Low mintage

I went to a site last weekend that I haven't been to in three years. It's quite a long drive. One of my buddies dug a gold coin on the previous trip. This time it was my turn. As you can see by the picture I have not cleaned it, nor do I think I will. When I got home I found that it is a low mint and the detail looks like it may grade pretty good. What do you think?
Thanks for looking and HH

Mike

very nice coin great shape

 

Great find !!!!!!!!!  Banner !!!!!!!!!!

In the future, could you please post proper driving directions to the sight (GPS coordinates would be great.)

Thanks in advance!

You dirty dog!

Jim

If it doesn't have any damage rust , corrosion , should easily grade XF-45. I vote banner on this!....I think you should be a little more excited!!!!, this is a once in a lifetime find for most of us. Congrats .

Nice gold coin   yes only 10,800 1863 S were minted ,if that was a 1863 no mint mark only 30 proof coins where minted ,great CW era gold someone here knows how to remove rust on gold safely without damaging the coin i hope they see this .   Banner !! Dd60

Very Nice

Gold is easy to clean, why would you not?

That's one gorgeous coin Mike!
I'd be so excited that I'd be speechless if I had found it!
Congrats!

Yeah, I would very gently clean that one.  Gold can clean very well without leaving any marks.

You can get the rust off by soaking it in a solution of oxalic acid.  It's typically sold as wood brightener or wood bleach.  It's very mild and will have no effect on the gold, but it will lift that rust right off the back.

Sweet!  I'll add another request for the GPS coordinates! 

You've also got my vote.

Semper Fi

Congrats on finding 1 of   survivors  ..great looking coin and I bet there is more to the  story .  I would like to hear about  the other gold piece . Without giving up certain secret info can you add some more details ? Thanks and Congrats on a banner find !   CMD  

Thats Crazy Cool!!!
BANNER!!!!!

Wow, awsome find.  That is quite a rare coin.  Congrats!  Banner worthy.

Little bit about it...

"1863-S  Quarter Eagle (1863-S $2.5) Many Civil War coins struck at the San Francisco Mint are extremely undervalued.  In the middle of the American Civil War, the San Francisco Mint only struck 10,800 pieces for circulation. Most, entered circulation and remained there for at least some period of time. No more than 80 pieces are known to exist, at most, in all grades, and that is the highest estimate usually found. "

Now there are 81!

  With a proper cleaning that thing would be stunning.

I'm a bit confused.  Many have scolded other hunters for cleaning coins - why does the consensus seem to be that this one should be cleaned?  Patina doesn't mean anything on gold coins?  What would cleaning do to the grading? 

I'm a bit confused.  Many have scolded other hunters for cleaning coins - why does the consensus seem to be that this one should be cleaned?  Patina doesn't mean anything on gold coins?  What would cleaning do to the grading? 

  Definitely not that type of patina.  Properly cleaned would make that coin worth more.... but hard to say how much more because the high bid wouldn't be too bad because the buyer would be cleaning it to resell. (and know it would come nice)   But bad eye appeal can smoke the price... all depends who's interested and what they think it will turn out like.

  To answer your question when it comes to dug finds it's a case by case basis. 

Thanks IP.  I just wasn't sure. 

Thanks IP.  I just wasn't sure. 

  To many people get caught up in general ways to clean things and that's why they make mistakes.  There's no rush to cleaning anything you find so better to be sure.

  I didn't suggest a method because I don't have any experience with gold coins...  but i do know about 30 seconds in lemon juice would probably have it corrosion free and shining pretty good.

 

U.S. gold coins get a patina from the copper in them. Collectors look for that. Have it professionly cleaned is my recomendation. I'm guessing A.U. 55 on the grade. No flat on the tip of the nose no wear on the curl of hair down her neck. Awesome find!
T

What a find! If this isn't a Banner Find, I don't know what is.
It is such a rarity I think it would be worth the investment to have it professionally cleaned and graded.
It would put a stop to the: you did this wrong, and you did that wrong too.
Great find.....the find of a lifetime.
I am voting Banner !!
Thanks for sharing.
Phil

I vote Banner!

If it was mine, it would already be cleaned. I mean....c'mon people......Lets use some common sense. I know it's a VERY high dollar coin, but warm water, with a VERY SOFT brush would do the trick. NOT A TOOTHBRUSH!!! Gold cleans very easily, but it also scratches easily. Take your time and this thing looks like EF grade at least. Depending on what is underneath it could go AU-50. That's $4,000 bucks chief! Just be careful and take your time. It will look like new!  Congratulations  on a definite Banner Find!     Hogge

One of those ' once in a lifetime finds ' that many of us will never come across.

Congratulations on a super find.

Makes one wonder what the story is on the location of the find.  How could 2 gold coins be lost at the same location?  Interesting to think about. Could there be more? 

Hope there is.

Happy Hunting.

Ray S ECenFL

congrats on a nice coin!!!!!   MR TUFF

Man if i were you I would..   Jumping up and down fast like That...Congrats on digging a GOLD coin..   Holy cow.  I couldn't sleep for a week if I would have found that.  That my friend is a banner worthy coin all day..Even on Sunday. 

So you got this coin where another gold coin had been found? How far away was the other coin found? Was it about the same age? You might have something more than just a couple gold coins here!?!?!

BTW, GREAT coin. (Some coins it's ok to get a little excited with).   

Why is this not on the banner yet?  Just wondering...

Wondered the same thing. Then realized I hadn't voted for it yet. (duh!)

Got that taken care of now.

FINDS BANNER

Way to go my friend, that's how you do it!

Congrats on the Banner  one rare beautiful coin  Dd60

Congrats on that gorgeous gold coin 
And congrats on making the banner

Wow, beautiful coin

Nice find Mike. I guess i'm one of the very few here who think you should leave it as it is. it isn't often we see a found gold coin that actually looks found. Sure, it may be "worth more" cleaned up, but then it will be one of thousands of generic gold coins. As it is, that patina tells a story that only your coin in found state can tell. Once more, congratulations.

150 year old, $4000 gold coin? A site that's produced 2 gold coins in 2 trips? What's the big deal???

Congrats on a nice find; I imagine it must have been pretty exciting...

Nice find Mike. I guess i'm one of the very few here who think you should leave it as it is. it isn't often we see a found gold coin that actually looks found. Sure, it may be "worth more" cleaned up, but then it will be one of thousands of generic gold coins. As it is, that patina tells a story that only your coin in found state can tell. Once more, congratulations.

Ya....That dirt really makes the coin!   Sorry Jonny....I just couldn't help myself. No disrespect intended. Well....not intentional anyways.     Hogge

 

Great looking coin well deserved Banner spot

SS

Nice find Mike. I guess i'm one of the very few here who think you should leave it as it is. it isn't often we see a found gold coin that actually looks found. Sure, it may be "worth more" cleaned up, but then it will be one of thousands of generic gold coins. As it is, that patina tells a story that only your coin in found state can tell. Once more, congratulations.

Ya....That dirt really makes the coin!   Sorry Jonny....I just couldn't help myself. No disrespect intended. Well....not intentional anyways.     Hogge

Ha! Yes Hogge, you see dirt and I see  a patina that confirms a found coin, a rarity  amongst the many gold coins that are often questionable. Why would your opinion of mine  have a thing to do with disrespect though?  Each to their own I guess, eh Hogge?

I love feeling the weight of GOLD in the morning!     Ruck

If it was mine, it would already be cleaned. I mean....c'mon people......Lets use some common sense. I know it's a VERY high dollar coin, but warm water, with a VERY SOFT brush would do the trick. NOT A TOOTHBRUSH!!! Gold cleans very easily, but it also scratches easily. Take your time and this thing looks like EF grade at least. Depending on what is underneath it could go AU-50. That's $4,000 bucks chief! Just be careful and take your time. It will look like new!  Congratulations  on a definite Banner Find!     Hogge

A brush of ANY sort would MURDER this coin!  Gold picks up "whizz marks" like no other metal!  NO Brushes.  The only cleaning that might be advisable is a soak in something like oxalic acid (wood bleach) or lemon juice perhaps--but given the rarity, I think I'd pony up a few bucks and have it professionally conserved.


One OUTSTANDING find there!


-Buckles

Nice find Mike. I guess i'm one of the very few here who think you should leave it as it is. it isn't often we see a found gold coin that actually looks found. Sure, it may be "worth more" cleaned up, but then it will be one of thousands of generic gold coins. As it is, that patina tells a story that only your coin in found state can tell. Once more, congratulations.

Ya....That dirt really makes the coin!   Sorry Jonny....I just couldn't help myself. No disrespect intended. Well....not intentional anyways.     Hogge

Ha! Yes Hogge, you see dirt and I see  a patina that confirms a found coin, a rarity  amongst the many gold coins that are often questionable. Why would your opinion of mine  have a thing to do with disrespect though?  Each to their own I guess, eh Hogge?

I see where you coming from, but he has the before shots as proof it was dug.  Being as its meant to be a very high dollar coin, I guess its worth the money to get it seen by the pro's (although I would sweat if it left my hands in the postal system).  Basically whatever the finder is most confirmable with is what is best, leaving it for another day is prefferable to scratching it up.
WELL DONE on the Banner

Great find!Mine is the 1863"S" $10...........Good YEAR!!!!I am in the Motherlode as well

If it was mine, it would already be cleaned. I mean....c'mon people......Lets use some common sense. I know it's a VERY high dollar coin, but warm water, with a VERY SOFT brush would do the trick. NOT A TOOTHBRUSH!!! Gold cleans very easily, but it also scratches easily. Take your time and this thing looks like EF grade at least. Depending on what is underneath it could go AU-50. That's $4,000 bucks chief! Just be careful and take your time. It will look like new!  Congratulations  on a definite Banner Find!     Hogge

A brush of ANY sort would MURDER this coin!  Gold picks up "whizz marks" like no other metal!  NO Brushes.  The only cleaning that might be advisable is a soak in something like oxalic acid (wood bleach) or lemon juice perhaps--but given the rarity, I think I'd pony up a few bucks and have it professionally conserved.


One OUTSTANDING find there!


-Buckles

Exactly!!Thanks Buckles,I know from experience and cringe when I see someone even TOUCH the surface of a G.C.Gold is super soft and micro scratches very easy(I know it was in the ground,but why add to it)Mine has very minute scratches(cant be seen with the naked eye)from the ground shifting when I dug it.I have not cleaned mine,and have heard of coins being rejected for that type of scratch(enviro damage)

Very nice! Congrat's on the Banner

 Congratulations on the Gold coin and the banner.

great find by the way what was the vdi on the xlt

  NNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEE EEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Nice coin ...congrats !!

I personally would like to see this after  its been cleaned, because I have never seen gold
come out of the ground looking like copper with what appears to be corrosion on the bottom... (back)
King Tut's gold looked just as good after 5000 years as it did the day it was made...
So clean this and then give us an updated picture, it would be great.

If it was mine, it would already be cleaned. I mean....c'mon people......Lets use some common sense. I know it's a VERY high dollar coin, but warm water, with a VERY SOFT brush would do the trick. NOT A TOOTHBRUSH!!! Gold cleans very easily, but it also scratches easily. Take your time and this thing looks like EF grade at least. Depending on what is underneath it could go AU-50. That's $4,000 bucks chief! Just be careful and take your time. It will look like new!  Congratulations  on a definite Banner Find!     Hogge

A brush of ANY sort would MURDER this coin!  Gold picks up "whizz marks" like no other metal!  NO Brushes.  The only cleaning that might be advisable is a soak in something like oxalic acid (wood bleach) or lemon juice perhaps--but given the rarity, I think I'd pony up a few bucks and have it professionally conserved.


One OUTSTANDING find there!


-Buckles

Exactly!!Thanks Buckles,I know from experience and cringe when I see someone even TOUCH the surface of a G.C.Gold is super soft and micro scratches very easy(I know it was in the ground,but why add to it)Mine has very minute scratches(cant be seen with the naked eye)from the ground shifting when I dug it.I have not cleaned mine,and have heard of coins being rejected for that type of scratch(enviro damage)

First Great Find    That is a rare jewel that few of us in our lifetimes will match.

Secondly I concur with above.  Send it to a professional service like NCS.  It may cost a little to get professionally cleaned and preserved (plus you can have NCG grade and slab the coin directly from NCS), but it will be nothing compared to the value you could remove from the coin by attempting to clean it yourself.  This is a 1 in 81 coin, and its at least in EF condition (maybe better).  Why rob yourself of $100's of dollars in coin value by saving a few $10's cleaning it yourself?

If it was mine, it would already be cleaned. I mean....c'mon people......Lets use some common sense. I know it's a VERY high dollar coin, but warm water, with a VERY SOFT brush would do the trick. NOT A TOOTHBRUSH!!! Gold cleans very easily, but it also scratches easily. Take your time and this thing looks like EF grade at least. Depending on what is underneath it could go AU-50. That's $4,000 bucks chief! Just be careful and take your time. It will look like new!  Congratulations  on a definite Banner Find!     Hogge

A brush of ANY sort would MURDER this coin!  Gold picks up "whizz marks" like no other metal!  NO Brushes.  The only cleaning that might be advisable is a soak in something like oxalic acid (wood bleach) or lemon juice perhaps--but given the rarity, I think I'd pony up a few bucks and have it professionally conserved.


One OUTSTANDING find there!


-Buckles

I could have told you a cotton ball or a Q-tip with heated water and someone would have said that was wrong. The composition of gold and silver coins is relatively the same with copper. 90% to 10%. I've never had a problem with cleaning my silver coins and having them "Professionally" graded. Never seen any hairline or "whizz" marks on them. Never had one come back as "Improperly Cleaned" either. Dealt with PCGS and ANACS. As long as you be careful, with an ULTRA SOFT BRUSH, and don't scrub, you're all set. There is always a "better way".  I'll post my response to this posting even before it comes out..............WHATEVER!

NCS and NGC are second rate grading "Coin Conservatory" companies, and do not command the premium prices, to coins that are graded and sold by ANACS or PCGS. It all depends on what the owner wants to do with the coin in question. I like to sell my stuff, as others on this site do not, or even frown upon this practice.

NCS and NGC are second rate grading "Coin Conservatory" companies, and do not command the premium prices, to coins that are graded and sold by ANACS or PCGS. It all depends on what the owner wants to do with the coin in question. I like to sell my stuff, as others on this site do not, or even frown upon this practice.

Mostly I agree. But the only brush that should be used with a coin, especially a gold coin, is a camel's hair brush, and most people on this thread will not have access to one.

I received a 1909 S VDB cent from an Ebay purchase. Had tape residue on it. Sent to PCGS for grading/authentication. They declined to grade it, saying it had "an altered surface." Apparently long-term exposure to adhesives such as scotch tape can microscopically affect a copper coin's surface.

Rarity of this coin is such it will likely get graded, no matter who grades it. And you have already stated it should be cleaned with only a VERY SOFT brush. Were I the owner (!), I would gently soak it in warm water to try to get any residual dirt loosened. But keep in mind it only takes a small speck of quartz on the coin to cause a hairline scratch that will remain the rest of its life.

I think there is something to be said for keeping the coin in its current state. Character, and a reminder of its history. After all, why does anyone collect coins?

THANK YOU Tuberale! PCGS is VERY picky. That is why I sent my 1616 Sommers Island Coin to them. (A.K.A.....Hogge Money) Even though I knew it would come back in a "body bag", I had confidence that it would be confirmed, with the PCGS label, as being an authentic piece. If there was ANY question of authenticity, PCGS would be the only company I would trust to confirm the validity of this. If it wasn't authentic, it would have come back to me with a code, and "Questionable Authenticity", on the label! You pay more through PCGS, but this company sets the standard through which, ALL coin professionals, and collectors want.

I personally would like to see this after  its been cleaned, because I have never seen gold
come out of the ground looking like copper with what appears to be corrosion on the bottom... (back)
King Tut's gold looked just as good after 5000 years as it did the day it was made...
So clean this and then give us an updated picture, it would be great.

We have had this out Lot's of times on here, Gold doesn't always come out of the ground, in the same condition that it went in there are Lot's of factors to take into account.
There are plenty of ways to clean it without scratching it but spending a few Bob to have it done professionally would be the best route

SS

Mike must be diggin'   , haven't heard from him since he found this beauty.   Hope he found more ! 

I personally would like to see this after  its been cleaned, because I have never seen gold
come out of the ground looking like copper with what appears to be corrosion on the bottom... (back)
King Tut's gold looked just as good after 5000 years as it did the day it was made...
So clean this and then give us an updated picture, it would be great.

Gold coins are not solid gold,I am pretty sure TUTs was

Too bad it didnt have CAL, stamped on it!!

I have seen several gold coins dug guys,and they do not all come out of the ground shining.They do stain

Very nice find!!! I am sure we haven't heard any more from him because he can't reach the keyboard, his feet being 10' off the ground and all.. I would love to know what that would read on an Explorer SE. FYI I have a $5 1847 gold (not dug, yea I gave up on finding one and just bought the dang thing) and it reads 8-21 on the Explorer SE. I also have an 1851 type 1 one dollar coin on the way, I'll post the numbers when it gets here if anyone cares.
HH
Joe

I personally would like to see this after  its been cleaned, because I have never seen gold
come out of the ground looking like copper with what appears to be corrosion on the bottom... (back)
King Tut's gold looked just as good after 5000 years as it did the day it was made...
So clean this and then give us an updated picture, it would be great.

90% gold, 10% copper.........I agree, something just does not look right.......but I could be wrong, I have yet to find a gold coin....but something just does not look right in my opinion.  Also there is no excitement in his 'voice' in the post, and has he made another comment after such a fantastic find??

The comment was not made lightly or as an insult for sure,
I am only speaking from personal experiance with gold.
After more than 25 years digging everything from Roman artifacts to Civil war relics to Pocket change
in playgrounds I have found my share of gold rings, medalions, chains and 2 Gold coins I dug in Spain
that were Arabic.
10k gold has occasionally  come out of the ground lightly discolored, but 14k and 18k items
I have dug, neather stain nor discolor in any circumstance I have ever dug them.
These coins are better than 18k and more like 22k in purity,
That is why I said I would like to see it cleaned and another picture.
Take a look back at all the gold coins dug on this forum and look at the pictures and the color and
show me other gold coins found here that look like that.
That's all...
No offense entended and I congradulate the man for finding this.
Richard

I want to thank everone for their comments, banner votes, and information. A great bunch of people here.
The other gold coin found at this site was also a $2.50 piece (1854 plain) it was found about 200 yards away. The reason we went to this area was I had done some research and found this area mentioned in a old article talking about the problem the shops were having making change for all of the gold coinage they had during the 1860's.  2 gold in 2 trips makes me a believer.
I still have not cleaned the coin, but I am showing a picture I took when I found it. In the sunlight you can see it looks more like gold than the indoor pics.
HH
Mike

I want to thank everone for their comments, banner votes, and information. A great bunch of people here.
The other gold coin found at this site was also a $2.50 piece (1854 plain) it was found about 200 yards away. The reason we went to this area was I had done some research and found this area mentioned in a old article talking about the problem the shops were having making change for all of the gold coinage they had during the 1860's.  2 gold in 2 trips makes me a believer.
I still have not cleaned the coin, but I am showing a picture I took when I found it. In the sunlight you can see it looks more like gold than the indoor pics.
HH
Mike

Sorry for my skeptical comments earlier, I deleted them.  Looks like an awesome coin to me.  Great find!!

Obviously much differant in the light of day !!
Congradulations...
Get it cleaned up, gets some fresh new pics and replace the banner pics with the
good ones.   
I think I would fall over if I ever dug an American Gold Coin.

Awesome find brother!!

Nice find, I hope someday to find some old U.S. gold

 Fantastic find. Enjoy it no matter what you do with it. Great find 
TnMtns

[God bless our veterans! Thank you for your sacrifices!]

A coin we all dream of finding! 

Most highest congrats to you!!!

Thanks for posting the great pics and congrats on making banner!

I want to thank everone for their comments, banner votes, and information. A great bunch of people here.
The other gold coin found at this site was also a $2.50 piece (1854 plain) it was found about 200 yards away. The reason we went to this area was I had done some research and found this area mentioned in a old article talking about the problem the shops were having making change for all of the gold coinage they had during the 1860's.  2 gold in 2 trips makes me a believer.
I still have not cleaned the coin, but I am showing a picture I took when I found it. In the sunlight you can see it looks more like gold than the indoor pics.
HH
Mike

So you're saying research works? Proof's in your pocket!

Small denomination silver coins here on the far west coast were rare even 5-10 years after Capt. James Scarborough brought news and newspapers of the Sutter's Fort find to Oregon. Even into the 1870's, silver coin was considered suspect here, and greenbacks were ALWAYS discounted. Gold coins, dust and nuggets were so frequently used in place of small denomination coinage that most stores had scales for doing business with, and many business owners could estimate gold purity with a glance.

Glad you're keeping the coin as is. In a protective thick plastic case, I hope. Cleaning can always be done later. Accidental scratches last forever. And you do want this one to last.

Statistics have shown that small denomination gold coins are rarer finds out here than there larger brothers,I am not sure why?

Congrats on the gold and the banner. That is a beautiful coin. 

Looks like a desert find, it has that kinda heat/mineralized look to it. I've seen silver with that same look come out of the deserts of the west. Like Nevada,Arizona,and New Mexico.

Chaa Chingggg !! & 7-10 grand at that . Way good find............!

Statistics have shown that small denomination gold coins are rarer finds out here than there larger brothers,I am not sure why?

Early miners were paid in the largest possible gold coins available, for ease of transportation. Many were taken back home. So if you found $174 worth of gold, you would have received 8 $20, 1 $10, and 4 $1 coins. Or something similar. Just looking at what some of the 49'ers brought back to Oregon with them suggested most of the transported gold coins were largest possible denominations.

Some of that coinage immediately when into post-hole banks, since reliable banks were still hard to find until the 1890's. (Some people claim 2009, but I think that has more to do with how much you had in Goldman-Sachs.)

most excellent coin find

wow nice find !

U.S. gold coins get a patina from the copper in them. Collectors look for that. Have it professionly cleaned is my recomendation. I'm guessing A.U. 55 on the grade. No flat on the tip of the nose no wear on the curl of hair down her neck. Awesome find!
T

I was thinking the exact same thing as above....  HERE are the updated prices as of this past week... prices start with Xtra Fine 1,580.00 AU50 3,220.00 AU 53 5,410.00  AU55 7,030.00

holy smoly banner life time find super congrates

The 2 1/2 dollar was very common in Nevada

That's a serious coin.

I can't wait to hear what it's appraised at.

Wicked find man.
 
Now, back to that new detector you've been looking at online...

I personally would like to see this after  its been cleaned, because I have never seen gold
come out of the ground looking like copper with what appears to be corrosion on the bottom... (back)
King Tut's gold looked just as good after 5000 years as it did the day it was made...
So clean this and then give us an updated picture, it would be great.
[/quo

I have seen several gold coins come from arid conditions,like the south west or Nevada,and this looks just like them,we call it desert patina

Congrats on the coin and the banner!  Way to go!