Draped Bust Half Dime

tim g

Jr. Member
Mar 1, 2010
33
15
Hartsville, TN
Detector(s) used
White's Eagle Spectrum / Fisher CZ-21 / Minelab Xterra 505 / White's Classic III / DetectorPro Pirate
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

1797halfdimefront.jpg
1797halfdimeback.jpg
 

Upvote 0

testing123

Bronze Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,359
1,986
United States
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030, TDI SL
tim g said:
testing123 said:
hogge said:
Cal_Cobra said:
Awesome find :thumbsup:

According to the Red Book that would grade as a G4 and books for $1100 :hello2:

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.

That looks like a close match that will give you a good valuation. Your one find is probably more valuable than all of my 2009 finds combined! Congrats again!
 

jorge del norte

Bronze Member
Dec 22, 2005
1,062
117
nc
Detector(s) used
Nokta Simplex - Tesoro Conquistador Umax
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
CRUSADER said:
muttandjeeps said:
You've got my Banner vote! Beautiful dime :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

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


buzz kill.haha. nice tho
 

Kyle PA

Hero Member
May 12, 2009
957
15
Detector(s) used
White's XL Pro 6000
A buddy of mine who used to reside in Upstate NY dug an Extra Fine 1797 a few years ago. Great find!
 

hogge

Silver Member
Mar 13, 2008
3,814
1,503
Pittsfield Ma.
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T-2SE--Whites Prism IV
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Tim, Too bad being the first post you won't make the Banner. Really don't think it matters. As regards to having it graded, I think most collectors like to examine the coin in the metal, more than in a holder. Maybe one of the other guys, like Don in SJ, can ID the variety for you. (I don't know the classification of Die Varieties on 1/2 dimes). If it were mine........well.........I think everyone knows where it would go. ;D BIG CONGRATS..........and Welcome! Hogge :notworthy:
 

Mach1Pilot

Silver Member
Jul 21, 2008
3,000
1,160
Bedford County, PA
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab, Fisher, Teknetics and more!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Congrats on a great find! :icon_thumright: They sure are tiny, aren't they!

I'll say banner too, sorry the rules will not allow it. :)
 

Tnmountains

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2009
18,720
11,716
South East Tennessee on Ga, Ala line
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Conquistador freq shift
Fisher F75
Garrett AT-Pro
Garet carrot
Neodymium magnets
5' Probe
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Welcome to t-net. I drove over the Cumberland 8 days ago. That coin is fantastic. Your area is rich in history similiar to Chattanooga. Hope you continue posting your finds and sharing them with us.
HH,
TnMtns
 

p2c

Bronze Member
Apr 14, 2009
1,356
5
Matteson, IL
Detector(s) used
Minelab Etrac and Grey Ghost NDT; Garrett Pointer Pro
Awesome find! Best US coin I've seen found in a long time.
Banner definitely :thumbsup:
 

Call me a Plumber

Jr. Member
Dec 17, 2007
90
1
Tim G great find buddy I wish the rest of the Tnet crew would report in with as many facts as you have Its kinda nice to know Y'alls name and where your from it makes the story that much more interesting to read. Oh by the way I kind of felt like I was back in typing class reading your story had to go back and forth four or five times but it was worth it. I vote Banner as well. The Plumber.
 

rjw4law

Bronze Member
Apr 25, 2007
1,588
180
Missouri
Detector(s) used
AT Garrett Max/ Garrett ATX/ Deus XP
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
These are the ones we dream of.
 

BuckleBoy

Gold Member
Jun 12, 2006
18,126
9,689
Moonlight and Magnolias
🥇 Banner finds
4
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Fisher F75, Whites DualField PI, Fisher 1266-X and Tesoro Silver uMax
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
KylePA said:
A buddy of mine who used to reside in Upstate NY dug an Extra Fine 1797 a few years ago. Great find!

Yeah? Well, my Dad is stronger than your Dad.
 

OP
OP
tim g

tim g

Jr. Member
Mar 1, 2010
33
15
Hartsville, TN
Detector(s) used
White's Eagle Spectrum / Fisher CZ-21 / Minelab Xterra 505 / White's Classic III / DetectorPro Pirate
I re-posted this and another coin that I found recently on the coins fourm here on TNet. Maybe that post could be banner? Hey, it's worth a shot. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind remarks!
 

kane23

Hero Member
Mar 29, 2007
719
5
Utah
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Tejon, Garrett Ace 350.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Life is short, but sometimes really SWEET! GH kane 23
 

CRUSADER

Gold Member
May 25, 2007
40,880
45,587
ENGLAND
🥇 Banner finds
27
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II v0.6 with 11" Coil
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
tim g said:
I re-posted this and another coin that I found recently on the coins fourm here on TNet. Maybe that post could be banner? Hey, it's worth a shot. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind remarks!

cats out of the bag. You needed to be at least a Junior member before posting...
 

OP
OP
tim g

tim g

Jr. Member
Mar 1, 2010
33
15
Hartsville, TN
Detector(s) used
White's Eagle Spectrum / Fisher CZ-21 / Minelab Xterra 505 / White's Classic III / DetectorPro Pirate
Dman said:
Tim,
Welcome to TN. Congrats on the nice coin.
Dman

Thanks Dman, have you done any investigating about those buried coins yet? Let me know when you want to try to go after them!!
 

Deno

Bronze Member
Dec 22, 2008
1,368
31
Fern Creek Ky
Detector(s) used
XLT
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Tim, that is the find of a lifetime. I wish they would change the rule
on the banner. That should be there for everone to see.
 

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