Another First -- Indian heads 1865 and 1885 (beautiful 1885) 3/23/10

p2c

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Matteson, IL
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Hi all,
Got out today for a few hours, initially wasn't but when I saw the beautiful day... I went to my NOT trash pit site, which has produced and produced. Unfortunately after 3 hours nothing but 1 wheat '44. I decided to shift over to another place prior to leaving.

This other section has few signals, but it must be where the oldies are lurking! got a 12-37 to 12-39 on Etrac at about 2 inches deep. My first thought, bottle cap. But it sounded coin to me, so I didn't pass it up. I was surprised at how shallow these were -- actually only probably about an inch! When I saw coin, I hoped for IH, took awhile to see the wreath -- score! Rescanned, another one - score 2.

I was going to leave, but had to stay another 30 minutes, b/c I smelled Barber. No Barber though. But as I was packing up to leave the woods, I decided to get dates (thinking they'd be early 1900's, but hoping for 1800's). First date I got --1865! second 1885. Now I am smelling Seated .... that or a skunk next time I go.

FirstIndianHeadsA.webp

FirstIndianHeadsB.webp
The 1885 is in beautiful shape, I worked really hard not to hurt the patina as I cleaned it. Soap and water didn't quite do the trick, so I dipped a toothpick in peroxide and cleaned the coin by brushing it with the dampened toothpick. I am happy with the end result, especially since I don't have to oil it. But it took a long time to clean. The 1865 had liberty's head completely enveloped by rust, so I gave it a peroxide bath and worked hard to get most the rust off.

So, first Indian Heads ever for me, and first real oldies for 2010 for me!
 

SCORE!!! Awesome job, love it when IH's join the party!!! :headbang:
 

Nice going Jon, a pair of IH's to your metal detecting collection is AWSOME
 

Beautiful pair of Indians, Jon. Stunning.

Nice job!

Joe
 

Wow Jon, EXCELLENT job on the cleaning :thumbsup:

Very nice recoveries! (I love IH's :))
 

WOW THATS A REALLY NICE 1885 INDIAN!
 

Man I don't think I've seen a more crisp Indian than that 1885
awesome

and great job cleaning it.

Did you heat the peroxide or just use it room temp?
 

Mayo South Elgin said:
Did you heat the peroxide or just use it room temp?

Heated it. I don't think it is very reactive otherwise. I'll add that I scrubbed a small area with toothpick and immediately wiped peroxide and gunk off with paper towel; my method was gentle on the coin, but gave me a case of white finger...
 

Very nice looking........
 

Those are awesome small fat wreathed cents, Jon!
 

Lowbatts said:
Those are awesome small fat wreathed cents, Jon!

Now we are talking, though I'd say "Shield Penny with a wreath"
 

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