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 Replies: 26 / Views: 2,332 |
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Valued Member
 United States
160 Posts |
Thanks all, for the thoughts. Sounds like "G-4, cleaned" is about where this coin would be, without any appreciable value to a collector. That's what I figured...
Thanks!
Steve
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1261 Posts |
G-4 details. All coins like this have some value and it might be more valuable to you since you know the history and where you found it. I personally would have left it the way it was after a water soak but, then again, I didn't see it so that is just speculating on my part. Either way, cool story and coin. It probably is only worth $10 to another collector but I wouldn't sell it if I were you. You may regret it later.
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
chesterb --
Thanks for the thoughts, they are much appreciated. No, I will not sell this coin. I have never sold a coin that I have dug. I recognize that each has a story (how I found it, where I found it, etc.), and that story has meaning for me, whereas it would not, for anyone else. This one in particular has quite a story with it; among other things, I now live 1000 miles from where I grew up, but on a trip back home, found this coin within a couple hundred yards of where I attended elementary school (and at that time, as a 6 or 7 year old kid, I never would have DREAMED that there could be a 185-year old coin in the ground nearby, nor that there was ever an old civil war-era church there). So yes, this coin means far more to me than to another person, and I don't intend to sell it. I just like to know the approximate value of the coins in my "collection." Most of the coins in my collection are "dug coins," so they will never have much value, but I still like to know what some of the better pieces in my collection might be worth.
All that being said, I appreciate also the advice to just rinse a dug coin, nothing else. Again, if this coin had been in nicer/less worn condition, I would have done just that; from now on, perhaps I'll just water-rinse ANY older coin that I manage to dig.
Thank you!
Steve
Edited by sgoss66
12/23/2013 01:22 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
Regardless of how it came to appear this way, it just doesn't have the "look" a collector is after. Improper storage in the dirt for 160 years didn't allow this coins surfaces to evolve and tone in a desirable way. G-4 details.
The value here is all in your personal history. Had I been the one to find it, $10 wouldn't even come close to buying this coin. I would keep it to remember how it made you feel to dig it up! Excellent find. I agree with the value also. $10-$15.
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
jpbone --
You did a great job of explaining the "look" of this coin, and how being in the dirt, it was unable to "acquire" the look that a collector desires to see on this type of coin. That explains very well, to someone like me who doesn't understand what a TRUE collector (unlike myself, who "collects" coins in a different way) is interested in.
And like I said to chesterb, I do not intend to sell the coin, I just like to know what value (though normally very small) the coins in my "collection" have. You are right...for what this coin means to me, $10 doesn't come close to buying this coin; I was ecstatic when I dug it, and that's what I think of each time I look at this coin.
Thank you!
Steve
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Sgoss, this was/ is an interesting post that resulted in a very informative discussion. Thanks all!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36844 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
bpoc1 -- glad you enjoyed it. I love to learn, and the only way to learn in my mind is to find people who have alot of knowledge, and then ask a bunch of questions -- and then, sit back and listen! The folks here have been very patient with all of my many questions in a number of recent posts I've made, and I'm grateful that many have been willing to share their expertise on subjects I know little about!
Thanks, IndianGoldEagle...
Steve
Edited by sgoss66
12/23/2013 2:52 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8518 Posts |
Almost looks like it was in the fire. Was there any dark soil as you dug it. At any rate....." Roundness in the pock baby " !  Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
Edited by 52Raymo
12/23/2013 3:55 pm
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
No, I didn't see any unusually dark dirt there, though I admit I wasn't looking...
Do you say that because of the really light coloring, or what do you see that suggests that possibility?
Steve
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8518 Posts |
I just mentioned it because I've seen coins that almost turn white from a fire. Well actually I used to do that as a kid, throw a quarter in the campfire to try and melt it. Never worked but sure did turn em white lol.
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
There is something about:
"I found it. I dug it up. I would not sell it."
that makes me feel good.
A 'dug find' is different from other coins. It has a history that can only be guessed at.
I salute all who "sweep with confangled machinery" and wish them well.
If only I were younger ...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
Quote:
I dug this coin, from the site of a church built in the 1850s that then burned down about 50 years later around the turn of the century, and the piece of land has been just a forest ever since. I think 52raymo may be to on to something. I wouldn't say that I have seen a lot of dug coins since I don't usually look for them but the few I remember seeing were dark unless harshly cleaned. There was a thread a little while back where a member had found a 1870-CC half dollar while metal detecting. That coin was found in New York and was quite dark compared to your coin. Here is a like to that thread. Soil conditions and climate vary by region and depending on where it was dug, it may or may not look like the one in the thread. With that said, I will still expect it to have acquired some patina from being 150+ years in the ground. That is until the comment made by 52raymo which may explain why it is so white and possibly why it stayed that way while in the ground. It might be worth asking someone knowledgeable in chemistry or metallurgy at that. Anyways, I think it grades G-4 details. I going to say cleaned since that is what it looks like even though it may have been barely cleaned. The marketplace may not know of its history and since it looks cleaned, it will probably be bought and sold as such. |
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
matthewvincent -- thanks for the kind words! And, not sure what age you are, but it's never too late to give it a try... ;)
D0ubl3Eagle -- I have indeed seen some silver come out of the ground nearly black, but that's usually from coins that have been in very wet soil (like swampy). Occasionally, one will have a very gray residue. Usually, though, they look really nice -- and can just be rinsed with water and will look pretty good.
WOW -- what a coin that link took me to! While it's an INCREDIBLE find, though, I will say that most of the silver coins I have dug do NOT look like that. It is absolutely true that different soil will do different things to silver coins, but most I dig look much less stained, than that one (despite the otherwise "redeeming qualities" of that coin! :) ) WOW!!
Steve
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Pillar of the Community
Israel
2420 Posts |
G6 details. 10-15$ sounds about right.
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Replies: 26 / Views: 2,332 |
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Posted 12/23/2013 12:34 am
