Finally found my first. It's in poor shape but it's a 1903. Found in a cow pasture. It's a shame they have been walking on it for so long. You can read the headband and see detail in the feathers. Probably would have been almost perfect in another area.
minelab safari,whites m6, AT Pro, Ace 250 and whites coin master, Garrett AT propointer (garrett carrot), Lesche hand digger, 5x8 & 8.5x11 DD coils for the Pro, Camera is Ion Air Pro 3
Congrats on your 1st Indian Head. It's still a great find regardless of condition. Just stop and think how many LONG years it's been waiting there for you (and your li'l partner of course).
Don't give up on it's condition just yet. If you clean it you may be able to make it look much better. I would use the hot peroxide treatment for starters and a LONG olive oil soak; a few weeks or months if necessary. There are many threads on this site to tell you how to clean it without damaging it's patina (or anything else). The people here will usually give you plenty of info, pointers and help if you ask.
Congratulations again on a great find and may many more come your way.
Congrats on the Indian Head! It's always nice to scratch one off the bucket list. I've found close to 100 in the last year and many are in very poor condition. One of the ones I found last Saturday was so crusted and in such poor condition I had originally thrown it in with the wheaties I found. Turned out to be an old one, 1865. If you think the Indian came out poor, wait until you find a shield nickel. Finding a first in any category is great. Congrats!
I remember my first Indian head penny, dug it way back in the woods where an old 1800's school once stood. Found it right beside a big white oak tree. That's one of my favorite coins....great find.
COngrats on your IH...I can tell you one thing, in my area those arent that easy to find...I find more Barbers then I do IH's....still dont understand that.