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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,287 |
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
I was metal detecting near the Gold Discovery Park in Coloma, CA this weekend and found this:   Is it in good shape? Not a collector. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
 You scrubbed this coin after digging it up, didn't you? I can see fine scratches covering the coin which really kills the value. Many MD coins can be safely conserved to remove surface gunk and encrustations. However, once it has been harshly scrubbed, most collectors will have no interest in it other than for silver value. |
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New Member
 United States
8 Posts |
Thanks, didn't plan on selling it, just wondered what shape it was in to try and determine approximately how long is was in circulation. Buried about 6" - 8" down under some loose rocks, 5 miles downstream from where gold was discovered.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
It might get an XF-40 Details grade or something like that. I'm no expert. Basically means that's the grade without the cleaning. That's a lightly circulated coin. I'd expect more damage if it had been carried downstream very far. Very cool find.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Thanks. It was high up on the bank in some mine tailings (rocks). Had tumbled down into them about 8". Kind of thinking it might have been a miner working the area.
What was weird, we found three penny's (1990, 1974 and 1986) near the surface near by.
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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
6384 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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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,287 |
Posted 03/14/2011 2:20 pm
