My slump is over - BIG TIME

Digger Don

New member
I have't been getting out much lately and when I have, I haven't been finding much. Today that all changed!!

I started out Solo this morning looking for some old farm houses. Got a couple of no's and a few no answers. So I decided to call my friend Tim and do some door knocking in some small towns. While I was was waiting for him to drive out and meet me, I got a permission at a turn of the century house. In the first 20 minutes, in I dug a 1964 Rosie and an 1897 Indian.
Except for a few wheats, that was it for coins. I did manage a smashed Crotal bell, a thimble and a harmonica reed.

When Tim got there we decided to move to another town that we have hit in the past. We saw an old house with a nice lawn and a wrought iron fence surrounding the property. I was a little Leary about asking there, but we did and got a very friendly yes. In the first half hour I dug over a dozen wheats and Tim already dug 3 silver dimes. Finally I get a decent high tone and pull out a 1952 Washington. Ok cool, I'm on the board. A little while later I get a 7-49 at about 6". When I started to dig I ran into nothing but roots. I kept chopping away at them to see what was down there. I finally got to it and pulled out a 1951 Franklin half. Unfortunately, I dinged it with the lesche. ( I hate digging thru roots ). About a half hour later i get a 12-46 at about 5". I'm thinking probably a clad quarter. Once again tons of roots. I tried being careful just in case it was a silver quarter. Then I see it, another Half Dollar. Only this time I see the back and immediately said OMG, It's a Seated. WOW. I rinsed it off with the garden hose and saw it was an 1861-O and that once again I got it with the lesche. Did I mention " I hate digging thru roots?" I ended up with 27 wheats as well. I guess my slump is over!! :clapping:
 

Attachments

  • 042.jpg
    042.jpg
    74.5 KB · Views: 242
  • 035.jpg
    035.jpg
    79.1 KB · Views: 245
  • 017.jpg
    017.jpg
    81.2 KB · Views: 243
  • 018.jpg
    018.jpg
    89.8 KB · Views: 237
  • 025.jpg
    025.jpg
    76 KB · Views: 238
  • 027.jpg
    027.jpg
    77.7 KB · Views: 240
  • 041.jpg
    041.jpg
    74.4 KB · Views: 228
Congrats Don on your amazing find! Welcome to the Seated Half club! But my friend, yours is no ordinary seated half. It is an 1861-O half minted in New Orleans. You may recall that Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 26th of 1861. The confederate soldiers immediately took over the mint and the workers continued to mint seated half dollars until April 1st when they ran out of silver bullion. A total of 2.5 million 1861-O seated halves were minted between January 1st and April 1st. The majority of them struck by the Confederacy! So you have a unique piece of American coinage! Well done and congrats. HH, Dave.
 
Wow, sweet way to dig yourself out of the slump! (Pun intended!) Great coins, well done! Too bad it didn't have the die crack mark, which is from the confederate die.
 
Last edited:
Now that's the way to thump a slump. Huge congrats on both 1/2 dollars, both of which are still on my want list. Everybody hates roots cause this is what happens.....:mad:. I don't think that I got 27 wheat's all last year.
 
Outstanding! a day to remember, that New Orleans half is really special...
Now this should get you out more often...:)
 
Huge congrats on the amazing seated half dollar, Don! :wow:

That is a tough coin to find. I bet you were excited when you saw what it was! The one I found was under some roots also. You are killing it this year! I predict more bucket list finds for you through the year. Keep it up!

:congrats: :perfect10:

p.s. I still have never found a Franklin Half! :crying01:
 
I agree, I'd take a slump anytime knowing you're going to break out like that!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Forum statistics

Threads
23,581
Messages
238,143
Members
3,788
Latest member
Skeyxc
Back
Top