“Mommy, let’s put my buffalo nickels and those civil war bullets I found on your blog. That’d probably cause a commotion.”
“Okay, Seth. I’d love to cause a commotion.”
And from there, he started planning a blog post. His requirements: that I accompany him on a walk to the old homesite to metal detect, take pictures of the process, take pictures of some of his recent finds, and then allow him to dictate the post to me and then link to his favorite metal detecting sites.
I give you Seth:
“This photo does not belong here.”
Ginny here. “Yes, it does. Pretty scenery is important.”
“My first signal of the day. But I couldn’t find anything.”
“Another photo that doesn’t belong here.”
“I found a wheat penny on my second signal.”
“The date on the penny was 1953.”
Ginny here. Seth says this one doesn’t belong. I disagree. I thought you might want to see Silas in a handsome pink sweater. Seth says I am not allowed to link to sweaters on his post. But, it’s on my Ravelry page. It was originally Beatrix’s. (I’m not cheating Seth. There’s no link.)
“Bored girls.”
“On the left is a Civil War eagle button. The top row of bullets are three ring mini balls. On the bottom row: unknown, cleaner bullet, musket ball, fired musket ball.”
“Seth where did you find these?”
“I found most of them in the woods around our house.”
“Buckles. My favorites are the little shoe buckles.”
“The top coin is a very corroded war nickel. It’s 35% silver. During the years 1942-1945 nickel was needed for things for the war, so they made the nickels with an alloy of copper, manganese, and silver.
I found both buffalo nickels at the homesite that is pictured in this post. Buffalo nickels are rare and I wish the one with its date worn off still had its date there.”
“The wheat pennies that are clean enough to put in sleeves are in this picture.”
“Wheat pennies were made between 1909 and 1958. My oldest is in this picture and I found it the day that mommy took the pictures in this post. It’s from 1911. There are three tokens in this picture too: one play quarter, one tax token, and a sunoco car token from 1968.”
“These are the old buttons that I’ve found. Guess which ones are the military buttons?”
“There are three rings on the old lipstick tube. The bottom one is sterling silver. The princess pat is a makeup container, and the thing in the top left corner is a watch holder that would have been attached to a belt.”
“These are watch parts. The two bottom left pieces are faces.”
“Most of this silverware is silver plated.”
“The thing in the bottom left corner is a harmonica reed. There are also an old fashioned pen and two pen caps in the middle, an old razor holder, two locks, and the thing in the top left corner is unknown.”
“I got my metal detector for my birthday from my Grandad. It is a Garrett Ace 250 and I would recommend it to anyone willing to spend a bit of money. You can read more about their metal detectors on the Garrett website. I would also recommend the Bounty Hunter Junior, which was my first metal detector. It’s a very good starter metal detector for a kid. I have gotten my inspiration to metal detect from Nugget Noggin. He has a YouTube channel where he posts videos of himself metal detecting with his family. (Nugget Noggin is the name of his channel. His real name is Michael.) I think metal detecting is a lot of fun. I really like this hobby.”
p.s. Dear friends, Seth is hoping to hear from you. If you have any treasure hunting stories of your own to share, we’d love to hear them!
Anna says
Seth, I am so glad to read about all the treasures you have found. I remember my son getting a metal detector one Christmas. He hunted and hunted and never found anything. Our homeschooling days are over so I thank you for sharing yours with me. They brought back memories that made my heart smile. I know the hunting can be hard work and it looks like you are reaping the benefits. Please post again!
Erin says
A few weeks ago my husband found an old class ring from 1981. There was a full name engraved in the ring and we were able to track down the owner. The owner came to collect the ring and was so happy to have it. It had been stolen from his apartment 25 years earlier.
Wendy says
Seth–I always thought it would be fun to have a metal detector when I was a kid, but mainly the only people I ever saw with them were older people at the beach. Thanks for sharing this fascinating hobby with us. I’m really impressed with how much you know about the things you’ve found. What are some of the things you’d like to find but haven’t yet (you know, besides buried treasure or something like that)?!
Thanks for ‘causing a commotion’ on your mom’s blog–you should do it more often 🙂
Susana Estevam says
wow! I’m amazed at what you found! So much history and variety!
I grew up in Portugal near the beach and even now when I go in holiday (I live in Scotland now) we stay very late in the beach to see the sunset at least when the sky turns to red, I remember seeing people (one at a time, don’t know if it was always the same person) with the metal detector, I imagine they or he may have found some good treasures causes it does get really busy in summer and my own mother have lost a few things there, plus it’s a old city that started as Roman Empire settlement…
Thank you for the lovely post!
Anna says
Hi Seth – I loved reading about your brilliant finds. I live in Australia now but I spent my early childhood in the Isle of Man where Vikings used to live. My dad had a metal detector and we went for lots of treasure hunts. I always hoped to find Viking treasure, but no luck . My best finds were some little metal toy soldiers, a few pieces of broken jewelry (though not as good as your rings) and some coins. You’ve made me wish I had my own metal detector now, so thank you for the recommendations at the end of your post.
Emily T. says
Absolutely amazing, Seth! You live in such a wonderful part of our country and the history is just gushing near you.
erin says
p.s. I will be sharing this homeschooling magic in my “fawned friday” post this week for sure!
e.
erin says
Oh Seth!
This is so wonderful and what a great project/hobby for everyone! My husband and I live in a 104 year old house and were thrilled to find well preserved newspapers beneath an old floor we ripped up so I can only imagine how thrilling it would be to find treasures like you have.
This is something I have always thought of doing and I am going to go ahead and just do it thanks to you. Oh, the stories these items tell about your land and who lived there.
This is such a great post.
e.
EG says
Love it! What treasures!
Tara C says
Amazing Finds, you could start a museum!!
My dad and I used to use a metal detector lots when I was a kid (in Califronia), but we never found anything so cool. We once found an old bottle dump, which I spent hours and hours digging through. Finding treasures is so fun 🙂
Tina says
I am impressed with all of your knowledge on the matter, Seth! I like the animal face shaped object next to the lipstick tube the most. Very cool!
Earth Mama says
Seth, your collection is quite impressive! I loved finding old coins and pieces of metal as a kid…actually up until I was about 20, I had a box that I stored all of my treasures in. With the success you have at finding cool things I only imagine what a collection you will build by the time you are 20! Do you have any tips on how to keep all of your stuff safe and organized?
:)Lisa
Katy says
WOW Seth!! I’m amazed at all the things you have found with your metal detector – especially the rings and all the silverware!! You have quite a collection! Thanks for sharing it with your mom’s readers and keep up the good work!
-Katy in Texas
Kim S. says
Hi Seth! I have 4 daughters and no boys, so I did not think I would find metal detecting very interesting…but I was wrong!!! My girls and I are fascinated by everything you found (the lipstick, rings, and make-up were an especially big hit around here), and the oldest ones are in our backyard combing the grass & dirt for treasures. What an excellent post and how intelligent you are! I hope you post again soon and teach me more 🙂
Judith says
Seth, thanks for sharing this. I am from the Netherlands (in Europe) and particularly liked your collection of bullets and coins and the information you shared with us about them. When I was a student I lived in a house that was built in the 1590s (yes, very old!) – it would have been awesome to get around with a metal detector there. I wish I had known about them back then!
Nikki says
Wow Seth this is fascinating! I loved reading your post – I was very impressed with how much you knew about all these treasures, I couldn’t figure out what some of the things were until I read your descriptions. It must be so much fun finding all these things. I hope you do another post soon!
Daniela says
hi seth,
great post! my boys love to collect all kinds of things, but they don’t have any special collections.
we always wondered why people would run around with a metal detector, but now it makes perfect sense! it’s amazing what treasures are hidden in the ground – very fascinating!
good luck with your treasure hunting 🙂
kari says
What a lovely collection, Seth, and thank you so much for sharing it with us! I’ve never used a metal detector, but the home I lived in as a child was built on a farm site that dated back to the 1800’s. I remember spending hours and hours in the woods around our family property searching for treasures. Some of my favorite finds were old milkglass face cream jars and a copper plated miner’s lamp (the kind they wore on their helmets).
Lisa G. says
Seth, I work in a public library, and a couple of years ago an older man – a LOT older than you – found a religious medal somewhere with his metal detector. He came to the library for help in researching it. My boss, who is a *real* librarian, helped him out. Unfortunately, I don’t remember who the saint was (it may have been a pope – some sort of commemoration) or any more about it. But, that man enjoyed searching for metal things, just like you do!
Jen says
Dear Seth-
Thanks for the post! My best find was an old skate key. How do you identify your found objects? It seems like it might take some historical detective work! Have you ever seen History Detectives on PBS? Something you might like if you can find episodes on Netflix or youtube.
jmd
Amy says
Wow, Seth the collection of things you’ve found with your metal detector is so cool and interesting. I especially like the buttons (probably because I have a large old button collection). I think one of the buttons is from the Navy and one from the Army? But I’m not sure of any others. I find metal detecting a fascinating hobby. The only time I’ve ever seen one being used was when I was a child at the town lake and my mom lost her car keys in the sand. (The town added sand to the edges of the lake to make a beach for playing.) The lifeguard brought out a metal detector and found those keys — my baby brother had buried them in a sandcastle/ mound. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Laura says
Dear Seth
I enjoyed your post a lot! It made me want to go metal detecting too, although I’ve never done it! May be my kids will enjoy it in a few years (they are 5 and 3), but I doubt we would be able to find such interesting things as you did!
Heather says
Seth, this post is SO cool! Seriously, you’re making me want to buy a metal detector. I have a question for you..how deep do you usually have to dig to find this stuff? It has been so interesting and exciting to view all your treasures, and I hope you will continue to post the things you find. Your mom is pretty awesome to let you take over her blog a little! Thank you for sharing!:)
Jordan says
Seth,
I live on the other side of the United States, in Oregon. I live right on the coast, I wonder what kind of cool stuff I could find on the beach? People lose things there all of the time. I probably wouldn’t find things as old as what you’ve found though since this part of America hasn’t been inhabited as long. Thanks for such an interesting post!
Jordan
Melissa T says
Wow Seth, I have learned so much from this post. I have never been metal detecting and it looks like so much fun, I wonder if in my part of the world there would be such interesting things? My family lives on Vancouver Island Canada and I think that we would really enjoy metal detecting as well. P.S I have a buffalo head nickel and a penny from the 1800’s. that I cant remember how I found. I really enjoyed seeing your collection, Thank you for sharing. Please tell your mom that the sweater looks great on Silas and that it looked cranberry colored which is a very unisex color.
Melissa.
Amanda says
Thank you, Seth! This post was so interesting.
astoria says
Seth, this is amazing and it is inspiring me to look for a metal detector for my two oldest boys — aged 9 and 11.
Did you see the news story about the couple in Sweden who found their long lost wedding ring when they pulled up a carrot from the garden? Search for it — its a great story!
Elisabeth says
Dear Seth,
You certainly did cause a commotion! I love your post that you dictated to your mom. Your passion for collecting brings back memories of our family vacations to Lake Michigan when I was a child. We would spend entire days walking up and down the beach at the Frankfort Bluffs looking for petosky stones, the Michigan state stone. They are difficult to spot if they are not wet because they are a dull gray color. When we put one in the lake, you could see all the prehistoric animals that had become rock through the watery drops. Then we would take them back to our cabin and polish them up with sandpaper and water so that you could see all the preserved creatures without making the stone wet.
Congratulations on your great haul!
Sincerely,
Elisabeth
kyndale says
SO COOL! I would love to have a metal detector like you and I’m an adult! I love all that you found. Those buckles are very interesting! Have you ever thought about taking all your finds to the state fair? We live in Nevada but there’s a guy at the fair that displays all his metal detector finds and it’s always a really popular exhibit!
a little crafty nest says
“Hi Seth…I’m Forrest. I’m six. This is really really really cool. I want to get a metal detector now, too! Those coins are super cool!!! (insert higher pitched voice for excitement) “How long have you been doing this? I wonder what we have on our property…my papa says this used to be a car mechanic’s house. He’s found lots of saw blades and chains. No coins yet but some adult drink bottles. This is super cool.”
And from the mama, what he said.
xo Jules
P.S. The scenery shots were rather nice, too.
Bambi Beachboard says
Seth,
I really enjoyed your post! I live near many Civil War battlefields and wonder what sort of treasures we could find. I have a son who is 8 I think he might enjoy metal detecting too. Thanks for all the great links, and your personal recommendations on the best metal detectors to start out with. May you find many more treasures!
Bambi
Danielle says
Seth, these are some magnificent finds! It looks like the treasure was well worth the effort! Amazing finds – well done!
Kristin says
Seth! These are amazing! It’s so inspiring to see all of your treasures. I think I’ll be getting my 6 yr old a metal detector soon. He also loves finding treasure. This is a wonderful post!
VLVL says
What a great post! Thanks for sharing, Seth!!!
My husband has been wanting to get into metal detecting. I am going to show him your post!
Renee Anne says
I live in an area where the only treasures we find are Native American arrowheads (most likely Mesquakie) and things people have perhaps dropped over the years.
I tend to do my treasure hunting in antique stores and buy & sell shops. Sometimes, they have no idea what they have in their possession.
(also, I’ve been collecting old coins for about 20 years now…I don’t have a ton but it started when my great-uncle gave me an entire roll of “Indian head pennies” when I was about 8 or 9 years old. If he liked you, he’d give you one……he gave me 50 in one go).
A little bit sheepish says
Super finds Seth, I really enjoyed hearing about your metal detecting adventures 🙂
Annie says
Wow Seth, thank you for sharing! My Grandad was always out with his detector, and I never realised why he spent so much time with it! Thank you for making me realise the fun and beauty in it. You have managed to capture an insight into times way back when. The people who held and used all the treasures you have found must be delighted to know that you find joy in their unearthing…. what will you leave behind for future generations?
I’d love to hear more from you, Seth!
Jennifer says
Hello Seth,
Thank you so much for sharing the photos and details of your treasures with us. I have never used a metal detector, but now I want to try one! I like to dig around old homesteads, but I wonder how much I miss without a metal detector.
You know so much about the items you find – it is very impressive. I especially liked the civil war bullets – very neat! I hope you keep up with your hobby.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Carol says
Hi! Seth, We enjoyed your post. We all reminisced over your find. When we lived in N.J. we lived in a Civil War house built in 1862. My boys found the family dump. They found everything from old leather lace -up baby shoes, medicine bottles, porclein doll parts, marbles, broken clay pipes, old dishes,bullets,etc. We had such fun! Thanks for sharing your collection and incites.
Lori says
Hey Seth!
I too LOVE looking for bits of history. My father and I used to go arrowhead hunting. He has one of the largest collections around here. I also got a metal detector a few years back. I never found anything as cool as you have…mostly pull tabs. haha
My Uncle used to use his all the time! He liked to go around school yards after school and during the summer. He would find lots of coins and several rings.
Keep it up! I hope you find something really valuable!!!!!
Have fun!
Lori
Meryl says
That silverware collection is awesome! Maybe I need to go treasure hunting myself!
Len says
WOW!! Seth, I’m really impressed, we have been metal detecting for several years here in Idaho and haven’t found half what you have. My 8 year old is jealous, he has a small inexpensive metal detector and doesn’t have much luck with it. Thank you for your recommendations of metal detectors. Keep up the great work.
Nicole says
Hi Seth!
I can’t believe how much you’ve found! As much as I like hearing about sweaters, these treasures were so much fun to see!
I have a metal detector, we bought it last year when my husband lost his wedding ring in a snow bank. We couldn’t find it right away, and it got pushed down into the earth from people walking on that spot. It took a lot of digging to find it since there was a lot of other metal things in that area of our yard! We didn’t find anything special though, just 3 bent nails and a rusty screw. You’ve inspired me to take it out more for some treasure hunts!
Thank you for sharing your hobby with us!
Nicole
Daryl says
Oh my goodness! That was a FASCINATING blog and made me want to run right out and buy a metal detector. I learned many things reading it, and even liked the baby, girl and scenery photos. Seth, you have a wonderful hobby there, finding and cataloging history for those of us who don’t know about such interesting things. You might need your own blog someday to catalog all your finds. Thank you so much for sharing what you have discovered and learned.
Daryl in Maine
sheila says
It looks like you are living in a good part of country for finding treasures!
I will tell you about my brother-in-law’s Wheat Penny collection.
Paul collected wheat pennies for many years. When he turned 15 he went to boarding school and took his precious collection along. Paul kept his Wheat Penny Collection in a jar.
One day Paul’s roommate, Dave, took the jar of Wheat Pennies to the Corner Store and used it to buy some candy.
Word got around the dorm really fast. A few days later a group of Paul’s friends held Dave down and shaved his chest hair off!
(I should mentioned Dave was quite proud of his chest hair….he wasn’t hurt …..and it grew back)
So for the past 30 years every time I come across a wheat penny, I save it for Paul…..and he still saves them in a jar. And every time he drops in another penny he chuckles as he thinks of his old roommate, Dave.
Stacey says
Dear Seth,
I have just started following this blog (last week!). What a wonderful post. I am really very impressed by how much of knowledge you have of the history of the items you have found. I grew up on an old farm and would often find little bits of things here and there, but I never did as much research about them – your post has me wishing I had! I would also love to see another post from you sometime.
Thanks for sharing!
Stacey
Jenny says
Seth, my kids are so impressed with your treasures. They now want to have a metal detector too. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us!
Ginger says
Hi Seth,
Wow ,you have found a lot of great things! My father use to go metal detecting when I was a kid, but he never found anything as cool as you have. Keep it up and I’d love to see another post from you sometime soon sharing more of your great treasures .
I might just have to get myself a metal detector and get out there and go find me some treasures , it looks like a lot of fun.
-Ginger 🙂
Kristina says
From Xavier: You made me want a medal detector myself. Maybe we could go metal detecting together someday.
Chu says
Seth,
I love this post! I saw on Antiques Roadshow that some of the Civil War buttons are specific to a regiment so that would be interesting to research. While growing up, my parents had a weekend house with 80 acres of land in the middle of nowhere and I begged and begged to have a metal detector to no avail. Now that I’m an adult with my own two children and a small 3/4 acre backyard, I think I will have to fulfill my childhood dream! I hadn’t thought about metal detecting much save for the posts on your Mom’s blog. Hopefully, my children will be excited as I am! 🙂