NJ Copper cent, 1787

Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
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Phoenixville, PA
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I've had my inlaws in for the past 2 weeks, that and the rain has seriously cut into my swinging time. Since my last find, I treated myself to a new Whites VX3. :headbang: :love4: Yesterday, managed to get away for a quick Hour and 15 minute hunt at my colonial site. Pulled my normal shotgun primers, and .45-70 Gov't brass, managed to dig 1 old wrought nail and some good old NJ copper. I've been trying to get myself a nice 19th century coin for awhile now, well I skipped that whole century and have what I believe to be a 1787 NJ cent. It's in rough shape... very corroded.

I talked to Don in SJ about it, and learned he's been tracking these for about 6 years now whereever they are found.. This one is #440 for him and it came out of Charlestown, PA Chester County. I've also sought out some advice on how to clean it up... When I first dug it all I could make out was that it had a shield on the reverse. I gave it a Distilled water bath and after that started to see parts of the head, plow and Caeser written on the Obverse..

Since speaking with Don, I've had it in 2 Hot Peroxide baths tonite.. its cleaned up some... I may have my jeweler friend put it through an electrolysis treatment this weekend.

Obverse Before Peroxide,
PsOjg.jpg


Reverse Before Peroxide
mGvSV.jpg


Obverse After Peroxide
i8r3k.jpg


Reverse After Peroxide
xzSJd.jpg
 

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treasurepirate1

Sr. Member
Aug 21, 2010
396
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Ontario canada
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nice coin when i first read it i thought you said Don in SJ found 440 of those but i read it over more and he had tracked 440 of them :laughing7:
 

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Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
3
Phoenixville, PA
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White's V3X, Garrett Ace 350
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Metal Detecting
He hasn't found 440, he's tracked 440 of them being found and their location...whenever someone finds one, he finds out the variety and county and state in which they were foung... i do think he's found a half dozen of them personally.. not sure...
 

treasurepirate1

Sr. Member
Aug 21, 2010
396
35
Ontario canada
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fisher f75
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Briz06 said:
He hasn't found 440, he's tracked 440 of them being found and their location...whenever someone finds one, he finds out the variety and county and state in which they were foung... i do think he's found a half dozen of them personally.. not sure...
ya i just figured that out a couple seconds ago and posted it. But you replied before i got to it to say i figured it out haha :laughing9: also it is funny how you completely skipped the 19th century and got an 18th century, I would take that any day. nice coin :icon_thumleft:
 

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Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
3
Phoenixville, PA
Detector(s) used
White's V3X, Garrett Ace 350
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Thanks! :icon_thumleft: I've been trying to find a nice 19th century area to swing at... just by chance i found another area, one of these days I will get my seated coin :laughing9:
 

ANTIQUARIAN

Gold Member
Apr 24, 2010
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Very nice find Briz06! :notworthy:

Hope you don't mind . . .
I re-sized the pics for you! :wink:

Dave
 

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Don in SJ

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May 20, 2005
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Big congrats on your first State Copper, may many more follow for you. I am fairly certain you ID'd it correctly to me as a 1787 Maris 39-a variety. Thanks for the input into my NJ survey (it is #440) and for the record, I have 19 20 NJ coppers, but yet my son who hunts the same sites has found only 3 over the past 25 years or so, but he found more Conn coppers than I have, so tic for tac. :)

I think that copper is about as good as you could hope for, any further cleaning/preservation procedures might degrade what you have left, I would keep it as is.

Don
 

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Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
3
Phoenixville, PA
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White's V3X, Garrett Ace 350
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Don in SJ said:
Big congrats on your first State Copper, may many more follow for you. I am fairly certain you ID'd it correctly to me as a 1787 Maris 39-a variety. Thanks for the input into my NJ survey (it is #440) and for the record, I have 19 NJ coppers, but yet my son who hunts the same sites has found only 3 over the past 25 years or so, but he found more Conn coppers than I have, so tic for tac. :)

I think that copper is about as good as you could hope for, any further cleaning/preservation procedures might degrade what you have left, I would keep it as is.

Don

Thanks Don, especially for the cleaning tips!! :icon_thumleft: Its funny, as I was messaging you the other day, it didn't even dawn on me as to what your Profile picture is ;D .. i have a small research project going on now, im hoping to add some British Rev. War Relic finds!
 

hogge

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Mar 13, 2008
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Congratulations! Found my first Jersey a couple weeks ago. Maris -14j. :headbang:
 

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Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
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Phoenixville, PA
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White's V3X, Garrett Ace 350
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hogge said:
Congratulations! Found my first Jersey a couple weeks ago. Maris -14j. :headbang:

Thats Great Hogge, :icon_thumleft: Did you find it up in Mass? Any other big coppers up there?
 

Countrybob71

Tenderfoot
May 10, 2011
8
3
Barnegat, NJ
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Garrett ACE 250
Very nice!! I hunt my sister-in-laws property that is pre-colonial and would love to find one of these!! How did it come up on your detector? I hunt with an ACE 250.
 

JW15

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Apr 12, 2011
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Big congrats on your 1st NJ Copper!! :headbang: :icon_thumright: Keep em coming! :thumbsup:
 

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Briz06

Sr. Member
Jan 1, 2011
342
3
Phoenixville, PA
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White's V3X, Garrett Ace 350
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Countrybob71 said:
Very nice!! I hunt my sister-in-laws property that is pre-colonial and would love to find one of these!! How did it come up on your detector? I hunt with an ACE 250.

Hey CountryBob, I use both an Ace 350 and a White Vx3, I got this using my vx3 on its first relic hunt, I just got it last week. It rang a low 60's VDI which on your Ace250 would ring up like a small cent, was about 5" deep..
 

West Jersey Detecting

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I was happy to hear about your find earlier in the week. I am glad you posted it. It is a beauty in any condition!

Congrats!
 

hogge

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Mar 13, 2008
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Briz06 said:
hogge said:
Congratulations! Found my first Jersey a couple weeks ago. Maris -14j. :headbang:

Thats Great Hogge, :icon_thumleft: Did you find it up in Mass? Any other big coppers up there?
Yep...in Ma. Also found a Conn. at the same cellar hole. Just sold them both on EBAY.
 

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