Draped Bust Half Dime

[tim g]

First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Tim Guthormsen and I live in Hartsville, TN. I have been metal detecting for about 8 yrs. Started out coin hunting, but have progressed into relic hunting. I am the current VP of the Middle Tennessee Metal Detecting Club in Nashville ( mtmdc.com ).

Alright, enough about me, let's get to the find. I met up with a couple fellow club members Saturday and we went to an old pioneer town in Mid TN along the Cumberland River. It was a site that had given up a few decent relics for us before, but nothing like what I was going to find. The last time we were there, I dug an 1833 Capped Bust Half Dime, so I started where I found that. After about 15 minutes into the hunt, I got a fairly good sounding signal, but it also sounded shallow. Most of these type of signals have been brass casings from WWII maneuvers that were held all over the site. I had also dug a couple nice flat buttons, so there wasn't a question that I was going to have to see what the target was. I dug a shallow plug (only about 3-4 inches deep) and the target was in it. When I broke the plug open, I was expecting to see another WWII blank, but instead I saw the glint of silver!! That got my heart pumping a little bit. I removed it from the plug and it didn't register right away what I had found. I was looking at the back of the coin and there was a funny looking, skinny bird on the back. Then it hit me and I realized that I had an early American coin!! Now I was REALLY excited!! I ran over to the guys I was hunting with before I even flipped it over to see the front of the coin. I lightly brushed the dirt off the front and saw that it was a 1797 Draped Bust Half Dime!!! This is the oldest, rarest (only 44,527 minted) and most valuable coin that I had ever found!! It wasn't in the greatest shape, but still the best coin find I have ever made. One of the guys I was hunting with found a 1782 Spanish 1 Reale about 20 feet from where I found my coins. This site has been really good to us, and there is still A LOT more ground to cover!! Happy Hunting everyone.

Tim Guthormsen

 

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[goldnow]

First, nice to meet you, Tim.

Second, I don't like you already...

Third, I voted Banner!!!!!!!!

 

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[crazyjarhead]

Sweet, rare find and you don't see them dug very often. I'd be proud of that coin. And, welcome to TNET. I think I'll vote Banner on this one too

 

[DigginThePast]

That is one sweet find but you already know that.

Huge congrats!


Welcome to T-Net.

 

[Bubba65]

That is one awesome find!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go

Bubba65

 

[tim g]

Awesome find

According to the Red Book that would grade as a G4 and books for $1100

Congrats and HH,
Brian

This coin would grade as a "Poor-2", (or 1), and qualifier of "scratched" or "damaged". GREAT FIND. Congrats................Hogge

A major congratulations on your superb find!
It may go upwards of an AG3 in terms of wear, but the Redbook lists values for coins in "problem-free" condition, so we should not use the Redbook as a valuation tool for dug coins. As Hogge said, there are some scratches/damage on it after being in the ground for 200 years. Usually eBay completed auction history would be a good indicator of value (need to find one with similar wear and damage), or even the Heritage auction archives. You may want to consider sending it to PCGS to get it into a “Geniune” holder, or even to NGC or ANACS. It can be a little expensive, but a find like that deserves some decent protection.

I checked out ebay's recently sold area and found this. http://cgi.ebay.com/1797-Draped-Bus...mQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item2558cd9802 It looks to be in about the same condition as mine.

 

[jeff of pa]

Welcome to TreasureNet !

awesome find!

Congrats !

too bad it's your First Post Here

 

[Iron Patch]

Yes, enough about you! Great dime!

A 1700s US silver is very high on my want list!

 

[Hunter]

Excellent find!!!

 

[mikefromIllinois]

Great Find. Has my vote for BANNER.

 

[mainer]

That is one coin on the top of my list. Great find.

 

[pepperj]

Impressive looking piece of silver, high on the want lists of many.

 

[Fish-Gate]

I could only dream of finding such a beautiful piece of history. Banner quality for sure...

 

[Go Bills]

great coin and some great research! welcome!

 

[gold eye]

I will just say sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet love the old silver coins . I vote banner and keep up the hunt on that site . RON

 

[rhedden]

As an interesting historical side note, the "16 stars" variety of the 1797 half dime was produced for a short time upon admission of Tennessee into the Union as the 16th state. It's ironic that you found this 15-stars coin in Tennessee!

The 13 stars variety of the 1797 half dime is by far the rarest of the three varieties. It is presently rated as an R6 (21 to 75 total pieces known). The 16 stars is somewhat scarce, and the 15 stars is the most common for the year. Relatively speaking, none of these are even close to "common", however. Definite banner find!

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

Thats a real beauty there
Great find for sure

 

[muttandjeeps]

You've got my Banner vote! Beautiful dime

 

[CRUSADER]

You've got my Banner vote! Beautiful dime

Maybe people don't know the guidance on Banner finds, but you can't get one on your first post. Sadly its the rules

 

[CladMaster]

Great find! Glad to see you on the boards.

 

[Fish-Gate]

Too bad about a first post rule. Banner or not, I'm green with envy.