California Gold Rush

[Digging Up Bottles]

Very nice finds! Love the black glass.

 

[hunting262]

nice coin i collect them but only ones from America.[]

 

[tigue710]

Thanks everyone. The coin is priceless to me. To find a coin dated 1849 in a layer of bottles that likely date to the gold rush of 1849 is just remarkable to me... That coin made its way over in some Frenchman's pocket who possibly lost it dishing out his last few coins for a drink of what was in the bottles... did he go on to strike it rich? Or is he one of the unfortunate souls who gave my town, Hangtown, its dark early name? The history of the gold rush here is fast becoming a passion of mine, and digging through a layer deposited when the trees stood 200 feet, high, bears and mountain lions were frequent encounters and the gold just lay on the ground for taking, what a time and place in history!

 

[RICKJJ59W]

Cool Franc,its in great shape. No privy juice to mess it up []

 

[tftfan]

Good stuff TIGUE ! Hope you get some good ones. Thanks for the pics.

 

[GLOPTOP]

Hey Matt, in the early '70's my buddies and I dug the lot (at that time) next to the old Bell store downtown Coloma, just north of you. Found some pontilled black glass, a pontilled sarsaparilla, and two 20 dollar gold coins! The coin I found was dated 1848 and like mint condition. I know exactly how you felt when you found your coin. Does not get much better than finding an 1848 gold piece in the town where it all started! Ended up giving it to my buddy because he lived there in Coloma, proprioter of the Discovery House Antique shop there in town. Photo is the Bell store as it looked then.

Dennis

 

[Xaquin]

bring a metal detector and look for more coins too!

 

[tigue710]

ORIGINAL: GLOPTOP

Hey Matt, in the early '70's my buddies and I dug the lot (at that time) next to the old Bell store downtown Coloma, just north of you. Found some pontilled black glass, a pontilled sarsaparilla, and two 20 dollar gold coins! The coin I found was dated 1848 and like mint condition. I know exactly how you felt when you found your coin. Does not get much better than finding an 1848 gold piece in the town where it all started! Ended up giving it to my buddy because he lived there in Coloma, proprioter of the Discovery House Antique shop there in town. Photo is the Bell store as it looked then.

Dennis

two 20 dollar gold coins! That's amazing Dennis... You were telling me about this dig in Auburn, I was thinking about trying to get in there on the way home from the show as we drove right through Coloma... i go up there and just walk around and day dream now and then... Most of it is as you know just sitting there...

 

[cobaltbot]

Cool thread and nice find, wonder if anyone has ever found a nugget while bottle digging?