1873 Seated half dollar

JSM1986 · Mar 20, 2014

I finally got to use my new metal detector today. I went to a friends house that was built in 1920. I was getting a little discouraged because all I dug up junk for three hours. I only found one penny. So I figure someone already went through the place. I just kept digging and I found this beauty. Its my oldest coin to date. I was stoked but I was also suprised . Is it normal to find coins that old in a house that was built 47 years later? Also can any one help me determine the value? Thanks

mope540 · Mar 20, 2014

Holy moly!!! :headbang:

...damn good looking coin you have there. Still looking for my first seated 1/2. And yes it's normal to find older coins at newer home sites. Just as coins from the 60s are still in circulation today and being lost at new home sites.

Prestigitation Digger · Mar 20, 2014

Its not about the building age its about what was going on there in the past.http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/406054-find-my-house.html

NHBandit · Mar 20, 2014

Calling it VG condition (Liberty mostly present) and looking at Ebay ended auctions which is a good indicator of what people are actually paying I'm going to say $26-$50 is about right. My 2012 Blue book lists it at $20 but that seems a little low.

Plumbata · Mar 20, 2014

Great coin! I wouldn't call it a common thing to find under such circumstances, but I'd bet non key-date seateds circulated throughout the depression. Alternately, there easily could have been activity on the property well before 1920. Whatever the case, that is a heckuva find, especially if this was your first time detecting. I'd place the value around 40 bucks. Best of luck finding more old silver!

grasshopper · Mar 20, 2014

Nice find!

And if you think about it, coins from 50 years ago are still in circulation today. so it's entirely possible that someone dropped this coin around 1920.

Also, being silver, I would imagine that it would make sense for people to hold on to those coins. Essentially...silver is silver. An 1873 half dollar was worth as much as a 1920 half with the same silver content.