Coins, artifacts found on historic property

Farmersville’s Historical Society has called upon a special hobbyist to help them find artifacts buried or lost long ago in the grounds of the Bain-Honaker House.

Josh Hitt, a metal detectorist and local resident, found several items during his two excursions searching the property of the historic home near downtown Farmersville.

In May, Hitt found items on the property from the mid to late 1800s. His most recent trip, Saturday, Aug. 5, yielded an old hand drill, an early belt buckle, an old spoon, parts to a Model T car and a printer’s plate that he believes might have possibly come from The Farmersville Times.

For Hitt, detecting for old silver coins is what he said he enjoys the most.

“My oldest coin I have found is a Shield Nickel dating back to the 1860s and the oldest silver coin is an 1875 Seated Liberty Dime,” he said.

Shield Nickels are the first 5-cent pieces to be made from copper nickel starting in 1866.

Hitt said his love of detecting began in 2018 when he told his wife he wanted a metal detector “and she bought me one for Christmas.”

“I haven’t stopped since,” he added. “I think she may have regretted that purchase.”

To date, his two favorite finds are a Blue Ridge class ring from the 1960s which Hitt was able to return to the family and a 25-cent token from the old Ice House in Farmersville.

“I love our little town,” Hitt said. “I’m so interested in the history of it and what history I can pull out of the ground.”

In the future, Hitt said he has plans to detect land in town where the Caddo Indians may have first settled.

By Norishka Pachot

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