Finally - my first state copper!

[BTV Digger]

Hi folks. Here's my finds from the past 2 weeks. Hit a corn field last week and pulled a few things including a suspender clip, two c. 1900 valve stops and a nice c. 1820s W & C Tuckerman button with a decent amount of gilt left. Even though the finds were rather thin at that site the home owner wants me to detect her 1812 home and it's 2 acres of lawn. Never been detected from what she says (91 years old and born in the home - family's owned the property since 1891). I'll believe it when I see it of course, but regardless I'm itching at the bit to head over there in the next week or two. Had a great 2 hour conversation with her talking history about the property, the home and her life - awesome stuff. The well of the original home still sits inside the main residence, and is enclosed by two old oaken doors atop a modern redesigned kitchen island. Probably not safe for small children (40' deep) but how cool is that?!

Anyway, yesterday I returned to my virgin home site here in the Champlain Valley where I spent about 4 hours. Still really mucky digging as spring has been slow to arrive here in northern New England. I never let that hinder my detecting though, or I'd miss half the year! Found some more wonderful relics including my first CT Copper (left facing bust, large Britannia - likely a 1787 variety), two really nice large coat buttons and some other doo-dads. The weird and wonderful find of the day was an old skeleton key still inside the original lock or insert mechanism. Killer find imo. It's a two-bit variety but a search online didn't turn much up. I'm thinking it's from and old clock or perhaps a cabinet door key. Give me a shout if you have any other ideas. Thanks for looking and good luck to you!

John

[aloldstuff]

John, congrats on your 1st state copper, bet ya wish it was a Vermont. I think the key and lock would go to a cabinet of some sort. Now that 1812 home sound delicious, hope you kill it there.

[Full Metal Digger]

WOW! What a great bunch of relics you found! Congrats on your first state copper too. HH, Dave.

[del]

Great relics , buttons and coin John , huge congrats on your first state copper and I would agree it most likely a 1787 variety ! Those type of keys are used on anything from gas valves , keg tap spigots and even burial coffins but i'm sure there were some furniture applications as well . Best of luck on the standing home permission .

Dan

[Digger_O'Dell]

Lots of great stuff, and that 2 acre yard sounds promising! Congrats on the state copper! I'm sure there's more coming your way too.

[Cooper]

Some nice finds the 2acres should turn up some good stuff

[BTV Digger]

John, congrats on your 1st state copper, bet ya wish it was a Vermont. I think the key and lock would go to a cabinet of some sort. Now that 1812 home sound delicious, hope you kill it there.

Thanks Al. Yeah, a Vermont would top the cake wouldn't it? I'll get one at some point, I'm sure of it.

WOW! What a great bunch of relics you found! Congrats on your first state copper too. HH, Dave.

Thanks much Dave. Yeah, this site has been stellar to say the least.

Great relics , buttons and coin John , huge congrats on your first state copper and I would agree it most likely a 1787 variety ! Those type of keys are used on anything from gas valves , keg tap spigots and even burial coffins but i'm sure there were some furniture applications as well . Best of luck on the standing home permission .

Dan

Thanks Dan, and thanks for some background on that type of key. The folks at this site must have been better off than many (12 coppers so far, ~ 35 buttons, two crotal bells and an assortment of other relics).

Lots of great stuff, and that 2 acre yard sounds promising! Congrats on the state copper! I'm sure there's more coming your way too.

Thanks man. Yeah, really looking forward to hitting that yard. We need a stretch of drier/warmer weather before I dig there though. It's so mucky here right now that I'd run the risk of damaging the lawn too much.

Some nice finds the 2acres should turn up some good stuff

Thanks much. Yeah, hopefully there's some goodies a lurking!

[DavidGC]

Wow, John. You're already killing it, and it's only April!

Haven't seen the sun her in the NEK for 5 days. Half of my lawn is still covered in 4 - 6 inches. we get an inch or two of new snow every night, which melts during the next day.

Can't wait to see the results of that new permission.

[OxShoeDrew]

Congrats on the CT!! They got a lot of usage for only a few years of production. Best of luck when you go back!

[Cheap Thrills]

Nice finds and pictures . Congrats on those and the history you learned from the lady.

[Digger Don]

on a bunch of awesome finds, especially the State copper!!

[Lodge Scent]

Nice bunch of finds John. Congrats on the copper. That is a cool key.

[BTV Digger]

Wow, John. You're already killing it, and it's only April!

Haven't seen the sun her in the NEK for 5 days. Half of my lawn is still covered in 4 - 6 inches. we get an inch or two of new snow every night, which melts during the next day.

Can't wait to see the results of that new permission.

Thanks David! Let me know your schedule and we can get together this spring. You're welcome over here in the "banana belt" of Vermont any time! Yes, I'm really looking forward to the standing 1812 home permission - definitely looks promising.

Congrats on the CT!! They got a lot of usage for only a few years of production. Best of luck when you go back!

Thanks much Drew! Yeah, those Connecticut's did seem to circulate widely in New England didn't they? It's really interesting how many varieties of coppers have come out of this site. I've found 8, and my friend Joe found 3 on the one time he joined me there. 2 Matrons, 2 Braided Hairs, an 1806/7 KG halfpenny, 1830s Canadian Bank token, 3 Draped Busts, Druid Penny and 1 Slick Rick. Nuts.

Nice finds and pictures . Congrats on those and the history you learned from the lady.

Thanks! Yeah, the conversation with her was really the high point of the day for me.

on a bunch of awesome finds, especially the State copper!!

Thanks much Don!

Nice bunch of finds John. Congrats on the copper. That is a cool key.

Thanks Jeff! I'd agree. The key is among my favorite finds of that hunt.