Oh yeah, my first wheatie, and a 1909 to boot!

[bazinga]

I am soooooo excited today! I pulled out $1.05 in clad and my first wheat penny! It was in a hunted out park and I was using my Garrett Ace 250. The park had just been hunted out in the past 24 hours right where I was hunting. Everywhere I saw a hole there was always a coin within a foot of it. It was as if they got a signal, then gave up after not finding anything in their tiny holes that they dug. Right next to one of their holes about 3 inches down was a 1909 wheatie!! It appears to be in great condition but it is extremely dirty. I currently have it soaking in olive oil. Is this what I should be doing? I know it is 1909 because I can clearly read the 190, and obviously there was no 1900-1908, haha. I can't get a good picture to show up though, any tips for me?

I also ordered a Minelab Sovereign that should be here in the morning and I'll be at that park as soon as I get it that's for sure!

So, cleaning and photographing tips are always welcome

Brian

 

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[JakePhelps]

for cleaning i use a green pan scrubber on copper/brass artifacts. For photographing i use the maco closeup mode on my camera. Awesome first find! My oldest wheatie is only from the 40's

 

[caratjuice]

Great find. Check to see if there are the initials VDB on it. That would make it a key date.

 

[Gilly in Illinois]

You also want to check the mint mark. If it is an "s" it is also a key date as well as higher in value! Not much but but more than most wheeties!
HH Gilly in Illinois

 

[Nana40]

Way ta go Brian!

 

[Getty]

Great job brian!! WTG!!If it is an S VDB,it will be worth ALOT more as it is a very key date.HH

 

[bmanofnbc]

You also want to check the mint mark. If it is an "s" it is also a key date as well as higher in value! Not much but but more than most wheeties!
HH? Gilly in Illinois

Uh the 1909-S is getting pretty expensive by my standards. I was looking at one this weekend at the coin shop and it was $100 in VF condition.

Cool find Brian! Even if it isn't a "S" or VDB

 

[bazinga]

The back is fairly clean and I don't see a VDB at the bottom, but I could be wrong. As for the S mint mark, it might be there but I can't quite tell just yet. From the right angles I can clearly see the 1909 date. Everything that is visible appers to be in pretty good conditions. Beneath the dirt/etc I can see Lincoln's eyes, mouth, etc.

I'll just let this beauty soak for a few weeks and see what turns up

brian

 

[rvbvetter]

Great find!! DO NOT SCRUB IT!! Those dates and anything else can easily crumble off, and you'll be telling people how it use to say 1909. Just be gentle with it and you'll have something to show with pride. WTG!!! HH

 

[Nate in Ohio]

Dude, cool find. Might I suggest something that works wonders on wheats for me. Try using baking POWDER on the coin. I've made some of my good looking wheats look even better. I have taken wheats and scrubbed them like crazy with my thumb and they turn out great with no streaks, scratches, etc from the clean with baking powder. If you're leerie, try this on another penny to see how it works. Just get the coin wet and rub it for mayber 20 secs or so. Add more powder as needed. It should feel like you are rubbing sandpaper, and you'll see the powder on your fingers turn brown. Good luck.
HH

 

[Moonshadow]

Way ta go Brian!! Man, you are soooooooooooo hooked now!

Shame on the other MD'ers for leaving holes!! Shame! Shame! They make it hard for the rest of us to get permission to hunt. People freak when they see us with our machines!

Keep up the great work and welcome to the madness! :P

Happy Hunting!

Moon

 

[Mirage]

Guess you don't have to worry too much about the competition if they are leaving those goodies That is a very nice first wheat!
Try baking soda - just a little at a time rubbing gently. Olive oil doesn't do much for me.
I'll be curious to know how the minelab works out for you. Good luck.

PS - scanners are cheap and great for showing details of coins

Bob

 

[nevrdundetecting]

Are you sure that the holes arent from squirrels? I thought the same thing about a month ago until I figured out that the holes were where the squirrels buried their acorns. Just a thought....

Congrats on the first wheatie, I remember mine and I too was extremely happy

HH

 

[HEADHUNTER]

Great find Brian...Like someone else said be careful on how you clean it...I have a few pennies
that i could Read the date when I took them out of the hole...After getting home and cleaned them,
I can no longer read the date....You'll start finding more now that you have that first one...good luck..

Headhunter

 

[bazinga]

Are you sure that the holes arent from squirrels? I thought the same thing about a month ago until I figured out that the holes were where the squirrels buried their acorns. Just a thought....

Congrats on the first wheatie, I remember mine and I too was extremely happy

HH

I know that they are because another guy that I have gone detecting with has met a guy that hunts every park in our town at least once a week with an old White's detectors from back in the day.

I still can't believe I found a wheatie in an area that is hunted nearly every day... wow...

 

[TXKajun]

Way to go, Brian! Guess that Ace 250 is a pretty hot detector, no?

Do you have the big coil for it? I bet that would do wonders where you were hunting, considering that the other MDers seem to be missing more than they find.

HH.

 

[bigrig40]

congrats on your first of many old coins to come.

peace,bigrig

 

[JerV3]

Congrats man the 1909's are nice to find. Your gonna make more old finds with that minelab.

Keep us posted.

Good Luck Jer

 

[ivan salis]

they clearly like lots of folks trying to quickly cover a lot of ground were " swinging" way too fast (folks these things are not "weed wackers -- so if you want to find stuff ---SLOW DOWN)-- due to their rapid swinging by the time it beeped they were off the target , thus digging "empty holes" a very typical newbie mistake -- clearly this was occuring -- you by noticing his spots and going slowly over them nailed his mistakes --haste makes waste .

 

[olepossum]

i was out today and found another wheatie i found it in my yard finally i founfd a old coin in my yard always finding clad and crap in my yard and yes i was using my ace 250 also but i still like my big dfx 300 with the 12inch 300 coil