First Silver - or - I am an IDIOT!

[geomorph]

Hi all. I have been MDing faithfully since Christmas, when I got my new DFX, but the weather has been terrible here in Utah. Subzero temps have everything frozen, but that hasn't stopped me. Today I stopped at a nearby park for a quick try, and immediately started getting clad. I have dug LOADS of clad recently, without even a wheat to show and I think it has affected my patience. The ground was frozen hard and I wasn't being careful enough. I had just found a 2000 quarter at about 1 inch and got another quarter signal at a similar depth. The ground was so hard that I just stabbed in my digging tool. As luck would have it, I nailed this 1902 Barber quarter..... DOH! I couldn't believe it. I was so excited and soooo disappointed at the same time. I guess I learned an important lesson. BE PATIENT! Here are a few pics of three quarters found within a few feet of each other. Who would have thought that a 1902 would be right next to a 2000, and at the same depth. Go figure!
Cheers and Tears,
Tyler

PS - HH

 

[DigMO]

Nice coin geo.Too bad about the nick but as everyone has said-we've all done it.Sooner or later.Take care and HH.

 

[lucky1777]

Congratulations on a very nice find..

 

[DPBOB]

Great job


Be happy that it wasn't a 1901 S I think you would have had tears coming out..if it was...


Be happy cool find.....................

 

[dugupfinds]

I understand that you guys in US use knifes (Which in the UK would be against the Law) to cut out turfs & cut throw tree roots.
Why do you (and this is aim at most people on this site) not use a spade? Carry the knife if you need to cut the roots.

I challenge you to dig with your spade in this frozen tundra! We have had a month of subfreezing temperatures in the area I was digging. In fact, it has been below zero degrees (F) for a couple of weeks. There is no way to push a spade through that surface. It is almost like concrete. Perhaps I should wait for warmer days, but that would mean putting away the DFX for the winter, which I don't want to do.
Cheers,
Tyler

Are you then saying that you use a spade in the summer?

 

[geomorph]

Are you then saying that you use a spade in the summer?

I don't know what I use: I just got my detector for Christmas! I was actually using a Lesche digging tool when I damaged the coin, not a knife.

I'm not sure what you are saying about the spade.... Do you think it is better than a knife or digging tool? If so, why?

In my opinion, carefully slicing a flap into the turf and laying that flap back to expose the soil, seems to me like the least damaging way to dig in areas with existing grass or turf. How do you dig in grassy areas? Why do you think a spade is better? What type of spade to you use? More info please! Thanks.
Cheers,
Tyler

 

[Nana40]

I'm thinkin I must be the idiot here! I've been looking for a Barber for over a year!!!

Congrats on that AWESOME find!! Don't fret over that little scratch!

Nana

 

[dugupfinds]

Are you then saying that you use a spade in the summer?

I don't know what I use: I just got my detector for Christmas! I was actually using a Lesche digging tool when I damaged the coin, not a knife.

I'm not sure what you are saying about the spade.... Do you think it is better than a knife or digging tool? If so, why?

In my opinion, carefully slicing a flap into the turf and laying that flap back to expose the soil, seems to me like the least damaging way to dig in areas with existing grass or turf. How do you dig in grassy areas? Why do you think a spade is better? What type of spade to you use? More info please! Thanks.
Cheers,
Tyler

I do mostly ploughed field in the summer & grass in the winter. I use a spade to cut a three sided flap of turf & the second dig normally extracts to coin in a pile of mud. When I have finished no-one can see where I have dug. I have detected over 20 years & can count on my hand how many objects I have damaged. I would be sick if I dug a roman silver coin & cut it.

I thought that you guys must have a reason that I haven't spotted.

Don't take this the wrong way, I am just trying to understand your ways?

 

[allen]

even with the nick it is still a beautiful piece of american history...way to go on you first silver also

 

[geomorph]

Thanks for all the nice comments and the suggestions for avoiding damage. I think the main thing I need to do is SLOW DOWN when I dig. I need to assume that every dig is something good, and I will be OK. I am totally jazzed about my first silver and can't wait to add to the list.
Cheers,
Tyler

 

[sfinder]

Scratch or no scratch, a Barber is a great find!

 

[Nashoba]

I have broken to spades since the first of the year.......THAT is coming to a halt real quick!
~Nash~

 

[coinman66]

Very Nice Barber! Probably Grades F-12. Anytime you find a Barber coin you`re doing good! Coin Values says $55 F-12. Way to go GEO! Coinman66

 

[dugupfinds]

Forgot to say great start.

May you find many more.

 

[Eddy1H]

Nicked or not that is a really nice find, at least it ended up in your pouch instead of still sleeping in the frozen ground, Nice quarter,
Eddy

 

[Leon]

Yep, I am guilty as well...
The best example of a Seated dime I had ever found, and I put a wopper of a scratch on it...
Seems like it's always when you least expect it...

Seems like you've got the right attitude though,,, I'm sure your patients will get better as the weather gets better...
It is cold outside....
Good luck, & Happy hunting~

 

[Smithrow1]

That is a nice barber it would be graded in fine and a S mint mark value is about $50.

 

[mr. natural]

still worth around $14.00 in g4 condition

 

[tsgman]

Thats a nice Barber, to bad about the damage. Maybe a pipointer would help. Tsgman

 

[skierbob]

Great find. Don't feel too bad though. I once put a deep gash on the edge of an 1890 Morgan Dollar while hacking through frozen ground. The coin was on edge and was pinpointing about 4 inches away from where it was. Sh-- happens.
Bob

 

[Ben_banned]

Ouch, that sucks but hey the ground was forzen.