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Thread: Big silver!

  1. #1

    Big silver!

    I haven't been digging much the past year. I did get out with my buddies, Del and Ron, about a month ago and should have posted this sooner. Name:  336011691_207480241962103_1200925377302089762_n.jpg
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Size:  103.5 KBIt's not every day when you dig BIG SILVER! We weren't finding much that day, except for Ron, but we don't like him anyway. I had found a few buttons at ye ol' hammered cellar hole but nothing much to speak about. Name:  336277378_758713645612774_7068447964459429959_n.jpg
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Size:  146.5 KBThere was a rock wall near the cellar that kept calling me over and I finally decided to listen to my inner voice. I'm glad I did. I took a few steps and got a 99 on the Deus II with a solid and beautiful X/Y in my Deep Hardcore Program. It also sounded beautiful. I called out to Del and Ron and said, "I've got a 99 and it's a good signal!" I failed to mention the solid X/Y. Neither one of them came over and both were thinking 99 is iron, you big dummy. That was true on the old Deus I but the Deus II seems to be a different beast. I dug it because of the X/Y and the sweet signal. My eyes got as big as the coin when I saw it. BIG SILVER! An 1858 Seated Liberty Half Dollar. Dig those 99's on the Deus II if they sound good!Name:  335602830_5830583713677828_5508002512008807058_n.jpg
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Size:  62.0 KBName:  335478298_1070409097210648_6609646012159269341_n.jpg
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Size:  56.1 KBName:  335682871_731640525276224_5507034886816401323_n.jpg
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    Last edited by Donnie B; 04-16-2023 at 08:09 PM.
    XP Deus

  2. #2
    Oh, that's a beautiful coin! Well found! Is that your first seated half? A few years ago, I did some research on the US Labor statistics website and back then a half dollar is how much an ordinary laborer made for 5 hours of work. They got paid $1 per day for a 10-hour workday in the 1850's. Think how much we make now for 5 hours of work and just imagine if your company gave it to you as a single coin and then you lost that coin! Thanks for sharing and happy digging. BTW, the guy in the middle in the first picture looks very shady. Better keep an eye on him! LOL!
    Oldest Coin: 100-60 BC Gallic bronze coin (Sequani Tribe)
    Oldest Silver Coin: 1156 hammered Pfennig from (now) Bavaria
    Oldest U.S. coin: 1805 Draped Bust Large Cent
    Best Coins EVER: 1625 4 Sols from Kingdom of Chateau Renaud, France
    1662 15 Kreuzers, Leopold I, Austria
    Best Relics: Bronze Age Arrowheads & Spearhead, 2c Roman silver ring, complete medieval knight's spur (x6)
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  3. #3
    Elite Member Digger_O'Dell's Avatar
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    WOWZA, that's a big beauty for sure!


    Quote Originally Posted by Full Metal Digger View Post
    A few years ago, I did some research on the US Labor statistics website and back then a half dollar is how much an ordinary laborer made for 5 hours of work. They got paid $1 per day for a 10-hour workday in the 1850's. Think how much we make now for 5 hours of work and just imagine if your company gave it to you as a single coin and then you lost that coin! Thanks for sharing and happy digging. BTW, the guy in the middle in the first picture looks very shady. Better keep an eye on him! LOL!
    Nowadays I "lose" a half day's pay any time I pull up to the pump or more at a grocery store. I'm guessing one could survive a long time on a half day's pay in 1859, where today it might afford 3/4 of a day. Remember, there were no income taxes until 1909 (exception was the temporary tax imposed by Lincoln to fund the Civil War). There were only local taxes, and they were minimal. The federal government survived solely on tariffs and some excise tax. So in 1859, one earned a dollar, they got to keep the whole dollar.

    One more reference point, CW soldiers pay per month by rank:


    Confederate Union
    Private $11.00 $13.00
    Corporal $13.00 $13.00
    Sergeant $17.00 $17.00
    First Sergeant $20.00 $20.00
    Quartermaster Sergeant $21.00 $21.00
    Sergeant Major $21.00 $21.00
    Second Lieutenant $80.00 $105.50
    First Lieutenant $90.00 $105.50
    Captain $130.00 $115.50
    Major $150.00 $169.00
    Lieutenant Colonel $170.00 $181.00
    Colonel $195.00 $212.00
    Brigadier General $301.00 $315.00
    Major General $301.00 $457.00
    Lieutenant General $301.00 $748.00
    General $301.00 --------
    Colored soldiers were paid $10/month with a $3 deduction for clothing
    Last edited by Digger_O'Dell; 04-15-2023 at 01:39 PM.
    Equipment:
    Minelab: CTX 3030, GPX 4800, X-Terra 705. Whites TDI SL.

    2023 Silver: 1 Gold: 0

    Best finds: 28 silver dime spill, 1800s Dutch customs seal.
    Oldest/best coins: 1837 Upper Canada large cent, 1877 Seated Dime
    Oldest find: 1800 Sailors Luck token
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  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Full Metal Digger View Post
    Oh, that's a beautiful coin! Well found! Is that your first seated half? A few years ago, I did some research on the US Labor statistics website and back then a half dollar is how much an ordinary laborer made for 5 hours of work. They got paid $1 per day for a 10-hour workday in the 1850's. Think how much we make now for 5 hours of work and just imagine if your company gave it to you as a single coin and then you lost that coin! Thanks for sharing and happy digging. BTW, the guy in the middle in the first picture looks very shady. Better keep an eye on him! LOL!
    Yes, it's my first Seated Half in 27 years of digging. I've only found two halves and the other was a Walker about 25 years ago. He probably looks a little shady because he ditched the beard that day.
    XP Deus

  5. #5
    Now THAT must have been exciting!!!!! That's my favorite eagle! I can't tell you how many 99s I've dug in the off chance it'd be a half or dollar
    How deep was it? I've never had a deep consistent 99 where it sounded good from all sides, the pinpoint sounded coin-like, and the XY looked good...and I've not dug a silver half with the D2 yet...but there's always tomorrow for dreams to come true

    Huge congrats, Donnie!!!
    On Instagram- oxshoedrew

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by OxShoeDrew View Post
    Now THAT must have been exciting!!!!! That's my favorite eagle! I can't tell you how many 99s I've dug in the off chance it'd be a half or dollar
    How deep was it? I've never had a deep consistent 99 where it sounded good from all sides, the pinpoint sounded coin-like, and the XY looked good...and I've not dug a silver half with the D2 yet...but there's always tomorrow for dreams to come true

    Huge congrats, Donnie!!!

    It wasn't deep. Maybe, five to seven inches. Big signal. It was laying on the dirt on my Predator shovel when I pried up the plug. I didn't circle it because it sounded so sweet from one direction and the X/Y was a beautiful solid straight line from the lower left quadrant to the upper right. There was no iron sound at all. If there had been then I would have circled it.
    XP Deus

  7. #7
    what a find!!! beautiful coin!!! Congrats!!
    I live my life one target at a time
    since '68

  8. #8
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    What a beautiful half , Donnie Name:  making me jealous.jpg
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Size:  44.4 KB , get well so we can get out again

    and I agree with Dave ( the guy in the middle does look shady )
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  9. #9
    Elite Member The Rebel's Avatar
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    Wow! Those don't turn up every day & to lose that back then surely would have been a huge loss.
    Minelab Manticore / SPECTRA V3i, Pro-Pointer II. Lesche Digger.
    Oldest Copper: 1694 William & Mary Halfpenny. Oldest Silver: 1663 1-Reale
    Cob.

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  10. #10
    What a honker! I've never found a half of any date. That's a great find.
    Oldest find: 5,000 year old copper spearhead
    Oldest coin: 1699 William III halfpenny
    Purdiest coin: 1832 Capped Bust quarter
    Coolest find: USA button with blue threads still on shank

    "He who would search for pearls must dive below."

  11. #11
    Elite Member Digger Don's Avatar
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    Wow, what a beautiful half dollar. Great detail!!
    Oldest Coin: 1699 William III Halfpenny


    20
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    Silver 4
    Indian 3, Buff 1, V Nik 1, Rosie 2, Barber Dime, SLQ 1,

    YT Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoU...FVGumMQ/videos

  12. #12
    "get well so we can get out again"

    and I agree with Dave ( the guy in the middle does look shady )[/QUOTE]

    I can't wait! And, for the record, you have made me jealous too many times to count.
    XP Deus

  13. #13
    That is a spectacular find, Donnie! It doesn't have much wear at all, super nice! Seated Halves aren't often found, that had to be really exciting. Huge congrats!

    Lifetime totals:
    10 Large Cents, 415 Indian Heads, 2 Two Cent Pieces, 1 Capped Bust Half Dime, 1 Seated Half Dime, 10 Shield Nickels, 68 V Nickels, 124 Buffalo Nickels, 31 War Nickels, 16 Seated Dimes, 131 Barber Dimes, 405 Mercury Dimes, 249 Rosies, 4 Seated Quarters, 18 Barber Quarters, 20 Standing Liberty Quarters, 89 Silver Washingtons, 1 Seated Half, 3 Barber Halves, 16 Walking Liberty Halves

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  14. #14
    Administrator del's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Donnie B View Post
    And, for the record, you have made me jealous too many times to count.
    Yeah yeah that $20 dollar bill I eyeballed on the path was the envy of the day until your big silver find ! odd but two halves came from that site , your seated and my 1906 barber .
    "Honesty is an expensive gift ,
    so don't expect it from cheap people"

    XP Deus II , DFX ,TDI sl -

    Click here to view my finds album


  15. #15
    Elite Member
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    What a great looking coin. WD
    Total silver 3 - Goal 50 (2024 Finds) - 0 Washington - 0 Barber Dimes - 0 Mercury Dimes- - 3 Roosevelt Dimes - 0 V Nickels - 0 Buffalos - 0 War Nickels - 0 Indian - 10 Wheats - $ 3.44 in clad
    Relics: MILESTONES since 2012: 1700 silver coins - 8000 Clad Quarters - 500 Roosevelts - 750 Mercury Dimes

  16. #16
    Elite Member Bucknut's Avatar
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    Wow! Just an amazing big silver! Congrats!!!
    Detectors I use: Minelab Equinox 900 & Manticore
    Favorite finds I have made:
    1,000+ silver coins
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    My wife
    (probably should have started with that one)

  17. #17
    Veteran Member BTV Digger's Avatar
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    Fantastic find Donnie! Still looking for my first.

    John
    Vermont relic hunting, one swing at a time.
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2...OLib30A/videos

  18. #18
    Senior Member
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    Holy Moly!!! I still have yet to even find a seated, but a half? Congrats!!!
    Garrett AT Pro, Garrett Waterproof Pinpointer, CTX3030 with 6,11,17" coils.

  19. #19
    Senior Member fyrffytr1's Avatar
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    They don't come out of the ground any nicer than that one. Congratulations.
    My wife does all the driving, I just hold the steering wheel!

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