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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,295 |
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Valued Member
United States
310 Posts |
Yeah, besides the cleaning, I'd say it's a nice looking coin. Nice to find a half dollar. Well at worst ya have about $13 in silver :)
The thought of how it got there is more fun though. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I don't know about others, but a coin this old with this nice of details is worth more than silver melt value. This is a highly collectible coin, cleaning notwithstanding. I'd put it's value around $25-30.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6394 Posts |
Welcome! That is a wonderful detecting find. May I ask, what kind of machine were you using? Without the cleaning, the 1843-O (New Orleans) half would retail for about $100 in this grade. I expect it would be bid up to maybe $40 minimum if it were to appear on ebay. IMO it's worth more than that for metal detecting bragging rights! |
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New Member
 United States
8 Posts |
Gold Bug II metal detector. Working tailings at base of hill along America River. Found old camp, nothing but square nails showing up but I know some coins and gold are in there. Danger now is poision oak, just recovering thank you. Later is the rattlesnakes.
Thanks for all the input. I work in glass and we have polishing compounds that can take light scratches from glass. Felt wheels etc. Should be able to work my dumb butt move to clean up the coin right?
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New Member
United States
22 Posts |
No, don't do it...leave it alone.
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Valued Member
United States
380 Posts |
I wouldn't clean it. Leave it as is... Looks great!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1888 Posts |
That's an exciting find in spite of the blunder of overcleaning.
'Where there's one, there are more' has always been my coda of treasure hunting. Good luck in your next expedition!
In the future it might help to keep in mind that wire brushes are for auto body work and brillo pads work well on grungy steel pans but both wreak havoc on soft metals like silver. Even a nylon toothbrush will scratch a coin. There are ways to clean without being mean.
Any further efforts at surface improvement to that one would be adding insult to injury.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Ok, not touching it with polish or otherwise further buggering up the coin.
Been back out to same location, no joy.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Just found this info on a MD site.
"George H. found this gorgeous 1896 half dollar while swinging a Fisher Gold Bug II on the beaches near Nome, AK. Apparently the old timers used to place mercury covered coins at the bottom of their sluice boxes to capture fine gold. George also found a small nugget nearby, but this half looks like the find of the day!"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
Must have been quite a thrill finding an old half like that.
I bet who ever lost it was not happy, you could buy a lot with 50 cents back then.
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Valued Member
United States
426 Posts |
Awesome find Geodesic!
That is a great piece of history right there, you can bet your $$ it belonged to a 49'er for sure. I say it's still worth more than melt. Just the thought of where it's been and who brought it to California would be enough for me to pay more than its silver value.
Hope your having fun over there in California, I spent some time over there this past summer did a little panning on the American River in Coloma, Auburn and farther upstream. Saw the state park and had a meal and a few Sierra Nevada brews right there at the Sierra Nevada house on 49. Beautiful country with tons of history!
Make sure to get ready for that flood gold if you do any panning!
Edited by RealPeso
03/15/2011 7:09 pm
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
RP, next time your in town, give me a call. I live just up the hill from Coloma. Garden Valley produced the food for the miners. Lovely area.
I'll post any more finds. Going out again as soon as the rain stops.
Doubt I will sell anything I find. As you said, it was REALLY exciting to find this coin. My dad is a lifelong coin collector.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
89 Posts |
Wow great metal detecting find! Looks maybe vg35?
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Valued Member
United States
426 Posts |
Quote:
RP, next time your in town, give me a call. I live just up the hill from Coloma. Garden Valley produced the food for the miners. Lovely area.
I'll post any more finds. Going out again as soon as the rain stops.
Doubt I will sell anything I find. As you said, it was REALLY exciting to find this coin. My dad is a lifelong coin collector.
GeodesicAwesome, will do! All my adventures in California start from Lodi, bout 60-70 miles southwest of you since that's where we usually stay when were over there but we spend plenty of time in the hills and try to explore every nook and cranny. Edited by RealPeso
03/16/2011 8:33 pm
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Posted 03/14/2011 5:29 pm
