My coolest find in a while...
StubbyMcNumbthumbs
Posts: 1,259 ✭
We had some business in town yesterday (Adelaide, South Australia, if you were wondering) and my wife suggested we bring the metal detectors along "just in case we have time". On days like that, we can always make time! It was beautiful and our favorite park was just around the corner from where we were going to be. It is a quite large park and is quite old (1850's?) We have detected there many times and always find a few dollars along with the occasional old piece.
I started out in one direction near where the playground equipment was, before they removed it all (they're in the process of updating it). My wife went out in the same general area we usually hunt and was in her own little world. I had found a nice 1885 threepence in this area before, which was surprisingly just below the surface, so I thought I'd hit it some more.
My first signal worthy of attention was that familiar high-pitched warble of a $2 coin. Sure enough, there it was. Off to a good start!
Within 20 feet, or so, was another signal just like it. Bingo. Tally - $4 in about 10 minutes.
After another 10 minutes and 30 feetaway, I got a signal which I was convinced was a 1cent or 2cent coin. I usually leave them, unless they show as being shallow, since there are just too many $1 and $2 coins waiting out there to spend much time digging 1 and 2 cent coins.
I thought, well, so far the soil has been really easy digging and this one showed only about 4" deep. A quick dig to get it up and out of there so I could move on, quickly turned into "WHoa, that's definitely NOT what I was expecting!" Laying there in my pile was a really large coin which looked like copper.
I looked and realized it was the oldest Penny -with a date-, I had ever found, and in really nice shape! (I have found a couple of 1797 Cartwheels before, but without any discernable dates. A one year type coin with unique characteristics makes them pretty easy to ID.)
Anyway, after getting home and spending some time with a careful soaking and warm, soapy water wash, here's how she looks:
This was on my scanner. I'm gonna try and take some photos and see if it turns out any better, but I'm pretty happy! (Too bad it wasn't a year newer!
)
It has a few "freckles" and, YES, I scraped it along the edge with my shovel - D'OH!
Finished the day with $8.63, 1848 Penny, 1945 sixpence, 1936 threepence and a sterling silver brooch/pin thingy that's all bent up.
Not bad!
edited to explain just where on this planet I'm talking about!
I started out in one direction near where the playground equipment was, before they removed it all (they're in the process of updating it). My wife went out in the same general area we usually hunt and was in her own little world. I had found a nice 1885 threepence in this area before, which was surprisingly just below the surface, so I thought I'd hit it some more.
My first signal worthy of attention was that familiar high-pitched warble of a $2 coin. Sure enough, there it was. Off to a good start!
Within 20 feet, or so, was another signal just like it. Bingo. Tally - $4 in about 10 minutes.
After another 10 minutes and 30 feetaway, I got a signal which I was convinced was a 1cent or 2cent coin. I usually leave them, unless they show as being shallow, since there are just too many $1 and $2 coins waiting out there to spend much time digging 1 and 2 cent coins.
I thought, well, so far the soil has been really easy digging and this one showed only about 4" deep. A quick dig to get it up and out of there so I could move on, quickly turned into "WHoa, that's definitely NOT what I was expecting!" Laying there in my pile was a really large coin which looked like copper.
I looked and realized it was the oldest Penny -with a date-, I had ever found, and in really nice shape! (I have found a couple of 1797 Cartwheels before, but without any discernable dates. A one year type coin with unique characteristics makes them pretty easy to ID.)
Anyway, after getting home and spending some time with a careful soaking and warm, soapy water wash, here's how she looks:
This was on my scanner. I'm gonna try and take some photos and see if it turns out any better, but I'm pretty happy! (Too bad it wasn't a year newer!
)It has a few "freckles" and, YES, I scraped it along the edge with my shovel - D'OH!
Finished the day with $8.63, 1848 Penny, 1945 sixpence, 1936 threepence and a sterling silver brooch/pin thingy that's all bent up.
Not bad!
edited to explain just where on this planet I'm talking about!
0
Comments
(It's nearly the size of a silver dollar!). That would also explain it's great condition, when it was dropped anyway.
I found an 1857 about a year ago at the edge of a school oval with a similar amount of wear, but a LOT more corrosion.
Happy Hunting!
Lafayette Grading Set
<< <i>Now aren't you glad your wife wanted you to take your detector
Most definitely! She still holds the position of being my ultimate coolest find ever!
<< <i>my wife suggested we bring the metal detectors along "just in case we have time". >>
Seems to me you have 'the' coolest find ;>
You Aussies and Canadians are lucky to have higher face-value coins. With things like $2 coins in circulation, even some of that modern stuff can be worth diggin'!