Oldest US silver to date

HighVDI

Silver Member
Feb 16, 2017
2,765
4,594
Pa
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Got out to an old farm field my Dad used to detect about 20 years ago. I've dug a little here before but never found much. He always told me the field had potential.

This time I was digging the usual lead and shotgun head stamps when I got over a choppy high tone. It was one you can't pass up in an old field. Flipped the plug over and it was a solid signal in the zinc penny range. I saw some silver in the outer ring of the plug and it looked thin.....and old! I figured it was a half reale but after a little dirt removal it turned out to be an 1801 draped bust half dime!

I found it interesting that right on the top of the hill I was detecting on another farm is where I dug my first large cent about 25 yrs ago and it too was an 1801. After telling my Dad about the silver coin he said he snagged a NJ copper and a few LC's out of there. I guess that's why he always felt it had potential! Thanks for looking!
 

Attachments

  • 20220220_185753.jpg
    20220220_185753.jpg
    417.3 KB · Views: 955
  • 20220220_185832.jpg
    20220220_185832.jpg
    646.8 KB · Views: 797
Upvote 86

Digger RJ

Gold Member
Aug 24, 2017
19,312
33,446
SW Missouri/Oklahoma
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030; Minelab Equinox 800;
XP Deus 2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Got out to an old farm field my Dad used to detect about 20 years ago. I've dug a little here before but never found much. He always told me the field had potential.

This time I was digging the usual lead and shotgun head stamps when I got over a choppy high tone. It was one you can't pass up in an old field. Flipped the plug over and it was a solid signal in the zinc penny range. I saw some silver in the outer ring of the plug and it looked thin.....and old! I figured it was a half reale but after a little dirt removal it turned out to be an 1801 draped bust half dime!

I found it interesting that right on the top of the hill I was detecting on another farm is where I dug my first large cent about 25 yrs ago and it too was an 1801. After telling my Dad about the silver coin he said he snagged a NJ copper and a few LC's out of there. I guess that's why he always felt it had potential! Thanks for looking!
Awesome!!! Congrats!!!
 

pa-dirt_nc-sand

Silver Member
Apr 18, 2016
4,231
14,615
South Western PA
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
Detector(s) used
ACE 250 with DD coil
Equinox 600
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Got out to an old farm field my Dad used to detect about 20 years ago. I've dug a little here before but never found much. He always told me the field had potential.

This time I was digging the usual lead and shotgun head stamps when I got over a choppy high tone. It was one you can't pass up in an old field. Flipped the plug over and it was a solid signal in the zinc penny range. I saw some silver in the outer ring of the plug and it looked thin.....and old! I figured it was a half reale but after a little dirt removal it turned out to be an 1801 draped bust half dime!

I found it interesting that right on the top of the hill I was detecting on another farm is where I dug my first large cent about 25 yrs ago and it too was an 1801. After telling my Dad about the silver coin he said he snagged a NJ copper and a few LC's out of there. I guess that's why he always felt it had potential! Thanks for looking!
Incredible silver! Congrats
 

jewelerguy

Gold Member
Jun 28, 2011
11,418
8,876
Oklahoma
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
White's XLT
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Excellent find! I love seeing when someone on the forum digs early US silver. worth around 1800 bucks in 'good (g-4)' condition, so even beat up I'd say yours should be worth several hundred.
 

Florida Finder

Bronze Member
Dec 17, 2020
1,718
5,321
Southern States of America
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
AT Max
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Got out to an old farm field my Dad used to detect about 20 years ago. I've dug a little here before but never found much. He always told me the field had potential.

This time I was digging the usual lead and shotgun head stamps when I got over a choppy high tone. It was one you can't pass up in an old field. Flipped the plug over and it was a solid signal in the zinc penny range. I saw some silver in the outer ring of the plug and it looked thin.....and old! I figured it was a half reale but after a little dirt removal it turned out to be an 1801 draped bust half dime!

I found it interesting that right on the top of the hill I was detecting on another farm is where I dug my first large cent about 25 yrs ago and it too was an 1801. After telling my Dad about the silver coin he said he snagged a NJ copper and a few LC's out of there. I guess that's why he always felt it had potential! Thanks for looking!
That’s some great finds. Love that half dime!
 

rhedden

Sr. Member
Mar 23, 2003
362
451
Eastern NY
Detector(s) used
Nokta Makro Simplex
As a half dime collector, I have to tell you that you found a good one. An 1800, 1803 or even a 1797 would not surprise me much, or even a 1795. An 1801 is really an unlikely find. Congrats!

Now you have to figure out which die marriage it is. The LM-2 die marriage is very scarce, but it's the most likely to locate. The LM-1 die marriage is really, really rare. You can start by checking out this page with a photo of an LM-1....

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1801-h10c-lm-1/38605

... and this page with further information about the date.

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1801-h10c/4267
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top