Saturday, July 31, 2010

Yesterday's hunt

Well I had a better lunch day hunt yesterday finding almost 2 bucks. Still no older coins - the oldest being a 1966 quarter. Then after work I went to a school I just started hunting and found a buck 41, a nickel from Bermuda, a 1941-d wheat penny and ring #23 silver. So overall not a bad day.

                                 2010 coin count
                                     Q-353
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-376
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -163
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 660
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               25 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,41-d,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               2 - Foreign 
                                    1578 coins
                                $142.67 total
                                8 - silver rings
                              23 - total rings 

Friday, July 30, 2010

Mercury dime

1941 Mercury dime

History: Although this coin is commonly called the Mercury Dime, the main device is in fact a representation of Liberty.
The wings crowning her cap are intended to symbolize liberty of thought.
These Winged Liberty Head or Mercury type were made between 1916 to 1945. The most valuable is a 1916 D.  So far this year I have found 3.

Types of Coils

The most common description for metal detector coils are: concentric, elliptical, and Double D.

Concentric Coil
A concentric coil "having a common center."  is probably the most commonly used coil. These coils are round, some being very thin in height, some thicker, some with open holes in the center, making them shaped like a flattened donut, and some are solid.
Elliptical Coil
This style of coil also gets its name from the shape of the coil. Instead of the round shape of the concentric coil, it is merely oval shape resembling a flattened circle. 
Double D Coil
The Double D coil is a coil which has the winding in the shape of the letter D.



Thursday, July 29, 2010

Last 2 hunts at lunch

I manage to get a buck 77 my last two lunch hunts. Today was a slow day only netting 36 cents. Better than nothing.  The haul was 4-q, 7-d, 1-n and 2 pennies total. 14 coins.

                                 2010 coin count
                                     Q-344
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-370
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -155
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 645
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               24 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               1 - Foreign 
                                    1539 coins
                                $139.27 total
                                7 - silver rings
                              22 - total rings 

Sitting Liberty Quarter

History: People complained that this quarter looked too much like the twenty cent coin made from 1875 to 1878, and it was about the same size. They started making the Sitting Liberty quarter in 1838 to 1891. The designer was Christian Gobrecht with a weight of 6.68 grams. The composition was .900 silver and .100 copper, at a diameter of 24.3 mm.
Variety one minted from 1838 to 1853 had no motto above the eagle, with drapery at the elbow, except for the 1844 mint.
Variety two has arrows by the date, and rays around the eagle for 1853 only.
Variety three has arrows at the date, but no rays from 1854 to 1855.
Variety four has a motto In God We Trust above the eagle, from 1866-1873.
Variety five, has arrows at the date 1873-1874. From 1875 to 1891 Variety four resumed.
The most valuable Sitting Liberty quarter is an 1873CC, but any found with a mint mark in fine condition could be worth some bucks. On the wish list.

1838 Seated Liberty Quarter     




Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Buffalo Nickel

1936 Buffalo nickel

History

These pieces are known as Buffalo, Bison, or Indian Head nickels. In the first year of issue, 1913, there were two distinct varieties, the first showing the bison on a mound, and the second with the base redesigned to a thinner, straighter line. James E. Fraser designed this nickel employing three different Indians as models. His initial F is beneath the date.
The bison was modeled after Black Diamond in the New York Zoological Gardens.
Matte proof coins were made for collectors from 1913 to 1917. Minted from 1913-1938. The most valuable Buffalo is a 1937 3-legged. Buffalo nickels weigh 5 grams and are made out of an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Still looking for my first. 

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Another lunch hunt

Today was a hot day and tomorrow is supposed to be hotter. Had a decent take at lunch today finding a buck 74. 4-q, 6-d, 2-n and four pennies. Nothing old again but a 1960 penny. Most of the coins were deep about 6-8 inches.

                                 2010 coin count
                                     Q-340
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-363
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -154
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 643
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               24 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               1 - Foreign 
                                    1525 coins
                                $137.55 total
                                7 - silver rings
                              22 - total rings

Peace Dollar

Coin History

This coin was issued from 1921-1935. The designers name is Anthony De Francisci. A 1921 design was slightly changed due to a high relief which made it impractical. In 1922 a new design was introduced.
This makes the Peace Dollars minted in 1921 much more valuable to collectors.
Peace Dollar weigh 26.73 grams and are 38.1mm in diameter. Made out of an alloy of 90% silver and 10% copper.  Would love to find one of these.

Obverse
Obverse






Reverse
Reverse

Monday, July 26, 2010

Lunch hunt

Not too bad of a lunch hunt today - started slowly then I hit a few coins - found a buck 30.  The take was 3-q, 4-d, 2-n and 5 pennies. 

                                  2010 coin count
                                     Q-336
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-357
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -152
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 639
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               24 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               1 - Foreign 
                                    1509 coins
                                $135.84 total
                                7 - silver rings
                              22 - total rings

Indian Head Cent

The small cent was redesigned in 1859, and a representation of an Indian girl was adopted as the obverse device.
1863 Indian Head cent frontThe 1859 reverse was also changed to represent a laurel wreath. In 1860 the reverse was modified to display an oak wreath with a small shield at the top. There are three varieties: the first type a Copper-nickel, Laurel Wreath Reverse (1859) Variety two: Copper-nickel, Oak Wreath w/shield (1860 to 1864) Variety three: Bronze 1864 - 1909 During the year 1864 the alloy of the cent was changed to 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.
Indian Head cent obverseThe weight was reduced to 48 grains, resulting in a thinner coin than the so called white cents of 1856-1864. The design remained unchanged. Before 1864 cents did not have the designer's entitle L on the bonnet ribbon; late in that year the letter appeared on only a small quantity.
The initial appeared on all dates of Indian cents thereafter. L is the initial of the engraver, Longacre. Indian Heads were made from 1859 to 1913. The most valuable are the 1869 and 1872.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Sunday hunt

I went to my son's current school and found a whopping 26 cents. I did go to Clay and saw my cousin who showed me where there was an old church built back in 1824. It's gone now but the foundation is still there. Tried to hunt it but the woods are too thick along with the bugs. It will have to be a fall hunt. I did finally manage a new school and found 2 bucks and change. The take was 5-q, 4-d, 2-n and 8 pennies for 21 coins. The school has been around since the 40's so I am hoping to find some older coins there.

                                2010 coin count
                                     Q-333
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-353
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -150
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 634
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               24 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               1 - Foreign 
                                    1495 coins
                                $134.54 total
                                7 - silver rings
                              22 - total rings

Yesterday's hunt

Went to my Uncle's camp where we had a small family reunion. I went to the local school hoping to find some old coins but as luck would have it - only found clad.  I did find a fair amount but really wanted to find some old coins.

                                2010 coin count
                                     Q-327
                               1 -  53 washington
                                     D-349
                               3 - 1923,39-d,41 merc
                               2 - 1964,64d Rosie
                                    N -148
                               1 - nickel - 1947    
                                    P - 625
                               1 - Indian head - 1864
                               24 - wheats  - 1910,34,37,38,44(3),45(3),46(2),49(2),52,52-d,53,53-d(2),55,56d,58,58-d
                               2 - Dol
                               1 - Half
                               1 - Foreign 
                                    1474 coins
                                $132.45 total
                                7 - silver rings
                              22 - total rings