washingtonian
Gold Member
Hey everyone,
Um, wow. I don’t even know what to say. Today’s find left me speechless.
I’m with some friends in Island County, WA for the weekend and got out for some detecting this morning. I took a new friend out and taught him how to detect. We had a good time. We’re staying at a site that has a bit of history dating back to the 1940s but that’s all I know about this area. This morning was a strikeout. I didn’t land a single old coin but it was nice to get out.
My friend didn’t find much either but he did have fun using his new iPhone camera haha. Here I am, probably detecting a nail.
The University of Washington football team wasn’t doing anything exciting tonight and low tide was at 8:30 pm. I decided, what the heck, I want to try the beach again. I strapped on my headlamp and headed out.
Usually, old stuff is found near the top half of beaches around here but something is different about this beach. The top 25 feet look like newer rocks, it’s not until the lower half where you start to see lots of barnacle covered rocks. Not sure why that is but at the end of my morning hunt I found what I believe is a late 40s Jefferson nickel on the lower half of the beach and that got my mind churning.
I focused exclusively on the lower half of the beach this evening and started to get a lot better targets. Sinkers, fishing weights, a copper memorial penny. Signs that I was in the right kind of area.
Probably 30 minutes in I got a solid 12-47 2 inches down. It was right by a big piece of junk metal so I thought I might just be getting that signal but I figured I should investigate. I dig down a little bit and, oh boy, a half dollar! I could tell it was silver but it was rough.
I couldn’t confirm what it was but based on the area I figured it was probably about 80% chance of being a Walker and 20% chance of being a Barber.
I didn’t find much else of interest and made my way back to the house. I was excited to show my brother my “Walker” and we started to examine it under better light. I started to make my case, “see the bottom of the dress here” and he was telling me “I’m not so sure”. He kept examining it and then burst out, “Dude, this is a Seated!” He pulled up a picture and sure enough! She is one rough piece of beach toast but she came home with me!! [emoji854]
Here are my first photos:
I got a little soap and water on it and asked my friend with the fancy iPhone to come snap a couple photos. His are much better haha.
I can make out a 7 so I know this is an 187? Seated half but can’t tell much more than that. I’m not sure I’ll ever get that last digit but I am one happy puppy regardless.
My number one goal this year was to find a seated coin. I had some narrow shaves with Barbers (no pun intended) and an 1883 Morgan but I just couldn’t find that dang seated. I’ll be honest, I gave up. I figured, maybe next year in Eastern Washington. I cannot believe this popped up on a beach with no written history that predates 1940.
My best guess is that this area was homesteaded in the early years of the Washington Territory. Washington didn’t become a state until 1889 but I know this general area was settled as early as the 1850s and 1860s. Pretty awesome to think that I’m likely holding a coin lost by a first generation Washingtonian nearly 150 years ago. I just can’t believe it.
I’m hoping to detect the area again a little in the morning before we take off. I don’t think lightning is going to strike twice but it’s worth investigating!
Thanks so much for looking and following along with all my adventures folks. I love this TNet community. Good luck out there all!
-W
—-
Sunday morning update:
Turns out in better light I was able to get the date, 1884! Only 4,400 minted. Worth $400 in a “4” condition. Definitely my rarest and most valuable coin find.
—-
Um, wow. I don’t even know what to say. Today’s find left me speechless.
I’m with some friends in Island County, WA for the weekend and got out for some detecting this morning. I took a new friend out and taught him how to detect. We had a good time. We’re staying at a site that has a bit of history dating back to the 1940s but that’s all I know about this area. This morning was a strikeout. I didn’t land a single old coin but it was nice to get out.
My friend didn’t find much either but he did have fun using his new iPhone camera haha. Here I am, probably detecting a nail.
The University of Washington football team wasn’t doing anything exciting tonight and low tide was at 8:30 pm. I decided, what the heck, I want to try the beach again. I strapped on my headlamp and headed out.
Usually, old stuff is found near the top half of beaches around here but something is different about this beach. The top 25 feet look like newer rocks, it’s not until the lower half where you start to see lots of barnacle covered rocks. Not sure why that is but at the end of my morning hunt I found what I believe is a late 40s Jefferson nickel on the lower half of the beach and that got my mind churning.
I focused exclusively on the lower half of the beach this evening and started to get a lot better targets. Sinkers, fishing weights, a copper memorial penny. Signs that I was in the right kind of area.
Probably 30 minutes in I got a solid 12-47 2 inches down. It was right by a big piece of junk metal so I thought I might just be getting that signal but I figured I should investigate. I dig down a little bit and, oh boy, a half dollar! I could tell it was silver but it was rough.
I couldn’t confirm what it was but based on the area I figured it was probably about 80% chance of being a Walker and 20% chance of being a Barber.
I didn’t find much else of interest and made my way back to the house. I was excited to show my brother my “Walker” and we started to examine it under better light. I started to make my case, “see the bottom of the dress here” and he was telling me “I’m not so sure”. He kept examining it and then burst out, “Dude, this is a Seated!” He pulled up a picture and sure enough! She is one rough piece of beach toast but she came home with me!! [emoji854]
Here are my first photos:
I got a little soap and water on it and asked my friend with the fancy iPhone to come snap a couple photos. His are much better haha.
I can make out a 7 so I know this is an 187? Seated half but can’t tell much more than that. I’m not sure I’ll ever get that last digit but I am one happy puppy regardless.
My number one goal this year was to find a seated coin. I had some narrow shaves with Barbers (no pun intended) and an 1883 Morgan but I just couldn’t find that dang seated. I’ll be honest, I gave up. I figured, maybe next year in Eastern Washington. I cannot believe this popped up on a beach with no written history that predates 1940.
My best guess is that this area was homesteaded in the early years of the Washington Territory. Washington didn’t become a state until 1889 but I know this general area was settled as early as the 1850s and 1860s. Pretty awesome to think that I’m likely holding a coin lost by a first generation Washingtonian nearly 150 years ago. I just can’t believe it.
I’m hoping to detect the area again a little in the morning before we take off. I don’t think lightning is going to strike twice but it’s worth investigating!
Thanks so much for looking and following along with all my adventures folks. I love this TNet community. Good luck out there all!
-W
—-
Sunday morning update:
Turns out in better light I was able to get the date, 1884! Only 4,400 minted. Worth $400 in a “4” condition. Definitely my rarest and most valuable coin find.
—-
Last edited:
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......and actually, law of probabilities might say it's an S based on location found...... if not, that's a long, dangerous trip from Philly I bet but that's one of the best things about this hobby is just thinking about this half dollars travels, how many times it was plunked down on a saloon bar, etc......good stuff....
