My first silver coin could make you cry

[pakeha63]

Hello all,

I've been detecting for about 5 months now, and have dug almost $450.00 in clad coins gold rings, silver rings, but no silver coins
Well today was my day. Put on a 6" Excelerator coil on my Minelab SE Pro, and off I went to the parks. I targeted 3 parks dating from the 1800's, hoping to dig a silver. Found almost $12.00 in clad, but these parks just didn't want to give up what I was looking for. It was getting a little frustrating too, as these parks were riddled with screw caps. First park, I decided to leave after a group of shady looking guys(10) started to congregate. Second park, my detector was singing a song to me all the time because of the large amount of screwcaps(they call this wino park here in Stockton). So I went to the third. Was pulling coins all over the place. Ever had that feeling someone is watching you? Sure enough this strange guy was nearby. He leaves, and comes back with a buddy, and they follow me everywhere I go. That was my time to leave.
Decided to hit a newer park just to find coins. Got a strong quarter signal, and started digging. Dug my plug, used my pinpointer- no signal Ran my detector over again, and it was still there. Dug down to about six inches, and out the coin pops. I looked, and thought this coin is extremely large for a quarter, and noticed the edge didn't have the copper line on the rim. Hooray!!, a silver half dollar 1954 Franklin. I couldn't believe it. I carefully wrapped it in tissue, and put it in my pocket. Went home.
When i was washing it under water, with a soft toothbrush, my heart sank as I could see I had got it with my digger
I'm sad, but I'm happy- my first silver is a half dollar.
Happy hunting everyone.

 

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[bill-USA]

If you're talking about the scrape under the WE, it doesn't look fresh enough to me for you to take credit for it. It needs to be shinier than that for a new gouge.

I think that was probably mower blade, but I'm not an expert by any means. Just look too much like the rest of the slightly oxidized surface of the rest of the half.

Anyway, congratulations on a great find!

 

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[diggerodell]

Great find! Dimes, silver dimes is all that I find anymore. And the finds of those are down to about one per summer - if I'm lucky! I have found a silver half before - in the early 1980's. So that Franklin is a great find for these days.

 

[hit80s]

 

[superficialbob]

CONGRATS, I USED TO LIVE IN STOCKTON, FOR MANY YEARS, YOU CAN'T BE TO CAREFUL AROUND THE CITY PARKS. SOME REALLY SCARY PEOPLE. BEST OF LUCK, & BE SAFE.

 

[Detectingfreak]

wow!!! Very impressive! Love seeing that silver rim!

 

[beetle662]

Congrats on a BIG chunk of silver!!!!

 

[wildcatman71]

That has to make you feel GREAT! Awesome!

 

[John987]

Great find for your first silver. My first was a Washington quarter. Now that you've reminded me of the Franklin halves, I want to find one also. Never found any of those or a lot of others. Halves I have found are very hard to come across.
Keep it up and be careful and always watch. I have found myself in similiar circumstances but always ended up ok. I don't think they liked the fact that I use an ice pick for a probe. It works great and makes people think twice.
Get people to go out with you - that's best.
And I don't think you put that gouge in the coin.
Happy Hunting!
John from Upstate NY

 

[kimsdad]

Wow! Congrats on doing it up right for your first silver!

I was lucky enough to score a walking half for my first. Thought it was just another aluminum can when I was digging it and put a nice scratch on its face. Don't fret about that little edge ding.

 

[crazyjarhead]

Too bad about the gouge. I found my first back in December. Still a nice chunk of silver