March 20, 2016 – A last second decision to change field locations turns out one of my best finds ever. I have permission for 60 acres of fields that have turned up a mix of Rev War through 19th century finds. It’s a place you can walk for 20 minutes and not get a signal but once you stumble upon a “hot spot” there is potential for taking home several buttons, coppers, or maybe a silver coin.
After years of detecting this property the hot spots are becoming cold and new ones are much scarcer. I decided to head down to a section of the field that I haven’t been to in quite a while. I was heading towards the spot where I had found a pewter 60 Regiment button four-five years ago. About 50 yards away from where I was heading the 3030 started grunting. I found an iron patch, a few steps later a nice solid 12-36 turned up a nice sized tombac looking button. I started an informal grid and a few steps later had another solid signal. This one was a 12-45, almost too good to be true. I popped a plug and about 5” down looked to be a very large button. It was caked in clay soil and I could see a hole in the center so I figured it was from missing shank. I then saw silver on the edge and it made me think it was a silver plated button maybe a british officer button. So I put it in my container and would wait until I got home to clean it up.
In the same area I also found a pewter cuff button and then walking away found a musket ball that still had the pour mark on it. The hunt for me had to be cut short so I could take my daughter to softball practice. Back at the truck my cousin was convinced it wasn’t a button but neither of us could imagine what it really was until I got home and cleaned it up. Once the mud was removed I knew what I had! 1768 Silver Spanish 8 Real!
Brian - NY, USA