Noob mistake... :(

[Dodqe]

So... I looked up my local parks on a historic aerials website recently. Found a little house that was demolished when they built one of the parks. I decided to go check it out before the hurricane hits because we're looking at a few days of rain and tons of bucket truck work over the next week or so...
Anyway... I only had a couple hours before dark and was rushing a bit. Dug a couple zincolns... then scratched a penny with my digger in my haste.

1879 Indian. I looked it up... it WAS worth between 6 and 14 dollars. Now, not so much.

Lesson: Slow down. Pinpoint. Pinpoint again. Dig carefully

 

[Steve O]

It happens. I like finding Indians....kind of sets the stage for a good spot. Be glad it wasn't a 77.

 

[Dodqe]

If it were a 77, I'd still be there crying.

At the same homesite I also found what I think is a cane handle, but I'm not positive. I'll take pics in a bit... I can't wait to get some more coiltime there. Dang hurricane...

 

[deliveryboy]

wow cool coin, i have gotten pretty accurate at pinpointing and usually dig my plug as bit larger than my pinpoint mark, granted mistakes happen and Im sure eventually i will hit one too lol. Great find though

 

[BarberBill]

I know the feeling - been there, done that. Most of us have done that at least once, then we're more careful.
BB

 

[khouse]

It happens. Don't sweat it.

 

[GunnarMN]

I have done that several times, my only barber quarter , I figured it was just another slug and i jabed it right in the face with my hard iron digger other than that it was in really nice condition ,

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Tom_in_CA]

At least you didn't scratch a gold coin like that. I did ... and you wanna talk about sick to your stomach? haha

 

[JimmyCT]

I can certainly attest (as others have) to the fact we all "kissed" a few good coins. I guess this is where a pinpointer will come in and help more precisely to its location. (something I still need to invest in) Now if I was Tom_in_CA and kissed a gold coin like that, I would still be to this day.

 

[scubadetector]

Slightly Scratched!! Been there done that too many times to want to remember!! Another very BAD habbit is rubbing the soil off a coin to see the date. The small scratches that leaves took 50.00 off the value of not just one but TWO 1926S mercs I found in Salt Lake City in the 90's. OUCH

 

[GoVidGo]

I think we all did that at one point to a target and wanted to kick oursleves.... at least I have.

 

[nwdetectorist]

n/t

 

[triplehooked]

That IH is in nice shape, too! I've never scalped an Injun' but decapitated Lincoln a few times when I first started detecting. :blush: Like Steve O said, at least it wasn't a 77'!

 

[Dodqe]

That's what really gets me. It's my first IH that I can easily read the date on.

I need to practice pinpointing more. I am always off in the same direction by about 2"...
I'll get there.

 

[scubadetector]

There is probably at the most a handful of us that have never scratched a coin. Maybe some refuse to admit it, but even rubing the dirt off a coin scratches it. Hope you find more and they are found easier. Good luck out there.

 

[artman60]

One of my dads favorite saying to me growing up was " so you gotta learn the hard way" Sorta glad to see I'm not the only one who has learned that way. Still, a very nice find. Artie

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t