The Georgiadigger

Yes Sir, a little more details before I'm out the door. Last tag I found was diamond shaped. Lafar made this scalloped corner Slave Hire Badge for one year 1811. Wearers of tag complained it woke poke and scratch them when worn working in the City of Charleston. Exceptionally rare year, common occupation, but, it was the nearly perfect tag. I'd always dreamed about digging. They rarely come out of the ground in this condition. Tag still was the natural body curve Lafar stamp into piece. This  was my second signal of the day, right after a modern Lincoln penny. It shocked me to say the least. A dream relic & holding such a part of history in my hand. Sent an adrenaline rush through me that took me hours too calm down from and concentrate on my digging again! Sorry about the manicure or, lack there of!

I found this site about this time last year before some major surgery. I intentionally ignored Relic Hunting in all forms, even online browsing. Because my I wanted to heal after this surgery and not bust stitches in my quest for Relics! Anyways lost a phone & changed a phone, plus with my fine memory. I actually lost this forum? Couldn't remember name of forum etc... Then I got busy with life again. I started long road too recovery, slowly working, & digging again! Last week someone replied to a post I made on this site a long time ago. I was emailed reply. So here I am again thanks to a old thread!!! Kac... You still around, where's my shovel? 😂

Anyways, I've been back on my feet for awhile now & digging! I'll start slow but, post a few things here & there... 

I found this thin small piece of copper a few weeks ago on property my friend has permission too dig. Any thoughts to what it could be?

4 hours ago, Rivers rat said:

Vic Fiveash was his name i met him and visited his shop/house in 2000/2001 i think,he was living in Peckam SE london 10 min drive from me ,it was also said that he was a prestidigitator..........but far from me the idea of tarnishing his memory .I bought a MKII years ago with a 5"coil and it didnt make miracle on the Thames,trust me.

But somehow the machine had very good performances.Some said his designs were clone of Tesoros,last and not least i also heard his design were sold to a company from western Europe.I m in touch with a guy in France who recently bought 2 and was looking for parts........recently a 5" coil came out on ebay and was snatched in a sec

 

RR

 

RR

 

Yes Sir, Vic was his name! I knew I didn't have it right. My understanding was MKll was a good discriminator but, had very little depth. We had stumbled onto a XD17 and it did a good job at urban digging. Excellent discrimination, good depth. Some point later we bumped into a guy that knew Vic. Three of us wanted a USA relic machine. We asked Vic to build what we wanted. It took awhile but, he did a hell of a job. Detector was like no Tesoro I've ever swung, inside who knows? Our XD17s were similar looking to one in video but, sturdier. Different controls & set-up arrangement. We had explained best we could, what we wanted in a machine. At time I don't even think Retune speed was in our vocabulary. I remember saying signal reset, & of course depth depth depth! Anyway, our XDs had excellent pure analog sound, excellent discrimination, boost that added considerable depth, ground balance that I actually ran detector stable in Culpeper, VA soil. Detector was/is like all detectors, it had limitations but, was a sweet digging machine. The perfect detector hasn't been made yet but, for Vic fans in the UK/Europe. There is 3, very different XD17s out there somewhere! His machines have a cult like following. Seen XD17 sell last year for $900. If Vic's wife is still alive, she'll verify. His last 3 machines, came to America & they weren't ordinary builds either! Just kind of putting that out there for his following! There is three oddballs that was inspired by American Relic Hunters! 

9 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

I have the opposite problem.

I'd never seen that nickname and had to think a while to figure it out.

Affectionately known as the Terrible-2. I tried to keep a lid on the detector when it first came out. Local diggers would ask me, how I liked it. My reply, it's Terrible. I'd turn sensitivity up, unplug headphones, & let them listen to a wall of mixed audio. Most of them at time were using silent search machines, they'd would shake there heads or, say screw that. I did pretty dang good with that machine for a very long time. Think 🤔 the Deus finally made me sit it down but, I still have a F-75 backing-up Anfibio now. Deus got shuffled because everyone started swinging them.

P

7 hours ago, kac said:

Still have my first.

Why did you sell it?

Money at the time. I had little ones to feed. I was offered a good bit more than I had in detector. Plus Metal Detector's in general had just made a big leap. Coming off the X-5 Tejons, MXT, then The Terrible 2 & F-75 was out. Especially the ID machines in my mind was the future. I was running a relic website at time, I was trying & changing machines good bit. I had a truck & room full of detector's. I let some go without thinking. 🤔  I do regret this one! This wasn't a factory machine, it was a final build of a great metal detector engineer. Jim was very well known & respected among his peers. I suspect, we are still swinging his ideas around today?

11 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

That dime in particular - stunning! Thanks for posting.

I actually found two 1820 dimes & 1832 or 37 half dime, I don't remember exact date. I gave all coinage to the land owner per our contract. Since I found two, owner said I should kept one. I didn't argue. Giving landowner coins for my choice of artifact, is my usual verbal contract in exchange for permission. I believe I took pictures, I usually do unless pressed for time or, if land owner was nearby at time. I'll look back to see if I can find them. They were all beautiful finds! This wasn't the prettiest of the two!

4 hours ago, Cal_Cobra said:

Looks like you did great, a lot of bucket listers there for most!

Although I had to cancel several of my detecting trips last year due to covid, I still managed to find my second gold coin, and a rare one that that.  I ended the year with a handful of 1800's and early 1900's coins that totaled in the $10K range, so I cannot complain.

Yes Sir, we both had a great year. Tag had eluded me till this year. I've been all around them, first one in bottom of my hole. Was my 2nd trip out with Anfibio. 1st was hen's teeth rare snake button. I was pissed all day. We could not see the tiny snake's head, till I got home & cleaned the button. 13 stars & 13 bars, my buddy kept saying. Where's the f-ing snake?

You wouldn't happen to be the Antler Collector Cal, from out West would you?

5 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

The condition of that dime is amazing!  It could be as high as AU58 and at worst AU55, IMO.  The downside is that often metal detetor finds can have damage which makes them flagged as such, bringing down the value.  One of the California posters here (can't remember which one...) got a detector find graded as BU (not flagged) so there are exceptions.

A coin in this condition carries more than mere Sheldon rating (that's the 55/58 designation above) value.  The quality of the strike can also bring extra value.  Your strike is quite strong.  But to carry extra value it must be unusual for this date+MM to have strong strikes.  I.e. The more unusual it is to find a strong strike the more likely it would carry extra value.

Professionally graded (without any indication of damage and AU55 or better -- two big ifs), this coin could retail for $1k plus.  Note I said 'retail'.  The best prices realized are in the big numismatic auctions and there's a significant premium that goes to the auction company (20-25%, just a guess).  Here are link 1 and link 2 for you to see them.

Another thing worth noting is that there are two varieties -- large 0 and small 0 in the date, and the difference appears pretty subtle.  The small zero version is worth in the range of 20-30% more than the large version for AU grades, apparently.

Your find drives home the point some of us make over and over -- not to clean coins unless you've determined they have little or no numismatic value.  Even rubbing with a cotton cloth will be visible under magnification (the way professional grading services evaluate) and can lead to signficant downgrading.

Bottom line is that this coin likely paid for your Anfibio.  Everything else you find is gravy.

Sold, 🤔 Thanks for the insight. I've never figured out how they grade dug coin's, especially silver. I've been blessed enough to dig a few stunners but, my dang they graded low it would blow your mind. I found the trick was just to never mention they were dug. As bad as it sounds, there is just something in that word that just acts as repellent to coin collector's. I understand seeing fine scratches under magnification but, seems like just the word brings them to light.

I sure do!!! I'm probably spelling his name wrong but, Great Britain's Jim Fiveash built custom detector's that was among the first to successfully hunt in the coke, coal, & iron debris of the Thames River shoreline. His last three improved versions of The Red Heat XD 17s. Were sent to America. For myself & two friends. Jim was a brilliant mind, that was dying of cancer while completing our machines. It took Jim a long time to complete our three custom built detectors, they were improved version of his legendary XD-17. Jim died shortly after we received our machines. He never even got a full report of there amazing performance! These machines were way ahead of there time, with great depth, separation, lightening fast retune speed & telescoping rod deployment. I foolishly sold my Red Heat 17+ not truly considering the brilliant cutting edge technology, workmanship & shear artwork that Jim had poured his final days into. Making these machines for 3 American fans of his work. Somewhere in America, there is 3 very extra special Red Heat Detector's!!! I hope they're in good hands & still detecting relics!!! I don't even have a picture of them. RIP Jim!!!

Found a few blades over the years, always makes my heart skip a beat.

Sort of off subject but, I've read that this style Diplomatic button. Was inspiration for the first American gold coin. All finds found on private property with permission.

Praying for your continued improvement, lots more digging to be done my friend! I'm trying to avoid the hospital myself!

All found on private property with permission. All relics found with the Nokta Anfibio. Except for the Harrison campaign pin found with Equinox 800 just prior to selling detector. I did well in quality but, actually a slow year! Getting old and back issues but, sure is better than the alternative! 

HH, The Georgiadigger

Would guess a broken reign guide. Keep searching, promising area/sign.

Nice, very nice digs!

Very nice relic, congratulations!

Teach the young ones well. Thank you!

Beautiful, congratulations!!!

Thank you! Your time & efforts are greatly appreciated my friend!!! 

I have this Odd Fellows button example saved on this phone. I probably have a few more on disc around here somewhere? Can't say if I ever seen one exactly like yours but, this example shows some similar design aspects. Though not as busy! If you can get a clear picture of backmark, we should be able to date button at least.

That makes two of us. Only thing I've seen remotely close is some Masonic button examples. Trying to think, who is still with us thst might shed some light. What's the backmark?

I see more buttons being dug in my future! 👀🤔😜

Where can I find 7x11" Nel Super Fly? I've been looking everywhere! Even Nel website, doesn't show them. 

Help a brother out? 😁

Beautiful coin, don't clean it in any way. It's perfectly dug! If patina dries out maybe a very light coat of mineral or, olive oil. I'm old school though, maybe something better being used now. Never clean, unless you know what to do. It can kill value! Once patina is gone, it's gone for a very long time!

I agree, that's why I'm here! That and feel like crap today or, I'd be out swinging somewhere! My next time out, which will probably be Thursday. I've got a spot in mind I want to lower Tone Break and play with settings? Do you still use your F-75? I still use mine from time to time. Still a hot machine!!

Thank You!!! For clear explanation. I play with settings but, 90% of the time other than gain & frequency. I'm running two-tone default settings while relic hunting. Digging high & mixed tones. I've been running in 5-kHz more than I ever thought I would, & way more than I ever did when I swung a Deus! I've pulled some deep buttons out at popular sites also. Some of it could have been unmasking though running a 9.5X5" coil. Who knows, I am having fun with detector. I still have a lot to learn about this machine. Again thanks, I'll try your set-up soon also!