x2 when I got home and put it in the album next to the 1903 Indian Head Cent that we found over four decades earlier.

Here is the 1919-S Lincoln Cent that I found on November 24, 2011:
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And here are the two coins, found at the same site 42 years apart:
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And that's my long-winded story. Thanks for indulging me. Have a Happy New Year, everyone!

thats a great story Tony :clapping: :clapping: , seeing that old settlers ground must have flooded you with emotions and memories . that 1903 indian and 1919 wheatie would be my most treasured coins in my collection if i were you .

Dan

:smitten: Great story Tony... thanks so much for sharing. :clapping:
A next generation cent for the next generation detectorist. Perfectly fitting. You'll have to take your kids there
to detect someday. Hopefully they'll get a copper Memorial cent. thumbsup01

Your parents must have pulled some incredible coins from there 40 years ago. :drool: Care to share some of their better finds with us? :->

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Originally Posted by jkress link=topic=8409.msg95083#msg95083 date=1325440381

Your parents must have pulled some incredible coins from there 40 years ago. Care to share some of their better finds with us?

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I wish there were something to tell, Joe. To my recollection, that Indian Head was the only coin they found there and they never hunted there again. That old detector was a BFO unit with no discrimination, and I suspect that my parents grew weary of digging pull tabs, bottle caps and nails. I can only guess that their interest in metal detecting quickly waned after finding a lot of junk and not many coins. It boggles the mind to think about all of the incredible coins that must have been in the ground at that site in 1969. If only they had possesed the equipment or the patience to find them.

thats a great story. and it had a happy ending .

Great story Tony. Thanks for sharing :clapping:

Very cool story, pictures and coins!! This hobby, like many others, has a great way of connecting nastalgia, memories and past experiences all in to one great way to reflect!

I enjoyed this post very much Tony . :perfect10: :beerbuddy:

Tony, thanks for such a great reflective story. Very nice pictures also. Having those two coins next to each other would be priceless in my book.

Cool story Tony :clapping: That's what its all about.

good story Tony and I would say there are still a lot of coins there,just have to get the coil over them.

Aawwww...hey, do you remember the moon landing? You might just be old enough.
Thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by charlives link=topic=8409.msg95464#msg95464 date=1325633093

Aawwww...hey, do you remember the moon landing? You might just be old enough.

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To be perfectly honest, no I don't really remember the moon landing. I guess it didn't make much of an impression on me for some reason. It occured during the summer between my Kindergarten and First Grade years. I must have been more interested in my Hot Wheels cars at the time. lol

great story and thanks for sharing!

Thank you Tony for a great story. I hadn't read this before. Happy Thanksgiving

I'm resurrecting this old thread in remembrance of my mom who passed away last week at the age of 81. I inherited my love of history from her. The fond memories have helped me through this tough time.

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I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your mom Tony . The love really shines thru in that picture . Your post is a beautiful tribute to her .
She is within you and will keep you strong .

Gosh, I`m so sorry it breaks my heart again. I lost my wife coming up on 28 months and I`m still at of it. Your story`s help. Thank you

Sorry to hear of your Mom's passing Tony. Sounds like you have plenty of good memories to look back on. Stay well.

Sorry for your loss Tony, that is/was a great remembrance. Thx for posting. WD

Very sorry to hear about your loss! She obviously was very loved by you.

very moving story then Tony but much much more now ...

I'm very saddened for your loss my friend .

Sorry for you loss Tony. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.