@Davekatz said:
Honestly, I wouldn't expect it to get a grade only that it's genuine. I know it's going to make all of you coin collectors sick but I didn't know I found it until after I took it out of the rock tumbler and was sorting through the coins. (Told ya!) I was tumbling about $50 in change and there were 50 or more wheat cents mixed in when I saw it. Can you say improperly cleaned? Yup! As I said, I am not a coin collector, I just like old stuff and never dreamed I would find a really rare coin. I really like Jessewvu's advise of just keeping in a treasure box and telling a good story about finding it. Thats way more my style.
Okay.............BUUUUUUT..........and I've seen this often..........it will eventually be overlooked as a common wheat leaf penny and sold for a few cents......It will fall in the hands of someone who has ZERO idea what it COULD be worth. I just had a neighbor sell (and yes, this IS true since I know the parties very well) 600 Hummel figurines....many very old, from a lady who passed away in our complex. He got...........$500 for the entire lot......having had ZERO idea they were probably worth $10's of $1,000's! Also saw a coin dealer give a lady $200 for a 1911D $2.50 Indian Head gold coin. He laughed when she left and said "she was happy to get the melt value (at the time) and had NO IDEA what she had." Sad in my opinion.
Sad, Yes. Very sad even.
Good news is your coin looks like a genuine Die#2 to me.
Pete
"I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
@jackpine20 said:
A co-worker of mine maintains a fish tank partially filled with all of the coins from his decade-plus of Metal Detecting. One day he came to work with a coin and a story. He was excited to share that he had found a Barber Half in an area of a local park (founded circa 1903) that was freshly cleared for some building project. He knew where to look. He was not a coin collector and didn't know what to call it numismatically, but he loved finding 'treasures' for his tank. My opinion is ... you don't need a plastic holder to tell your story. Ask a dealer or a knowledgeable collector about authenticity and add that to your story.
This metal detecting co-worker of yours is exactly how I feel about it. It's NEVER about the value of the finds for me, it's about the adventure of finding cool old stuff. While this was my rarest find, it is far from my favorite coin find. I found an 1898 barber dime near Lake Tahoe California. I did the research, found the spot, and dug a cool coin exactly where it should have been. Its well worn and probably worth about 3 bucks in value but it's still my first pre 1900s coin and I love it.
BTW, this SVDB was found in an old swimming area that dates from the 1870s. I have no doubt it's genuine. Not far from it I found a thick gold wedding band dated 1893 and tons of other early 1900 artifacts. I live about three hours north of San Francisco so many of the old coins I find are S mint coins. Thanks for all your advise and stimulating chatter about it. To me the real value is finding it not the actual value.
@steveben said:
i would look at pcgs coinfacts and compare the hallmarks of this coin to and authentic one, mainly the mint mark positions and v.d.b. characteristics. try to determine if the example you are looking at can be eliminated as genuine based on those hallmarks.
Judging just from the pictures, the coin looks authentic to me. The mint mark appears to be in one of the four correct positions and the VDB appears to have the slanted "B" crossbar and slanted lower "D". All the detail of a VF is there and I find the color and texture somewhat attractive. The story would be just as interesting if the coin were in a holder, and any question as to authenticity would be settled.
Comments
What mint mark position is it?
It’s hard for me to determine whether the S is the correct shape too,
But please let me know EXACTLY where that would be!!! Thanks in advance.....LOL
Sad, Yes. Very sad even.
Good news is your coin looks like a genuine Die#2 to me.
Pete
This metal detecting co-worker of yours is exactly how I feel about it. It's NEVER about the value of the finds for me, it's about the adventure of finding cool old stuff. While this was my rarest find, it is far from my favorite coin find. I found an 1898 barber dime near Lake Tahoe California. I did the research, found the spot, and dug a cool coin exactly where it should have been. Its well worn and probably worth about 3 bucks in value but it's still my first pre 1900s coin and I love it.
BTW, this SVDB was found in an old swimming area that dates from the 1870s. I have no doubt it's genuine. Not far from it I found a thick gold wedding band dated 1893 and tons of other early 1900 artifacts. I live about three hours north of San Francisco so many of the old coins I find are S mint coins. Thanks for all your advise and stimulating chatter about it. To me the real value is finding it not the actual value.
Judging just from the pictures, the coin looks authentic to me. The mint mark appears to be in one of the four correct positions and the VDB appears to have the slanted "B" crossbar and slanted lower "D". All the detail of a VF is there and I find the color and texture somewhat attractive. The story would be just as interesting if the coin were in a holder, and any question as to authenticity would be settled.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
