I think I dug a 1896-s Barber quarter today.....

[Dan(NM)]

I was at a local zoo today, which is the oldest zoo in the Southwest, I really wasn't into hunting today because the ground is still a bit hard, but decided to hunt a spot I haven't tried before until today. I got a good repeatable hit at 6" and the numbers where jumping a little, I got a little sloppy because all I was digging was clad. Of all the coins to hit today I swear I can see a s mark, but, it's tarnished pretty bad and I don't want to clean it. I can't get a good picture with my Canon to accent the mint mark. Possible key date coin, all opinions are welcome.

 

[trojdor]

Dan,

I agree with you about the (very) faint 'S'. It's in exactly the right place, too...but you'll want to have it cleaned and graded, for sure.
(Looks like it might have been from a Die pair #2, to me.)

They'll have a stroke when they see those gouge marks...
You're going to have to stop using that chain-saw to recover coins, my friend.

Great find
mike

 

[Dan(NM)]

My heart sank after I saw what I had, while staring at a gouge mark all across the face

 

[CZconnoisseur]

Looks like an "S" to me! Nice find!

 

[Flanaganj25]

couldn't see the s til i expanding the pic. looks like it to me too! congrats on the find!

 

[nh-trekker]

I'm still waiting for one ... CONGRATS

 

[HalfDollarHound]

My heart sank after I saw what I had, while staring at a gouge mark all across the face

I did that to the back of an 1899 Barber half this year (only my gouge was "better" - from the tip of the eagle tail to the tip of the left wing... Doh!)
Nice find though

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Nice one !

 

[Sataro]

Congrats on a nice find!

 

[copper kidd]

Nice find, patience is a virtue which should always be practiced. Ya never know what you might dig up.
Even with the scratch it should be worth something.
Congratz

 

[diver608]

I hate when I do that also & agree with copper Kidd, patience....... But it's hard lol

 

[JimmyCT]

Nice find! Sorry to hear you "kissed it" with your retrieval tool. Is this an abandoned zoo? I ask as you make it sound as if the zoo is still active. I am surprised they would let you into the zoo with a metal detector.