Draped bust cent, with two sad incidentals

[Z.K.]

After a bit of a drought in terms of free time and available sites (can't do lawns without damage, waiting for frost to open up cellar holes, etc), I secured my first crop field permission and headed out today.

This is my first draped bust cent, which is cool! However, it is also the first time I've gouged anything during recovery and my first experience detecting a field that has been heavily exposed to modern fertilizers...I can't believe how eaten up this thing is. It looked so promising coming out of the ground! Ah well, at least I didn't gouge something very valuable.

Does silver in these kinds of fields get killed like this too?

Thanks, HH to all

 

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[Loco-Digger]

Congrats on pulling that LC. Hope you find more in that field.

 

[Scrappy]

Is that scale over the coin or is that the surface corroded away? If it's scale you could easily remove that to reveal what looks like an exceptional LC. Congrats on your first DBLC!

Steve

 

[basque-man]

She looks save-able! Maybe a nice long oil bath for a month or so? Still a great find!

 

[pepperj]

Nice going on the oldie, and it happens to us all at one time or other hitting the find and at like you said it wasn't a valuable one. It's strange some fields can eat the coppers right up till there little left to see, than other times they survive really well.

 

[joeyfresh]

A coin with good silver content will survive the fertilizer fairly well but an alloy/silver mixed coin will turn out like coppers. Your db is a great find but I don't think there's much hope for it.

 

[whammy]

Nice find. The silvers I've found in farm fields didn't seem to be bothered by the fertilizers like the coppers are. The oldest I've found in the fields were 3 mid 1700 Spanish Reales, and they came out worn, but undamaged.

 

[against the wind]

Fertilizers and salts,, they are not kind to many metals.
Congrats on your first DBLC

 

[Z.K.]

Is that scale over the coin or is that the surface corroded away? If it's scale you could easily remove that to reveal what looks like an exceptional LC. Congrats on your first DBLC!

Steve

Thanks, Steve! The details you are seeing are all that is left, basically raised original surface preserving a fraction of what would have been a very nice coin if it had dropped about 10 feet in a different direction (unfarmed tree line).

She looks save-able! Maybe a nice long oil bath for a month or so? Still a great find!

That is definitely worth a shot. I've never done that before. Thanks for the tip, and I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Scrappy]

I think it is in fine shape now that you've explained what I was seeing. I've pulled many, many Draped busts that were actually roached so your first one is a winner! Actually my first draped bust was my best, an 1802...

Congrats again bud!

 

[Fullstock]

The side plate from the second model Brown Bess is a nice find as well.

 

[Garrett424]

Congrats on your 1st. DBLC.

Don't feel too badly. My first LC was in WAY worse shape than yours. It doesn't matter; it's still a nice old coin find.

Also, the fact that you scratched it doesn't matter either 'cause it's toasted anyway. It's a good practice coin so you're ready for the next really good one.

 

[Z.K.]

The side plate from the second model Brown Bess is a nice find as well.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is why I come here. Because I...know...nothing.

Fullstock, what a great eye. I figured it was an ornamental piece from the homesite that is nearby. If I could like your comment 10x, I would. Thanks man.

 

[Vino]

Congrats on your first DB,
I believe like Joey said, what you see is about as good as it gets.

 

[NEPADIGGER7]

I love those draped busts man!

 

[Trezurehunter]

In the fields I hunt, that is typical for a some copper coins. Some Indian Head Pennies manage to look better than others, but have obviously been in the ground less time as they are newer. The chemicals the farmers use will just degrade the coin over time. The silver comes out very nice though.