Plumbata
Well-Known Member
[align=center]Hours into a day of rather unsuccessful scouting for areas laden with old bottles and other goodies, I found myself at yet another storm sewer draining into the head of the ravine being scoured for treasures:[/align][align=center] [/align][align=center]
[/align][align=center] [/align][align=left]Knowing that no bottles were to be had there, and feeling a bit tired from the hours of all-terrain traipsing, I sat down and casually studied the deposits around the rocks right outside the sewer outlet for noteworthy tidbits, and in short-order I saw 2 cents positioned vertically in a crack![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Right then I went into "metal-scrounging mode" and began scraping around in locations which would harbor dense items. More coins were discovered with ease, so naturally my eyes turned to the above-picturedsource of the bounty of small change.[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Armed with my cell phone flashlight, I squatted low with my feet set wide and waddled like a morbidly obese penguin through the low square passage. Within 50 feet I found myself inside the first of several manhole access/drain chambers, with plenty of standing room to stretch after the rather awkward journey inside.[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Zones and pockets of gravel with the more desired iron were present in several spots, so with fingers alone I grabbed handfuls of the material and washed it in the flow of visually clean and clear effluent. Plenty of coins were found, including wheats, which made me hesitantly optimistic about what else might be lurking in the deposits. Soon I found a crunched gold earring, which was a truly inspiring find despite only weighing .53 grams. Clearly "finger-panning" was yielding some good stuff![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Shortly before leaving due to the late hour (about 80 minutes inside the tunnels) I found the first silver! Over a dozen wheaties had been recovered by then, so I knew the silver had to make an appearance. It was a triple-drilled sterling Australian sixpence from 1942, with the obverse legend lathed away, likely a jewelry piece. Interestingly it was minted in San Francisco (wartime troubles and whatnot).[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Anyway, I was a bit uncertain about the future prospects for finding American silver coins as I left, but the imagination wouldn't let me rest until I had made some quick tools to ensure that I could go back in there and actually sift the deposits efficiently.[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]As is my style, I delayed a few things so I could get back in there the following day and tear it up! It started "slow", as I was finishing up the long detritus and gravel bar started at the upstream end the day before. 5 or 6 wheats came out, but overall the coins were diminishing per-unit of gravel/crap being processed. I sifted a storm sewer on a whim several years ago, and although no precious metals were found then, the experience and common-sense observations gleaned suggested that I abandon the spot and travel upstream to richer hunting grounds.[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]I spotted a healthy stretch full of large chunks of stone, brick, concrete, and iron, and the upstream tip was saturated with rusty dense iron chunks, nails, wires, etc. This is an awesome sign![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]In the first load ran through the sifter, I found 2 wheats, a 1953 Roosevelt dime, and the violet pink corundum/gold jewel which likely popped from a ring (1.12 g). The excitement and adrenaline went through the roof![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]On the 3rd load from the spot, I got the dateless Standing Liberty quarter! From then-on I was doomed, muscle-strain and soreness be-damned! [][/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Here's a load in the submerged sifter with a dark grey 1964 Roosevelt sitting on the surface. It was moved slightly, but literally poured out of the strategically-bent shallow aluminum sheet scoop moments before:[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]I am rather certain that this storm sewer was laid/finished in 1935, so the treasures weren't lost too terribly long ago. One can only imagine what sewers from 1835 might have secreted inside![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]The Gleanings:[/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]
[/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]It won't make you rich, but sifting through the old gravels and finding bits of gold and coins (plus minerals, fossils, scrap, etc) is a stimulating way to hunt for treasures free of technology fancier than a flashlight (headlamp). Just imagine if one gained access to some 19th century storm drain/sewer networks, the potential goodies are mouthwatering![/align][align=left] [/align][align=left]Happy hunting people, however you do it. [/align]