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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,189 |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
...found this and a couple dozen other coins at the site of a two story hotel that was built around 1901 and torn down in the mid 1960s. I know nothing about US gold, so your opinions of a grade plus any attributes would be nice. Steve Image:  1853a.jpg100.48 KB Image: 1853b.jpg93.66 KB Edited by Firecom911
08/06/2007 10:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1691 Posts |
MS61
Edited by atlashealth
08/06/2007 10:35 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
Wow, nice find. Can't really tell from the details of the photo, but since you found it(I'm guessing in the ground?) I'll give it a MS61-MS62.
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Valued Member
 United States
161 Posts |
Since I joined the forums, I been trying to take pics of the coins with a Vivitar digital 5.0 Mp camera, but it wont let me get close enough to get any focus.
Above are scans at 600 dpi.
Coins were found on the surface of the ground or partially exposed. I didnt have a detector.
Steve
Edited by Firecom911
08/06/2007 10:43 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
668 Posts |
Does the camera have a macro setting? If so use it to take close up shots
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Zach,
It has a 2X zoom but that only gets me to within a couple feet.
The lens is marked VIVITAR MACRO LENS but I found nothing in the manual about a MACRO feature. The model is ViviCam 3915.
Steve
Edited by Firecom911
08/06/2007 10:59 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
144 Posts |
It does look like an MS-something, and I can't see any problems with it, but it would surprise me that a ground-found coin would still make an MS grade. I just assume that there would be some sort of damage, wear, or loss of luster somewhere to make it a high AU. Otherwise, I'll know to start storing my gold coins in little boxes of dirt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6386 Posts |
Hi Firecom,
Boy, that's an amazing find. If I were you I'd hightail it back to that site, with a metal detector this time!
The 1853 is the most common of the Type I gold dollars. Your coin looks to be in undamaged AU (about uncirculated) condition to me. You should be able to sell it (if you are so inclined) for somewhere around $150. Personally I'd rather keep it; otherwise, who would ever believe you really found it?
What were the other coins you found? I'm sure I'm not the only forum member who is interested!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
I agree with jaobler except for the keeping it/selling it. If I found it I'd keep it, but since you found it, I recommend selling it...to me.  Nice find, I agree it would have to be AU-something... |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
greyhav, The coin is, in fact, fairly tarnished. The darks areas in the photos are not all shadow...the fields on both sides are tarnished brown. The milled edge of the coin also has some light contact marks all the way around. The building was torn down in 1965 or 1966 and I found these in 1975 so it's possible they were exposed to the weather only about ten years. Jaobler, I won't be going back there. My LAST find that day was a very annoyed rattlesnake. As far as I was concerned, anything remaining there belonged to the snake. My other finds that day (and this is from memory so not exact): 2 2-Cent coins (both 1865) 5 or 6 Indian cents dating from 1863 to 1906 (common). an elongnated cent 4 or 5 British copper pennies dating from 1900 to 1917 a Stone Mountain half dollar (black) a few wheat cents (common date/mint) All of the above were found within the perimeter of the foundation. Outside the foundation (in the "yard") I found: 2 Franklin half dollars (1948, 1953-D) a few more wheat cents (common) a small silver St. Christopher's medallion All of the copper coins have dark areas on them, which I assume is environmental discoloring. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6386 Posts |
That is a great collection of finds. The gold dollar is of course the pick of the litter. Congratulations! I'd definitely risk the rattlesnake to take another look. If this place gets cold in the winter, you could just wait until then. Snakes won't be hanging around if the temperature gets much below 60°F. What's the saying...no reward without risk?  |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,189 |
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1853a.jpg
1853b.jpg
Posted 08/06/2007 10:37 pm
