Snow Day: Dug Lincolns... Plus A Surprise!

[Carolina Tom]

It was cold and icy here in Charlotte, over the weekend. I was unable to get out and hunt, so I decided to clean some clad, and build a dug Lincoln cent folder. I dumped a bunch of clad into the coin cleaner, and as usual, a few items came out that were not coins.

After tumbling, this item appeared to be a washer. However, I could see a little writing on it...



I used the Hillbilly Zapper (electrolysis) on it, and this nickel sized trade stimulator token appeared from under the crud.



Be careful what you throw out!

I also found this "coin" in the tumbled items. Same size as a Lincoln cent, I remember finding it with other coins, but it's made of steel!



I hooked it up to the Hillbilly Zapper, and low and behold, Lincoln's bust appeared... or at least part of the outline of the bust appeared. Squint and use your imagination. Yes, I know the coin is a train wreck. But, it's my first 1943 steel cent!



Now for the dug folder, here it is. I did fairly well, except for the "S" mint mark coins. There were only about (8) "S" mint marks in the 2000 cents I searched! I plugged the steelie into the folder, even though you can't ID it. I call that "cheating".



Thanks for looking, and best of luck on your hunts!

 

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[Back-of-the-boat]

Nice finds.I need to start up a cent book.It might be the only cent's I'll ever be accused of having.

 

[trapperart]

Congrats

 

[cjon455]

Awesome!, I dug one once, only reason I know it was a steel cent was because it was in a wheat spill with 4 other copper wheats from the 40s.

 

[relic nut]

Good deal Tom. Makes you wonder what gets by us. I found part of a hammer from a musket once that was mixed in with my iron junk. Just never know.

HH RN

 

[against the wind]

Congrats on the token and the 43 steel cent.
I would love to find a 43 steel penny. I have found a few copper 43's but since they are not the elusive steel penny, I just spend them. huh?

 

[Loco-Digger]

Love the token Tom, glad you cleaned that washer fore sure. I dug two 1943 steel pennies this season, the only reason I know they are 1943's and not a hunk of steel is that bother were found with other wheaties in the same holes. My father-in-laws neighbor gave him a nice 1943 Lincoln to give me this past fall.

I see you do the same as I do. I only collect coins that I have dug or are given. I want to bounce your folder against mine. I to am missing many S mint marks. Maybe we ought to take a trip to the wast coast and dig for a weekend, I bet we'd have a better chance of digging those S mint marks.

Do you have a folder for the older Lincolns?

 

[port ewen ace]

be careful driving and operating machinery____________you appear to have a severe case of withdrawal. maybe start going to meetings or take up knitting

 

[Carolina Tom]

Love the token Tom, glad you cleaned that washer fore sure. I dug two 1943 steel pennies this season, the only reason I know they are 1943's and not a hunk of steel is that bother were found with other wheaties in the same holes. My father-in-laws neighbor gave him a nice 1943 Lincoln to give me this past fall.

I see you do the same as I do. I only collect coins that I have dug or are given. I want to bounce your folder against mine. I to am missing many S mint marks. Maybe we ought to take a trip to the wast coast and dig for a weekend, I bet we'd have a better chance of digging those S mint marks.

Do you have a folder for the older Lincolns?

The only ones I'm missing are steel or "S" mint mark. Got all of the others!

I was wondering if the guys in Cali dig more "S" coins than I find here. Seems odd, that they would NOT be more of them. They minted less of them, but not that much less. I guess they don't really "circulate" all over the country.

I will go to Cali with you to look for them, but please don't tell anyone that we are doing this, it is embarrassing. Grown men flying across the county to dig up dirty pennies... that's just plain weird!

 

[Carolina Tom]

be careful driving and operating machinery____________you appear to have a severe case of withdrawal. maybe start going to meetings or take up knitting

Very observant PEA. I was pacing around the house looking out the window at the snow, I just had to get my hands on some of those "dirty pennies". A day without dirty pennies, is not a good day!

 

[How Lucky]

Nice token! Love finding things like that.

 

[Deft Tones]

Cool washer!

Lmao @ "hillbilly zapper"!

That's it! I'm about to take the pickaxe for a walk somewhere.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Congrats on the token and the 43 steel cent.
I would love to find a 43 steel penny. I have found a few copper 43's but since they are not the elusive steel penny, I just spend them. huh?

I'll send you an elusive steelie. If you send me one of them copper 43's you keep spending.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the cool token and steel cent! That poor steel guy has seen better days.

 

[deershed]

Good save on that token, it cleaned up nice!! I've always wondered what a steel penny would look like after laying in the ground. That's one ill probably never find. Lol

 

[Loco-Digger]

Here are a couple of pics of the two I dug this season. Both were dug in small pocket spills along with other wheats from the era. My 1st one I put in a coin folder, the 2nd one I kept the other 2 coins that were dug with it. So if you ever dig a rusty item when you pull a wheat or 2 you can bank that it's more than likely a steel penny.

1st One



The one I kept with the other 2 coins from the same plug

 

[Loco-Digger]

Here are a couple of pics of the 2 I dug this season. The both were dug in small pocket spills along with other wheats from the era. My 1st one I put in a coin folder, the 2nd one I kept the other 2 coins that were dug with it. So if you ever dig a rusty item when you pull a wheat or 2 you can bank that it's more than likely a steel penny.

1st One

View attachment 1400255

The one I kept with the other 2 coins from the same plug

View attachment 1400256

 

[kcm]

I've got some good news for you and some bad news. The good news is, I believe that steel cent is a 1945, which would make it a one-of-a-kind and virtually priceless. The bad news is it's fried and now worthless.


Nice token!

 

[Chizzy]

So, ya didn't have to go diggin' for a "new" find........ya had it all along.........
That's quite the cure for "no-digitis"...........

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I was wondering if the guys in Cali dig more "S" coins than I find here. Seems odd, that they would NOT be more of them. They minted less of them, but not that much less. I guess they don't really "circulate" all over the country

I rarely find "S" mint mark wheaties. I've found over 250 wheaties, but only 4 have an "S" mint mark.

But here's something weird. I've found 14 mercs and 3 of them have an "S" mint mark! Why would SF minted mercs have a better distribution here in New England than wheaties? Doesn't make sense...