A rare coin for California

[49r Relics]

Another fun adventure today in California's Gold Country. Although it started out as a pretty slow day with lots of hiking and elevation. Things picked up in the evening. It wasn't until we were working our way slowly back to the car when right under a huge oak tree (see picture) I dug a complete Chinese opium tin. Then just a few feet away I got a nice signal that sounded like a silver quarter. So I decided to video the dig just in case because where we were was right in the heart of the 1850's so I knew it had a good chance to be something exciting. Was fully expecting a silver quarter as it was a 12-46 on the CTX3030. Was not surprised to see it was a coin but was surprised to see a copper looking coin not much bigger than a nickel in diameter but thick like a large cent. Couldn't believe that little coin hit that high. Called Ron over and we carefully brushed some dirt away to see "HALF CENT" on the back! We have dug many large cents and even flying eagle cents, three cent silvers, three cent nickels, a two cent piece but never a half cent. It makes you wonder if a miner carried a half cent all the way to California!

Left it in some hot hydrogen peroxide for a couple hours and took some pics, will finish with some more soaking but it looks like it has strong details, very nice. It's an 1850 Half Cent, a day I will never forget!

We will post the complete hunt video up on our YouTube channel early next week. For now here's a few pictures.

Thanks for looking!

HH, Mark

 

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[vpnavy]

Nice find!

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Nice save! That one is still eluding me...congrats...Ddf

 

[against the wind]

Yep, good details on that half cent.
Congratulations

 

[Trezurehunter]

Outstanding find !

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on the half cent

 

[Stretch Da Truth]

Congrats on the finds! Nice story and good pics.

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats on finding that half cent. They are rare birds!

Well played sir!

 

[park pirate]

Nice one..

 

[deershed]

Sweet find!! That's a good find for us East coast guys and to have the detail you have.
Congrats!!

 

[mikefromIllinois]

Congrats on the half cent. That's one still on my to find list.

 

[Cosmo3]

Very nice mate, I love the finds with a story of the find and plenty of pictures. Keep them coming.

 

[toasted]

Draped Bust Half cents are much more common than Braided Hair. Congrats

 

[Steve in PA]

That's a nice one! You don't see very many late date half cents dug. Most are Draped Bust like Toasted said. My theory, and I have not seen this published anywhere, is that the half cent was needed to make change with the one Real, which was worth 12.5 cents. Early in the 18th century, one Reals were much more common in circulation, but as US silver finally stated to become more common, that half cent's role was reduced. I believe that's why when the US outlawed Spanish Silver in 1857, they also eliminated the half cent.

 

[Nighthunter]

Nice find on that Half Cent and nice pics!

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

I recently read that during the gold rush era, there was nothing worth buying that cost less than 2 bits and because of this, small denominations were not commonly carried around.
Kind of makes me wonder if those 3 cent coins I have found with two holes in the middle WERE actually used as buttons. Could have been that the value was so little that it was easier to use up a coin to repair a shirt than to go to buy buttons.

 

[Davers]

Very Nice!
Rare finds here in N Ga, as well.
'Glad' For Ya.'

 

[Davers]

I recently read that during the gold rush era, there was nothing worth buying that cost less than 2 bits and because of this, small denominations were not commonly carried around.
Kind of makes me wonder if those 3 cent coins I have found with two holes in the middle WERE actually used as buttons. Could have been that the value was so little that it was easier to use up a coin to repair a shirt than to go to buy buttons.

It does make one wonder....

 

[Relicific]

Nice coin find
Wtg

 

[Diggin Dude]

Awesome!! Great find!! Congrats and HH