Hunted a farm field yesterday... only one coin.

[Tony Two-Cent]

My brother secured permission for us to hunt some farms fields near his woods. Using old maps we were able to locate a site where an old homestead once stood in one of these fields. We found one area that had lots of broken glass and pottery so we concentrated our efforts there. (I am the only one with a detector, my brother just watches.)

I only got one coin and it came near the end of the hunt. It was fairly deep, about 8 inches. It is a seated dime with stars on the obverse so it has to be from 1840-1860. Unfortunately it looks like it may have been in a fire, it is really dark in color and some of the features have been obliterated including the date. However, it kind of looks like it may have arrows at the date which would place it from 1853-1855. It was an exciting find in spite of its condition.

63048630506304763049



Here are some of the other items we found in the field:
63051


The area where I'm from originally is known for its white squirrels. I snapped this guy in my parents' front yard:
63052

[BTV Digger]

I get alot of those type of days Tony. Lots of the cellar holes I search are just full of iron, but like you I always seem to pull at least one or two items of interest to bring home so I consider it a success, even though many times the items are not coins. Perhaps some careful cleaning and you can make the seated dime look decent. Interesting shark tooth looking piece of iron as well. :)

BTV Digger

[zrickkid]

It looks like 1853 to me

[Isaac]

Too bad about the obliterated dime, but hey, at least it's over 150 years old. :grin: Also, cool albino squirrel, I've only seen one.

[coinnut]

Hey Tony, does it read like a silver coin now that it is exposed? If it does, then it was probably fire bound. But if it reads very low, it could be counterfeit. Still Seated is a nice surprise when you least expect it!

[aloldstuff]

You've got the white squirrels and out here we have black squirrels. In a fire or not every seated is a beauty. :congrats:

[Digger Don]

Still a great coin to find. Happy you were able to hunt with your brother, even he did only watch.

[Tony Two-Cent]

Hey Tony, does it read like a silver coin now that it is exposed? If it does, then it was probably fire bound. But if it reads very low, it could be counterfeit. Still Seated is a nice surprise when you least expect it!

Yeah, it rang up like a normal silver dime at 12-45 on the E-Trac.

[coinnut]

Yeah, it rang up like a normal silver dime at 12-45 on the E-Trac.


Next time ask for your Seated, rare and not well done :lol: Still a nice surprise and another Seated to your pile!

[Ill Digger]

I'll take a hunt like that anytime.
To only find one coin is OK.... as long as it's a oldie! :thumbsup02:
Nice find!
Congrats Tony! :grin:

[Timewarpdigger]

Although the dime was toast I hope you had a great day with family. Safe & HH

[Thiltzy]

Holy crap. I never seen silver in that condition:hairpulling: Still a nice find. Might wanna try electrolysis on that one,

[Tony Two-Cent]

I tried this sulfide removal method on the dime:

http://www.americandetectorist.com/forum/showthread.php?696-Method-To-Remove-Sulfide-From-Silver

The results weren't great, but at least you can tell the coin is silver now.


http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb174/dubbl-t/Metal%20Detecting/Seated-Obv-Clean_zps05b5322c.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb174/dubbl-t/Metal%20Detecting/Seated-Rev-Clean_zpsaa970b8d.jpg

[POKIE73]

i have a few silvers like that they are just to toatsty to clean up well still is a great find farm fields are tough for me with bad knees anything you find in them is usally a oldie great hunt dennis

[The Rebel]

Wow that one is pretty well done, but hey silver is silver. WTG!

[del]

congrats on the seated Tony , it definitely looks to be a fire survivor . I 'm sure theres more coins hiding around that home site.

[wisconsin digger]

If your going to find 1 coin that would be a nice one to find. definitely look like arrows. Nice find. Wisconsin Digger

[Lodge Scent]

A seated in any condition is still a seated :congrats:I've seen black phase but never a white squirrel before. Pretty cool. Are they true albinos?

[driftwood1963]

Sweeeeet! The seated is on my "still to come" list!

[chief5709]

Tony, A lot of my hunts are fields where houses once stood. It seems coins are usually hard to come by (at least my experience). I usually find a lot of buttons for some reason. Anyways, awesome find! regardless of condition. Congrats.

[Tony Two-Cent]

I've seen black phase but never a white squirrel before. Pretty cool. Are they true albinos?

There is a "White Squirrel Rivalry" between Flora, IL and Olney, IL which is 25 miles away. Olney claims to be the white squirrel capital of the USA. For some reason the white squirrels in Olney are true albinos with pink eyes, but the white squirrels in Flora are not true albinos, they have dark eyes.

The one in this photo was in Flora, it has the dark eyes and therefore is not a true albino.

[Full Metal Digger]

Congrats on yet another seated coin Tony! You have found both ends of the spectrum in the last couple weeks. A beautiful 1859-O and a toasted one that has been through the fires of hell. HH my friend, Dave.

[Tony Two-Cent]

Congrats on yet another seated coin Tony! You have found both ends of the spectrum in the last couple weeks. A beautiful 1859-O and a toasted one that has been through the fires of hell. HH my friend, Dave.

Thanks, Dave! For the first time in my metal detecting career I have more Seated Dimes than Barber Dimes for the year. Bizarre.

This one is my oldest US silver coin, I just wish it was in better shape.

[geodehunter]

Congrats on your seated Tony. The seated is still a seated no matter the condition.

[silverstarmike]

Great job on Seated dime, Tony. Congrats and HH. Mike

[giant056]

Great score on the seated dime Tony :thumbsup02: