My First Large Cent - 1801 Draped Bust, 1/000

[Valley Ranger]

I recently got permission to hunt an area near what was once a large Confederate winter camp. I don't have permission to hunt the actual camp ground, but very near that spot is a bold spring (bold as in 70 gallons per minute). This spring sits on a large tract of land here in the Shenandoah Valley in a very remote area. The spring house dates to at least the early 1800's - maybe earlier. Anyway, in talking to the landowner, he informed me that a few years ago, he had to do some excavating and fill all around the spring house. . Oh well, I thought I'd give it a try anyway and detect as close to that area as possible. Walked up a little knoll near the spring and started getting a lot of iron signals, with a sweet tone every now and then. The first good signal was this 1801 Draped Bust, 1/000 Large Cent - my very first one! I was using my Garrett AT Pro with the 5x8 coil I just purchased. I also found this other item that I thought was some kind of shield pin, but after doing some research, I believe it's probably a saddle shield. This is the same place I found what is apparently a counter-stamped large cent. Also found spoon parts and some other iron items I'll post separately. In doing some additional research since yesterday on that spot, I think I may have stumbled on to an old home site. I only had a couple of hours. The ground was a bit dry, but you can bet once we get some more rain, I'll be checkin' it out some more.

Thanks for lookin' - sorry, but my Canon Powershot ain't much for macro mode.

 

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[Valley Ranger]

I really love it when old coppers have that patina on them, nice!

Thanks JB. Yes, me too. I did some video on this dig and, on the other copper disc I dug, the dirt where the object had laid for 200 years held that deep green patina. Cool.

 

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[Steve in PA]

Congrats on your first Large Cent Stonewall. Sounds like you found the house site associated with that spring.

 

[VaMark]

Nice Find! I hope you can find more good stuff there, that small AT Pro coil is Great in trashy spots!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Congrats on your first Large Cent Stonewall. Sounds like you found the house site associated with that spring.

Yes, I think that's very likely. Dug quite a few square nails as well. I then looked at an old map and saw a name/property owner that shows a dwelling at this spot. I don't think the current owner is aware of this. I'm going to tell him about it.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Nice Find! I hope you can find more good stuff there, that small AT Pro coil is Great in trashy spots!

Hey Mark - it really is! I'm really getting attached to that AT Pro. I was amazed at the depth that little coil can reach as well. I'm gonna try another spot in the morning with it.

 

[Valley Ranger]

I wonder sometimes.

What could a Largie buy you in those times..

Blaze

Probably as much as our dollar would today.

 

[flyinryan2]

Hey Mark - it really is! I'm really getting attached to that AT Pro. I was amazed at the depth that little coil can reach as well. I'm gonna try another spot in the morning with it.

I've had my AT PRO for two months now and i too am attached to it, How big of a difference did the smaller coil do in iron scattered areas. The spot i go in Boyce had a old school house on it and where it was is nothing but iron signals, (square nails). Every once in awhile i'll get lucky and snag a flat button, but i know there has to be more than just buttons here. Do you think the smaller coil would help to get in between the nails better?

 

[Valley Ranger]

I've had my AT PRO for two months now and i too am attached to it, How big of a difference did the smaller coil do in iron scattered areas. The spot i go in Boyce had a old school house on it and where it was is nothing but iron signals, (square nails). Every once in awhile i'll get lucky and snag a flat button, but i know there has to be more than just buttons here. Do you think the smaller coil would help to get in between the nails better?

Oh absolutely. It's much easier to isolate a good signal with a smaller coil. You have fewer targets under the coil. I have smaller coils for all my units.

 

[VaMark]

I've had my AT PRO for two months now and i too am attached to it, How big of a difference did the smaller coil do in iron scattered areas. The spot i go in Boyce had a old school house on it and where it was is nothing but iron signals, (square nails). Every once in awhile i'll get lucky and snag a flat button, but i know there has to be more than just buttons here. Do you think the smaller coil would help to get in between the nails better?

Before I got my small coil for the AT Pro I had been hunting an old park and found some clad, but with all the pull tabs and other junk it was just impossible to find many good targets. After I got the small coil I found a bunch more clad, was able to pick nickles out of the pull tabs and found my first silver and a couple wheat pennies. It is a must have for any trashy spots.

HH

 

[detectahead]

Enjoyed story and your great find!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Before I got my small coil for the AT Pro I had been hunting an old park and found some clad, but with all the pull tabs and other junk it was just impossible to find many good targets. After I got the small coil I found a bunch more clad, was able to pick nickles out of the pull tabs and found my first silver and a couple wheat pennies. It is a must have for any trashy spots.

HH

I agree. And, like I said, the depth is still pretty good.

 

[flyinryan2]

Before I got my small coil for the AT Pro I had been hunting an old park and found some clad, but with all the pull tabs and other junk it was just impossible to find many good targets. After I got the small coil I found a bunch more clad, was able to pick nickles out of the pull tabs and found my first silver and a couple wheat pennies. It is a must have for any trashy spots.

HH

Oh absolutely. It's much easier to isolate a good signal with a smaller coil. You have fewer targets under the coil. I have smaller coils for all my units.

Thanks guys, i'll have to look into a smaller coil. Hows the depth?

 

[Valley Ranger]

Thanks guys, i'll have to look into a smaller coil. Hows the depth?

I dug this large cent at close to 7".

 

[flyinryan2]

I dug this large cent at close to 7".

Wow! Thats still good depth for a small coil! Congrats again on the large cent!

 

[Joe88]

Very nice LC!!!! That is a rarer variety..1/000.
Quoted from NGC, "1801 was a bad year for the U. S. Mint, and no less than four reverse dies
were prepared with a nonsense fraction reading 1/000. One of these dies was a real mess,
creating the 3 Errors varieties listed under a separate entry."
Congrats!!

Joe

 

[hogge]

Very Nice! Thought you had a good 1 there for a minute. Appears to be a Sheldon-220. Very Scarce. Also appears to be an early die state coin, for the die crack is not very prevalent. Also appears that the back die may have been rotated 45 degrees, from the appearance of the crack. (upper rt. hand corner). Would like to see front and back pics with a "straight on as you can get it", pic(s). This would confirm my assumption. I cannot really tell by the pics you have whether or not this is true. Just going by the "well worn" reverse and what I can see. If Don and IP can jump in on this one, would be appreciated. Thanks.....Hogge P.S.--- A little more olive oil or coating would help define details before pics are taken.

 

[hogge]

Very nice LC!!!! That is a rarer variety..1/000.
Quoted from NGC, "1801 was a bad year for the U. S. Mint, and no less than four reverse dies
were prepared with a nonsense fraction reading 1/000. One of these dies was a real mess,
creating the 3 Errors varieties listed under a separate entry."
Congrats!!

Joe

Close Joe. He does have the left stem. Fooled me for a second too. Would also like to take a better look at the "U", but I think it's correct. Tough to see from the angle, and the way it's worn.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Close Joe. He does have the left stem. Fooled me for a second too. Would also like to take a better look at the "U", but I think it's correct. Tough to see from the angle, and the way it's worn.

Thanks Joe and Hogge. I've already put it in a coin case, but I'll try some olive oil on it and some more pics and upload. I'll PM you when they're up.

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[Valley Ranger]

Hogge, Joe: Are these any better?