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Thread: My Favorite Find of 2011

  1. #1

    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.

    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!
    Last edited by Tony Two-Cent; 09-19-2017 at 04:33 PM.

  2. #2
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    thats a great story Tony , 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
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

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  3. #3

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Great story Tony... thanks so much for sharing.
    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. Care to share some of their better finds with us? :->

  4. #4

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Quote 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?
    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.

    Lifetime totals:
    9 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 19 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

  5. #5
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    thats a great story. and it had a happy ending .
    im an american proud and free, a son of the south dont tread on me

  6. #6
    Owner/Administrator Epi-hunter's Avatar
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Great story Tony. Thanks for sharing
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  7. #7
    Elite Member milco's Avatar
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    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!
    Minelab Equinox 600 & Whites Coinmaster, Garrett Propointer, Lesche Digger
    Oldest silver: 1853 Half-dime & 1876S Seated Quarter / Oldest coin: 1849 US Large Cent / 1854 Upper Canada One Penny Bank Token

  8. #8

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    I enjoyed this post very much Tony .

  9. #9
    Global Moderator aloldstuff's Avatar
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    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.
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  10. #10
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    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Cool story Tony That's what its all about.
    Oldest: 1755 Spanish silver; 1800 half dime | 1842 seated half | 1857 seated quarter | 516 silver coins in 2011!

  11. #11

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    good story Tony and I would say there are still a lot of coins there,just have to get the coil over them.
    M6 / DX-1 / 6x10 DD & M6/DX-1/ stock coil
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  12. #12

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Aawwww...hey, do you remember the moon landing? You might just be old enough.
    Thanks for sharing.
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  13. #13

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    Quote 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.
    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
    Lifetime totals:
    9 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 19 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

  14. #14

    Re: My Favorite Find of 2011

    great story and thanks for sharing!
    2008-14 coppers
    2009-32 coppers
    2010-34 coppers 2-GW buttons
    2011- 80 & 3/4 coppers 1-GW button
    2012- 92 coppers/large cents 1-GW button
    2013- 57 1/4 coppers 6- GW Buttons
    2014- 69 coppers 1-GW button
    2015- 20 1/4 coppers
    2016-44 coppers 1-GW button
    2017-19 & 1/2 coppers
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    2019-5 coppers
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  15. #15
    Full Member Robbie's Avatar
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    Thank you Tony for a great story. I hadn't read this before. Happy Thanksgiving

  16. #16
    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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    Last edited by Tony Two-Cent; 08-24-2021 at 10:47 AM.
    Lifetime totals:
    9 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 19 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

    YouTube Channel: Tony Two-Cent https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz...RlHTBIU42bUORg

  17. #17
    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 .
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  18. #18
    Full Member Robbie's Avatar
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    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

  19. #19
    Sorry to hear of your Mom's passing Tony. Sounds like you have plenty of good memories to look back on. Stay well.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  20. #20
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    Sorry for your loss Tony, that is/was a great remembrance. Thx for posting. WD
    Total silver 3 - Goal 50 (2024 Finds) - 0 Washington - 0 Barber Dimes - 0 Mercury Dimes- - 3 Roosevelt Dimes - 0 V Nickels - 0 Buffalos - 0 War Nickels - 0 Indian - 10 Wheats - $ 3.44 in clad
    Relics: MILESTONES since 2012: 1700 silver coins - 8000 Clad Quarters - 500 Roosevelts - 750 Mercury Dimes

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