Two Afternoon Hunts - Three Coin Denominations 100+ Years Old!

[Geologyhound]

Went out for an afternoon hunt, and dug what I thought was a quarter as light was fading.  When I started washing my finds, one “quarter“ was not like the others.  It was a little larger and had a large number five on one side.  There is writing on the other side but I can’t make out what. It looks like an old token.  I have a set of the Andre’s pencils due to arrive later this week.  I plan to practice on a couple wheat pennies before moving on to this.

So, when I had another afternoon available, I headed back to the same site. I got sidetracked digging quarters (and a Sacajawea dollar – my first) at another portion of the site.  For some reason, quarters seem to be the highest proportion of coins out here.  I broke loose from the quarter area and headed back to where I found the token - again as light was starting to go.  Right away, I hit a nickel signal.  This was only an inch or two down.  With the dirt, I thought I had another token, as it was obviously not a Jefferson or a buffalo.  So I pocketed it and moved on.  A few feet away I hit a low 80s signal with my D2, and about 8 inches down I found an Indian head penny.  Again, I couldn’t see the date, so I pocketed it.  Within about 10 feet I hit a nice high tone in the dime/copper penny range.  I was very pleased to see a fairly clean 1923 mercury dime (about 7 inches down).

When I started washing the dirt off the “nickel sized token“ at home I was shocked when I saw 1906 appear, and realized I had a V nickel!  That makes this my oldest nickel!  I can make out 18 on the Indian head penny, with possibly a six following.  If so, that would make this my oldest coin ever!  My prior oldest coin was an 1882 Indianhead penny.  The 1923 mercury is the cleanest one I have found for that year/mint.  So, it will take a place in my metal detecting coin album.  I don’t know that I have ever found three 100+ year old coins in one day, let alone three different denominations. Any guesses where I will go when I next have a free afternoon?

The matchbox car is number 31 - Lincoln Continental.  I can’t make out a head stamp on the cartridge yet.  The bar thing is melted on both ends, so I am guessing it is a type of bar solder.  It is too heavy to be tin and does not weather like lead, so I’m wondering if it might be a silver solder, but it probably is a roofing solder.  The brass latches and copper hinges came out of the same spot where I found two other identical brass latches in a prior trip.  The small ball appears to be some sort of brass bead. The metal is a corroded Saint Francis of Assisi medallion.  Based on the patina, I am thinking the brass knob is also well over 100 years old. It is 1 3/8 inches in diameter with a 7/8 inch diameter male threaded shank on the back.

Given the age of the surrounding coins, I am guessing the original “5” token must also be over 100 years old.  If I can clean it up and identify it in the state token book, I will post more information back here.   

Thanks for looking, and happy hunting!

[JCR]

Some very nice older finds.

[Geologyhound]

Thanks, I like setting personal records! 😁

[NCtoad]

Nice merc!

[Valens Legacy]

Very nice hunt with some interesting finds. Great job on the saves and good luck on your next hunt.

[F350Platinum]

Awesome! love those "find a minute" kind of hunts, but I see where you would shift gears and "go for the old" (to "coin" a phrase 😀) Congrats on the old ones, and you got a silver coin too!

Sometimes I'll clean up those old tokens if they have high relief. Probably shouldn't mention how 😏Take a picture of the result and it may pop up on Numista if you use Google Lens. 

Nice early Matchbox too. Did you use the 13" ?

 

 

[rvpopeye]

A good day's showing right there !  Great spot to detect ,,,🤩

[HardPack]

23 hours ago, Geologyhound said:

Any guesses where I will go when I next have a free afternoon?

Back to an abandoned country store site? 

Reminded me of a find in town some years ago. A couple of friends were remodeling a local drinking establishment. While repairing a sagging floor they discovered a large pile of coins under the bar in the crawl space. While drinking to the reopening the owner/bartender was observed tossing coins on the back liquor cabinet. All eyes followed the coins as they glided over the rear countertop towards a collision with the wall before dropping down through a newly widen crack between the back wall and floor boards. At that point we all downed several toasts in tribute to the bartender, his father and grandfather.

Unfortunately, at the moment of discovery I was busy down the block converting another old adult entertainment establishment into modern office space. Delayed by just minutes, after rummaging through a hidden upstairs recess, I arrived too late to stake a valid share of the original Italian bar claim. 

Great finds, Keep digging!

 

[Geologyhound]

11 hours ago, Valens Legacy said:

Very nice hunt with some interesting finds. Great job on the saves and good luck on your next hunt.

Thanks, that was one of my best hunts in a long time!

[Geologyhound]

4 hours ago, rvpopeye said:

A good day's showing right there !  Great spot to detect ,,,🤩

To quote the terminator, “I’ll be back”. 😆