1778 Machins Mills copper ...xmas present from a cornfield

[Z.K.]

1778 Machin's Mills copper ...xmas present from a cornfield

I hadn't been out in about two weeks, so with my wife and kids napping or enjoying their presents, I stole away for a 90 min hunt, returning to the big cornfield where back in October I found my best condition Kgii and what I suspected was a machin copper (http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/479718-counterfeit-kgiii.html), but was too corroded to tell.

This time I went super slow, trying to resist getting corn stubbleitis (when I get frustrated from getting hung up on the stubs, and wonder why the hell I engage in this hobby ). Dug a few nails and a some odds and ends, then this coin. I stopped right then, as it had gotten dark and some coyotes had been yipping it up a little too close for comfort.

It is corroded some, but far better detail remains compared to the last underweight suspect. From the Whitman encyclopedia it sure is looking to me like a Machin's mills 1778 vlack 12-78b! The reverse I'm most confident about, with the position of the pole and dentils, and the numbers, looking great to my (untrained) eye. Found an auction with a better condition example:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18149638_1778-machins-mills-halfpenny-vlack-12-78b

Really wanted my first Spanish silver for Xmas, but can't complain! If I'm right this is a rarity-9; a very cool christmas present.

Hope the holiday treated you all well, too, whether or not you got to detect. Thanks for looking, wishing everyone health and prosperity this season.

 

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[The Dirt Pirate]

Awesome find.

 

[Iron Patch]

I'd be happy to dig a MM of any type in any condition. I agree it's 78b as the other two aren't close, but it's only listed as scarce, so somewhere around rarity 3. At rarity 9 even your coin would be worth a good pile of cash as collectors would fight for any example.

 

[l.cutler]

Great find! The rarity 9 that you mention is using the new Universal Rarity scale and Ironpatch is using the traditional Sheldon rarity scale. Having two scales can be confusing, in the URS scale a low number is rarer and in the Sheldon scale a higher number is rarer! Regardless, an identifiable Machins copper is always a terrific find!

 

[Iron Patch]

Great find! The rarity 9 that you mention is using the new Universal Rarity scale and Ironpatch is using the traditional Sheldon rarity scale. Having two scales can be confusing, in the URS scale a low number is rarer and in the Sheldon scale a higher number is rarer! Regardless, an identifiable Machins copper is always a terrific find!

I wasn't aware there was a new one, and will get confusing especially for coins that are in the middle and it's not obvious.

 

[l.cutler]

Yes, Q. David Bowers uses it in the "Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins", I don't see anything wrong with the old scale and that is what I use. The URS goes from 1 to 16.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice.

 

[Z.K.]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the validation, ip, as well as clarification of the rarity scale; l.cutler was correct about my use.

Now, why in the world would somebody introduce a system of measurement or grading that inverted the traditional one

 

[trapperart]

Nice find congrats

 

[Z.K.]

I just found this site, which presents a number of rarity scales. A good resource. I've copied the universal rarity scale used by Whitman that I referenced in my first post. Just a couple hundred of these? I'll take it! Cheers...

The Various Numismatic Rarity Scales | NovaNumismatics.com

 

[Ahab8]

Oh ZK I wish I was digging Machins coppers instead of finding Indian heads at colonial cellar holes....go figure lol. You've made some great early finds bud

 

[Z.K.]

Oh ZK I wish I was digging Machins coppers instead of finding Indian heads at colonial cellar holes....go figure lol. You've made some great early finds bud

Thanks man; this made 19 coppers from 1700 this season, with two rarities!
I'm sure your just a swing or two away from a flowing hair half dime or something else crazy. But, you just can't predict what'll happen in this funny hobby (unless you are crusader or vino!). Good luck out there.

 

[Brian W]

Nice save...Glad it has enough detail to ID...I hope to dig a MM copper someday...Congrats on a great find

 

[pepperj]

Very nice copper, I think that would just about make most guy's day a winner.
That's a great number of 1700 coppers for a season, congrats.

 

[Z.K.]

Nice save...Glad it has enough detail to ID...I hope to dig a MM copper someday...Congrats on a great find

Very nice copper, I think that would just about make most guy's day a winner.
That's a great number of 1700 coppers for a season, congrats.

Thanks guys! I doubt I'll ever find a gw button though

 

[Brian W]

Thanks guys! I doubt I'll ever find a gw button though

Being from New England...you have a good chance...Now if you were in Canada I'd doubt it would happen...I think only one made its way to Canada...and Pepperj found it! Lol

 

[Snaggerr]

Very nice find

 

[nov2101]

Nice job ZK happy holidays....

 

[digging440yrs]

Nice find !

 

[Vino]

Fantastic find ZK,
And being able to ID it is even better.
Thats alot of coppers this year.
And hell ya, your going to find a GW. There all over up there..lol