Mountain Charlie - Another use for coins

WillieBoyd2

Mountain Charlie lived in the Santa Cruz, California, area in the 1850's.

From "Mountain Charlie" by John V. Young

Most colorful of Santa Cruz Mountain characters of the pioneer days was Mountain Charley McKiernan, one of the first white settlers in the region. Hunter, rancher, teamster, road-builder and stage-line operator, McKieman was said to be the idol of every small boy who grew up in the region. According to his admirers, his motto was: "Right wrongs nobody."
...
The (grizzly) bear chased the dog away, then returned to McKieman and dragged him to the end of a clearing under an oak tree and after pawing him over left him. The bear was never seen again.
...
The doctor hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican dollars and fitted it into the broken place in McKieman's skull where the bear had chewed away the bone over his left eye up to the top of the frontal bone.

http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/people/mtcharl.shtml

Scavenger

Removed the second plate and found a lock of hair under it

lordmarcovan

Wow. There are many times, especially when I'm out metal detecting, that I get "silver on the brain".

But that brings a whole new meaning to the phrase.

Hussulo

Don't mess with bears kids!

laurentyvan

Of such history is numismatic lore created...

Thanks for the "divertissement".