Success

  I have started to work my way around the Camden cellar hole and the western yard has started to produce some coins. First, an 1888 Indian Head Penny. Then, a fine 1807 large cent! The first large copper of the year, and the second came just moments later and a few feet away. I can't make out a readable date on this one, but judging by the design on the rear, it probably dates from the mid 1800's.  The large "Success" button turned out to be a knob from an early nineteenth century oil lamp, made by the P.L. & B. company. I then found a nice large musket ball, also a first of the year, I think. A couple of little rusty steel buttons, some cool Victorian jewelry, one of which had a bright red "stone" that faded somewhat during cleaning, a great large brass button with a checkerboard pattern, and a tiny little belt buckle, probably from a Leprechaun. I find a lot of Leprechaun buckles.

Icons and Symbols

    The ground is starting to thaw. Still frozen in most places, there are spots in the sun where I can dig down twelve inches without hitting ice. A few visits to these soft spots in a local park have yielded up a couple of nice finds: a pre-war nickel, the second Buffalo of the year, a funky jeweled star that looks like a cheap carnival  prize, a beautiful silver Catholic amulet marked "Hayward Sterling 1830", and my favorite, an amazing piece of Victorian jewelry in the form of a lion headed copper ring. The gold plating is still visible in the grooves, a diamond in the mouth, and one ruby eye. This immediately became one of my favorite finds ever. 

  Also, my buddy Matt Pollis came up with a really interesting brass plaque labeled "Milling Cylinder 1908". We both did a little online research and couldn't figure out what it was from, ultimately assuming it was personally engraved by someone, probably for their lobster boat.