My very first silver coin! 1899 Barber Half Dollar!

[DiamondDan]

Holy crap, I am excited! I usually get out detecting every other day for a few hours and several hours in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. I guess I've been detecting pretty regularly for about six months, and have made some great finds, but I have been dying to dig a silver coin.
Well, today I finally did!

Hit a new spot with a whole bunch of crumbling building foundations. Boy, is it trashy! I spent the first couple hours digging iffy high and mid tones, and mostly came up with copper wire and heavily corroded nails. I was making my way back to the car, sweeping right along side an old foundation, and I got a rare solid high tone right about 95. I thought for sure it was another nail. I about loaded my pants when I saw the black coin pop out of the ground! I knew it was good!

I wanted to clean it up a bit without scratching it, so I lightly washed it in a nearby puddle. The black junk started coming right off. Wow! What a find. I am very happy! I have a feeling I'm onto a good location. Thanks for looking!

 

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[68kaiser]

Good job.. That is a fine coin. Hoping for one to get under my coil

 

[crabstang44]

That's a great first silver coin

 

[Gridwalker306]

Great way to break into the silver, big congrats!

 

[Trapper340]

Great find. I'm still looking.

 

[cjon455]

Hell of a 1st!, congrats! !

 

[toasted]

Thats one of the few silver coins I have yet to find that I should be able to and you go and make it your first. Congrats

 

[Terry Soloman]

What a terrific FIRST SILVER - Congratulations!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Great story, excellent results! Congratualtions on the nice silver.

 

[JeremiahEdward]

Man, that's awesome. I've never dug a Barber, though I want to really badly. I just think they look really REALLY cool. Nice one!

 

[ScaredOfClowns]

Holy cow - first silver is a big moment in this hobby, and that's a pretty great way to start (and pre-1900 silver as a bonus)! I'm still looking for my first Barber, and you score one right out of the gate - Congrats!

 

[Molewacker]

First silver, pre 1900, and a half - wow

Would you kindly pick my lottery #'s?

 

[WHADIFIND]

Congrats on a great first silver! It's a very special find for you. Take care of it, you'll be glad you did.

On a side note, going forward, try to resist that damnable urge to KNOW what it is as soon as you dig it. Every single experienced hunter here can tell you horror stories about that one item they found that they absolutely destroyed, just because they HAD to know! LOL

I'm glad you found some water to at least keep it from scratching as much. But, even water can cause some dug items to deteriorate in your hands.

You're off to a flying start! Good job!

 

[against the wind]

Big Silver, , Sweet Find.
Congrats

 

[ShovelinDave]

WOW what a beauty. Congrats on your first silver and a Barber half dollar at that. I bet your cheeks are hurting from all that smiling. Sounds like you got a good spot.
I've been at it since May and have yet to find mine. I found a 1942 war nickle but I'm not counting it. HH

 

[port ewen ace]

nuttin' like starting at the top of the list and workin' down to a rotted Zincoln. my only halves---a Ben & 5 clad Kens

 

[Ahab8]

Great job man. If you're willing to pick through the trash you will certainly make some great finds. Just a tip here but lemon juice will help with the super dark toning on old silver. Just don't go too far and make it super shiny.

 

[JeffInMass]

That's quite a coin for your first silver- Huge Congrats!! May you find many more!

-- Jeff --

 

[tomhighland]

Congratulations on your first silver. What a nice one too! From your post and others in the past I'm thinking we should all go back to the car every twenty minutes.

 

[BigWaveDave]

Congrats!....
I need to find a Barber Half...like desperately.

Maybe tomorrow.....