ShinyPackRat
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2017
- Messages
- 209
- Reaction score
- 216
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Montana, edge of nowhere
- Detector(s) used
- Garrett Ace 400
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
- #1
Thread Owner
Me and my wife found an "old" change jar while cleaning through some boxes of various people's junk. Nothing at all exceptional, just a ton of 1980-2010 nickels, dimes, and pennies. Getting discouraged that it would just be some modern coins to take to the bank tomorrow, I opened it up and started pawing through it only to see one (and only one) wheat reverse tumble out. Assuming it to be some average 1956 Wheatie, i flipped it over. Saw the 1909. Then the S. Stared at it for a second, then immediately put it in a holder. Flipped it over after it was 'safe', saw the VDB. Trying not to get my hopes too high, last time I found a key date it ended up being fake.
Keep in mind, I wasn't the one that allowed it to get in this condition. We ended up with a bunch of other people's "stuff", and recently decided to start sorting through it. Mostly clothes and such. I didn't expect to find coins, much less any interesting ones. I don't know how long the coin sat in nasty conditions, but it was probably a while.
So, a few questions to the more experienced folks here. I'll be honest, I'm a little ways out of my depth with this one. Never in all my days expected to see one of these, much less where I found it.
Firstly, does it look to be real? What hallmarks should I be looking for to determine whether it is?
Secondly, Is there anything I can/should do about the obvious corrosion damage? I understand I'm not generally supposed to clean coins, especially potentially rare ones, but feel the need to ask anyway.
Lastly, given the clearly hard life this fellow's had, any guesses as to value? Just as a general starting point, of course I'll be doing my own research here as well. I'd assume if we can determine if it is likely real, we should probably send it in for slabbing.

Keep in mind, I wasn't the one that allowed it to get in this condition. We ended up with a bunch of other people's "stuff", and recently decided to start sorting through it. Mostly clothes and such. I didn't expect to find coins, much less any interesting ones. I don't know how long the coin sat in nasty conditions, but it was probably a while.
So, a few questions to the more experienced folks here. I'll be honest, I'm a little ways out of my depth with this one. Never in all my days expected to see one of these, much less where I found it.
Firstly, does it look to be real? What hallmarks should I be looking for to determine whether it is?
Secondly, Is there anything I can/should do about the obvious corrosion damage? I understand I'm not generally supposed to clean coins, especially potentially rare ones, but feel the need to ask anyway.
Lastly, given the clearly hard life this fellow's had, any guesses as to value? Just as a general starting point, of course I'll be doing my own research here as well. I'd assume if we can determine if it is likely real, we should probably send it in for slabbing.



