1739 KGII Half Pence, Ox Shoe, Three Buttons, Ball

[Eastender]

I got out detecting for a long day yesterday but opted to rest today. Last week I worked four long 9 hour days staining decks and have two more days of it this week. I could swing the coil all day, day after day, but this cumulative wear and tear on the arms can get tiring. I'm good to go tomorrow though.

I think I have to find two dozen horse shoes before I can pull up an ox shoe. The HP is a little toasty but I'm happy to see old King George II. When you kick up some pottery shards digging nails, it sure makes you wonder what else is still underground.

My usual colonial grounds are beginning to yield less and less so it's time to explore some other early sites.

 

[Rock Jock]

Look for the privy. They sometimes threw the broken china in the privy if they were too lazy to carry it to a distant burn pit. In limestone country tossing it in sink holes was popular. I think hurricanes broke lots of china. This is probably more than you wanted to know!

 

[The Rebel]

Nice job!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

........My usual colonial grounds are beginning to yield less and less........

You poor soul. Not getting a 1730's east coast colonial copper at-every-outing ? Oh my oh my.

 

[Eastender]

You poor soul. Not getting a 1730's east coast colonial copper at-every-outing ? Oh my oh my.

These guys had deep pockets. The Natives were producing some of the finest wampum in North America. Our early settlers were well-connected, industrious, yet frugal. I'm putting in the time and expect results. Many of the early coins probably ended up at the bottom of the outhouse, beyond the range of my Manticore.

 

[MasonDixonMding]

Nice work. Love that button.

 

[CharlieT84]

Congrats...nice old recoveries!

 

[lumbercamp]

You may have to dig up two dozen more horse shoes before you find an ox shoe. That is a broken horse shoe, not an ox shoe.

 

[Eastender]

You may have to dig up two dozen more horse shoes before you find an ox shoe. That is a broken horse shoe, not an ox shoe.

Point taken as there often confusion and debate regarding ox vs. broken horse shoe. I'm going to go with ox shoe for a couple of reasons. First, the three close nail pattern very similar to old English examples. Second, the uniform thinness of the iron. Third, neither the upper nor lower edges look broken off. Fourth, the basic geometry, the curvature doesn't match a horseshoe arc. And lastly, this came from site that has produced early King George I coinage and is quite old. It was literally first settled by the English in 1648. I look at a lot of iron and much of it looks pretty rough and basic. When many people think of typical ox shoes, it is often the more refined and better made examples from the 1800's and later.

 

[Longhair]

It IS an Ox shoe.
Take my word for it.

 

[History Hound 1]

Congrats on all the great finds. Best of luck on future hunts.