Geologyhound
Well-known member
Went out for an afternoon hunt, and dug what I thought was a quarter as light was fading. When I started washing my finds, one “quarter“ was not like the others. It was a little larger and had a large number five on one side. There is writing on the other side but I can’t make out what. It looks like an old token. I have a set of the Andre’s pencils due to arrive later this week. I plan to practice on a couple wheat pennies before moving on to this.
So, when I had another afternoon available, I headed back to the same site. I got sidetracked digging quarters (and a Sacajawea dollar – my first) at another portion of the site. For some reason, quarters seem to be the highest proportion of coins out here. I broke loose from the quarter area and headed back to where I found the token - again as light was starting to go. Right away, I hit a nickel signal. This was only an inch or two down. With the dirt, I thought I had another token, as it was obviously not a Jefferson or a buffalo. So I pocketed it and moved on. A few feet away I hit a low 80s signal with my D2, and about 8 inches down I found an Indian head penny. Again, I couldn’t see the date, so I pocketed it. Within about 10 feet I hit a nice high tone in the dime/copper penny range. I was very pleased to see a fairly clean 1923 mercury dime (about 7 inches down).
When I started washing the dirt off the “nickel sized token“ at home I was shocked when I saw 1906 appear, and realized I had a V nickel! That makes this my oldest nickel! I can make out 18 on the Indian head penny, with possibly a six following. If so, that would make this my oldest coin ever! My prior oldest coin was an 1882 Indianhead penny. The 1923 mercury is the cleanest one I have found for that year/mint. So, it will take a place in my metal detecting coin album. I don’t know that I have ever found three 100+ year old coins in one day, let alone three different denominations. Any guesses where I will go when I next have a free afternoon?
The matchbox car is number 31 - Lincoln Continental. I can’t make out a head stamp on the cartridge yet. The bar thing is melted on both ends, so I am guessing it is a type of bar solder. It is too heavy to be tin and does not weather like lead, so I’m wondering if it might be a silver solder, but it probably is a roofing solder. The brass latches and copper hinges came out of the same spot where I found two other identical brass latches in a prior trip. The small ball appears to be some sort of brass bead. The metal is a corroded Saint Francis of Assisi medallion. Based on the patina, I am thinking the brass knob is also well over 100 years old. It is 1 3/8 inches in diameter with a 7/8 inch diameter male threaded shank on the back.
Given the age of the surrounding coins, I am guessing the original “5” token must also be over 100 years old. If I can clean it up and identify it in the state token book, I will post more information back here.
Thanks for looking, and happy hunting!
So, when I had another afternoon available, I headed back to the same site. I got sidetracked digging quarters (and a Sacajawea dollar – my first) at another portion of the site. For some reason, quarters seem to be the highest proportion of coins out here. I broke loose from the quarter area and headed back to where I found the token - again as light was starting to go. Right away, I hit a nickel signal. This was only an inch or two down. With the dirt, I thought I had another token, as it was obviously not a Jefferson or a buffalo. So I pocketed it and moved on. A few feet away I hit a low 80s signal with my D2, and about 8 inches down I found an Indian head penny. Again, I couldn’t see the date, so I pocketed it. Within about 10 feet I hit a nice high tone in the dime/copper penny range. I was very pleased to see a fairly clean 1923 mercury dime (about 7 inches down).
When I started washing the dirt off the “nickel sized token“ at home I was shocked when I saw 1906 appear, and realized I had a V nickel! That makes this my oldest nickel! I can make out 18 on the Indian head penny, with possibly a six following. If so, that would make this my oldest coin ever! My prior oldest coin was an 1882 Indianhead penny. The 1923 mercury is the cleanest one I have found for that year/mint. So, it will take a place in my metal detecting coin album. I don’t know that I have ever found three 100+ year old coins in one day, let alone three different denominations. Any guesses where I will go when I next have a free afternoon?
The matchbox car is number 31 - Lincoln Continental. I can’t make out a head stamp on the cartridge yet. The bar thing is melted on both ends, so I am guessing it is a type of bar solder. It is too heavy to be tin and does not weather like lead, so I’m wondering if it might be a silver solder, but it probably is a roofing solder. The brass latches and copper hinges came out of the same spot where I found two other identical brass latches in a prior trip. The small ball appears to be some sort of brass bead. The metal is a corroded Saint Francis of Assisi medallion. Based on the patina, I am thinking the brass knob is also well over 100 years old. It is 1 3/8 inches in diameter with a 7/8 inch diameter male threaded shank on the back.
Given the age of the surrounding coins, I am guessing the original “5” token must also be over 100 years old. If I can clean it up and identify it in the state token book, I will post more information back here.
Thanks for looking, and happy hunting!
