British Coin In Back Yard

[Valens Legacy 176]

I have been learning my grandfathers equinox 800 metal detector for the past couple of weeks and digging more trash than anything.

I was back at it again in his back yard after watering the holes I have dug in the past, almost 300 of them by now, when my grandmother asked me to go back to where an old log cabin used to be. As I turned the corner of area where it used to be near the pine trees, I had a strong signal of 23 and 24. I stopped and rechecked in several directions.

I noticed that every direction showed the same numbers and used the pin pointer mode and marked the spot. The 800 was in park 1 at factory settings, and showed that it would be about 5 arrows down. I started to dig in the dry ground removing the top few inches of dirt and grass. I went to the tool shed and picked out a shovel knowing how hard the ground was I needed the added ability to dig.

After I got down about 6 inches and no signal on the carrot yet I kept digging. Once I got down 8 inches deep I got a signal on the carrot and began to carefully poke around the ground to remove the dirt where the signal was coming from.

I finally saw what was giving me the signal and removed it from it's tomb.

Since there was so much dirt still clinging to it I rechecked the hole and nothing else was in it so I filled it in.

After cleaning the dirt of with a little bit of Dawn dish soap and water I could make out what was on it.

I first thought it said 1 farting, but later was able to read 1 farthing a British coin. The date was 1799 and I am shocked that I was able to find it.

Here is what was on grandfathers property, and yes I am going to keep searching the area for more items. I fully expect to dig at least another 15 pounds of trash before I can say I have covered his yard properly.

I wish I knew more on how to clean coins and I am reading the forum on just how to do that before I ruin anything. Grandfather never got to clean some of his coins and I really want to get those done for him.

[phrunt 10,681]

That's a stunning back yard find, my oldest coin is a Chinese coin but other than that, you've beaten me by a mile by age of British coins, and they were currency in NZ.

I bet your grandfather would be proud of that find.  It come up pretty good with a clean by the looks of it.

[Valens Legacy 176]

1 minute ago, phrunt said:

It come up pretty good with a clean by the looks of it.

I would like to see if I can get it cleaner if possible, I think it would go great with some of the I H pennies that grandfather had found. The ground is always dry in that area even after a rain.

[Stu 18]

That's a nice looking coin, and I'd be suggesting not to try cleaning any more. Cleaning can be difficult at best with these GIIIR coins - where it it rare to see one out the ground looking so nice. Over here (UK) these are normally green with the surface detail a mass of small corroded craters, but every so often a nice one may turn up depending on the ground.

Nice find.

[Chase Goldman 4,113]

Excellent find.  Keep hitting that site.

[GB_Amateur 3,752]

You've joined the 18th Century club so early in your detecting career!  (I haven't, yet.)  Very nice!  Your grandmother obviously lives in an historic site.  You (and your grandfather) have told us about the church that was there from long ago.  Maybe this cabin preceded it.

I agree with Stu that this coin looks quite nice as is.  Cleaning further will only drop its eye-appeal (to most).  'Patina' is something prized in collecting.  I'm sure your grandfather, who you've told us was involved in antiques, would agree.

[geof_junk 1,258]

That is older than any of mine coins,but at least Simon and me are in countries that are 200 years newer than USA with British occupation. 😏 That is a fantastic find. As for cleaning coins wait till you have a lot of them (which will not be long) then look at the dates and mint numbers and experiment on those that you are willing sacrifice, however a bit of water and soap once the dirt and grit have been removed is OK. Keep the legend going.

[kac 1,831]

Well done. I wouldn't clean it any more than it is.

How deep was it? Thinking you may have some fringe targets that may not give you the best numbers so go by the size of the sound, look for the whispers.

[Joe D. 1,150]

Fantastic find Caleb,

    I agree with the others! Do not clean it any more! Too easy to ruin the patina, and the coin! If you absolutely have to have it cleaner, let a professional do it! And any trash you find on that site may be of relic status! I'm sure there are at least a few more old coins to be found! Keep at it!👍👍

[RickUK 647]

That is a absolutely cracking find,a lovely George111,the patination on it is about as good as it gets,of course its your find and very well done but my advice is 'Do Not Clean It' you will kill the desirability that coin collects look for in such a coin.

Over the years have seen some stunning/valuable and rare coins rendered worthless because someone has used cleaning agents like chemicals,abrasive and even electrolysis they may make them look clean and shiny but because they have done that have also rendered the item worth absolutely zero because of that one mistake.

Leave it as it is,its a stunning example of G111,a reasonably hard coin to find even in the UK but i doubt that you will ever find another one with such amazing patina and that is what you can replicate over night but you can kill it by cleaning it in minutes.