1873 Seated half dollar

JSM1986

Jr. Member
Mar 17, 2014
87
191
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1
Detector(s) used
Minelab safari
Tecknetics Omega 8000
Garret AT PRo
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
I finally got to use my new metal detector today. I went to a friends house that was built in 1920. I was getting a little discouraged because all I dug up junk for three hours. I only found one penny. So I figure someone already went through the place. I just kept digging and I found this beauty. Its my oldest coin to date. I was stoked but I was also suprised . Is it normal to find coins that old in a house that was built 47 years later? Also can any one help me determine the value? Thanks
 

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mope540

Full Member
Jun 29, 2011
214
197
Yonder
Detector(s) used
E-Trac, X1 probe, SEF 8X6 coil.

AT Gold, 5X8 coil, Garrett PP

Equinox 800, 6" coil

Oldest coin to date...1829 large cent
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Holy moly!!!:headbang:...damn good looking coin you have there. Still looking for my first seated 1/2. And yes it's normal to find older coins at newer home sites. Just as coins from the 60s are still in circulation today and being lost at new home sites.
 

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NHBandit

Silver Member
Feb 21, 2010
3,470
3,279
Formerly NH now East Tennessee
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Garrett GtaX1250
Calling it VG condition (Liberty mostly present) and looking at Ebay ended auctions which is a good indicator of what people are actually paying I'm going to say $26-$50 is about right. My 2012 Blue book lists it at $20 but that seems a little low.
 

Plumbata

Bronze Member
May 13, 2012
1,342
2,189
Wyoming
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White's
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All Treasure Hunting
Great coin! I wouldn't call it a common thing to find under such circumstances, but I'd bet non key-date seateds circulated throughout the depression. Alternately, there easily could have been activity on the property well before 1920. Whatever the case, that is a heckuva find, especially if this was your first time detecting. I'd place the value around 40 bucks. Best of luck finding more old silver!
 

grasshopper

Bronze Member
Aug 13, 2007
1,824
2,723
Upstate NY
🥇 Banner finds
1
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XP Deus/Deus 2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice find!

And if you think about it, coins from 50 years ago are still in circulation today. so it's entirely possible that someone dropped this coin around 1920.

Also, being silver, I would imagine that it would make sense for people to hold on to those coins. Essentially...silver is silver. An 1873 half dollar was worth as much as a 1920 half with the same silver content.
 

Guest 1551

Hero Member
Aug 4, 2013
782
889
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
AT PRO, Fisher F2
Primary Interest:
Other
YEE HAW! That's a beautiful coin right there! Gonna be tough to top it ;)
 

detectahead

Silver Member
Dec 1, 2007
2,563
873
Western, N.C.
🥇 Banner finds
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Equinox 600, Bandido UMax II, Fisher F5, Tiger Shark, Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Don't ever give up!! What a beauty! Congrats
 

CASPER-2

Gold Member
Jan 3, 2012
17,158
19,959
NEW ENGLAND
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1
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6
Detector(s) used
WHITE'S XLT, PI PRO, GARRETT 2500, 3- FISHER CZ21s, JW FISHER 8X
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting

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