Found my first Large Cent today 1794? and a Sterling Bracelet

[TheProf]

Hemmed and hawed about going out today, still in the 40's here. I got a new Double D Coil for Christmas and been waiting to try it out for the first time. So I went to my favorite spot and could not pinpoint worth a daggone with this new coil. Found a few deep targets but could not recover them. After an hour I just decided to keep digging. The first thing I found was a sterling bracelet. I then found a heavy coin so heavily crusted I just put it in my pocket and went home. When I got home I could read One Cent on the back and a 9 and 4 next to each other on the front which I can barely make out which would mean 1794. You can also barely make out LIBERTY across top. This is one heavy coin! This is about the best picture I could get of the coin. The front is worse. I would like to get professional cleaned if anyone can recommend and then slabbed. Have a great Super Bowl!

 

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[Goes4ever]

Congrats on the silver and LC!

 

[gmanlight]

Congrat on the Largie . Old copper does not clean well
and what you have may be as good as it gets. Luck Mike

 

[dwayne sueno]

sounds like a match. that's a heck of a first copper. congrats!

 

[Woodland Detectors]

congratulations!


I wish you many more!

 

[TheProf]

Hoping to go back to spot this week-end if weather holds up.

 

[Bank Runner]

Very nice finds

 

[Deno]

Prof, I would love to find a large cent that old.

You may want to try that hot peroxide bath these guys are always talking about.

From what i have seen it looks like it does one heck of a job.

 

[steelheadwill]

Great Old Copper!
If you can see the date, be very careful cleaning it.
methods that are termed 'safe' will still remove details if they are part of the surface corrosion/patina.
I can't count the times I regretted cleaning coins, especially copper,
Here's a pro coin conservation & grading service.
http://www.ncscoin.com/conservation/index.asp

 

[SkyPirate]

i like finding the large cents

 

[hikeinmts]

Yes, if you think it is the 1794, then send it in and have it cleaned professionally.
Then, if they mess it up, you will be recompensed.......I think. Have never went that route, with what I find/
where I find it. But, I have heard good reports about the pros cleaning techniques.
Keep us posted. If its a '94, you have a great coin.

 

[allen]

Hope it cleans up nicely for you !!

 

[Damon64]

Nice LC!

 

[artorius]

Hi Prof,

Nice find. You might check the weight of your coin. Sometime in late 1794, I believe the weight of the large cent was reduced from around 13.5 grams to a hair over 10 grams (Yeomans will give you the precise weights). If the coin's weight is towards the higher end, that could secure its date as 1794 (or earlier?).

I surface hunt Indian Artifacts in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and in the last three collecting seasons have found two badly eroded 18th century coppers. The first was a George II halfpenny with an eroded date that either is 173 (something) or 175 (something). The "IVS II" of "GEORGIVS II" is clear. The other is a badly eroded Draped Bust large cent - the bust is corroded but recognizable, and the last digit of the date, while faint, clearly is an "8". Since Draped Bust large cents were minted from 1796-1807, the only date with an "8" for a last digit is 1798. So that has to be the date of my coin.

Unfortunately, Mid Atlantic soils can be harsh on copper - particularly if the soils have been farmed (and fertilized) over generations.

artorius

 

[TheProf]

Weighs 11 grams.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Weighs 11 grams.

11 Grams would be late 1795 or later, but almost all my corroded large cents found in South Jersey are under weight from the corrosion. Some weigh as little as 9 grams, so it may still be 1794.

If it is a 1794 it will be lettered on the edges "ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR". http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,310648.msg2249996.html#msg2249996

I clean all of my coppers by soaking them in hot hydrogen peroxide. If the coin has corroded, the peroxide will wash that part away so dont leave it too long.

Nice find!

 

[diggin tennessee]

congrats on the large cent

 

[traverdog]

Nice silver!!

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

I meant to ask you if you are the same "Prof" of Ponzio's fame.

 

[mainer]

Always good to get a ID off those coppers.