Posted 8 years ago
SpiritBear
(813 items)
I was actually struck by a car the day I dug this.
The lady didn't stop on a red light as I, digger extraordinaire, was cycling out to an abandoned building that was built in the 1890s.
So I ended up flying over the hood of her car, my bike made pretty much unrideable, and still went digging after!
My vision causing me issues in the dark, windowless room, I and my mini-shovel went against the dirt and clay when, suddenly, this pops up near the wall.
I see its corroded shape and look at it, gently wiping the Indian side (wiping can cause scratches, so I took a risk, but the scratches in it are old and thankfully not from me) to check if it were a wheaty or an Indian.
My first dug Indian, yes!
So I set it on a 4-by-4-foot wooden thing I'd later find a bottle under, and I keep digging before finishing up for that Friday and going home to be screamed at by a very upset parent.
A light rinsing, boiling it 10 times in 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, and a little bit of Baking Soda on a wet Q-tip to neutralize acid and give it a slight almost-polish to make it look better, and here is what we have.
Everyone had for the first couple days, on a forum and in my town, told me it was gonna be 1880s. But I wasn't so sure after much study; and because I wanted to do it right, I researched safe cleaning methods that don't kill value.
And thus I proved them all wrong: 1869, and a "key date" at that for the IHP (Indian Head Penny) series.
As for value, it is in very fine condition save for the environmental damage, so who knows. I'll never sell it as its story would be lost. I cataloged it as I do most of my dig-finds and later had it sealed to keep it as close to when I cleaned it (after about a month of drying) as possible.
Thus is my tale and what I did with it.
As for why an extra-fine 1860s was dropped into an 1890s site, only God could say. But God blessed me with the best dig-find I've made to date. And I praised Him as I usually do when I find an item intact in places of antique ruin.
Yes, the pics are all of one coin-- the same coin, as I only dug one in there. :)
Nice coin, great story.
Nice to hear you are keeping it..and loved reading your story and very pleased you weren't hurt in the accident!...:-)
now that is dedication!
Thank you, Vintage_Joe. It's my favorite in my collection.
Inky, I'm also glad, although my bike is still sitting in the garage unfixed. It's in my top five best pieces to tell a story on.
GargoyleCollector, I used to hit up the place every Friday-- it's a large room with a clay layer 1 foot down, so it is very hard to dig. The clay then turns to water, thus making it even worse. Not a job for one person. LOL.
Thanks, all. :)
AMEN!! GREAT FIND !!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
LOL, thank you, Sean68. Merry Christmas to you as well. (:
Your very welcome SpiritBear!! and Thankyou ;)
You have many good spirits watching over you. Your one tough cookie to continue on your way. But were rewarded for your fortitude I see.
Nice find !
God keeps me safe and likes blessing me.
Thanks. :)
Great story and coin! Keep on digging!
Thanks, Dave. I do. My other dug-coin post is from my digging in the past month (Global Climate Change moved winter. :/ )
It was worse than i though. You got hit hard :(
Collectomaniac, I was able to run away in my confusion/shock, not realising how damaged my bike was till going home. LOL.