Large Cents in Oklahoma?

[sharpshooter]

Well now, I've made two post's recently with no responses from anyone. I know that Oklahoman's are a more sociable bunch than what you're letting on, so......I thought I would ask a question of my fellow treasure hunters from Okieland to stimulate some conversation.

My question: Has anyone found a large cent here in Oklahoma? My guess is that nobody has been lucky enough to find one here. A quick check of my Whitman book tells me that the last large cent was minted in 1857, and that they had become unpopular with the public. I'm thinkin' that 1857 is just a bit bit too early for this part of the world. The closeset I've come is an 1880 IH Cent found here in my hometown of Moore. It was under a very large, old, elm tree, on a piece of land that was an old farm at one time.

Care to share the details of your oldest find in Oklahoma?

Okay friends, the ball is in your court. Don't leave me hangin'.

 

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[BJ in Okla.]

Large Cents in Oklahoma? YES

SS,
A friend found a 1845 large cent in OKC.
My oldest Indian Head is 1864 found in OKC
My 1854 large cent was bought in FT. Ark.
My 1876 Seated Liberty quarter was found in Prague.
The 1909 "S" VDB penny was found by a friend.
The 1890 CC Dollar was found in OKC by a friend.
My old marble was found in OKC.
The stuff is there in the ground, just waiting to be found.
BJ

 

[Monty]

I know that there were a number of cash enterprises being conducted in Oklahoma when that big cent was being circulated, mostly between whites and Indians. Then of course there was owl hoots that hid out in Indian territory. And last but not least was the Sooners who illegally were squatting on lands not yet opened to settlement. Yes there is the possibility of finding large cents. Chances of probability are not as good as many other places however. Monty

 

[beaverdigger]

I have an 1864 two cent piece and a 1906 Indian Head, both found by me, in the Claremore area. I have also found a 1913 and 1917 wheaty in the same area, around an old farmstead.
Try to post pictures when I find my camera and figure out how.

 

[sharpshooter]

BJ - Those are all first rate finds. The exceptional condition of 09-S cent takes it to the top of the list without question. I guess there are a few Large Cents to be found here; they're just rare as hens teeth. The 1890 CC Morgan Dollar is very nice. He just missed the big one by one year. Are you at liberty to say where in OKC they were found? Not specifically, but generally speaking, like park, construction site, homestead, etc.

Monty - I'm thinkin' they are here but not in the "normal" places we usually search. Need to change my way of thinkin' to find one. Maybe try to find an old military encampment, fort, or trading post to increase my chances and not depend on the blind hog scenario.

beaverdigger - Finding a two-cent piece here is a rare occurance indeed. Good Job! I would like to see a pic sometime if you can manage it. I found one in Kansas last year.

Thanks to you all for your responses.

 

[Monty]

Sharpshooter, I have noted any number of old abandoned home places as drive the backroads, but you usually have to get off the pavement. When you find one , it's difficult to find out who owns it because the tax office will ask for lot and block number. Unless you know plot maps inside aond out you will never figure it out. But anyway, the old home places will often have the foundation of the original dwelling nearby even older than the abandoned house. Monty

 

[sharpshooter]

Monty - I have some info to share concerning the research of property ownership of which you may not be aware. Or, if you are aware of it, maybe it will help others here with their research. It's a rather lengthy post that I'm not finished with yet. I'll try to finish it by the end of the week.

 

[Shooter7MustangOK]

Wow you guys have found some "good stuff". I live here in OKC and the oldest coins I have found are 1 1909 wheatie..1 1910 wheatie and 1 .. 1912 barber dime, of course I work 2 jobs and have only been hunting for just under 2 years so my time is limited.

 

[stoney56]

Large cents are very hard to come by in this part of the state. Mainly wheaties and some IH's, some barbers, a few SLQ's, and the occasional early walkers. Also back then, a day's wage was around $1 or so. So if a person knew they lost a coin, esp. a larger sized one, they'd diligently look to find it and would be more likely to find that larger coin than a small one.

 

[sniffer]

just remember, more money has been lost, than is in cirrculation.
keep looking it's there

 

[sharpshooter]

Shooter7MustangOK - Those are some good finds for this part of the country. Hard to break into the 1800's here. I was just trying to recall - I think I've only found 1 coin in the 1800's in Oklahoma since I started detecting back in 97.

stoney56 - I've found 1 SLQ in Kansas, but none in Okieland. The Walker is one I haven't been able to mark off my list yet. Maybe someday.

Sniffer - I will keep looking. We treasure hunters are eternal optimist's.

 

[Mental Granny]

Me I have never found one that is YET!

 

[stoney56]

Shooter7MustangOK - Those are some good finds for this part of the country. Hard to break into the 1800's here. I was just trying to recall - I think I've only found 1 coin in the 1800's in Oklahoma since I started detecting back in 97.

stoney56 - I've found 1 SLQ in Kansas, but none in Okieland. The Walker is one I haven't been able to mark off my list yet. Maybe someday.

Sniffer - I will keep looking. We treasure hunters are eternal optimist's.

Sharpshooter, if you can-start checking out old oil boom towns. A few years ago, I found an SLQ and a Walker laying on top of the ground. Same site and about 10 years earlier, someone found a $5 gold piece. So they're out there just waiting.

 

[bnsfhobo]

No large cent for me here in Okla. My oldest find is a 1853 seated half dime found one inch down at the base of a tree. Second oldest have been 1890's (barber dime and IH penny).
I agree that an old homesite would be the best chance.

Happy Hunting

Hugh

 

[sharpshooter]

mental granny - Stay after it. Maybe our time is coming soon.

stoney56 - On top of the ground? Who needs a detector with places like that to hunt? Good thing about Oklahoma, we have more than our share of Oil Boom Towns.

bnsfhobo - Next to the 1845 large cent mentioned earlier in this post, that 1853 seated half dime you found is the oldest I've heard of here. P.S. = Don't sleep on the tracks.

 

[Mental Granny]

Oh I'll keep after it thats for sure! But that place Jeff talks about it all I have found was rust in the ground and on top a new wrench and a real cool lookin rock that I had to have him haul out of the field for me and cart it home

Thats what he gets for havin such good luck!

 

[Timberwolf]

I have only found one large cent and it was in Oklahoma.

I was detecting my aunt's back yard when I found it.
It was the only old coin that I found in her yard.
She lived out in the country next to the Chikaskia river between Tonkawa and Ponca City, in Kay County.

I believe it was an 1834. It is pretty worn.

TW