1857 FLYING EAGLE PENNY

Goes4ever · Apr 12, 2011

Today I had no where new to go so I went back to the farm where I dug my 100th indian last fall....almost winter. This yard gave up a ton of wheats, several silver and a lot of indians, and a couple V nickels.

Today I did NOT expect much but I was going to dig all iffy signals I skipped before because of time, I was digging deep shot gun shells, scraps and bits of copper, brass etc...nothing good. I get this 6-7" deep signal that was bouncy but fairly solid from two ways. On the etrac it was 17-21....15-23..around that area. What the heck I am digging everything. I saw a coin in the hole and thought hmm, must be an old nickel of some sort....NOPE...it was an 1857 Flying eagle....wooHOOOOO. This is only the second flying eagle I have ever dug in 3 yrs. And this one is way nicer than the first!

I was on cloud nine, but continued to hunt, I got a real deep signal I was hoping was a nickel but the FE number was REAL low, it was 01-12, 01-14. But it turned out to be a deep V nickel...1906. Sweet...

I also got a 6 wheat penny spill, did not take pics of it yet, but it had five copper wheats and one steel one that was a solid rusted disk.

Last decent item was the knife, it has some cool details.....marked sterling plated.

Goes4ever · Apr 16, 2011

Bartman said:
That's a beautiful FE. Still waiting for my first. If you don't mind me asking, how did you clean it. Whenever I use hot peroxide on my indians it tends to take off that nice green patina. Olive oil doesn't seem to get them clean enough though.

I NEVER use peroxide on my indians and NO way would I let it touch this eagle!!! Just as you said it will strip the patina. I used dish soap and a soft toothbrush, once most is off, I rinse, dry and use a toothpick to clean around letters, date, details etc.....