She isn't pretty, but I still love her! A VERY toasted 1809 USA Half Cent

[TomW244]

I hit the Florida east coast beaches again yesterday, and came away with precious little clad and an unusually large amount of can slaw and pull tabs. My only keeper for the day was a VERY toasted 1809 USA Half Cent. (It was in the dry sand near the base of a sand dune which was vertically sheared last year by the hurricanes.)

She was far too gone to have any numismatic value, so, yes, I DID clean her up a bit to bring out some detail. (I used a combination of a rock tumbler and Andre's Pencils.) Below are the before and after pictures. And again, I know she's ugly, but she's my child, so be polite!

 

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[GB1]

 

[HighVDI]

I'd be happy with it! Congratulations

 

[thrifty76now]

Your half cent is still in much better condition than the one I found.

 

[digging440yrs]

I'm sure I will not look that good in 200 yrs---

 

[Phishfindr]

Awesome find!

 

[Phishfarmer]

I bought a metal detector in Florida about 6 years ago and never found anything old. After a while I just took it for granted I was only going to find clad and the occasional piece of jewelry; I was searching on the left coast. I did find a three ringer with my eyeballs while planting a garden in my back yard. I congratulate you on finding anything noteworthy there!

 

[TomW244]

I'd be happy with it! Congratulations

Thanks!

 

[TomW244]

I bought a metal detector in Florida about 6 years ago and never found anything old. After a while I just took it for granted I was only going to find clad and the occasional piece of jewelry; I was searching on the left coast. I did find a three ringer with my eyeballs while planting a garden in my back yard. I congratulate you on finding anything noteworthy there!

Thank you!

 

[Agent Green]

 

[against the wind]

Well, you did a good job on finding it and a great job on cleaning it up.
Congratulations

 

[3cylbill]

I HAVE WANTED TO FIND ONE OF THOSE FOR 40 YEARS....I better keep lookin , yea she is a bit ...narley but still beautiful I wouldn't leave her in the hole.....congratulation on a fantastic find..

 

[TomW244]

Well, you did a good job on finding it and a great job on cleaning it up.
Congratulations

Thank you!

 

[TomW244]

I HAVE WANTED TO FIND ONE OF THOSE FOR 40 YEARS....I better keep lookin , yea she is a bit ...narley but still beautiful I wouldn't leave her in the hole.....congratulation on a fantastic find..

Thank you so much!

 

[EasternShoreMetal]

Wow! I think you cleaned that up pretty good to get as much detail as you did. Sweet! Nice work. HH

 

[FreeBirdTim]

That's definitely not a common find. In five years of metal detecting, I've found 13 LC's, 4 KG coppers, and a 1723 Rosa Americana, but ZERO half cents.

 

[Carolina Tom]

That’s nicer than the one I have. Congrats to you sir.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Uncleaned she looks like clam shell pizza, but once you cleaned her up, she’s purdy and you can see the date!!

 

[Digemnega]

Hey no matter how it looks it is still a part of history you were lucky enough to dig. Congrats on the awesome find

 

[Scrappy]

She’s a beauty. What else wasn’t helping was the poor quality planchet used by the mint at that time. I have a lot of respect for Florida beach hunters and to find a half cent anywhere there is a remarkable feat. You almost certainly have a better chance of finding a Spanish cob.