Over the past few months we've been getting onto some old permissions, old for our area that is. I live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia here in the USA. Our area was settled in the mid 1700s.
Being the only person in my small digging group that had not found a 1700s coin so far in 2019 I have been determined to find something great. As everyone else found King Georges and even a Connecticut copper my only reply had been "You guys dig em all, I'm waiting for the old silver!"
So on January 27th we set out to a new permission, with high hopes. As we climbed the bank to a flat knoll overlooking the river valley we began getting iron signals, of the dug signals we found old hammered nails. As I topped the knoll on the edge of the bank I got a small high tone. As I removed dirt from the hole I located in the plug dirt what I initially thought to be a small tombac button, as I rubbed away the soil I saw a small shield, my heart began racing and all I could think was Spanish silver.
Having never actually seen or dug any old silver I really had no clue what I had just unearthed. As I wiped the coin clean the details began to appear, and I knew I had finally found my Spanish silver.
Turns out the coin I found was a U.S clad penny sized, silver Spanish Half-Pistareen, equal to a 1 Reale. This rare little coin is dated 1733, definitely an oldie for my neck of the woods.
Standing up with my treasure in hand I took a moment to take in the view of the winding river below, a beautiful view of the mountain state. I felt connected with whoever stood in that place so long ago when the coin was dropped.
Still early in the year, I'm excited to see what else 2019 has in store for me. This is truly one of my best finds and will remain a great memory.
Stephen - USA
