Thread Showcasing Member's Two Best Finds of 2014

[Tony Two-Cent]

Each member is encouraged to post their two best finds of 2014 on this thread. Simply post a photo of each find, a brief comment, and if possible, a link to the original post made in 2014.

Don't be shy! This is not a competition, just a thread for everyone to showcase their two best finds from 2014. We all have made finds we are proud of, so why not share them!

[Robbie]

Well Tony, you started this thread a little sooner this year. I found a few good pieces this year, but I would have to say these are my best. I don`t know how to link them to the original post.

[Nesdore]

Ill have to go with my first silver ever
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?15604-My-very-FIRST-SILVER
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And the first IHs I found that was a 3 Indian spill
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?15646-Wow
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[PL8MAN]

Here are my two best of 2014 ! In January I found my first Morgan silver dollar ! It was found at an old park in San Jose , California . My other great find was in October , my first Spanish Reale ! It has been a great year of finds !
HH
Glen

[Robbie]

Where`s Tony`s :poke: :popcorn:

[BTV Digger]

Hi Tony and Happy Holiday to you and the other great members of the forum,

Haven't had too much time to get out since about October, but I'd say my #1 find is an 1865 2 cent piece in decent condition.
www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?15789-Quick-evening-hunt-yields-a-nice-find

Second place for me is a close toss-up between a finely detailed flat button with basket weave pattern and an 1841 Hard Times Token. I'll post the token pic for what it's worth. In pretty rough shape but you can make out enough detail and the date to identify, despite my rather average pics.
www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?16134-New-site-gives-up-a-few-buttons-and-a-near-toasted-Hard-Times-Token

Thanks for looking.

John

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[Tony Two-Cent]

Last year I had a tough time deciding, but this year was much easier.

1. 1877 Indian Head Cent that I found on my dad and brother's land on April 19, 2014.

http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?15188-1877-Indian-Head-found-in-the-woods!-I-Still-Can-t-Believe-it!&highlight=

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb174/dubbl-t/Metal%20Detecting/IH-1877-Dirty-1_zpse0a3cf92.jpg



2. 1832 Capped Bust Half Dime that I found in a private yard on June 15, 2014.

http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?15588-1852-Large-Cent!-1869-Indian!-1845-Seated-Half-Dime!-1832-Capped-Bust-Half-Dime!&highlight=

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb174/dubbl-t/Metal%20Detecting/Capped-Half-Dime-Obv-4_zps0b43615d.jpg

[Thiltzy]

Tuff to decide but, I would have to go with two 1st's for me. One being a complete Silver Colonial Knee(Breach) buckle with brass tongue and chape and probably my favorite find on the year has to be the George Washington Success Token I dug last month.

[aloldstuff]

Not having the usual amount of hunts as in previous years these choices were simple.

Number 1 best find for me is the 1787 Ct copper(its a Miller 33.34-Z4530945310.11) and number 2 would be the MA militia button (dating from 1808 - 1823).

[OxShoeDrew]

These are interesting, an ambrotype of a c.1860 couple from a cellar hole...and a 1600s to early 1700s silver fur trade brooch. http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?14925-Found-the-People-That-Lived-at-This-Cellar-Hole!!! http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?16758-Anniversary-Hunt
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=37706&d=1396215321http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=44793&d=1417477291

[Digger Don]

My first would have to be the 1852 Trime That I dug in Wisconsin This May. I was so new at detecting, I didn't even know what it was
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My second would have to be the 1921 Morgan Dollar that I dug after work in August
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Sorry, i couldn't figure out how to add the link
If there was a third, it would be the 1828 Large cent that i dug at the old stage coach house.

[DiggerAl]

My best find this year has got to be the 1887 Seated Dime I dug this December
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There are probably a few seconds, but i'm going to with the 1897 Barber Half that I dug in Wisconsin
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[Mr. Digger]

This will be a great thread and I am looking forward to seeing everyone's top two finds! For me it was the 7 coin spill earlier in the season that included six 1800's silvers (including 4 seated dimes and my first Barber quarter) and then later in the fall my first Spanish silver (1751 Real).

[MIKE54]

4533545336My best 2 finds were the GW inaugural button and my first Barber quarter (p.s. I'm not trying to sneak in 2 more coins, they just happen to be in the only photo of the Barber I had on my cell phone).

[Trooper Bri]

Since I've only been at it 7 months, it wasn't too hard to pick out my 2 best finds. :lol:

Found just a couple weeks ago on a farm field invite from Aloldstuff (thank you again Al!), my counterfeit King George II:
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?16837-A-hunt-with-aloldstuff-and-RobW-my-1-st-*counterfeit*-KG!
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My other best find (and AD banner candidate. woohoo) was on a solo park hunt in late November. Native American silver and turquoise ring with a maker's mark. Bell Trading company, 1935 to 1971. I'm still pondering having it sized:
http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?16722-Coin-spills-my-1-st-war-nickel-and-a-silver-amp-turquoise-ring-11-22
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[GA1dad]

2014 was big year of learning for me,, not a lot of great finds. The South Carolina button I found in April was my best. Then I spent most of the summer months with a fly rod in hand. Second I guess would be the Dodge Bros. emblem.

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[don in ny]

You make it tough by limiting to two favorites. I picked these two because it's the nicest 2 real I've ever found and although corroded, an 1804 large cent is one of the rarest dates of all large cents. It was still a hard choice as a found an 1837 No Stars Obverse Seated Dime, 2 war of 1812 artillery buttons, a sterling knee buckle c.1770-1790 and the nicest standing liberty quarter I've found in 35 years of detecting. Still in all I'll stay with my choice as the 1804 LC is about 9 times as rare as an 1877 Indian and higher grade 2 reals just don't come up that often. Did I forget to mention my best NJ copper I found a few weeks ago : ) Oh, almost forgot to mention, people are posting some amazing finds like an 1877 Indian, beautiful CT copper and that buckle is amazing. Happy New Year and Happy Hunting!
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[Trooper733]

Im new to this forum, so I didn't post these finds at the time I found them, but will add them now. My top find was my first and only gun found in over 30 years of detecting. It is an Iver Johnson Owls Head .32 cal revolver found on the site of an old drug store here in my home town. When I dug it I first came across large flakes of rusted tin or steel and then starting pulling up a rotted rag. The handgun was wrapped in the remains of the rag and had obviously been inside a metal box of some kind when buried, which had completely rusted away to flakes. I think this is the reason the gun was in as good of shape as it still is. the trigger and hammer mechanism is rusted solid, and the fully loaded cylinder had the rounds stuck and corroded to the cylinder and had to be driven out carefully. It was located in the area of the back office of the drug store, about 8 inches or so deep. I surmise it was in the floor or wall in a hiding place in the office area of the old building, which was only torn down in 1995, and ended up under ground during the demolition of the building.
The second favorite find of mine was a copper good luck piece which I found on the site of an old country school, under a very large oak tree which due to its age, was probably there during the time the school was in operation. From the reading on my V3i, thought I possibly had a large cent, or a spent rifle casing. It was between 4 and 5 inches deep. With the condition, it must
have been lost when it was brand new, since there is very little wear.



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[wisconsin digger]

I had a lot of nice finds My two best finds were easy choices. Early in the year I found a Native American spear point (rat-tail) and my 2nd best find was a Silver War Store card from a Brewery (Jacob Best) this year but these two were far and away my favorites. Wisconsin Digger
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[Restoring Your Finds]

Really hard to decide !! I would have to go with my 14th century seal matrix (found at the very end of 2014) and a silver celtic coin (Cubic Head Drachma from the Volques-Tectosages tribe) from 2nd century BC found this summer.

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[Bell-Two]

My first example is this. I never thought about finding this type of coin here in Southern Ohio. I have seen these dug by Michigan detectorist and others in the Northern tier of the country so to say I am pleased is a mild statement. It is a Queen Victoria silver 5 cents piece. They are known as “fish scales” due to their small size. Very similar in size to our half dime!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2626bb_zpsa7649355.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2626bb_zpsa7649355.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2627a_zpsee22bfc0.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_2627a_zpsee22bfc0.jpg.html)

http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?16341-Fishing-In-The-Fields!&highlight=Fishing+Fields

Not a detector find but found while detecting a field site this museum quality ¾ groove Archaic Stone Axe Head, a wonderful example of Ohio Native American artifact and one that has escaped with only small scrapes and chips. Well pecked this beauty dates to ca. 5,000 to 7,000 BC.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1930_zps742a9ffb.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1930_zps742a9ffb.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1931_zpsb7a7569a.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1931_zpsb7a7569a.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1932_zps8238ddb6.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1932_zps8238ddb6.jpg.html)

http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?14877-Field-Hunt-With-A-Bonus!&highlight=Field+Hunt+Bonus

[Isaac]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/05/ze2egymu.jpg

IDK what my best two finds are... I had an amazing year for jewelry tho... Love this piece thoughIt's smaller than a trime.

Someone gave me info on it:


The Lord's Prayer coin is Victorian. Back in Victorian times, engravers used to create these. Tiny gold or silver disks on which one side would be sort of a "sampler" of designs, wavy lines, flowers, an initial, what-have-you, and the other side would hold the Lord's Prayer or the 23rd Psalm. The idea was to show just how tiny and meticulous an engraver could be. they were created as "show off" pieces, and given as love tokens or luck pieces.

Most of them would be worn on watch fobs, or as necklace charms. I have one that is very thin low-karat gold but the craftsmanship on that tiny piece takes my breath away. Yours is a rare find and probably meant the world to whoever lost it.

EDIT I just remembered... sometimes they were made from dimes or other small coins, with one side smoothed off and engraved. They could also be "tramp art" or "trench art" or "prison art". A hobo, with only a dime to his name, might engrave the lord's Prayer in his copious spare time, and give it to a hosuewife in exchange for a meal and a night's lodging. Soldiers waiting in the trenches, with nothing to do between battles, would make them as a way to keep safe. Prisoners made them to send home to family.

SageGrouse

I also dug up a RARE gold watch winder about 150 years old!!! (usually they aren't solid gold)

http://metaldetectingforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=297872&d=1415793773

Honestly I don't feel i have two best finds IN have many more for this year, I just posted these

[del]

Boy there are some great "eye candy" examples of coins and relics on this thread :omg: a lot of very "envious":envious: items thats for sure , thanks all for taking the time and showing them off .:notworthy:


my two best recovered finds are the

my convex scripted L A (light artillery) 1st Regimental button that dates anywhere from 1808 - 1821

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/convexLAButton61_zps8d9ac35e.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/convexLAButton61_zps8d9ac35e.jpg.html)

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/convexLAButton11_zps27f479f1.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/convexLAButton11_zps27f479f1.jpg.html)

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/ScriptedLAbuttonbackwithshank2_zpsd2433e7c.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/ScriptedLAbuttonbackwithshank2_zpsd2433e7c.jpg.htm l)

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/convexLAButton41_zps841c148f.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/convexLAButton41_zps841c148f.jpg.html)

and the other is my earliest American silver

1825 Capped Bust Dime

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/1825cappedbustdimecleaned2post_zpsedc1979a.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/1825cappedbustdimecleaned2post_zpsedc1979a.jpg.htm l)

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr228/del1786/2014%20finds/1825cappedbustdimecleanedreversepostthis_zps213849 1c.jpg (http://s486.photobucket.com/user/del1786/media/2014%20finds/1825cappedbustdimecleanedreversepostthis_zps213849 1c.jpg.html)

Thanks again to all who participated .

Dan

[chief5709]

Artillery button I found in November

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and my daughter's first LC that she found in April

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[Jim D]

Hello Guys; I started posting here in June and the end of June 30th I hunted a private yard and was fortunate to find a 27th annual 1893 G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) reunion badge. It was started in 1866 by the union army veterans following the end of the civil war.In 1893 their were 397,223 members in 1949 their were only 16 members. This was my 1st best find for 2014. The original post is on the 26 page I think.
On May 30, 2014 I found a 1890 seated liberty dime, the 1st seated dime I had found in over 30 years.
this was my second best. Thanks for looking ..go to my original post on page 25 or 26 thanks.

[JdsCoins]

Oh Boy. Some incredible finds here! :shocked04:
I would consider these my top 2 for 2014. A gold ring with an inlaid 90% gold Mexico 2 Pesos coin. Found in an area of a park that was littered with garbage. I was finding some old coins and other odd bits mixed in. Since it was a local spot I decided to clear the place out of targets in between errands when I had only little time to spare. And so glad I did! (A few weeks later I found a 10k ring about 5 yards away from it!)
2nd find is a cast brass, confederate, block I, coat button found in the yard of a late 1800's victorian home.
There must have been a small civil war campsite in the yard at some point because I also found some camp lead and an enfield bullet! :grin:

[nalc472]

love my large cents460244602546026

[RaZR]

My best for 2014 are the first silver I found for 2014. 1876 seated quarter with great details.
And 14kt gold mens band with diamonds from the lake. Local jeweler said would retail at $1,600.
Sorry I mostly hang out at a site for detectorists from Michigan. But I still love to see the goodies you find too!
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GL/HH

[Tony Two-Cent]

I just looked through this thread again. Man, all these wonderful finds have me drooling! :drool:

I want to thank everyone sincerely for sharing your best finds with us. If you haven't posted your two best finds from 2014 in this thread yet we'd still love to see them! :yes:

[Iron Patch]

Ok gotta catch up. :) My best for 2014 is a Rev War period 24th Regiment silver officer button, and a French trade axe. The 24th button was quite a surprise as we were trying the last field of several and having little success. I finally found a spot of iron and was digging 1800s misc. junk, but at least it was semi old and it was digging. About my 7th target or so out pops a button, it's face up and I can see it is engraved. Just in the couple of seconds it took to get the correct orientation I was excited because I knew engraving in silver was good! ....but at the same time so many times I can see something in the dirt and think..... is that what I think/hope it is, but it's not, but this time I was very happy with the outcome.

My other find might just seem like the average old French iron trade axe, but to me it's a little better. This is dug where my ancestors actually settled in the early to mid. 1700s.

[10X]

My best for 2014

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