Barber Coin Spill!

[terpfan]

Have loved following this site for years, but have never posted. This is for two reasons: 1) I've rarely found anything that exceptional and 2) I've been intimidated by the learning curve of getting a photo posted. Nonetheless, I LOVE THIS HOBBY!! My thirteen year old son and I have been detecting for two years now, and we're addicted. This site has been a fabulous inspiration. Your stories give us the feeling that the next great find will be our own. We have learned so much from all of the contributors here, and are so grateful to you. Thanks!

On to the story. Friday was my best day ever. I had an hour free to detect during the day, and went to a 1906 suburban house just outside of Washington DC. I had gotten permission to hunt this home before, and had found few wheaties and a few silver dimes there in the past. This visit I decided to focus on a 20x20 area of lawn between the front door and the street. I had hunted this area before, but was hoping to find something that had been previously missed. I learned this from others on TNET, when they say "a site is never hunted out". Boy was that good advice.

Anyway, I soon unearthed 5 or 6 memorials that had previously been missed. I then got a weak 80 VDI signal at 4" that was very promising. I felt this might be another Rosie like I'd found here before. I dug a nice plug and scanned it with the coil. It now read a strong 85 VDI. Maybe a quarter? I split the plug in half and found THREE SILVER COINS stuck together in the split!!!. Carefully I removed the coins and carried them to a nearby lily pond to rinse them. My heart was racing when I discovered three BARBERS--two quarters (1906 and 1911 S) and one dime (1905 S)!! The 1911 S quarter was in exceptional condition, I believe it to be the prettiest coin (of any age) I have ever held in my hands. The other two coins are much more worn.

Knowing I had only a few minutes left to hunt, I wrapped the coins in paper napkins and placed them back in my truck. I hoped to find something else, and was soon rewarded with a 60VDI target at 4". I expected another zincoln but was thrilled with my first indian head, a 1899! It has a beautiful green patina, and is in better condition than any of the wheats I had found at this site. What a day!!!

The 1911 S quarter is clearly the best find of the day. I was hoping that someone here could advise me on how to further clean the coin, or if I should even try. All I have used was soap and warm water. As you can see, this did not get all of the dirt off, and I'm afraid to do more. In addition, I was wondering if it would be worth it to get the coin professionally cleaned and slabbed, as others on this site do. I hope the photos do this coin justice. It really is sharp. It has 90% of the sheen of a brand new uncirculated coin. Is this unusual for a coin that has been in the ground for nearly 100 years?

Thanks for reading.

Steve

 

[tr snyper]

Steve, very nice find in that Barber. I too am new to THIS forum but not to detecting or coin collecting/dealing. Your Barber will probably grade EF-40. The circulated Barber coins regardless to their denomination increase in value drasticly when they are in fine condition and above. And they follow a trend that increases in value on a steady basis. A lot of coins have surfaced on the market these last few years or there values would have gone through the roof. Once this settles down you could see about a 10% increase around every three years. Even at around 8% the value doubles every 20 years. That same coin in G-4 has probably only gone up in value 2 or 3 dollars in 10 years. With this in mind you may want to consider having it slabbed. If it were mine I would spend the few bucks and get it done. It stays air tight and you'll have proof of ownership for insurance purposes in case of a fire or theft. Don't ever rub the dirt off to get a date no matter how excited you get. I see in the very top photo slight scratches from either you recovering it or wipeing it to catch the date. Carry a tooth brush and tissue. Any way nice overall find. Those old pocket drops are so sweet.
Steve A

 

[oddcoins]

WOW ~ very nice finds there! That's what this hobby is all about! WOOHOO!!!

I agree ~ don't clean it! It's perfectly fine just the way it is! NICE!!!!

 

[pennyfinderjim]

Man, what a spectacular find! All of the coins are sweet, but, that 1911 Barber quarter is truly outstanding. All the Barber coins are exceptionally beautiful if seen in as fine condition as yours. Ihave never dug a Barber coin, but, I have several of them that were either given to me or I bought fairly cheap and they are all pretty flat and blah looking. However, your quarter is a real beauty and I envy you. If I were you, I wouldn't do any cleaning on it. But, as some of the others have advised you to have it slabbed for posterity, I think that would be a good thing to do. You and your son are to be congratulated for an exceptional find in the spill. That's what MD'ing dreams are made of. BTW, the photos are great too. HH and much good luck. Jim

 

[treasurefiend]

Holy cow - that is awesome!!!!

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Steve,thanks for getting us all stoked for the new year! Those are some sweet coins and I agree those Barbers are some of the most beautiful coins ever minted,specially when you have one in your hands that looks like that 1911!!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting and keep that camera handy
Jerry