Quick 2 hour hunt yields my oldest US coin to date!

[plugcutter84]

I had the day off today so I got a few chores done around the house and then decided to take my detector for a walk. I went to a new property that is heavily wooded, so I didn't have very high hopes of finding anything but I figured it could be a good scouting mission for the fall. The area had a good amount of civil war activity during the early part of the war. I've been told the property dates to the 1730's. I got to the site at around noon and realized the briars and undergrowth were going to be a real challenge... Along with all the beer cans and shotgun shells! I climbed to the top of a ridge and started swinging along a narrow deer trail. Dug a few pieces of trash, and suddenly got an unexpected high tone while I was navigating my way through a thorn bush. I love it when that happens! I new it had to be a coin, and I figured modern quarter. I literally only dug about 3 inches and popped out a quarter sized coin. It only took me a split second to realize what I had, a drapped bust large cent!!! I coulda left right then and there and been a happy camper, but I had to see what else I could turn up. Ended up digging three pieces of lead, pretty sure one is a fired .69 cal round ball, the others are too hard to tell. Also dug a small bell which I believe is a relatively modern hunting bell for a dog. The last target I dug is the small brass case. The two halfs were about 5 feet apart, scanned the area hoping there might have been some coins inside but no luck. I walked back to the truck grinning ear to ear, and I can't wait to get back there again! When I got home I was surprised by how well the large cent cleaned up. 1805, my oldest US coin to date! All i did to clean it was a light dry brushing and gently rubbed the heavy dirt with a q-tip. I don't know if I should try to clean it any more than this... any thoughts? Thanks for looking, HH!

 

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[Mackaydon]

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[Old Dude]

Yep pics aren't working. We can't help if we can't see the coin. Congrats on the find.

 

[plugcutter84]

Sorry, don't know why the pics weren't working. Of course, now they're out of order but you get the point! Thanks for letting me know, they were working on my phone.

 

[el remolino]

Really nice coin!! Congrats

 

[plugcutter84]

Thanks! Most of the old coppers I find around here come out of the ground pretty toasted. Finding one this nice was a real treat!

 

[Scrappy]

Killer find. I was yelling at the top of my lungs in an empty field when I found a 1802 LC.

What a beauty!!!!

-Happy Hunting!

 

[rodarian]

Very nice coin. It's one that i would love to find, just once...heh.

 

[Old Dude]

I think the most I would do is use a toothpick to see if any more might come off. Looks pretty solid in your pics.

 

[gwdigger]

Nice. You on the west or east side of Chesapeake?

 

[plugcutter84]

Nice. You on the west or east side of Chesapeake?

West side of the bay, I'm in the Montgomery/Frederick county area. Tons of history around here, it's just a shame that they keep building and paving over it...

 

[streakert]

great coin, i have come to the opinion not to clean my LC copper amnymore than just a dry lite brushing, i too live in MD and this soil is not nice to old copper,

 

[Tony in SC]

Great find, and in good condition!! Tony

 

[Gaspipe]

Great find great shape. Don't mess with it!

 

[david680]

You say 1805, I keep seeing 1803. Either way its a really great find. Congrats!

 

[plugcutter84]

You say 1805, I keep seeing 1803. Either way its a really great find. Congrats!

I just looked at it under a magnifying glass and you're right! There was a little bit of dirt that was throwing me off. Thanks for the correction!

 

[david680]

I just looked at it under a magnifying glass and you're right! There was a little bit of dirt that was throwing me off. Thanks for the correction!

LOL. And just like that your oldest US coin is two years older.

 

[plugcutter84]

LOL. And just like that your oldest US coin is two years older.

Hahaha! Gotta love it! Thanks again.

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

You say 1805, I keep seeing 1803. Either way its a really great find. Congrats!

Me too! Nice find!

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Very nice oldie there !! Looks good to me would not change it any =)