Pondering Questions Of A Lost Franklin Half

Natman

Bronze Member
Jan 8, 2007
2,487
461
Hazelwood, MO
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
White's Prizm II, White's Coinmaster
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Hi all,

I got some more pics together of the "scene of the crime" where I found my very first Franklin half on Monday.

First off, I must say I'm still reeling from the experience..it's only my second silver half ever - my first one was a 1942 Walker that I found in 1996.

The neighborhood where I live was built in the 50's..my house and the surrounding ones were completed in 1958-1959, which makes the area prime hunting ground for silver coins.

It was only this year I began getting permission to search private yards around here..it's neat because there's so many places to hunt and they're all close to home.

Anyway, after the find I began to visualize different scenarios pertaining to just who, when, and how the coin was lost. Does anyone else do this??? After thinking about "who" may have lost it , it's a pretty good bet the coin was lost by the first owners of this residence since the coin's date is 1953. As for the "when", I can tell the coin was in circulation for awhile, judging from blemishes and wear easily seen with a magnifyer. Silver halves of this type were probably not carried around as much by 1964 when Kennedy halves were introduced, so I can see it being lost somewhere between 1958 and 1964.

"How" the coin was lost is anyone's guess. I tend to think it may have been lost by an adult..50 cents back then was probably like losing a few bucks nowadays, so maybe it was accidentally dropped there. It was also the only coin of it's kind on the entire property.

Here is the yard I found my Franklin..it was next door to the yard where I found 24 wheat pennies a few days earlier..I can see that "who" as a kid back in the 60's playing or burying them (there was 15 wheats and about a half dozen 60's Lincoln Memorials buried in an area about a foot square).
FRANK7.jpg


Looking from the house, the place where my detector coil sits is the exact location of my find.
FRANK0.jpg


Here is the coin in the very hole of which it lay for 45 or so years.
FRANK4.jpg


Here's a shot of my son holding it.
FRANK1.jpg


And a very happy yours truly!
FRANK3.jpg


This post was designed to stir your imagination, inspire "newbies" and well-seasoned MDers alike, and share an experience with you that I will never forget..if you can EVER get permission to hunt yards such as this one, do so because there's always a chance to find something really great.

Nat
 

Upvote 0
nice post and great coin - thanks it definately inspires

vp
 

Hello NatMan!
Good logic; great story!
Finding Old Ben will live with you forever. Too bad, the clads don't leave nothing but dirt in the old pocket! :)

GRB
 

Great post, great pics, great find, Nat!!! ;)

I go through the same thought process as you whenever I found something old/valuable.
There's bound to be more good finds at those residences. More silver/wheats for sure.

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan
 

cool story and a great finds ! i see it put a big smile on your face to ;)
 

Yes indeed thats is an inspiring way to describe your finds,iam so glad that iam intrested in such a fullfiling hobby.
 

Beautiful coin Nat! Congratulations!

As for the inspiration, Nana and I still look at each other and say "you goin' to the door to ask permission"...answer: "no, but I'll go with you". ;D
 

That is a great looking coin Natman. One that is still on my wish list.
 

DiggerBug said:
Beautiful coin Nat! Congratulations!

As for the inspiration, Nana and I still look at each other and say "you goin' to the door to ask permission"...answer: "no, but I'll go with you". ;D

LOL, I've been known to do the same thing. Glad I'm not alone.

Great story Nat. Thanks for sharing
 

Nat,
I'm thinking the "HOW" was possibly the Dad throwing the coin at the kid to get his attention in the back yard, OR
the milkman giving the coin to the kid as hush money? ;D
By the way, I see you are a fisherman too. The Cabella's hat gave it away. ;D
Great post,
MM
 

Thanks everyone, your replies give the inspiration right back to me!

ModernMiner said:
I see you are a fisherman too. The Cabella's hat gave it away.

MM, I'm actually a "Cabela's Convert" (I was wearing a Bass Pro hat in my other avatar, I like going there too!) ;D

They just opened a new Cabela's about 5 minutes away from my house..I was in outdoor heaven when I visited there for the first time 2 weeks ago.

Nat
 

Great post Nat! Yoiur story really does stir the imagination.
Great pics and good to see you.....


Keep safe and keep diggin'...
 

Good job Natman... Sure did enjoy this post as I also think of the story behind the lost coinage...

Many years ago, probably around 1987, a co-worker and myself received permission to check an old home next to where his sister lived... The older gentleman advised there was probably nothing worth finding, but said have at it... After splitting up the yard, this was a must as both of the detectors were the same, I commenced to finding a few wheaties and when rounding the house to the back yard, a sweet 1923 merc said hello... While digging up lots of wheaties under the close line, heard the distinct sound of interference... Sure enough, there was my detectors twin about 20 feet away... Asked my buddy if he was doing any good and received nah as his response... Turned off one of the twinkies, and assisted in unearthing many more wheaties to my buddies surprise... While he was enjoying these finds, I acquired 40 or so feet of distance and commenced to saying hello to a 1943 quarter and then a 1954 dime... Worked my way towards the front yard and seen a sweet 1918 merc at about 6"... Right in the middle of the left portion of the front yard, received a strong signal and popped out a 1940 Walker... Needles to say, my day was simply outstanding at this point in time... In rechecking the hole, the detector was still receiving a very strong signal... Sunk the digger a bit further and was greeted with another Walker dated 1942 quarter and a 1942 quarter...

Hopefully I didn't corrupt your post Nat, but I can just imagine these three coins wound up in the same hole as a result of some youngster, who was turning cart-wheels while waiting on the Ice Cream truck, being very sad when the coins were no longer in their pocket...

Attached are the coins and a cheesy drawing of the yard where they were found...

HH Robert
 

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Bertman said:
Hopefully I didn't corrupt your post Nat

Not at all Bertman! I enjoyed the story..that's a dream hunt!

Bertman said:
I can just imagine these three coins wound up in the same hole as a result of some youngster, who was turning cart-wheels while waiting on the Ice Cream truck, being very sad when the coins were no longer in their pocket

Could be..but back in those days, $1.25 could probably buy a dozen ice cream bars!

HH,
Nat
 

I always try to imagine where someone might be taking there keys out of there pockets. Wether it be at a house,
playground, Baseball field or any other place someone might put their hands in their pockets. These are usually my starting points.
 

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