Epic day at the park. A little bit of something plus my oldest US silver! (key date)

[Truth]

Welcome guy of course had to got to my spot for just one more .58 3 ringer which I accomplished, but I’m trying to take it easy on that spot, so I drove around the park. I happened to see a spot where they were doing some sewer repair and saw a lot of dirt and old bricks within the plastic mesh gate they had surrounding it. I decided to park a detect around the fencing and boy am I glad I did. Not sure if this was mud that was from with in the huge hole but a couple inches down I hit a 1897 O Barber dime only 666,000 ever minted. All I’ve done was sprayed water on it and put it in the car wash. So much back patina not sure what to do but 100% sure it’s a 1897 O. Also got a .36 cal 2 ringer from the same spot but very deep and a cool toy car which I love. It’s from England. I can’t believe I found this coin but not sure what to do with it if anything. Pictures do not do it justice. Any suggestions please feel free. Thank you for experiencing this with me.

Spot where I was. I would love to go through all that clay they have there.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Trezurehunter]

Great job on the 1897 O Barber Dime Truth. I think if I had found that coin, I would have crammed myself into that little matchbox ambulance and had them take me straight to the hospitals cardiac unit !

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[Truth]

Truth, nice find, and I love "Dirt piles". The advice given by Against The Wind & smokeythecat is right on, and they know, as I NOW do. There was a day detecting that I found a great coin, but I did not realize just what I had at the time. I had found a 1860 S Seated Liberty Quarter, perhaps the Holy Grail of them, only 56,000 were ever minted, and all had been put into circulation. Being uninformed at the time, I about did everything wrong that one could do. I put it in a pocket with other coins, (zinc penny's) and such, tossed it out in front of me a couple of times to test my detector, after going home, washed it off in the sink, rubbed it with a dish rag, rubbed it with my thumb and fore finger, and THEN looked it up. Well I did send it in to be graded and slabbed, it was returned marked as "Genuine". But no grade? Looking up the code, it meant "Ungradable, Cleaned" The coin has a lot of really good detail on it, but, that did not matter. It is NOT for sale, I keep it for two reasons, One; I will never find another like it, and TWO; I look at it as a lesson learned. It still turns my gut somewhat thinking about it, but I share this so that perhaps others will not make the same mistake. One great thing about this Forum, is that if a serious question is asked, and advice is asked for, there are many here that will offer up good and honest answers based on their own knowledge and experience, again such as smokey's and Against the Wind, and perhaps now mine. I was not careless so much as being Un and Ill informed. Now I know better. I can not undo what has been done, but if putting this out there just prevents even one guy from innocently making the same type of mistake, O.K. then. We learn as we go. More Barber Dimes are out there for ya Truth, the next Barber "O" mintmark I need you to find would be the 1895 O.

Thanks sprailroad great advice. I promise that’s a story I’ll never forget. I’m gonna send it to get graded but when you leave them like this your not really sure if it good enough to send. And then I’ll never sell it anyway so why not clean it a look at it? But I’m gonna send it anyway and see what it looks like after a professional cleaning.

1860-S Seated Quarter unbelievable

 

[Truth]

Great job on the 1897 O Barber Dime Truth. I think if I had found that coin, I would have crammed myself into that little matchbox ambulance and had them take me straight to the hospitals cardiac unit !

Thank you Trezurehunter I was a really really really really really great feeling.

 

[Truth]

He's already washed it off as stated "All I’ve done was sprayed water on it and put it in the car wash."
So that's been done, secondly it's has so much environmental damage the grading would be a return to sender coin.
Looking at the grading of the dime its hard to tell, but it wouldn't grade that high in the first place.
I would say it's a nice keeper, congrats and save your money onto the grading.

[h=1]1897 O Barber Dimes[/h][h=2]Early Silver Dimes[/h]

Mintage: 666,000
Minted at: New Orleans

Designer - Engraver: Charles E Barber
Metal Composition: 90% Silver - 10% Copper

Diameter: 17.9 mm
Mass / Weight: 2.5 grams

What this coin looks like (obverse, reverse, mint mark location, special features, etc.):

[TABLE="class: footable mobile-optimized footable-loaded, width: 1020"]
Coin value chart: Typical coin prices, values and worth in USD based on grade/condition[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Good
(G-4)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Very Good
(VG-8)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Fine
(F-12)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Very Fine
(VF-20)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Extremely Fine
(EF-40)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]About Uncirculated
(AU-50)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Uncirculated
(MS-60)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Uncirculated
(MS-63)[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: left"]Proof
(PR-63)[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]$67[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$118[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$281[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$385[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$481[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$594[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$928[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]$1,708[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]-

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
​

So pepper if it’s not worth grading should I just clean it? Is it environmental damage or black patina. Our deep silver comes out very black.

 

[TWray]

Great save on the Barbie Truth. Especially on a rare one. Nice looking bullets to boot. “Who ya gonna call”. Lol! Congrats.

 

[Kurios1]

Congrats on your oldest silver coin buddy. Nice old lead and ambulance too. Love those O mint marks. Well done.

 

[Davers]

Welcome guy of course had to got to my spot for just one more .58 3 ringer which I accomplished, but I’m trying to take it easy on that spot, so I drove around the park. I happened to see a spot where they were doing some sewer repair and saw a lot of dirt and old bricks within the plastic mesh gate they had surrounding it. I decided to park a detect around the fencing and boy am I glad I did. Not sure if this was mud that was from with in the huge hole but a couple inches down I hit a 1897 O Barber dime only 666,000 ever minted. All I’ve done was sprayed water on it and put it in the car wash. So much back patina not sure what to do but 100% sure it’s a 1897 O. Also got a .36 cal 2 ringer from the same spot but very deep and a cool toy car which I love. It’s from England. I can’t believe I found this coin but not sure what to do with it if anything. Pictures do not do it justice. Any suggestions please feel free. Thank you for experiencing this with me.View attachment 1545193View attachment 1545194View attachment 1545195View attachment 1545196View attachment 1545197View attachment 1545198View attachment 1545199View attachment 1545200View attachment 1545201View attachment 1545202View attachment 1545203

Spot where I was. I would love to go through all that clay they have there.View attachment 1545204

Dang Man!
Yr one Skillful & lucky (no matter what Crusader says), I'm about to read the reply's .
My First thoughts , That's another Fine dropped 3 ringer , the Matchbox car is neat 'looks like a tootsie toy , with wheels like that, def, an older type Matchbox IMO.

Now for the Barber HECK YEA! ; I'd freak if I found that one ...IMO , if you can see Fine or better details under the Black.

"Me'' I'd most likely leave it as is (hard to do ) and wait or look for a preservation method that is acceptable by 'the Coin dealers' NGC, PCGS. Or if it's below Fine , has a Scratch , dent etc , Maybe to the 'Buckleboy 'method of cleaning silver.

'Me' i'd not move to quickly on a Cleaning Job.

It's yours do as you wish , I glad you got such a Nice Key Barber , I had to buy one in AG -or G 'one of the mid to late
1890-O mint dimes , (paid over $50) just had to have one , took extra med's that day LOL.

P.S. If you detected with-in the fence it's OK, I would have 'Maybe' ...I'm a Rebel & that's why I always carry a Hard Hat.

For Real Tho ..Sweet Finds.
Davers

 

[Davers]

Another awesome find, I wish I had a park like that but metal detecting is forbidden in all our county parks

Ill bet 'Crack use' & Murder are to . But

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Great significant US silver coin recovery. Good luck with whatever your decision is in the coin's. step. Congrats!

 

[Davers]

Truth, nice find, and I love "Dirt piles". The advice given by Against The Wind & smokeythecat is right on, and they know, as I NOW do. There was a day detecting that I found a great coin, but I did not realize just what I had at the time. I had found a 1860 S Seated Liberty Quarter, perhaps the Holy Grail of them, only 56,000 were ever minted, and all had been put into circulation. Being uninformed at the time, I about did everything wrong that one could do. I put it in a pocket with other coins, (zinc penny's) and such, tossed it out in front of me a couple of times to test my detector, after going home, washed it off in the sink, rubbed it with a dish rag, rubbed it with my thumb and fore finger, and THEN looked it up. Well I did send it in to be graded and slabbed, it was returned marked as "Genuine". But no grade? Looking up the code, it meant "Ungradable, Cleaned" The coin has a lot of really good detail on it, but, that did not matter. It is NOT for sale, I keep it for two reasons, One; I will never find another like it, and TWO; I look at it as a lesson learned. It still turns my gut somewhat thinking about it, but I share this so that perhaps others will not make the same mistake. One great thing about this Forum, is that if a serious question is asked, and advice is asked for, there are many here that will offer up good and honest answers based on their own knowledge and experience, again such as smokey's and Against the Wind, and perhaps now mine. I was not careless so much as being Un and Ill informed. Now I know better. I can not undo what has been done, but if putting this out there just prevents even one guy from innocently making the same type of mistake, O.K. then. We learn as we go. More Barber Dimes are out there for ya Truth, the next Barber "O" mintmark I need you to find would be the 1895 O.

I feel ya I over cleaned my first of 3 Barber coins (Dimes) a 1903-O in XF with Tarnex & a Q-Tip.

Took it out in the Sun & saw Many micro Scratches it that 'big field' around the head , that was in 1999.

It still Worries me. I hope some of those scratches have 'toned' over in the 18 years since , I try not to look at it.

 

[cudamark]

Nice dime there Truth! I like the ambulance too. I believe the Ghostbuster's was a 1959 though, not a 1965.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I feel ya I over cleaned my first of 3 Barber coins (Dimes) a 1903-O in XF with Tarnex & a Q-Tip.

Took it out in the Sun & saw Many micro Scratches it that 'big field' around the head , that was in 1999.

It still Worries me. I hope some of those scratches have 'toned' over in the 18 years since , I try not to look at it.

You do realize that you dug up a coin that carried in someones pocket for years. It had millions of fine scratches before you ever brought it back to light. A Q-tip and tarnex didnt hurt your coin unless you put all your might into rubbing it and even then I doubt you could find marks made by you.

 

[WannaDig3687]

Awesome finds truth1253! What a conundrum... to clean or to pay someone else to do it. All I can do for you is pray for wisdom and discernment.

 

[Truth]

Awesome finds truth1253! What a conundrum... to clean or to pay someone else to do it. All I can do for you is pray for wisdom and discernment.

I know it’s driving me crazy!

 

[Truth]

Ok not knowing if it has environmental damage or just patina, plus I did spray water on it and used my tongue to clean it up enough to know what I found I heard that might have not been good. So are you just supposed to send the mud clump to get graded without knowing what you have. And if it’s not worth doing at this point is it worth more like this (unreadable except under a high microscope) or do a good none abrasive home method so I can enjoy its beauty because I’m not selling it anyway. See what I’m saying?

 

[K1DDO1979]

Awsome hunt! [emoji2]

 

[Truth]

Awsome hunt! [emoji2]

Thanks K1DDO quit happy with my luck

 

[Truth]

Nice dime there Truth! I like the ambulance too. I believe the Ghostbuster's was a 1959 though, not a 1965.

Yeah this one is 1965 I saw the exact one on Ebay.

 

[Truth]

Great job on the 1897 O Barber Dime Truth. I think if I had found that coin, I would have crammed myself into that little matchbox ambulance and had them take me straight to the hospitals cardiac unit !

It was like floating in the hands of God. Lol

 

[Truth]

Dang Man!
Yr one Skillful & lucky (no matter what Crusader says), I'm about to read the reply's .
My First thoughts , That's another Fine dropped 3 ringer , the Matchbox car is neat 'looks like a tootsie toy , with wheels like that, def, an older type Matchbox IMO.

Now for the Barber HECK YEA! ; I'd freak if I found that one ...IMO , if you can see Fine or better details under the Black.

"Me'' I'd most likely leave it as is (hard to do ) and wait or look for a preservation method that is acceptable by 'the Coin dealers' NGC, PCGS. Or if it's below Fine , has a Scratch , dent etc , Maybe to the 'Buckleboy 'method of cleaning silver.

'Me' i'd not move to quickly on a Cleaning Job.

It's yours do as you wish , I glad you got such a Nice Key Barber , I had to buy one in AG -or G 'one of the mid to late
1890-O mint dimes , (paid over $50) just had to have one , took extra med's that day LOL.

P.S. If you detected with-in the fence it's OK, I would have 'Maybe' ...I'm a Rebel & that's why I always carry a Hard Hat.

For Real Tho ..Sweet Finds.
Davers

Give me your opinion after reading all the comments. Thanks