FIND OF MY LIFETIME!!! Are you ready for this??

JeffInMass

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Location
Cape Cod
Detector(s) used
Minelab Manticore, Minelab Equinox 600, Minelab Explorer SE Pro, Explorer XS, Fisher CZ6A
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Hi All!

Obviously, gotta tell the story first- I actually found this Saturday March 15, but have been shaking too much to type!

I started working with a new guy at my job two weeks ago. As we got to know each other, I told him about my hobby and asked him where he lived and he told me a pretty old nearby town. I asked if he knew of any old parks, etc. to hunt and he told me that his house was built in the 1700's, so of course I asked him if my hunting partner Mike and I could hunt it.

He agreed, and we decided to sell and split if we found anything significant. We planned on hunting this past Saturday, but of course it had to rain, like it does every Saturday (which is my only full day off of the week!), but since it was clearing up about noon-ish, we headed up.

BTW, I Google-earthed his house and it looked huge, and it appeared to have a large front yard bisected by a circular drive. We were both pretty psyched.

When we got there, we saw the front yard was much smaller than it appeared on Google. The back of the house was huge, but overgrown with pretty high grass, small trees and so on- not easily huntable.

I decided to do that front section and gridded it up and down. First few passes yielded 2 wheats, 2 Indians and an assortment of old junk. I was pretty much done with the yard when I got a signal that sounded silverish, and although it didn't repeat perfectly, sounded definitely good enough to dig. I was down about 8-10 inches when my next handful of dirt told me I had the coin. I checked the hole, nothing else, so in my bucket went the dirt. Mike was with me at this point and he sifted through the dirt- VOILA!

As soon as he lifted it, I swear I saw 1652. I thought- SHILLING. But as he turned it over a couple of times, it looked like a Spanish coin. I took it over to a nearby puddle, rinsed the dirt off and sure as s#$%, there was a Pine Tree staring at me. PINE TREE SHILLING!!!

I still can't believe it to this very second- it's in amazing shape and I'm sending it out to PCGS to be certified, then we're doing as I promised- selling and splitting.

The third pic is of the coin in a holder in my hand- just to prove (to myself!!) this actually happened.

If I never find another coin....................

HH all,

Jeff
 

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Upvote 9
The incredible-ness of your coin find is obvious. I had to write something before I even go look on the PCGS site to see what these beauties are worth.

Like someone said, "If you never find another coin...". Congratulations! I can't imagine how much fun you must be having with this find.

Your coin holds extra significance for me. My Dutch-side ancestor first arrived in Nieuw Amsterdam in 1652 - the year your coin was minted.
Besides that, family oral history held that another ancestor was hanged for counterfeiting Pine Tree Shillings.

I dunno about that, but I know you sure shot the moon with this one! Have a ball..
 

Man, I love this hobby! Congratulations on proving that there is still treasure out there!

1960Texan
 

Admiral de Salee said:
Here's a link:
http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_c.../pine_tree_silver/pine_tree_silver_coins.html

1667 - 1682, I think was the span of the shillings having the actual Pine Tree on them.

I have to again quote an earlier poster: You found the Holy Grail of U.S. detecting!

If I found a coin like that and PCGS turned up their nose at it, I think I'd walk out there and choke 'em.

Check under this link from the above link... NOE-29. This is your coin. http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_coins/massachusetts_silver/pine_tree_silver/pine_tree_n29.html
 

Great job!! What else can you say except what everbody else has said....super find of several lifetimes!!!

Dave
 

Congrats!.....Awesome find!!!!!!!
 

Hi JeffInMass... Congrats on an awesome find man!!

I live down in Florida (Treasure Coast) and have not had the opportunity to get up to Mass. to hunt for a 1652 Mass. PT Shilling myself, but I did just recently purchase one (already authenticated & graded by NGC) and it was valued b/n $3800 - $4200. The value of yours is going to be dependent upon whether you have a rare strike or not and of course what condition it is in... hard to tell from your pics. You definately have a great piece of history there and i would do my best to hold onto that coin as it will only appreciate in both intrinsic & historic value as time goes on!!

If you would like to see a few pics of my shilling and some other shipwreck "goodies" I have in my collection, take a look under the heading "GENERAL DISCUSSION - By Location" and click on "Massachusetts" and then look for my post called "1652 Mass. Pine Tree Shilling".

All the best... Phips
 

I'm with Crusader. I would also pay your friend off for the pleasure of keeping this coin. If you can afford it that is. After you sold it you would regret it. Your call though. Anyway that is a mighty fine specimen and any detectorist worth their salt (in the US) would agree that there isn't many other coin targets that they would rather dig the very next time they swing their machines. Again Congratulations
Chris
 

It all been said already but i will say it again.... WOW!!!!!!!
 

What a beauty! :o Many congrats on that find!!!!!!!!! 8)

Nana :)
 

Its all been said but i will say it again......WOW!!!!! Great Find!!
 

Really fantastic find. A true treasure. Way to go!!!
 

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!! CONGRATS!!!

Simply a dream of many a Detectorist...you should be very proud of yourself!!!

HH :thumbsup:
 

Jeff, all I can say is WOW I too want to extend my congratulations on a great find. It indeed is a "Find of a Lifetime", and something that will stick in your mind forever. You have plenty of time, but don't forget to enter it in Western & Eastern treasures magazine Best Finds of 2008. PLease only get it authenticated,graded, and encapsulated by the top 3 or 4. Good luck to you......Rich
 

how much does it weigh ?
 

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