<< <i>First "find of my life" was back in 1960 when I was 9 years old. A buddy and I were crawling around in an old house that had the windows broken out of it and no front door. It was a real "rats nest". As we dug through the trash I crawled under the sink cabinet and found a little cardboard box, about 2 inches square, on a piece of wood inside that made a little ledge for it to sit on. I opened it up and there was cotton on top. Inside, laying on another piece of cotton were TWO Unc. 1909 VDB cents (no S). My buddy and I split them between us. Funny, but I have never told this story until now! >>
Fever - I could feel your anticipation. It must have been like opening a pirate's treasure chest knowing something of value was in that little box.
I had the luxury of sorting through quite a few bags of "junk" coin slated for disposal when I worked for an armored car company a couple years ago. I found all kinds of interesting coins (both light & dark side coins), but my favorite is the 1861 $2.50 Coronet Type New Reverse gold piece I found. It's in great condition but not worth much as it's been holed, but I like being able to say I found (and have) some gold.
A well-struck 1931-S Lincoln cent in AU-55 -- received in change in the late 60s from (of all places) a coin shop! I still have it even though I've added an MS example in the interim.
Me at the Springfield coin show: 60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
Around 1960 I received a 1921 mercury in change from the Popsicle man; I "bought" a 1950-D Jefferson for 25c from a buddy in the lunch line; and I found an XF 1909 VDB at my cousin's house.
Later finds out of bulk silver, nickels and cents, have included 1c 1936 DDO, four 5c 1935 DDR, two Unc. 38-D/S buffs, 42/41-D mercury, a 25c 1934 DDO, and a 1920-D SLQ in VG!
a couple of finds - not big ones in monetary value, but nonetheless, interesting and keepers - found a 71-D FEP Eisenhower in my deceased mother's IKE hoard and a 1938 DD Buff which I purchased at the local coin dealer for $15 smacks - turns out the PCGS graded the IKE FEP AU55 and the Buff MS65
currently putting together a EF/AU/BU 18th & 19th Century Type Set; and CC Morgan Set
just completed 3d tour to Iraq and retired after 28+ years in the US Army
Found metal detecting in Ithaca, NY in 1999. This is a key date in the Barber dime series, with PCGS price guide values of $350 in F-12 and $775 in EF-40. It was less than one inch deep in a wooded area that I was searching while my car sat in a repair shop.
I found a 1921 Mercury dime in circulation as a kid.
My grandfather unearthed an 1782 Mexican Real, an 1809 half cent, an 1854 large cent, and a 1829 Brazilian 40 Reis counterstamped copper in his garden in Great Neck, NY.
Best MD find, a 177? Contemporary counterfeit British half penny at Washington College, MD
the "best" coin i ever found was a 1921 lincoln as a lid, that hooked me for life. the best in the dirt was a VG 1897-o barber half found with the metal detector in a very hunted out school yard. best found on ebay was an 1841-0 closed bud dime in VG-F
Here is a "freebee". Got some crud on it, but strong LIBERTY and a strong "L". Found five inches deep next to a 200 year Oak tree. I like to think that I was the first and only person to hold this since shortly after the Civil War. Very special coin to me. Wish there was some way to conserve it though. Not a whole lot of monetary value, but to me its "priceless"
Comments
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Nice story, nice detector find and nice coin!
Edgar
<< <i>First "find of my life" was back in 1960 when I was 9 years old. A buddy and I were crawling around in an old house that had the windows broken out of it and no front door. It was a real "rats nest". As we dug through the trash I crawled under the sink cabinet and found a little cardboard box, about 2 inches square, on a piece of wood inside that made a little ledge for it to sit on. I opened it up and there was cotton on top. Inside, laying on another piece of cotton were TWO Unc. 1909 VDB cents (no S). My buddy and I split them between us. Funny, but I have never told this story until now! >>
Fever - I could feel your anticipation. It must have been like opening a pirate's treasure chest knowing something of value was in that little box.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
I'd spent my last $10 (US) on departure tax and was broke. It's amazing how far you can stretch 10,000 pesos between Cozumel and Houston.
WTB: Barber Quarters XF
Later finds out of bulk silver, nickels and cents, have included 1c 1936 DDO, four 5c 1935 DDR, two Unc. 38-D/S buffs, 42/41-D mercury, a 25c 1934 DDO, and a 1920-D SLQ in VG!
Garrow
Three 1964-D DDR dimes, AU
1946 DDR half, F
1942-D DDO quarter, G
1942/1-D dime, F
in the $0.80 buffalo nickel box, a 1935 DDR, in F.
Years ago, my dad found an 1883-O silver dollar in an apartment, just sitting in a corner.
Oh yeah, and two 1995 doubled die cents in 1995, and two more a year ago in a jar of 1995 cents I didn't search back then.
just completed 3d tour to Iraq and retired after 28+ years in the US Army
<< <i>In the ol' days, it was fun checkin' change:
drwstr123 - I'm not a fan of circulated Lincolns, but that really is a beautiful 14-D.
My grandfather unearthed an 1782 Mexican Real, an 1809 half cent, an 1854 large cent, and a 1829 Brazilian 40 Reis counterstamped copper in his garden in Great Neck, NY.
Best MD find, a 177? Contemporary counterfeit British half penny at Washington College, MD
I find I rather enjoyed these stories. I suppose it is the treasure hunter in me.