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!
 

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Upvote 86

Hunk-a-lead

Bronze Member
Dec 20, 2020
2,093
3,259
Kansas City
Detector(s) used
Nokta Legend, Predator Phoenix Shovel
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!
great save and love that silver!
 

Cptbill

Greenie
Jan 2, 2017
16
46
CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 800, Whites MXT Pro, AT Pro, Fisher Gold Bug 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!
Really nice find
 

OP
OP
HighVDI

HighVDI

Silver Member
Feb 16, 2017
2,765
4,594
Pa
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
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
Thanks!
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
Thanks for that info!
 

Bluegrassriver

Jr. Member
Oct 18, 2008
52
16
Kentucky near the Ohio River!
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!
How deep was this find?
 

Coinstar magnet

Silver Member
Apr 5, 2020
2,508
5,135
Beverly Massachusetts
Detector(s) used
Tesoro compadre
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!
Still enough detail to make that a gorgeous coin. Very nice recovery HighVDI
 

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