An Error Coin...And An Error Digging

AirmetTango

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I had a couple hours to hunt today, so I revisited a former home site that I’ve hunted a few times before. I’ve never found any silver there (yet), but I always seem to find at least a couple keepers each time I visit. Plus the site is almost literally in my backyard, so it’s always been great for quick hunts when time is short. Unfortunately, I recently found out that the field will soon be developed into a housing development, so my original plan to slowly hunt the site “long-term” has to speed up a bit!

Anyway, a half hour into the hunt I got over an awesome high tone (30-31 on the EQ800)!! It was wedged between two jumpy, junked up targets that warbled as high as the 30s, one 6” or so west, the other 6” or so east. Despite the junk on either side, I could isolate that 30-31 nicely, and I knew it was a coin....in fact, I was certain it was a quarter, maybe my first silver out of the site! I dug out my plug, and no quarter...no silver. Instead, I was thrilled to see a big, green disk! My only (complete) Large Cent of the year!! I couldn’t see a date out of the hole, and I didn’t want to do any rubbing in the field, but once I got home I quickly hit the date with a toothpick...1834 Matron Head Cent! My new oldest coin by 4 years!!

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But wait...it gets even better! As I continued cleaning the coin with toothpicks and Andre’s pencils, I was spending a little time cleaning the front, then moving to the back - I was like an impatient kid in a candy store, excited and just enjoying the detail coming out of the coin as I cleaned it! :D But as I was switching back and forth to the front and the back as I cleaned, I kept getting the feeling something wasn’t quite right. Suddenly it dawned on me...the obverse and the reverse weren’t lined up properly. In fact, it’s not even close! :shock: Apparently it’s called a Rotated Die Error - my first error coin!! :wow:

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As I continued the hunt, I got over a couple of old shot shell headstamps...one was a new one for me. Although I imagine that they’re pretty common in general, I haven’t found a U.S. Cartridge Co headstamp in my area before - maybe they were uncommon for this region? Regardless, the USC Co Climax headstamps date to 1880s-1890s according to Turtlefoot’s old website. The Winchester New Rival ranges from 1897-1929. Also picked up a part to a Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Co oil lamp.

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The last good signal was a nice high tone (20-22) - again, I had to tease it out from an obvious junk signal only inches away that actually caused a slight dip in the VDI in a small section as I circled the target. But there was little doubt this was a coin! Flipping the plug, I was pleased to see a small greenie on the plug’s bottom...an Indian! I was even more excited, because the ground in this spot was very sandy, so I was anticipating it would be in fantastic shape! Well, it would have been...I didn’t notice anything amiss looking at it in the field, but at home, I saw right away that there was a long scar down Lady Liberty’s face. :no::no: It didn’t look fresh at first, but once I brushed away the sand (that’s all it took to clean it), the fresh copper shine was unmistakeable. Uggghh...I was heartbroken!! :( :( A wonderfully detailed 1865 Indian in otherwise fantastic shape - and I stabbed her. All the crusty Injuns I’ve dug without a mark, and I had to gut a beauty. :mad: Oh well...if I didn’t dig her, she’d have a house on top of her soon!
 

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Great finds and write-up. I think the rotated dies were a little more common in the early days of the mint, but that's a great find and in very nice shape, too. Pictures are nice, too.
 
I had a couple hours to hunt today, so I revisited a former home site that I’ve hunted a few times before. I’ve never found any silver there (yet), but I always seem to find at least a couple keepers each time I visit......

Large cents, Indian Head cents, and relics sound good to me. Silver would be a nice bonus of course. Condolences on Liberty's scar, especially on a nicer early one. Pound that place before construction and just maybe you'll be able to get on that property once they start scraping and otherwise moving the dirt around.
 
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Awesome hunt Ben, nice report as well. That was fine save on the LC. She's a beauty. Congrats on your new oldest coin. You notice alot of LC's been posted lately ? Sorry about Ihp,I did the same to a nice 1909 Barber quarter. Hope the weather holds for you guys up there. Good luck Mark
 
how cool! what wonderful finds and that rotated die error is a nifty! shame about the field... i hope you can hit it hard before it goes the way of mcmansions!
 
I need to re-check the LC's I've found. Never looked for rotated die error.

More great finds there Tango.
Also hope you can keep hitting that site.
 
It looks like you had a good time taking advantage of the soft ground. That is a nice looking lantern piece you found pretty much intact and not smashed. I also love the way that you displayed both sides of your large cent at the same time. Using your pretty pink and purple mirror. I know you're going to say that it belongs to your daughter but it's okay either way.:lol:

Your coppers always clean up so nice. I just dropped the link to my wife to order me a set of cleaning pencils for Christmas. Hopefully I'm on her good list.
 
Congrats on the Large and the Indian along with all the rest. Both those coins look to be in fantastic shape with great patina. Is the error common and does it add to the value? Trapper
 
Wow,,,, They are very nice. Congratulations AirmetTango.

Indians seem to develop the nicest patina of all of the coppers.

I wish the soil here was kind to the coins like that. In SE Virginia they usually come out of the ground looking like a piece of pitted pot metal....
.
 
Nice to see you're still digging goods there! I almost feel sorry for you, about that digger damage, but it's hard to feel sorry for the guy who just dug that large cent! The mirror shot shows the off rotation nicely. :yes:
 
congratulations on the "non-silver" keepers!
Too bad you couldn't find a modern cent for the trifecta...
 
Fantastic write up. Fantastic finds. Thank you AT! Always love your write ups. Those are awesome coins. Rough on the scratch, but, it happens. As you said, better to be scratched than have a house sit on her.
 
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