My first 3 cent piece and a couple buttons.

[Merf]

Greetings fellow T-Netters,
I headed back to the bean field today and re hunted part of the site for the third time.
I did not find many targets but with discrimination set just above iron I got a faint signal and dug up a little bent disc. I rubbed the edge and saw it was silver so into the small water jar it went.
It is black, bent, and broken but I guess I will take it. Man it is small and thin. It would be hard not to lose if carried in a pocket. I also found a couple buttons and some Misc.
The white thing is lead and I am not sure what it is. It is just under 3/4 inches in diameter. Maybe a bullet of some kind. Shotgun slug?
The two large rings are also a mystery. I also found the other half to the copper pocket knife that I found last week.
Thanks for looking and best luck my friends. Merf

 

[t-bucket]

Thats awesome Merf,Im back on line again.That 3center looks like it is in good shape.congrats on a great hunt.

 

[Merf]

I just did a little looking around and found this New York Times article http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archiv...1030E433A25752C2A9659C94649FD7CF&oref=sloging around and found thid New York Times article :
So is there a reeded edge ? That seems to be the givaway for this particular counterfeit . If there is a reeded edge it would appear to be correct .

Prairiewolf----Thank you for the observation and research on the 3 cent piece.
It may well be conterfeit. It would prolly make it more valuable.
I wish I knew for sure. I will try to clean it to get more detail.
Here is a source I found about the coin's edge.

Thanks for the link to the counterfeiters article----That is a good read.




According to the late Walter Breen, a renowned numismatic scholar and researcher, four proof specimens of the 1851 silver three-cent piece were made, evidently struck to celebrate the coin's inception. Reportedly, a single proof example of 1852 exists in the collection of the American Numismatic Society in New York City.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Diameter: 14 millimeters Weight: .80 grams Composition: .750 silver, .250 copper Edge: Plain, Net Weight: .01929 ounce pure silver

 

[Merf]

Merf, great job on the 3 center! Most 3 cent pieces are 90% silver and 10% copper. What you have is a type one variety 1851-1853, they were made 75% silver and 25% copper, yours is actually more valuable than a type 2 or 3. Some of the 1852's were repunched with a 1 over an inverted 2, can you tell if it's a repunch? I know the crack is close to the 2, take a look. Maybe it's the copper content that made it crack?

Great day in the bean field, keep at those short swings!

Thanks Country girl
I checked and it is not a repunch.

The Merf Feller is still kickin' metal datecting butt in Illinois. I, too, have only found 1 three-cent wilver.

If your metal datecting year suddenly ends right now, you still had one heck of a hall of fame-like year.

Kyle

Thanks Kyle

I don't think there's much as far as denomination you haven't found Merf.....Congrat's on the 3 Center Buddy....Still on my wish list.

Thanks Civilman

Nice pic's and finds Merf.

Thanks Rogerdodger

Thats awesome Merf,Im back on line again.That 3center looks like it is in good shape.congrats on a great hunt.

Thanks T-Bucket

 

[Merf]

Here is what I noticed :

1. The edge rim on both sides is thicker than the uprights on the letterring which is not the case on the actual known to be real coin .

2. There is an extra slag of metal which extends into the S in STATES on the star and shield side of the coin which should not be there . It may be a mint error or it may be an imperfection in the counterfeit process . Or not ?

3. The coin looks and is attacked by the soil as would be expected of an alloy .

4. There are numerous cracks in the coin which are at least suspect .

Don't forget the grain of salt !

I checked it closely with a loop and I think you may be right.
The only other explanation I could think of is if the coin was in a fire.
Turning it black and brittle.

 

[Colonial Copper Zeus]

That's a special find Merf. I only found 1 in my many years of detecting. That bean field you found is fertile indeed.
Chris

 

[Merf]

That's a special find Merf. I only found 1 in my many years of detecting. That bean field you found is fertile indeed.
Chris

Thanks Chris
It was sure a surprise-----They are so tiny.