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If you found a 1795 half dime metal detecting, would you send it to PCGS?

pcgs69pcgs69 Posts: 4,324 ✭✭✭✭
in Metal Detecting
A member on the Treasurenet forum (unfortunately not me) found a beautiful 1795 half dime the other day. Link here.

I figure it'd be a no brainer to get that thing slabbed so he can spread it out with the rest of his PCGS coins... but then... several members commented like this was the worst thing to be done. I suppose there's a bit of a disconnect between metal detecting and coin collecting, but I thought everyone would appreciate the benefits of our host. I suppose not everyone who metal detects has a "box 'o twenty"!

Would you send this to PCGS for slabbing, regardless of a possible grade or "genuine"? Or keep it raw to handle and enjoy?

(edited to fix a sentence that was bothering me)

Comments

  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    holey !@#!, that coin looks amazing. is that a die crack running through the head? i would definatly send it in and have some magazine articles done it. the Numismatist might even be interested.
    a friend of mine dug a 1903s dime and had it graded a few years back. even in dug condition, he sold it for $700.
  • GrumpyEdGrumpyEd Posts: 4,749 ✭✭✭
    That has a lot of meat on it, it's nice.

    I'd give it a soak in mineral oil then send it in.
    Ed
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That coin is well worth slabbing... if genuine. I am not a 'slab everything' guy, but that one should be protected. Cheers, RickO
  • ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭
    This is an example for why I keep detecting! WOW! I am in Central Jersey and have lots of places to detect and only WISH that I am so fortunate to find such a piece. I am wondering though, what was meant by him saying that it sounded like a button? -Dan
    Numismasource ebay store
  • demodiggerdemodigger Posts: 1,012 ✭
    some people have an option on they're detectors, called tone ID. it might be called something different, but that is how i know it. anyhow, every type of object may give a different tone. a small button may sound similar to a halfdime. i search in single tone and just dig everything.
  • Steve27Steve27 Posts: 13,274 ✭✭✭
    I would never send a coin like that into PCGS, because they would just stick it in a "genuine" slab if real. I would send it to NGC or ANACS for a details grade in addition to authentication. That coin just looks too good for a something which sat in the ground for a couple hundred years:

    image
    "It's far easier to fight for principles, than to live up to them." Adlai Stevenson
  • watercrestwatercrest Posts: 47
    Big credits to the finder, what is the likelihood of digging up such a rare coin?
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    Absolutely would send to PCGS.

    Incredible find.
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 28,334 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i agree and no kidding about that
  • sellitstoresellitstore Posts: 2,870 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The coin looks like it has little to no wear suggesting that it was lost right around 1795-98. It's amazing that the surfaces are still so well preserved for something that has been directly in contact with the ground.
    Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.
  • Mission16Mission16 Posts: 1,413 ✭✭✭
    Why would you NOT send it in? You can always crack it out later.
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's definitely worth getting in a "Genuine" holder if the owner plans to sell it.

    Otherwise, I reckon it's a matter of personal preference.

    If I found that, my heirs would need to sell it, 'cause I'd have had a coronary the minute it came outta the ground.

    I'd have died happy, though. image

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • NeilinWestJerseyNeilinWestJersey Posts: 14


    << <i>This is an example for why I keep detecting! WOW! I am in Central Jersey and have lots of places to detect and only WISH that I am so fortunate to find such a piece. I am wondering though, what was meant by him saying that it sounded like a button? -Dan >>



    I guess I should reply to the thread, since I am the lucky finder of the coin. It was dug not too far from Dan, about an hour south and a few short miles from the infamous NJ Turnpike. A few people made comments on whether or not the coin is real. Although I still have not sent the coin out for conservation and grading, I have no reason to feel otherwise. The site turned up about a dozen old coins found by myself and a few others; the 1795 Half Dime being the most modern coin found. All the other coins were King George I and King George II coins dated from around 1713 to about 1750. There was also one Spanish Reale coin found from a bit earlier. The mild sandy soil was kind to all of the coins at the site.

    The variety turns out to be a rare variety, LM-3 which is easily identified by the die crack, which was in a later state of use. Out of 89K minted, there are less than 50 known survivors of this variety. I have been told by a few experts that this one is in at least AU or better condition.

    Dan, when I said it sounded like a button, my White's V3i has 191 different tones which can even differentiate between a silver and a clad dime. Due to their conductivity, silver coins usually give a high consistent tone, this one had a lower inconsistent "mid-range" tone due to both its depth (9.5 inches) and its smaller size and thickness. In my experience these types of signals usually produce brass button, which I find quite often.

    I am aware of 5 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime coins being dug, and all but one came out of New Jersey, so keep detecting Dan! Maybe you will be as lucky as a member of my detecting club who found a 1792 Half Disme (See the last photos)!

    I have been following this variety of the 1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime at auctions, and even damaged varieties command more than $3K. One was auctioned last year for more than $10K, and there is a currently a specimen for sale for more than $12K.

    Here are a few photos of the coin both in the dirt pile and before the loose dirt was removed.

    Enjoy!

    imageimage

    image

    image

    image
    ">myurl
  • guitarwesguitarwes Posts: 9,266 ✭✭✭

    A tremendous find. I'm glad your heart was good enough to handle something like that coming out of the ground!

    image

    Keep us posted if/when you send it off for conservation/encapsulation.

    @ Elite CNC Routing & Woodworks on Facebook. Check out my work.
    Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
  • PhaethonPhaethon Posts: 323
    After I picked myself up off the ground ... YES I would have it slabbed definately. GREAT FIND !!!
  • NeilinWestJerseyNeilinWestJersey Posts: 14


    << <i>Why would you NOT send it in? You can always crack it out later. >>



    Part of the reason is the investment. I estimate that between conservation (cleaning) and grading, it will set me back around $600.
    ">myurl
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow... that is a steep price.... I assume it is mostly the conservation fee....Why not first give it an acetone bath, alcohol rinse, hot water rinse and blow dry... see what it looks like then (acetone will not harm the coin). Cheers, RickO
  • Tdec1000Tdec1000 Posts: 3,851 ✭✭✭
    I agree with Ricko. That is what I would do first before sending to NCS.
    Awarded the coveted "You Suck" Award on 22 Oct 2010 for finding a 1942/1 D Dime in silver, and on 7 Feb 2011 Cherrypicking a 1914 MPL Cent on Ebay!

    Successful BST Transactions!SIconbuster, Meltdown, Mission16, slothman2000, RGjohn, braddick, au58lover, allcoinsrule, commemdude, gerard, lablade, PCcoins, greencopper, kaz, tydye, cucamongacoin, mkman123, SeaEaglecoins, Doh!, AnkurJ, Airplanenut, ArizonaJack, JJM,Tee135,LordMarcovan, Swampboy, piecesofme, Ahrensdad,
  • GroinyGroiny Posts: 399
    ...........incredible find ; I would not have it "conserved" - , so darn many have been cleaned
  • 13PacesEast13PacesEast Posts: 712 ✭
    Modern Crap.


    Too bad it's not toned.

    If only there were someone who knew how to tone coins......

    know what you don't know.

    hi, i'm tom.

    i do not doctor coins like some who post in here.

  • NeilinWestJerseyNeilinWestJersey Posts: 14


    << <i>Modern Crap.


    Too bad it's not toned.

    If only there were someone who knew how to tone coins...... >>



    Not MODERN CRAP by any standards. Found in a remote farm field along with 15 King George II coins, a few King George I coins and a Spanish 2 Reale dates 1709. It would have taken a lot of effort to bury this coin nearly 10 inches deep.

    Additionally, I have heard back from 2 rare coin experts who specialize in early US coins, and neither one of them think it is "modern crap".

    Thanks for sharing your opinion!

    ">myurl
  • pcgs69pcgs69 Posts: 4,324 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Modern Crap.


    Too bad it's not toned.

    If only there were someone who knew how to tone coins...... >>



    Not MODERN CRAP by any standards. Found in a remote farm field along with 15 King George II coins, a few King George I coins and a Spanish 2 Reale dates 1709. It would have taken a lot of effort to bury this coin nearly 10 inches deep.

    Additionally, I have heard back from 2 rare coin experts who specialize in early US coins, and neither one of them think it is "modern crap".

    Thanks for sharing your opinion! >>



    Hey Neil,

    It's Rob (we met in May when I was in NJ visiting family). Good to see you on here. Those four IHCs I found ended up being mostly toast due to the fertilizer or other products in the soil. One was 1875 and the others I just couldn't get dates off. Maybe that'll be a winter project. Thanks again for meeting up with me.

    As for 13paces, it sounds as if he's joking around (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). Here on the forum, we like to give people a hard time about their successes. For instance, someone may, in fact, give you a "You Suck" award for your find. And, for me, for non dug coins, I consider anything after 1837 'modern crap,' haha. So, for the time being, we must all assume he is joking as "modern crap" is sort of an ongoing term used around here.
  • GroinyGroiny Posts: 399
    oh ......make no mistake about it ;

    you find a basically unc 1795 1/2 cent with a metal detector ??

    YOU SUCK !! image
  • NeilinWestJerseyNeilinWestJersey Posts: 14


    << <i>oh ......make no mistake about it ;

    you find a basically unc 1795 1/2 cent with a metal detector ??

    YOU SUCK !! image >>



    LOL ( it's a Half Dime) image

    The Brits think all US coins are "Modern crap"!
    ">myurl
  • pcgs69pcgs69 Posts: 4,324 ✭✭✭✭
    I second the YOU SUCK!

    And, by the way, nice choice for an icon! You have yourself an O-126 Small Head Half graded VG8 - in a PCGS OGH holder no less!
  • NeilinWestJerseyNeilinWestJersey Posts: 14


    << <i>I second the YOU SUCK!

    And, by the way, nice choice for an icon! You have yourself an O-126 Small Head Half graded VG8 - in a PCGS OGH holder no less! >>



    The avatar options are somewhat limited in here!
    ">myurl
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If you found a 1795 half dime metal detecting, would you send it to PCGS? >>

    Maybe, if I didn't die of a heart attack after finding it. (The slab would make it easier for my heirs to sell it.)

    That is a mindblowing find. I like how he posted some "dirty action" pictures, too.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
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