OMG, I cant believe I found one!

MrBling

Sr. Member
Aug 12, 2008
356
1
North Florida
Detector(s) used
White's Surfmaster PI/Garrett Ace 250
OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Winter has finally set in here in Florida. The sauna-like heat and humidity have passed, the mosquitos and biting gnats have frozen, the fire ants and yellowjackets have retreated to their hives, the rattlers and moccasins are curled quietly in their holes, and the alligators are snoozing soundly in their dens.
After a rather hectic Thanksgiving weekend, I got a chance late this afternoon to get out for a little detecting on my parent's farm. We'd had heavy rain several times during the last 48 hours, and I've had good success after previous rains, so I was hopeful. The farm dates back to the 1880's, but before today the oldest coins I had found were some wheats from the teens and 3 Mercurys.
I decided to try a pecan grove about 100 yards behind the house, where I had previously found 3 sling buckles which appeared to date from the late 1800's, a couple of ring shank button backs-one a Waterbury- , a couple of older wheats, and a large musketball. This area is much less trashy than the yard of the house, and I thought that might give me a chance at some deeper, older coins.
I had only been hunting about 10 minutes when I got a good coin signal. The visual display had the cursor staying consistently in the notch between dime and penny and the depth meter said 4-6 inches. A good shot at a wheat at least, I thought, and I hoped it was an IH which I have yet to find. I dug down about 5 inches and put the dirt into the small plastic tray I carry(formerly a cooler tray). You can't "dig a plug" here because the soil is too sandy- it just falls apart. I checked the tray and got a coin signal. This one's easy, I thought, but I was wrong. I spent the next several minutes sifting through the dirt, and swinging the coil over it, then resifting, but just couldn't find the target. I knew it had to be really small, and began to think that it was one of those little shards of brass that I frequently find on this property. Finally, I began picking up handfuls of dirt and swinging them in front of the coil. On the third handful, I got a signal, carefully opened my hand, brushed aside some dirt and saw a small dark silvery disc. Mercury! I thought, but when I looked closer, what little I could see of the design just didn't look " right" for a Mercury.
Maybe it's a 3-center, or some type of real, or a cool old token I thought, getting a little excited.
Then I held the coin up close to my eye, flipping it over and turning it around again and again until I saw the word "HALF" staring up at me! I jumped up and yelled "I can't believe it, I can't believe it!" So, I proudly present my 1857 Half Dime:
halfdimeobverse.JPG
halfdimereverse.JPG
I did gack the obverse with my digger, but I don't feel that bad, since there are several old gouges in the coin which appear to have been caused by a farm implement. The obverse is less worn than it appears in the photo- the folds of the dress can be seen and most of the letters of Liberty also. The date is very clear. This coin is really small Here is a pic for comparison
halfdimeanddime.JPG
I thought it would take me many years, if ever, to find a half dime. This is my first seated coin and my first coin of any type before 1900- so, needless to say I am very pleased with it. It just goes to show, if you persist through the "dry spells" you'll eventually have a good day.
Good luck to all and happy hunting!
 

Upvote 0

treasurefiend

Gold Member
Mar 17, 2008
7,445
93
Chicago IL
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab_Excal_II Minelab_Explorer_SE_Pro w/ SunRay pinpointer & Garrett_Ace250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Awesome find Mr. Bling, Congrats!!!! :thumbsup:
 

RONC(OR)

Hero Member
Aug 28, 2006
860
8
Eugene ,OR
Detector(s) used
Etrac/ X-8-X-1/ /Excalibur 2/AuqaHog ~yayer
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

That is sweeet congrats HH
 

hogge

Silver Member
Mar 13, 2008
3,814
1,503
Pittsfield Ma.
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T-2SE--Whites Prism IV
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Nice find Mr. Bling. Have yet to find a half dime. Congrats......Hogge :thumbsup:
 

Ed-NH

Bronze Member
Feb 4, 2006
1,371
37
Detector(s) used
Minelab Explorer ll
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Big congrats on the 1/2 dime they don't come easy!
 

woody50

Bronze Member
Jun 21, 2007
1,879
203
Detector(s) used
XP Deus
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Great a half dime, always wanted one of those, nice coins.... Wonderful find for you!
 

leddel

Hero Member
Jun 30, 2006
589
256
connecticut
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

great story and a huge congrats to ya Mr. Bling , i can really relate to your enthusium as i just found (with in two weeks ago )my first seated coin after years of detecting and it was a half dime as well . Dan
 

Cynangyl

Gold Member
Apr 12, 2007
11,346
78
God's lap
Detector(s) used
X-terra 70
ACE 250
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

wooohooooo!! Congrats! That is quite a find there. :thumbsup:
 

treasurenut

Full Member
Oct 19, 2006
193
4
FL
Detector(s) used
White DFX, Minelab Excaliber II, Aquapulse
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Now that I like to see, I am hoping to make the move to Florida next year and to see old stuff coming out of florida is great
 

DD-777

Silver Member
Feb 21, 2007
2,522
26
Over the River and thru the Woods...
Detector(s) used
Team Tesoro
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Beautiful half dime, regardless of the nicks - big congrats to you Bling...
 

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crazyjarhead

Gold Member
Sep 10, 2007
10,318
42
N. San Diego County
Detector(s) used
Ace 250
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Rare find in Florida, I would say. Has winter really set in down there?? What's the temp, 70? ;D I'll trade places with you anyday. HH Ron
 

daytondigger

Bronze Member
Oct 6, 2004
1,377
10
Dayton, Ohio
Detector(s) used
Fisher CZ5
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Congratulations, I've never found a half dime in all my years of swinging a coil. :thumbsup:
 

curbdiggercarl57

Silver Member
Nov 19, 2007
4,362
1,041
Largo, Florida
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Whites Silver Eagle, DFX, Shadow X-2
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: OMG, I can't believe I found one!

Only Seated Half Dime I've dug had the ever popular hole in the top. I salute you!
 

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