Back to the old picnic grove - March 30, 2013

[Tony Two-Cent]

I went down to southern Illinois yesterday (Saturday) to visit my family. My brother always likes to go metal detecting when I'm down there. My brother doesn't have his own detector, he just follows along and helps dig. He had his wife call the owner of the old picnic grove to ask permission to hunt it again. The owner told us that he appreciates us asking first, but from now on we can just go there whenever we want to, we don't have to ask every time. We can definitely live with that arrangement. thumbsup01

We have concrete evidence (an old newspaper article) that this picnic grove has been the site of large gatherings as far back as 1909. It is in the middle of nowhere out in the country. We didn't find anything mind-blowing, but the site continues to produce old coins. Unfortunately, the copper coins from this site are almost always really toasted. The ones we found yesterday were no exception. Here's what we found:

(2) Indian Heads 1888, 1903
(9) Wheat Cents
(1) V Nickel 1902
(1) Buffalo Nickel 1936
(2) Jefferson Nickels 1948, 1954
(1) Mercury Dime 1919
(1) Roosevelt Dime 1956

Here are the total finds for the day:


Here are the keepers:


1902 V Nickel


1919 Mercury Dime


This locket is marked .925 on the back but I don't think it's very old:


Nothing too exciting in the relics department this time. I have no idea what that round object is in the lower right corner.


Thanks for looking and happy hunting! :beerbuddy:

 

[pulltabsteve]

Nice nickels, IHs and silver! Love the locket, looks kind of old to me. Great hunt Tony! :clapping:

 

[aloldstuff]

WTG Tony. Very nice hunting and to me the locket looks old. Great that you have permanent permission for the picinic grove. :congrats: on all those keepers.

 

[ChrisinCT]

Awesome haul. It will take me two months to find that many old coins.

 

[JdsCoins]

Great variety as always Tony! Awesome details on that early merc! :shocked03:

 

[Ill Digger]

:wow: Wow! You guys have a dream location!! :daydream:
Nothin' but oldies to be found! :drool:
Sweet haul Tony!
Congrats! :grin:
I agree.. the locket looks old. It looks like it was lost when it was new.
I bet someone was just... heart broken. crying01 Pun intended.... lol

 

[CODY]

WOW Great finds Tony! Congrats on getting pemanent permission. Love the locket :smitten: Did it have anything in it?

 

[POKIE73]

looks like a great spot to go too bad you are far away from it congrats on all of your finds dennis

 

[Tony Two-Cent]

Wow! You guys have a dream location!! Nothin' but oldies to be found!

I don't want to say too much about this site, because even though it's private property you never know when the unscrupulous vultures are hovering. :lipssealed:

This wooded area has been used for an annual event that dates back to 1909. They still have this annual event, and it draws several hundred people every year. So there are modern coins to be found as well as oldies. Also, there are LOTS of pulltabs and bottle caps.

I feel very forunate to have this site in my back pocket as a go to spot where we can always find a few old coins. My dad usually joins us there but he was attending my nephew's baseball game and couldn't make it this time. The owner of the site told us that he has found people metal detecting there in the past without permission, and he always asks them to leave. That would probably explain why we've never found any old quarters or halves there. It was very nice of the owner to give us open-ended permission to hunt there. See what happens when you just ask?

 

[z118]

Nice digs! Almost all the coppers I dig around here look like the ones from this sweet spot of yours. That silver locket is a great find... was there anything inside?

 

[Tony Two-Cent]

Love the locket :smitten: Did it have anything in it?

That silver locket is a great find... was there anything inside?

The locket opened easily but there was nothing inside of it.

 

[CTDirtFisher]

Holy SCHNIKEYS !!!! What is a great looking MOUND of goodies

erfect10:

 

[skribnodsister]

:wow: Tony, your hunts are always Awesome! That's a sweet little locket you found! eace: :congrats: on all your finds! erfect10:

 

[Cheap Thrills]

Great stuff Tony . Honesty is the best policy . thumbsup01

 

[Full Metal Digger]

Nice finds Tony. You're right about those old coppers, the soil really eats them up! Nice you got some silver and the locket is nice. I agree it looks very modern. Best wishes and HH my friend, Dave.