1854 Seated Half Dime

[Sooper Dave]

With record high temps for the end of December and after all the rain we've got lately, I thought I would sneak out for a quick hunt before dark. I didn't have much time but I drove out to a spot I have been wanting to try. The owner of the house told me of some Civil War history of the area and that a canonball actually went through an old school that was on the property during the War. I was granted permission and off I went quickly trying to get any kind of keeper before dark. First good signal I got was a Merc and was happy with that. I got back to it but there wasn't very many signals. I got a Wheatie next and soon after I got a nice deep 9-36 9-34 on the Etrac and was hoping for a nice old Indian. I cut my plug and pinpointed the signal down in the dark and was surprised to see that tiny silver flash out of the dirt. I knew right away that this was more than an Indain. I got enough of the coin exposed to see the 1854 date. I tried to get a good pic in the dark and got back to hunting. I couldn't stop thinking about that cool little coin and trying to come up with stories of how it got lost. I didn't stay much longer and I know I will get back there soon! I wonder if the two holes were put in it to be a button or a jewelry piece? Just adds more to the cool history behind it. HH David

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[Dale(Ia)]

Nice Half-Dime find,Dave! I have seen them with two holes like that on watch-fob chains.............

Iowa Dale

 

[Sooper Dave]

Nice Half-Dime find,Dave! I have seen them with two holes like that on watch-fob chains.............

Iowa Dale

Thanks Dale. Seems the two holes could have been used as a lot of different things. I like your explanation. Also could have been used as a "whizzer" coin by a kid to make noise with on a string.

 

[Tenspeed]

Nice find! I have only found one half dime (1840) in my hunting career. Surprisingly enough, it was found in an earl 1900's yard in the town I live.

 

[daddyflea]

I think the Whizzer explanation is very possible. Most people are not old enough to know what that is.

 

[IDXMonster]

That is SO cool Dave! It's difficult to comprehend exactly how small those things are until you hold one. Imagine how easy it would be to lose?? I'd consider my 1852 to be my best coin,partly because of its size,condition and degree of difficulty finding something that small,especially at any kind of depth. Mine was a solid 7".
Sounds like you have much hunting to do back there,good luck! If that came out,imagine what's still around in that place!

Kevin

 

[hubbler]

Dave, that's a sweet half dime. Congrats on an outstanding find.

Ron

 

[utmike]

That is just a COOL find! Congrats on a great dig.

 

[Sooper Dave]

Nice find! I have only found one half dime (1840) in my hunting career. Surprisingly enough, it was found in an earl 1900's yard in the town I live.

Thanks Tenspeed. Congrats on your Half Dime. It just goes to show that you never know where those cool old coins will be hiding.

 

[Sooper Dave]

That is SO cool Dave! It's difficult to comprehend exactly how small those things are until you hold one. Imagine how easy it would be to lose?? I'd consider my 1852 to be my best coin,partly because of its size,condition and degree of difficulty finding something that small,especially at any kind of depth. Mine was a solid 7".
Sounds like you have much hunting to do back there,good luck! If that came out,imagine what's still around in that place!

Kevin

Thanks IDX. Yeah you would think these little coins would be lost often because of the size, but you don't see a lot posted. This one was down about 6" getting one from 7" or deeper would be tricky. Way to go on your 52!

 

[Sooper Dave]

Dave, that's a sweet half dime. Congrats on an outstanding find.

Ron

Thanks Ron. My best coin find for this year.

 

[Sooper Dave]

That is just a COOL find! Congrats on a great dig.

Thanks utmike!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Congrats on a great find Dave !

I've dug a lot of "Holed" coins from the 1800's - but I never found a coin that has two holes in it.
Like you said ... looks like maybe it was used as a button.

Happy Holidays & Good Hunting !

 

[Elton]

Maybe it was used as a toy for a young child. I read years ago people punched two holes in coins, tied
a string together and used it as a spinner type toy.
It stated if you pulled string and swung the coin in the middle around and around winding the coin till taunt. You could then pull each end of the string and it spun around and around on the string..sometimes making a noise as it spun. ????? Just a thought of course.

 

[daddyflea]

Maybe it was used as a toy for a young child. I read years ago people punched two holes in coins, tied
a string together and used it as a spinner type toy.
It stated if you pulled string and swung the coin in the middle around and around winding the coin till taunt. You could then pull each end of the string and it spun around and around on the string..sometimes making a noise as it spun. ????? Just a thought of course.

That would be a Whizzer.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

WOW! Great find! Nice!

 

[Just one more]

It would be nice if it was part of a bracelet and the rest of it was still around there somewhere.

 

[Sooper Dave]

It would be nice if it was part of a bracelet and the rest of it was still around there somewhere.

Yeah that would be something else! I need to get back to this spot and do some more searching.

 

[jughed440]

..........



You, sir dug up one hell of a find.