Author Archives: Grant Hansen
One of A Kind Button?
No, I’m sure it’s not a one-of-a-kind button. But I can’t find another example anywhere of a button with this specific back mark. Have you seen it? If so, please let me know!
A Cold November Day
Over Thanksgiving weekend, I went back to my childhood home to see what else I could find. It was cold and muddy, which I wasn’t expecting, and I hadn’t dressed properly to fend off the elements. My feet, fingers, and body got cold fast, so the hunt was shorter than I had planned. I did … Continue reading
A Few Nice Buttons
As we entered mid-November, I was able to get out for a few hours. While signals were few and far between, I did find some nice buttons. In particular, I found my first ball buttons!
A 1700s Kind of Day
Unless a property stops producing, I’ll keep going back as long as I have permission to do so. So, back I went to one of my favorite spots, built in 1810. While the property is filled with debris from yesterday, there continue to be treasures hidden amongst the clutter. On this day I decided to … Continue reading
More Finds at the Early 19th Century Home
It’s not often that detectorists like myself find a property that just keeps on giving. Usually we hit a property once, twice, even three times, and then it simply becomes a struggle for diminishing returns. Well, not this house. Not this property. A few hours in spots I’ve already searched yielded some fantastic goodies!
Vintage Toy Soldiers
While I was out detecting one wet, rainy day I hit a spot that transported me back into the childhood of a boy from the 1930s. Dig after dig, I started recovering a bunch of different Barclay/Manoil lead toys form around 1935. They’re all in amazing shape, and the only thing that powered them was imagination. … Continue reading
Gold Wedding Band Found & Returned
I don’t often find gold when metal detecting. OK, truth is, I’ve never found gold. I’m not really out looking for it as I hunt for old coins and relics. And, well, I still haven’t found gold while metal detecting! This was actually an eyeball find. My wife and daughter and I went to a … Continue reading
17th Century Dutch Doublet
About an hour after finding the pre-1830 NY Militia button, I was getting ready to call it a day. As I made my way toward my car, I kept swinging my coil. I got a jumpy signal and decided to dig. Only about an inch deep, an odd looking button revealed itself. I wasn’t exactly … Continue reading
Excelsior! Pre-1830 NY Militia Button
I was having a rough go in the rain and very difficult digging conditions. Just beneath the surface on the entire property is rocks. Lot of tough-to-dig-through rocks. I was getting plenty of good signals, but most turned out to be molten lead. Finally, something appeared that I knew had to be good. As I … Continue reading
It’s in a Museum!
John Mecke watch paper engraved plate
Donated to the National Watch and Clock Makers Museum
Also a winning find in the Garrett Searcher!
Grant Hansen's NJ Civil War Staff buttons featured among 2015's best finds in Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine!
Grant and James have had multiple articles featured in Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine