JeffInMass
Do Not Be Afraid
Jr. Member
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Posts: 42
Southeastern Mass
Detector used: Minelab Explorer XS
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« on: Mar 17, 2008, 10:24:12 AM » |
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Hi All!
Obviously, gotta tell the story first- I actually found this Saturday March 15, but have been shaking too much to type!
I started working with a new guy at my job two weeks ago. As we got to know each other, I told him about my hobby and asked him where he lived and he told me a pretty old nearby town. I asked if he knew of any old parks, etc. to hunt and he told me that his house was built in the 1700's, so of course I asked him if my hunting partner Mike and I could hunt it.
He agreed, and we decided to sell and split if we found anything significant. We planned on hunting this past Saturday, but of course it had to rain, like it does every Saturday (which is my only full day off of the week!), but since it was clearing up about noon-ish, we headed up.
BTW, I Google-earthed his house and it looked huge, and it appeared to have a large front yard bisected by a circular drive. We were both pretty psyched.
When we got there, we saw the front yard was much smaller than it appeared on Google. The back of the house was huge, but overgrown with pretty high grass, small trees and so on- not easily huntable.
I decided to do that front section and gridded it up and down. First few passes yielded 2 wheats, 2 Indians and an assortment of old junk. I was pretty much done with the yard when I got a signal that sounded silverish, and although it didn't repeat perfectly, sounded definitely good enough to dig. I was down about 8-10 inches when my next handful of dirt told me I had the coin. I checked the hole, nothing else, so in my bucket went the dirt. Mike was with me at this point and he sifted through the dirt- VOILA!
As soon as he lifted it, I swear I saw 1652. I thought- SHILLING. But as he turned it over a couple of times, it looked like a Spanish coin. I took it over to a nearby puddle, rinsed the dirt off and sure as s#$%, there was a Pine Tree staring at me. PINE TREE SHILLING!!!
I still can't believe it to this very second- it's in amazing shape and I'm sending it out to PCGS to be certified, then we're doing as I promised- selling and splitting.
The third pic is of the coin in a holder in my hand- just to prove (to myself!!) this actually happened.
If I never find another coin....................
HH all,
Jeff
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Charlie P. (NY)
"Is that a Geiger Counter?"
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Posts: 2343
Will you produce a high tone in God's headset?
South Central Upstate NY in the foothills of the headlands
Detector used: '72 RS Kit/Musketeer Advantage/Fisher F-75/Sunray FX-1 Probe/Black Widows/Rattler/F-Point/Merlin SXL Pinpointers
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008 (starting 4/07/08)
Quarters: 18
Dimes: 33
Nickels: 24
Pennies: 148
Tokens: 1
Non-US Coins: 2
Keys: 4
Notable Relics: 2
Silver Jewelry: 3
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« Reply To This Topic #1 on: Mar 17, 2008, 10:28:48 AM » |
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Sweet!
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Once is happenstance. Twice is coincedence. Three times is enemy action. - Auric Goldfinger (Ian Fleming's Goldfinger)
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CRUSADER
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A real man thinks about detecting every 6 seconds
ENGLAND
Detector used: CORTES
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« Reply To This Topic #2 on: Mar 17, 2008, 10:31:20 AM » |
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WELL DONE  |
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TOO BUSY TO DETECT, YOU'RE TOO BUSY!!!
PLAY HARD, HUNT HARDER.
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Gypsy Heart
Gypsyheart~ Queen of Rust
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Posts: 12405
Snowden's Hen House
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« Reply To This Topic #3 on: Mar 17, 2008, 10:39:56 AM » |
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If you never find another coin in your lifetime.... it wont matter!..... You hit the jackpot....congratulations!
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Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but skidding in sideways, Chardonnay in one hand, chocolate in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming, WOO HOO, What a ride!
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rebelinmass
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Jr. Member
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Posts: 60
Lunenburg,Ma
Detector used: Ace 250, Vibraprobe
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Quarters: 2
Dimes: 1
Nickels: 1
Pennies: 7
Wheat Pennies: 2
Buffalo Nickels: 1-19something
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« Reply To This Topic #4 on: Mar 17, 2008, 10:56:13 AM » |
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Sweet, Sweet Finds. Way too go. need to post this on the Mass site.
Rebelinmass
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Don in SJ
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Posts: 1546
1717 King George I Halfpence
Detector used: MINELAB XS
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« Reply To This Topic #5 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:00:42 AM » |
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CONGRATULATIONS JEFF!!!!!!!!!!! It looks to be in great shape and that is the dream find for anyone living in the New England area. Glad to see another one showing up........ Don |
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"The mantra has always been don't clean a (copper) coin or it will lose value.
For undug coins this is true. For dug coins this is untrue.
The value will increase with judicious cleaning."
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Baggins
There is nothing better than MD'ing
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Posts: 623
TEXAS
Detector used: Bounty Hunter Tracker IV / Minelab X-Terra 70
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Quarters: 20
Dimes: 44
Nickels: 12
Pennies: 287
Tokens: 5
Non-US Coins: 1(10 new pence '75)
Wheat Pennies: 11
Buffalo Nickels: 1
Mercury Dimes: 2
Other Silver Coins: 1 '63 rosie
Gold Items: button
Keys: 10
Notable Relics: hem weight, complete harmonica reed, dog tax tag 1883
Gold Jewelry: wrist watch 10K gold filled, small charm
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« Reply To This Topic #6 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:03:17 AM » |
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Amazing! That my friend is a find of a lifetime!!
WTG!
Baggins
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Swingit
Jr. Member
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Posts: 82
Here Kitty Kitty Kitty....
Southwestern, MN
Detector used: Tesoro Vaquero, Cibola,Tejon, DeLeon, And A Whites IDX PRO. 2 Lesche Diggers. 1 Vibra Probe. 2 Bullseyes and Fanny pacs
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Pennies: Lots N Lots
Wheat Pennies: 4
Mercury Dimes: 1
Keys: 19
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« Reply To This Topic #7 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:05:28 AM » |
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skierbob
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Posts: 733
DELCO PA
Detector used: Minelab EXP II, Troy Shadow X3
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« Reply To This Topic #8 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:06:17 AM » |
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Absolutely fantastic find. Congratulations.
Bob
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romeo-1
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Minelab Explorer SE
Somewhere over the rainbow...oh wait, that was Kermit...just here!
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« Reply To This Topic #9 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:14:25 AM » |
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Yep...you hit it big time! Many CONGRATS!!!!
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"No, no, no...dig up stupid!" Chief Clancy Wiggam
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TXBLUZMAN
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Posts: 260
San Antonio, TX
Detector used: DFX + Sunray DX-1 / Fisher CZ7
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« Reply To This Topic #10 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:16:12 AM » |
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Very nice find Jeff. That should bring some nice $$$ after you get it certified. Congrats.
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Captn_SE
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Long Beach, CA
Detector used: Minelab Explorer SE; X-1 Target Probe; Exp. II Coil, Coiltek Platypus Elliptical; Sunray Stealth X8 Coil
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« Reply To This Topic #11 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:17:19 AM » |
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Wow, what an awesome find, Jeff!! I can just imagine how excited you must feel. You're going to sell it? I don't know if I could sell a precious coin like that. Could be thousands of dollars there!! Major congrats to you!  This is a "BANNER FIND"!!! Here's some history about the actual minting of the Pine Tree Shilling: As early as 1650, the colony of Massachusetts Bay was a commercial success. But an inadequate supply of money put its future development in jeopardy. England was not inclined to send gold and silver coins to the colonies, for they were in short supply in the mother country.
Taking matters into their own hands, Boston authorities allowed two settlers, John Hull and Robert Sanderson, to set up a mint in the capital in 1652. The two were soon striking silver coinage-shillings, sixpences, and threepences. Nearly all of the new coins bore the same date: 1652.
This was the origin of America's most famous colonial coin, the pine tree shilling. The name comes from the tree found on the obverse. It may symbolize one of the Bay Colony's prime exports, pine trees for ships' masts. Massachusetts coinage not only circulated within that colony, but was generally accepted throughout the Northeast, becoming a monetary standard in its own right.
Why the 1652 date? Some believe that it was intended to commemorate the founding of the Massachusetts mint, which did occur in 1652. Others believe the choice was a reflection of larger political events. Coinage was a prerogative of the King. In theory, these colonists had no right to strike their own coins, no matter how great their need.
But in 1652, there was no king. King Charles had been beheaded three years previously, and England was a republic. The people in Massachusetts may have cleverly decided to put that date on their coinage so that they could deny any illegality when and if the monarchy were reestablished.
The mint’s first silver shillings bore simply the letters NE (for New England) on the obverse and the values XII (12 in Roman numerals), VI (6) or III (3) on the reverse. Easily counterfeited or clipped, these coins were quickly replaced by ones featuring a tree on their obverse. Three styles of trees were used over the thirty years of production: a willow (1652-60), an oak (1660-67) and, most familiar of all, a pine (1667-82). HH, CAPTN SE Dan |
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1235CE
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Posts: 231
The Beautiful Berkshires in Western Mass.
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« Reply To This Topic #12 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:18:40 AM » |
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yes, wild, wild, wild!!........................congratulations Jeff!!!!!! I'm in Mass. but still snow here  HH all! Greg |
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SamN
Jr. Member
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Posts: 35
Virginia
Detector used: DFX
Quarters: 12
Dimes: 6
Nickels: 2
Pennies: 20
Tokens: 1
Wheat Pennies: 4
Buffalo Nickels: 1
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« Reply To This Topic #13 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:26:09 AM » |
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I love to read when someone hits it Big...
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I allways do the right thing
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rhedden
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Posts: 56
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« Reply To This Topic #14 on: Mar 17, 2008, 11:45:36 AM » |
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Wow, what a great find! Congratulations on an exciting recovery.
Some advice regarding submission to PCGS.... if they return it to you uncertified in a flip marked "environmental damage," then try NCS as a second choice for certification. PCGS is hit or miss with the early coins if they have been in the ground. Sometimes they will slab an early colonial piece with a little bit of corrosion or pitting, and sometimes they will not. NCS is the service used by Heritage and other major auction houses for colonial coins if they have some surface problems from burial.
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MUD(S.W.A.T)
MUD(S.W.A.T)
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Posts: 2259
AAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!! GET THE TREASURES!!
Ithaca, NY, Area
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« Reply To This Topic #15 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:01:12 PM » |
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How much is this thing worth?
Nice find,
Keep @ it and HH!!
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TAG: MUD(S.W.A.T) LOCATION: Watkins Glen, NY GEAR: Whites, MXT EXPERIENCE: Going on 4 years E-MAIL: mudswat1979@yahoo.com (1WarNic,One1865 2 cent, One1854 LC, 2 IH, 60+wheat cents,8tokens,2-SQ ,14-SD,0-SHD, 0-SD) |
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Natman
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Posts: 1600
Your best find is still in the ground somewhere
Hazelwood, MO
Detector used: White's Prizm II
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« Reply To This Topic #16 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:02:14 PM » |
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COUNTRY GIRL
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Posts: 3150
WESTERN MASS
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« Reply To This Topic #17 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:05:03 PM » |
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Congratulations! That is a find of a lifetime. I'd have been shaking too much to type too. SUPER!!!! |
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A kind word echos for eternity
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metalfinder
Full Member
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Posts: 157
Detector used: Minelab Explorer S
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« Reply To This Topic #18 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:29:19 PM » |
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chrisplay2004
Full Member
Offline
Posts: 218
New Mexico
Detector used: Whites Eagle II and Bounty Hunter VLF
RUNNING TOTALS: 2008
Half Dollars: 2
Quarters: 27
Dimes: 23
Nickels: 17
Pennies: 72
Tokens: 1
Non-US Coins: 8
Wheat Pennies: 1
Other Silver Coins: 1
Silver Items: 2
Keys: 1+1-handcuff
Notable Relics: 2
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« Reply To This Topic #19 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:29:51 PM » |
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WOW...that is an awsome find... Parting would be hard for me...  |
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CRUSADER
Hero Member
Offline
Posts: 3358
A real man thinks about detecting every 6 seconds
ENGLAND
Detector used: CORTES
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« Reply To This Topic #20 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:31:04 PM » |
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I would find the best offer & give your friend half the money to keep it.
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TOO BUSY TO DETECT, YOU'RE TOO BUSY!!!
PLAY HARD, HUNT HARDER.
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Evolution
So many colonial sites to hunt....so little time. I think I'll buy another DFX for my other arm and do some ambidextrous hunting.
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Posts: 1937
2008 clad count.....what is clad?
(Above) 1786 Vermont copper. Found August 2007
Detector used: Whites DFX/Whites coinmaster 6000 Di
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« Reply To This Topic #21 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:34:22 PM » |
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What a surreal feeling you must have had when you realized what you had. That is absolutely awesome. It simply doesn't get any better than that. Good luck with the certification process. That sure is one beautiful coin. |
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Large copper total for 2008 --5
1797 Draped Bust large cent
1809 Classic Head half cent
1787 New Jersey copper (Maris 63-s variety)
1845 Braided hair large cent (holed)
No detail coppers--1
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seger98
Hero Member
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Posts: 762
Wisconsin/Arizona
Detector used: Minelab Sovereign GT
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« Reply To This Topic #22 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:34:40 PM » |
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WOW, that is to neat, congratulations!
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Magic Fingers
Full Member
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Posts: 191
Beautiful Western Montana
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« Reply To This Topic #23 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:44:56 PM » |
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WOW Congrats on such an amazing find!!
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metalfinder
Full Member
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Posts: 157
Detector used: Minelab Explorer S
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« Reply To This Topic #24 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:47:21 PM » |
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I just noticed there are quite a few variety's of this coin. Lets all keep our fingers crossed it is one of the more rare versions. Then your split could finance all of you future hunts!!
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birdman
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« Reply To This Topic #25 on: Mar 17, 2008, 12:52:12 PM » |
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Amazing ,simply amazing!!!
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Vaquero ,cibola
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kieser sousa
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Posts: 706
upstate N.Y.
Detector used: Fisher cz-20/minelab xtera-70
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« Reply To This Topic #26 on: Mar 17, 2008, 01:05:29 PM » |
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Awesome find Jeff ! Congrat's ! Find of a life time for sure ! lucky dog. |
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ivan salis
da book worm--researcher
Hero Member
 Online
Posts: 4025
callahan,fl
Detector used: bh --QD II and tracker IV
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« Reply To This Topic #27 on: Mar 17, 2008, 01:11:23 PM » |
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truely a find of a lifetime -- great
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Montana Jim
Zesty Harley Rider USAF Retired
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