19th Century Coins
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008I saw a guy detecting when I was a child and went to see what he was doing. I watched him for about 5 minutes, and he pulled a Mercury dime out of the ground. It was the first time I had ever seen a metal detector or a mercury dime and even though I couldn’t get a metal detector until I was older, I haven’t put it down since!
For the last 5 years I’ve been detecting old home sites, civil war camps, or just about anywhere that isn’t covered with concrete. I use a Bounty Hunter Land Star metal detector, and found my favorite find with just it and a trowel.
I was searching private property at an old home site in Nashville, TN with a friend when I stumbled onto my favorite finds to date. I heard a good tone and started to dig. In an area about 10ft. by 10ft., about 6 to 8 inches down, I found four beautiful coins from the 19th century.
The first coin was an 1853 seated half dollar in XF condition .My second find was a 1823 dime in good condition. My third and fourth find were 2 large cents dated 1850 (VF condition but corroded) and 1853 (also fine condition but corroded).
I’m a coin collector and I could hardly contain my excitement. These were the first coins that I ever found from the 1800′s, and to find them all in such a small area was almost too much for me to handle! The first person I told was my girlfriend when I got home and she hovered over me while I cleaned off the dirt.
I’ve been back to this site before and found a civil war bullet for a colt revolving rifle, a Union Infantry button and other odds and ends. I would love to go back, but it has since been developed.
Tim. G, Harsville TN.
