Found metal detecting! Early jar lid with crow feets.

Mike and I explored North Georgia again today for about 5-6 hours. We didn’t find anything terrific, but Mike found this interesting jar lid:

Antique jar lid with crows feet?

We can’t date this piece, but it appears pretty old. Maybe mid 19th century??? If anyone has any information about this metal detecting find, please comment below. The jar lid was found on an old fairgrounds that predates the American civil war using Mike’s Equinox 800 with a large 15″ coil.

Asking permission to go metal detecting

Our day started at 7am, I packed some snacks and the cooler. I also checked my batteries and grabbed any other essentials that Taylor, Mike and I might need on our adventure.

When Mike arrived, I woke up Taylor and we all hopped in the car and started on our way north. Our destination was a small town in north GA with a deep history. We arrived at our destination around 8:15am and our first stop was Dr. Ash’s house. On our last metal detecting trip, we had detected here and the site had a lot of potential.

The home was owned by Dr Ash, but it’s his second home, so the odds of Dr and Mrs Ash being home were slim. During our last visit, we had obtained permission from the young lady that was staying in the house as a favor during COVID-19. The young lady had spoken this Dr Ash over the phone and Dr Ash had said that he had lost a gold ring in his back yard. I wish we could have found his ring and returned it, but it didn’t happen this trip or the previous (maybe next time!).

After about an hour, I met up with Mike and we went over our finds. At this point, I had two wheaties and a strange lead pouring cup (at least, that’s my best guess).

We noticed a neighbor across the street and Mike went over to obtain permission. Unfortunately, it was a hard “NO” with her response, “whatever is in the ground, stays in the ground”. Not feeling discouraged, all three of us walked next door and the homeowner was in her car in the driveway. She said that she thinks it would be alright for us to metal detect on their property, but we’d better check with her husband. That’s when we met Lloyd, he immediately granted us permission and added that he had found relics just digging in the dirt during renovations. He proceeded to show us a very old hammer that he said was just a large ball of iron oxide and muck when it found it! The head of the hammer and the handle was forged as one piece, which seems pretty uncommon to me. It was a fascinating find and we were very ready to get started metal detecting his yard!

Lloyd’s yard was very large and Mike started in the back. I worked the front, because Taylor was eating the rest of her breakfast in the car and I wanted to stay close by to keep my eye on her. After an hour or two, we called it quits, no 19th century relics, but we had a blast. I did find a cool belt buckle with an eagle on the front, but it appeared modern.

Metal detecting finds using a Garrett GTI 2500 (found in North GA)

Before leaving Loyd’s, we wanted to catch up with him and thank him for his generosity. We didn’t find Loyd, but found his nephew Josh. We showed Josh our finds and he said he remembered some of the toy cars we dug up and they were probably his back in the day. Loyd, Josh and his wife are amazing people and we hope we can visit them again in the future.

As we’re heading to the car, another neighbor across the street was checking her mail. I went over to talk and ask permission. Her name was Kathy and she immediately said “yes!”. She said we weren’t the first to ask, so her yard had been detected before and she would let her husband know that we might be coming by to metal detect her yard.

After grabbing some lunch, Mike, Taylor and I met with Kathy’s husband Bernie. He said we had a “ace in the hole” when asking permission by bringing along my daughter Taylor because she is so cute. He also said he and his wife would be more than happy to babysit Taylor while we detected. However, Taylor declined and decided to stay outside with us. She said she was scared of catching COVID-19.

My first find was the depth of my digger or 7.5″ deep, which is a deep target for me. I got real excited when I popped it out of the bottom of the hole because it just looked old and it was covered in stars!

After we got home we performed some internet “sluething” and identified the object as a compact or makeup container from the 1930’s or 1940’s. Here is what it would have looked like when it was dropped:

Luxor — 1932 compact or blush makeup case

We all had a fun day of metal detecting and the biggest treasure we found were our new found friends; Lloyd, Josh, Kathy and Bernie. The moral of the story is don’t be afraid to ask permission to metal detect, once you do it a few times it’s not nearly as scary as you imagine (trust me, I know).

Mike’s find using a Equinox 800 — metal detecting in North GA

Metal Detecting 1906 Farmhouse — North GA

Mike and I went back to the 1906 farmhouse in North GA. We’ve hit this spot numerous times and the finds keep coming. Here are my notable finds from the hunt (using Garrett GTI 2500):

Finds include a 1946 silver dime, three wheaties (1941, 1956 & unknown), an old buckle and a token with Thomas Edison on the front and a shell on the back
Close-up of token (front), silver dime and wheaties
Close-up of token (back), silver dime and wheaties
The Shell Famous American’s coin game was part of a 1968 Shell promotion game. If you collected all six scientists & inventors, you could win $5000.00. Considering my token was lost, I don’t think the previous owner of the token won anything in this promotion!

Mike did a great job too! He was hunting with his trusty Minelab Equinox 900 and his finds include a WWII uniform button, a 1920’s Model T dust/grease cap, a 1969 tootsie toy (very bad shape) and a “America First” SW Ashworth Buford GA tag (unknown). I attempted to research the SW Ashworth company, but I haven’t found any results.

1920’s Ford Model T — showing location of dust/grease cap that Mike found using Equinox 800
Close-up of S.W. Ashworth, Buford GA tag from using Minelab Equinox 800. My guess would be the tag came off a piece of equipment such a vacuum cleaner or farming tool. Anyone with more information, please comment below!

It started to rain, so our hunt was cut short, but I had a great time! It’s always fun to get out there and find some treasure!

Map of Chestatee Mining Company — Dahlonega GA

Here’s a great map showing the Lumpkin Chestatee Mining Company property in Dahlonega, GA:

Chestatee Mining Company — lots along the Chestatee River in Lumpkin County

Timothy Grocken purchased 1000 shares @ $20 per share in the Lumpkin Chestatee Mining Company.

I wonder if you made money on his investment?
I don’t know the age of this photo, but from their clothing I would guess around the late 19th century. It’s amazing the old timers used almost the exact same methods of mining as still used today (sluice box and gold pans).

Metal Detecting North GA — Bartow County GA

Mike and I returned to Bartow County in search of more 19th century coins and relics. Unfortunately, this time around we didn’t find anything definitive to the 19th. I did find a flat piece of lead that is highly oxidized, but it’s function is unknown. Here are my relics and coins found:

Relics and coins from metal detecting in North Georgia — Bartow County GA

Nothing special and only one wheatie (1957-D), but the first target was that toy gyroscope piece. Here’s what it would have looked like when it was brand new:

1933 Chicago Worlds Fair Century Of Progress Gyroscope
Vintage GYROSCOPE

The little boy who lost the gyroscope must have used the heck out of it, because it’s made pretty good and it sheared all six connection points in the center of the gyroscope when it broke and was discarded! It was a deep find, well over 6 inches, you just never know what you’ve found, until you dig it up!

Mike found four wheaties, one kids silver ring, one old miniature bottle and this Sterling silver US marksman badge:

WWII marksman badge — missing specialty hanger

Here’s what a complete badge might look like:

ANTIQUE WW 2 ARMY RIFLE MARKSMAN PROFICIENCY BADGE TN G.I. ON BACK

As always, we had a fun day metal detecting in North Georgia, we didn’t find anything earth shattering this time around, but we’re always grateful for what we do find. See you next time and get out there and get the gold!