1790s US Silver at Incredible Ball Field Site

jrmazzeo · Nov 29, 2013

I've hunted the old ball field 2 more times since my last post. Earlier this week I had a 9 silver dime day, including 2 Barbers, 6 Mercs and a Rosie. Today I spent a full day at the site as it closes for the season tomorrow. What a day! 9 more silver coins, for a total of 65 silver coins in 7 hunts (not to mention that my buddy, who found 4 the day I found 18, also found 6 more silver dimes today, which puts the site's total at 75 silver coins).

What made today special is the variety of silver coins that were found. It started off with the no date SLQ, then the 1930 Merc, then the 1948 D Washington, followed by 2 of the Rosies. Next was the 1877 seated dime (second seated dime at the site), followed almost immediately by the 1892 Barber Quarter. Then another Rosie before we broke for lunch.

It was only about 32 degrees today, but there was no wind and the ground was still soft. A hot coffee at lunch gave me the energy to get back our for a few more hours. Almost right after the lunch break, pulled out what I believe is a holed 179? US half dime. You can read United States on the back and it has an Eagle. The front is very worn but you can clearly see the numbers 79, There are also several stars visible on the front as well as a little bit of hair. It is smaller than a dime. Pretty cool! I wish it were in better shape but still an amazing find. Obviously it was lost well after it was minted, given the wear and the fact that it was holed.

Also found 4 IHs and a 2 cent piece. To say this site has been great would be an understatement. Last year, which was my first full year with the Safari, I found 179 silver coins. About a month ago I was happy to just reach 100, never dreaming I would get close to last year's total. After today, I am at 166 silver coins for the year. If the weather cooperates, and I can find another site like this, you never know.

I hope you all can find a site like this to enjoy. Happy Hunting.

GioTheGreek · Nov 30, 2013

Fantastic coins! What a spot. You never know where the oldies will lay.

I'd love to hear the history of that ball field. Was it a picnic spot back in the day?

testing123 · Nov 30, 2013

Wow. 1790s US silver is exceptionally rare to find. A big congrats on that!

jrmazzeo · Nov 30, 2013

terpfan said:
Any 1700's U.S. silver should make banner in my book. Besides, there were only 10,230 1796 Draped Bust half dimes minted and you found one! Repeat, only 10,230 minted. Sensational find.

Wow, thanks for the information on the mintage. Incredible to think how rare these coins are.

doninbrewster · Nov 30, 2013

Now that's my kind of detecting! Great spot you found and great job working it. And to think, there's still more there.....

detroitdigger · Nov 30, 2013

What a site! A Big Congrats! The Safari is a great machine! Keep hammering that site as much as possible. HH.

Msbeepbeep · Nov 30, 2013

That is just mind blowing!!!! Congrats on such awesome silver!!!! You need to rename that the silver field of pay! Banner for sure! Don't you just love how there is just that slightest hint of curvature on the last number next to the hole, Alluring mystery.

firefighter281 · Nov 30, 2013

Very nice!!

jewelerguy · Nov 30, 2013

holy cow.

CMDiamonddawg · Nov 30, 2013

Awesome oldie ! How do you notch out copper , I try to do it but I keep getting them :icon_scratch:

screwynewy · Nov 30, 2013

Not very often you see 1700's US silver turn up. Congrats on a very rare find. My banner vote is in.

It's pure speculation but based on the big gap in dates from oldest to newest and the amount of wear on the bust dime with the hole in it do you think that it might have been worn as a pendant or jewelry later? Regardless of how it got there it's an awesome find.

jrmazzeo · Nov 30, 2013

CMDiamonddawg said:
Awesome oldie ! How do you notch out copper , I try to do it but I keep getting them

I don't notch out copper, I hunt in coin mode on the Safari and dig everything 30 and higher that is reasonably repeatable.

jrmazzeo · Nov 30, 2013

screwynewy said:
Not very often you see 1700's US silver turn up. Congrats on a very rare find. My banner vote is in.

It's pure speculation but based on the big gap in dates from oldest to newest and the amount of wear on the bust dime with the hole in it do you think that it might have been worn as a pendant or jewelry later? Regardless of how it got there it's an awesome find.

Thanks for the banner vote. I agree it was probably worn as a pendant and was lost well after the mint date as I said in the original post. However, I should point out that we have pulled several large cents from the site as well as a 1700's George the II farthing. So I do believe the area was active well before the baseball field was put in during the late 1800's. Some research today indicated that during the first half of the 1800s it was an estate with several buildings surrounding a field.

CASPER-2 · Nov 30, 2013

pepperj · Nov 30, 2013

It's alway great to dig something different and when one least expects it, that old silver fits the ticket.

jrmazzeo · Dec 1, 2013

GioTheGreek said:
Fantastic coins! What a spot. You never know where the oldies will lay.

I'd love to hear the history of that ball field. Was it a picnic spot back in the day?

I don't think it was a picnic spot, but as I posted yesterday in the early 1800s there were several buildings on site with a central field area.