1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...) cleaned pics added

[savant365]

I found my oldest coin to date today, an 1876 shield nickel. Unfortunately I goudged the heck out of it with my digger = me! I am still very happy with it though since it is my first coin from the 1800's. I found it in my back yard that was a 160 acre farm since 18??. It's down to 2 1/2 acres now. The nickel was out in the very middle of the field/yard away from all trees or any thing else. As far as I know it was never plowed or planted but was always pasture. Sheer luck is the only reason I happened to go over this spot. It was appoximatly 7" down, I got a very faint signal and dug a pretty good sized plug. When I rescanned the hole the signal was still a little iffy so I took my smaller digger and stabbed the coin immediatly, live and learn I guess. I have dug pounds and pounds of trash to get this one little coin, I hope the next one comes along a little easier than this one did. Thanks for looking HH, Charlie

 

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[Ron B]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Yes, you did dig it and, well you know!
Congrats just the same.

If it were me, I'd place that coin somewhere, anywhere it could be exposed to the weather with the gouge side up of course! It won't cure the gouge but will certainly, given time make
it appear more authentic. Like someone else did it! Lol!

Thanks for sharing,
GRB

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Thanks Roy, and yes I do know, I'm still cussing at myself. I think since I already put a gash the size of the grand canyon on it I will try to polish it up a little. I don't think I can do any more harm to it. I looked up the details of the coin and it says it is 75% copper and 25% nickel, if anyone has ever got one of these cleaned up nice I would sure appreciate some advice.

Charlie

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Don't feel too bad, just consider it practice. Dug a 1916-D Barber quarter that is in AU condition, dropped in 1916, and except for the HUGE gash that I caused on her face, looks pretty good. I think I cried when I saw what I did.
CurbdiggerCarl

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Thought I would show some pic's of my place. The house is the original farm house from the 1800's. There is also a pic of my side yard and backyard.

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Don't feel too bad, just consider it practice. Dug a 1916-D Barber quarter that is in AU condition, dropped in 1916, and except for the HUGE gash that I caused on her face, looks pretty good. I think I cried when I saw what I did.
CurbdiggerCarl

Sorry about your Barber carl, I definately know how you feel.

Maybe we should start a thread showing our dumb mistakes so maybe the next guy/gal will be a little more careful. I know for a fact if I hadn't dug sooo much junk here I would have been a lot more patient and careful.
Charlie

 

[dgaughan]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

sweet find lots of detail all the 1's i have found have been beaten up pretty bad congrats and good luck

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

sweet find lots of detail all the 1's i have found have been beaten up pretty bad congrats and good luck

Thanks dgaughan. Good luck to you too. Charlie

 

[jeff of pa]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Nice find.

Still Waiting to find my First Shield Nickel

and i'm Sure I'll dent it also

 

[Detectingfreak]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Thats awesome! I wish that I got old coins in my yard! You are one lucky guy to live on a farm from the 1800's!!!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Sheer luck is the only reason I happened to go over this spot.

Nice find! I have yet to find a shield. My oldest nickel is an 1885 Liberty Head.

Luck is what metal detecting is all about. All we can do is increase the odds by doing research!

Congrats on your oldest find! My advice would be to invest in a pinpointer. By pinpointing areound the edges and bottom of the hole you could have avoided stabbing your coin.

Typically pintointers will run about $100, but I have been hearing good things about the Harbor Freight pinpointer for only $14.95!!! I may even invest in one as a backup unit!

Here is the link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97245

 

[unclejesse67]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Nice shield nickel. I'm still waiting to find one but my area isn't that old.

I've been experimenting with cleaning nickels lately using some tips I saw on this site. I cleaned a couple buffalos and v nickels with lime away and brasso and had pretty good results. I just dipped them in lime away for a few seconds and brushed them with a soft brass brush. Repeated this process a few times and rinsed in between alternating with brasso and lime away. It goes slow and doesn't eat the coins if you rinse right away. It restores the silvery color but doesn't make them look too shiny.

Anyway good luck.

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Nice find.

Still Waiting to find my First Shield Nickel

and i'm Sure I'll dent it also

Thanks Jeff, I wouldn't recommend the denting part...it really sucks and you call yourself some really bad names

Thats awesome! I wish that I got old coins in my yard! You are one lucky guy to live on a farm from the 1800's!!!

Thanks, I am lucky, this place has been in my family since 194?. I hope this is where my Grandkids spread my ashes.

Sheer luck is the only reason I happened to go over this spot.

Nice find! I have yet to find a shield. My oldest nickel is an 1885 Liberty Head.

Luck is what metal detecting is all about. All we can do is increase the odds by doing research!

Congrats on your oldest find! My advice would be to invest in a pinpointer. By pinpointing areound the edges and bottom of the hole you could have avoided stabbing your coin.

Typically pintointers will run about $100, but I have been hearing good things about the Harbor Freight pinpointer for only $14.95!!! I may even invest in one as a backup unit!

Here is the link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97245

Thanks Neil,
If I can find a used one I will. The one for $14.95 might be the way to go too.

Nice shield nickel. I'm still waiting to find one but my area isn't that old.

I've been experimenting with cleaning nickels lately using some tips I saw on this site. I cleaned a couple buffalos and v nickels with lime away and brasso and had pretty good results. I just dipped them in lime away for a few seconds and brushed them with a soft brass brush. Repeated this process a few times and rinsed in between alternating with brasso and lime away. It goes slow and doesn't eat the coins if you rinse right away. It restores the silvery color but doesn't make them look too shiny.

Anyway good luck.

Thanks for the advise Jesse, I'll give it a shot

 

[Tensas]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

I had the sad experience of gouging a 1848 half dime. Been digging a lot of trash and got careless. It happens.

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

I had the sad experience of gouging a 1848 half dime. Been digging a lot of trash and got careless. It happens.

Ouch...see we need to start a dinged coin thread

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,171176.msg1247155.html#msg1247155

Here it is. I started a thread in everything else so we can show off our scratches, dents, dings and gouges.

Don't be shy, maybe we can keep someone from following in our footsteps.

Charlie

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

HI Charlie,nice nickel even with the scratch in it. Nice spread,I had to do a double take when i saw the picture of your house,here's a pic of mine from the front. It was built in 1918.
Jerry

 

[savant365]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

HI Charlie,nice nickel even with the scratch in it. Nice spread,I had to do a double take when i saw the picture of your house,here's a pic of mine from the front. It was built in 1918.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry, they do look pretty much alike. I don't know exactly when this one was built but the oldest plat map I have found is from 1893 and it shows the house on it.

Charlie

 

[Ron B]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

Hey Charlie,
The advice regarding a probe has merit. I've been using SunRay's X1 probe on my Explorers and in all honesty, "I would not
leave home without it!" I think the price for a DFX SunRay probe is a little less than what it cost us Explorer users. Once you use one, you will thank all who recommended it.

By the way, your home site is quite impressive; very lovely!

Good hunting!
GRB

 

[Golden1]

Re: 1876 shield nickel (got it with the digger too GRRR...)

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!