My first big silver

Mi$terG · Jan 25, 2013

Back on December 5, I decided to head out to the woods next to the local lake to see what I could find. It was a crisp, clear and sunny New England day and I had a good feeling. I had found a few mercs in this area since just after Thanksgiving, and was hoping for another. It was going really slowly on the footpaths, so I decided to head down to the water's edge to try my luck there. The undergrowth was incredibly thick with saplings and especially thorns... But I made my way down to the water. There were a few large rocks there, and I thought to myself, what better place to sit on a hot summer day- and possibly drop something! So I started to sweep the coil around the first rock. Nothing there- so on to the next. Nothing on one side... Then as I came around to the water-facing side I got an unquestionable half-dollar signal- repeating from every angle- at about 6 inches. I was really excited- was hoping for a Walking Liberty actually. I knelt down between the branches and thorns and dug out 5 inches of soft, black soil and got the pinpointer in there, at which time it was screaming (that Garrett pinpointer sound that we love!), so I reached in with a bare hand and out comes a slightly bent, BIG coin. The first thing I recognized was that it was seated... I think I yelled out loud "seated!"- and then I saw the date and mint mark- 1858-O. In awesome shape except for the bend. Was thinking that maybe it saved someone's life by deflecting a bullet? No matter. A question for you all- should I try to get it flattened out- and if so, how? Thanks all!

63bkpkr · Jan 25, 2013

MG I'd say you are doing very well with your first machine and pinpointer, no need to change anything. Keep on learning and finding...........63bkpkr

gleaner1 · Jan 26, 2013

That is the best twisted-up bent seated I have ever seen by far I am stunned by it. Awesome.... :thumbsup:

mattysee · Jan 26, 2013

gleaner1 said:
That is the best twisted-up bent seated I have ever seen by far I am stunned by it. Awesome....[/Q] i fixed a bent token and a connecticut copper by putting two pieces of thick cardboard on each side to protect the coin, and then put it in a bench vise and squeezed down on it, they came out perfect! its a risk but up to you! nice coin!!

CASPER-2 · Jan 26, 2013

Awesome find - I think it was bent on purpose
they used to put a bend - usually in smaller coins - similar to that
they were known as love token - you would give to your gal or she would give to you - to hold and rub
in their place or sometimes for luck
usually when you went to war or away for along period of time
I have a small silver that has similar bend and is worn smooth
I also found a large cent that was hit by a musket ball and it did not go thru - dented coin a little differently and it damaged the writing where it hit
think you got a love token

CASPER-2 · Jan 26, 2013

bent coin "love" token references
Love Tokens

LOVE TOKENS

Mi$terG · Jan 26, 2013

Thanks for the great info, Casper. Might have been a local guy going to fight in the Civil War, based on the date. Are you from New England? Thanks again and HH.

BuckleBoy · Jan 27, 2013

Beautiful find! Leave her as-is.

Coin-Grats,

-Buck

deepseeker3 · Jan 27, 2013

I have found one bent half - a Barber (not nearly as nice condition as yours). I found it in an area that was being dug up for a mall. It had been run over by a caterpiller, and was not that bent!

BTW, I straightened it by putting it on a piece of pine (soft enough to absorb inpact that would damage the surface), then placed another piece of wood over it and hit it with the flat surface of a hammer. I tapped it out flat.

But remember, I did not have as much to lose as you.