🥇 BANNER The find of a lifetime! 1652 Pine Tree Shilling!

[Donnie B from VA]

This past Sunday I found the find of a lifetime, a 1652 Pine Tree Shilling at a site in Connecticut. I don't post much on here but thought I would share it with you.

 

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[Donnie B from VA]

Just saw this post,congrats on a great find and the banner.You look like a fairly young guy in your photo so you may still have a few more finds of a life time under your coil.As far as what the experts think if your going to keep your coin just enjoy it for what it means to you.

Thank you! I'm not that young and much older than you may think. I would like to say that I am well preserved but I can feel it in my hips on the long marches in the woods that I am not the man I used to be.

 

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[JeffInMass]

Congrats on an amazing find! I found one back in March 2008, and the title of my post was nearly the same as yours- very cool. It's an incredible feeling finding one of these, so I totally understand how you've felt. Very happy for you!

-- Jeff --

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Thanks buddy. I was really hoping you'd share that painful experience. I think people just expect that these "professionals" will do a great job. But that's often times not the case. The misidentified variety really hit home for me. How's that possible? Even I can easily identify most of these coins. I know we open ourselves up to criticism sometimes by sharing stories or advice but it's important. It may save the next person from having to go through a similar experience.

Crazy story Silver Tree!

Here's why I don't assume people are "professionals" based on their employment.

When I was 15 (a kid), I got a job a Hechinger, which was a home improvement store similar to a Lowe's or Home Depot. I remember the first week I worked there, grown men were coming in to buy stuff and asking my advice on electrical work, painting, framing a shed, etc... just because I had a Hechinger's apron on I was a kid and certainly not qualified to answer questions or give advice, just because I worked at a hardware store.

Coin grading companies need to hire people too... and just because someone gets a job there, that doesn't make them a "professional". A carpenter, a painter or an electrician were WAY more qualified to answer the questions I was being asked, just because I worked at a company. Just as I am sure there are WAY more qualified people to grade and determine varieties on coins, other than the "professionals" who work at the coin grading services. Not saying they're all incompetent coin graders, but all the employees certainly don't have the same level of expertise, which is evident with Silver Trees experience.

I always chuckle when I see people suggest to send some item to "the professionals" for preservation, restoration, or grading. Unless I know the person or have references\reviews for the person, then I wouldn't consider them "professionals". We have some way more qualified people on this forum. I also laugh now when I'm at Lowes and over hear a guy 'picking the brain' of a high school aged employee, on how he should approach the house project he's working on over the weekend (happened last week!).

 

[Ahab8]

Crazy story Silver Tree!

Here's why I don't assume people are "professionals" based on their employment.

When I was 15 (a kid), I got a job a Hechinger, which was a home improvement store similar to a Lowe's or Home Depot. I remember the first week I worked there, grown men were coming in to buy stuff and asking my advice on electrical work, painting, framing a shed, etc... just because I had a Hechinger's apron on I was a kid and certainly not qualified to answer questions or give advice, just because I worked at a hardware store.

Coin grading companies need to hire people too... and just because someone gets a job there, that doesn't make them a "professional". A carpenter, a painter or an electrician were WAY more qualified to answer the questions I was being asked, just because I worked at a company. Just as I am sure there are WAY more qualified people to grade and determine varieties on coins, other than the "professionals" who work at the coin grading services. Not saying they're all incompetent coin graders, but all the employees certainly don't have the same level of expertise, which is evident with Silver Trees experience.

I always chuckle when I see people suggest to send some item to "the professionals" for preservation, restoration, or grading. Unless I know the person or have references\reviews for the person, then I wouldn't consider them "professionals". We have some way more qualified people on this forum. I also laugh now when I'm at Lowes and over hear a guy 'picking the brain' of a high school aged employee, on how he should approach the house project he's working on over the weekend (happened last week!).

Well said. I cringe everytime people urge others to get colonial coins slabbed or restored. The reality is that 99% of these professionals do t handle rare colonial coins often. They rarely deal with colonials period. Then add the dug factor and you are asking for sorrow. My buddy works for Stacks on occasion helping them with large collections. He openly admits that the colonial stuff is very specific and there's a very small pool of people that he would trust with them. Dug coins are like some alien life form to them. They're used to seeing Grammys coin collection toon that was in his safe deposit box for 60 years. A beautiful dug coin is no comparison. So sending one to a person who looks at beautiful non dug coins for a living seems rather foolish to me.
I'm really glad SilverTreeChaser shared his experience. That's how we all learn. And I'm damn happy Brad isn't my lumber salesman lol

 

[Davers]

You sound like me.

"I scratched a Coin 22 years ago "

Yea I 'Nailed ' several Minnies (For Important areas) 19 years ago ,17 years ago,& 3 years ago .

I've never got over those 'Dirt Kisses'

Also way over cleaned a 1903 O Barber in XF (my 1st Barber Coin) of 3 all Dimes.
& That still bothers me. That was in 1999.

Hence My attitude about "Cleaning".

 

[qdp diggers]

That's what they call the retirement coin.... nice find definatly a banner find

Sent from my SM-N920V using TreasureNet.com mobile app

 

[against the wind]

Incredible coin,,
Congratulations

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Congrats on an amazing find! I found one back in March 2008, and the title of my post was nearly the same as yours- very cool. It's an incredible feeling finding one of these, so I totally understand how you've felt. Very happy for you!

-- Jeff --

That's what they call the retirement coin.... nice find definatly a banner find

Sent from my SM-N920V using TreasureNet.com mobile app

Incredible coin,,
Congratulations

Thank you all for the kind comments. Congratulations on your Pine Tree, Jeff! It's an incredible feeling! I think that's the common denominator for all of us who metal detect. We are all adrenaline junkies. We love that rush of adrenaline when you see something good in the hole. You don't know what it is yet, but you know it's good.

 

[trdking]

Donnie I hate to admit this but for that coin I would consider digging you up lol

OMG I was thinking the very same thing

 

[trdking]

Thank you! I'm not that young and much older than you may think. I would like to say that I am well preserved but I can feel it in my hips on the long marches in the woods that I am not the man I used to be.

AMEN Brother and it do SUCK

 

[trdking]

Crazy story Silver Tree!

Here's why I don't assume people are "professionals" based on their employment.

When I was 15 (a kid), I got a job a Hechinger, which was a home improvement store similar to a Lowe's or Home Depot. I remember the first week I worked there, grown men were coming in to buy stuff and asking my advice on electrical work, painting, framing a shed, etc... just because I had a Hechinger's apron on I was a kid and certainly not qualified to answer questions or give advice, just because I worked at a hardware store.

Coin grading companies need to hire people too... and just because someone gets a job there, that doesn't make them a "professional". A carpenter, a painter or an electrician were WAY more qualified to answer the questions I was being asked, just because I worked at a company. Just as I am sure there are WAY more qualified people to grade and determine varieties on coins, other than the "professionals" who work at the coin grading services. Not saying they're all incompetent coin graders, but all the employees certainly don't have the same level of expertise, which is evident with Silver Trees experience.

I always chuckle when I see people suggest to send some item to "the professionals" for preservation, restoration, or grading. Unless I know the person or have references\reviews for the person, then I wouldn't consider them "professionals". We have some way more qualified people on this forum. I also laugh now when I'm at Lowes and over hear a guy 'picking the brain' of a high school aged employee, on how he should approach the house project he's working on over the weekend (happened last week!).

100,000 years ago, I had a job at Home Depot. They as most Hardware stores had a professional (A Bernie Boy at HD) to answer all of those questions. They made more money than the average floor person. (I know, I was one of them) Just like HD or Lowes having an expert so should PCGS NGC ANACS? Certainly a rare and valuable Colonial would not go to the average floor person? One would hope not. Such is Life

 

[trdking]

"I scratched a Coin 22 years ago "

Yea I 'Nailed ' several Minnies (For Important areas) 19 years ago ,17 years ago,& 3 years ago .

I've never got over those 'Dirt Kisses'

Also way over cleaned a 1903 O Barber in XF (my 1st Barber Coin) of 3 all Dimes.
& That still bothers me. That was in 1999.

Hence My attitude about "Cleaning".

Im with you Dave. Cleaning is the kiss of death!

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

you suck! lol congrats!

 

[Donnie B from VA]

you suck! lol congrats!

Thanks Dave! I knew I could count on you to keep things in perspective!LOL!

 

[skarmajunga]

Donnie B do you know what this makes you? You are now a Metal Detecting Rock Star

 

[Donnie B from VA]

Donnie B do you know what this makes you? You are now a Metal Detecting Rock Star

Thanks but I don't know about that. Momma told me, when I was young, stand beside me my only son, and listen closely to what I say, and if you do this it will help you some sunny day, and be a simple kind of man......................

 

[skarmajunga]

Thanks but I don't know about that. Momma told me, when I was young, stand beside me my only son, and listen closely to what I say, and if you do this it will help you some sunny day, and be a simple kind of man......................

Holds bic lighter up

 

[Scrappy]

I would love to debate anyone who says they are not out there! It's a big country to hide little pieces of metal.

Agreed 100%. There's a lot of land and so much that's not been gone over. And even the land that's been hit, there are many gaps left behind. I base my hunts and dreams on the same premise as yours. But I'll take it further - there's more out there than what's been found. Venturing up to visit our mutual friend Abe, and the open forest I've seen there, makes you feel very small. With so much land, variables, and depths, there's no end to what's out there. True searchers of treasure are dreamers - it's out there as long as you have that wish in your heart. What a great hobby for those in it, and those join us in the future. As much as I'd like to tell those joining the hobby that there's nothing left (to keep away the competition), that's not the case. Great comment IP.

 

[Brian C.]

Awesome find.

 

[creade]

Awesome find I think that if I ever found one,I'd be on the fence on what to do. I'd be scared to have it in my house for fear of losing it or getting stolen. Absolutey beautiful coin,now go find more