Shallow signal surprise - 1760 Hibernia half penny!

[Darby]

My buddy Jdsly and I went for our third trip to our new colonial mill site this weekend. Found a few buttons, several musket balls, a really cool hand sickle Jdsly dug and some other cool relics. Got a loud, high signal and immediately thought it would be trash being so shallow. I moved the leaves out of the way and checked again and the signal moved with the leaves. Before I could check it with my pinpointer I saw it, laying on the pile of leaves, and knew I finally had another coin! Here are the before and after cleaning pics.















This is only my third 18th century coin and although I know they aren't worth much, it's priceless to me!! Thanks for looking.

 

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[Steve in PA]

That is a fine example of that coin! Well struck with great detail. Laying on the surface helped preserve it because it wasn't in the deeper soil that would have exposed it to more moisture and thus more corrosion. I have found one each of the 1760 Hibernia farthing and halfpence.

 

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[Iron Patch]

That is a fine example of that coin! Well struck with great detail. Laying on the surface helped preserve it because it wasn't in the deeper soil that would have exposed it to more moisture and thus more corrosion. I have found one each of the 1760 Hibernia farthing and halfpence.

And they are sort of a set because I believe that bust is unique to the 1760 coppers.

The one posted here is usually as good as you can hope for when dug.

 

[DigIron2]

Very nice coin.Beautiful condition

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[mirage83]

I haven't broken the 20th century yet myself (close, but not quite), so I'd be more than happy with that half-penny. Monetary value is very much a secondary concern.

 

[Darby]

Thanks y'all! I still can't believe its been laying on the surface all these years. I'll never discount shallow signals again!

 

[Old Dude]

Coins will never be worth as much to the average person as they are to us, but that is what makes them so special when posted here. Congrats to you!

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I have found quite a few "shallow" oldies, but on top of the ground almost unbelievable, not saying for a second I don't believe you, the before pics, tell the story. AND if I thought it was a fake find I'd never reply.

Anyway, is there any other explanation or evidence at the site of it being possibly "pre-dug" somehow ?

Again on top of the ground is just weird, or maybe super rocky ground ?

As far as cleaning it always depends on the coin, and in this case you didn't have to worry much as it is SOLID. I found many as old, but damn few near as good, nice coin.
CONGRATS

 

[Darby]

I have found quite a few "shallow" oldies, but on top of the ground almost unbelievable, not saying for a second I don't believe you, the before pics, tell the story. AND if I thought it was a fake find I'd never reply.

Anyway, is there any other explanation or evidence at the site of it being possibly "pre-dug" somehow ?

Again on top of the ground is just weird, or maybe super rocky ground ?

As far as cleaning it always depends on the coin, and in this case you didn't have to worry much as it is SOLID. I found many as old, but damn few near as good, nice coin.
CONGRATS

I agree Rick. This area is near some plowed fields where we've found a lot of relics, however it is in the woods near a small creek where there was a mill and doesn't look like it could have ever been farmed because if the landscape (high area dropping off to creek). I do not believe it has ever been hunted according to the property owner (fourth generation farmer). I guess it was laying on the surface a long time! Thanks for your input.

 

[Iron Patch]

I have found quite a few "shallow" oldies, but on top of the ground almost unbelievable, not saying for a second I don't believe you, the before pics, tell the story. AND if I thought it was a fake find I'd never reply. Anyway, is there any other explanation or evidence at the site of it being possibly "pre-dug" somehow ? Again on top of the ground is just weird, or maybe super rocky ground ? As far as cleaning it always depends on the coin, and in this case you didn't have to worry much as it is SOLID. I found many as old, but damn few near as good, nice coin. CONGRATS

My guess would be it was pushed up by a tree root.

 

[Don in SJ]

The coin was previously disturbed, since you can tell by the crud on the as dug photos it was buried at one time. I have found a few exactly like that and have assumed that other diggers dug it, but were not diligent in searching the surrounding area in case the copper went flying while digging. Yes, the possibility of it being pushed up is there, or an animal somehow disturbing it, but it was not laying in leaves on top of the ground for all of those years. As far as condition, some of the regal Irish coppers do hold up rather well, my only 1760 is worn more than this one but it is in excellent condition for being a grounder.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Yep, I've gained a WHOLE lot more respect for what I call "trash can lid" hits. You know, those extremely loud, surface hits? Turns out that my very oldest coin I've found in all my years detecting was less than an inch deep!!

One just never knows. It probably came in on a shovel full of fill dirt, but who cares!

Very nice find!

WTG!