coins that have been dinged and damaged when digging

[savant365]

I found a 1876 Shield nickel and plowed a furrow halfway across it with my digging tool. I thought a thread showing how being careless and impatient damages otherwise superb coins might keep someone else from feeling like I do right now. I have just dug so many nails and crappe without finding a good coin that I was hurrying and not even thinking about ruining a 132 year old coin. But I did...

So don't be embarrassed, go ahead and post your pic's of gouged, scratched, scraped or punctured coins. Maybe we help someone else from having to post on this thread if they can learn from our mistakes.

Charlie

 

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[savant365]

Charlie I am sorry to hear about the "Nickel Incident" ...

However I must say it has NOT made your nickel "Less Righteous"...

It's a SWEET find my man ~ Nick ...

Thanks for the righteous comment Nick, but if we can help anyone from doing this themselves it would be nice. I don't think anyone wants to feel as dumb as I do right now.

Charlie

 

[Burdie]

Some times junk can throw your pinpointing off by the way it is located to the target. In fact I have observed this happening when the bad target is under the good target and slightly off to the side. I have no answer as to why though.
I do how ever try to cut a plug with a slow steady push with my digger.
I think we all have been in your situation.

Burdie

 

[Digginman]

Everyone has done it, savant, like some other things. Don't feel bad about it, just learn from it. It's a great find, even with the scratch.

Congrats.

DM

 

[mlw67]

Here is one that should make you feel better...

The pic isn't too hot, but you can see the big scratch I put right down the face of it if you look closely.

"What's that date on that coin", you say? Well...that is a 1909-S VDB--the rarest of the wheat pennies.

I wasn't really being careless (maybe a little), I was just trying to chisel my way through sun-baked clay. Just like cement.

 

[rmptr]

Awww!

Bummer.

 

[Goes4ever]

it happens to a lot of people, look at the groove I put in this IH penny I found a few weeks back. It was 1.5 inches deep and I ASSumed it was a zinc penny and was careless digging.

 

[savant365]

Wow, I am almost sorry I started this thread. Those pic's just make me cringe. I know it happens sometimes but it still stinks. Sorry guys. Even though they have scratches they are still really great coins to have. I cleaned my nickel today and may have done more harm than good, I haven't decided yet. It hides the scratch a little but it pitted the coin. I like the fact that my camera can really pick up the details now but it feels really bad to actually feel the coin

 

[Goes4ever]

you may have left it in the vinegar too long......how long did you have it in there for? last buffalo I cleaned like that took less than one minute to remove the redness

 

[savant365]

you may have left it in the vinegar too long......how long did you have it in there for? last buffalo I cleaned like that took less than one minute to remove the redness

I did it for about 15 to 30 seconds at a time but it took 4 or 5 times to see any results. I rinsed it off after every dip but I think I left it in a little longer after I saw the red coming off. Oops. I was trying to do it while cooking breakfast for company this morning and I got a little distracted. Like I said it just feels a little pitted (rough) not like a coin that has been carried in pockets all the time. I can live with it, it's been a learning experience.

HH Charlie