Waited 17 Years For This: 1794 Liberty Cap Cent Today !!!

VOL1266-X

Gold Member
Jan 10, 2007
5,589
2,910
Northern Middle Tennessee
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1266-X, F75 X 2
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
1794 Liberty Cap Cent-New Pics!!

Back in late January, I scouted an area near the Cumberland River and dug 2 dropped .69cal. 3 ringers, artillery frags, pistol balls, and some larger round lead balls. A noted artillery authority who is respected by the entire CW relic community said the frags were from a 6 lb. case shot cannonball and the larger round balls were case shot. I made one more trip and dug another few relics before we hit the U.S. Infantry camp in February and stayed with it for obvious reasons.
I needed to learn more about the river site to save time before turning the Tenn. Trio loose there as I had already secured permission for them to hunt from my friend who owns the farm.
This morning, I returned there and changed my strategy by starting upriver and paralleling a trail along the river. I was walking within 25 feet of the high river bluff along a cow path. My thinking was that Tennessee Longhunters, Pioneers, and CW Soldiers would travel this route downriver to an old river crossing used during the CW.
I first dug some shotgun brass and WW2 30-06 cal. blanks. The F75 sounded off with a strong audio signal and consistent "78" on the display at 5 inches. Out popped a large cent which has been on my wish list for nearly 17 years (it took Dman about 30 years to get his first LC proving they are HTF here). I could see the back was blank but hoped it had a date on the front as I put it in my pouch. I found the big hunk of melted lead and more blanks nearby but no other coins. I stayed a little longer, dug another piece of lead, and left for home. I dipped the coin in water and could read"94" on the date. A quick call to BB while I looked at my coin book and I knew I had a 1794 Liberty Cap cent. You can see Liberty and the cap. One the edge, you can read "A DOLLAR" on the rim writng that is part of the "ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR" slogan on the Liberty Caps.
If you have read our posts and my articles, you know my passion is CW relics and not coins. It's not the best LC example but what do you expect for a coin that was minted 2 years BEFORE Tennessee became a state. We deliberately lightened the coin photo to enhance the details. Cleaning as Don suggested did not change the original dark brown patina, Thanks for looking again, Quindy. View attachment 620294View attachment 620295
 

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Alright, Quindy! Middle TN is going to produce even more Colonial artifacts. I remember those killer cufflinks. The Liberty Cap copper is my favorite.

Kirk
 

WTG!!! Very happy for you Q, as you stated very hard to find in your part of the country. Funny thing is that I'm also a huge CW Nut (and a 12 year retired CSA Re-enactor due to raising a family) and am dying to find some CW Confederate stuff. Perhaps we need to trade ground for awhile :-)

HH,
Roger
 

Thanks Bob, FR2, DC, G.A.P.M, Dawg, Paul, Kirk (Is Kyle over the Steelers season yet?-LOL), Jim, & Roger. Once I get a better pic, I'll repost it. It will be pictured in AD magazine. Thanks to all who took their time to look and HH, Quindy
 

Quindy, Congrats on your first large cent, and a 1794 at that:award_star_gold_1:

I have dug plenty of large cents, probably close to 100, but never a 1794!
 

Quindy, congrats on your first large cent, and a 1794 at that!! There is something about the large cent that just makes me think "early America". I have found plenty of large cents, probably close to 100, but never a 1794!

Obviously, this new format is giving me a few problems - Grrrr
 

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Thanks Steve. Didn't you dig a Richmomd Lab Sharps bullet at DIV? They don't show up here in Tennessee so Congrats my frirend. HH, Quindy.
 

Quindy,

That is a real prize find! I have never dug a Liberty Cap. I have a dug precious few early LC's (Classic Head and Draped Bust) out of all the ones I've found over the years. If you want more LC's, dig those old house sites. You are living in a good area for LC's, and I am very surprised that you haven't dug one before now. TN is not cursed compared to KY. I dug 20 LC's in 2009 alone in KY, but averaged 8 per year in KY and 6 per year in Virginia where I spent most of my time CW hunting. House sites are where some of the best CW relics are hiding, you can bet your bottom dollar. We can talk via phone at some point if you are interested in going this route, because I have some ideas I'd like to share that have worked for me in the past. I am excited to see the cleaned photos of the coin.

Now...finding a LC here is going to prove difficult. I will dig one sooner or later for sure, but it seems that copper coins did not find their way to Louisiana from Philadelphia until the 1820s or '30s...so the sites we have been digging are a bit early for those.

There are few better LC's to find for your first than a Liberty Cap. Beats my oldest American coin by a few years. I really enjoyed hearing from you via phone. I knew you'd dug something really special and could hear the excitement in your voice.

Cheers,


Buckles
 

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Quindy that was a super find for Tn. years ago my buddy Mark found a 93 i think. the fertilizer eats our coins up. i just got back from a hunt and the men i was with were from Massachusetts and the early coppers and coins they find are unreal.congrats to you for a super find. i know civil war is your main interest but hunt that area some more.you are having a great year. all three of you have had some great finds.
 

Thanks Burdie, Giant, & Don. I never expected to find one this old in Tennessee. BB, It's always a pleasure to talk to you as it's an eduxcational experience. HH, Quindy.
 

Ronald,
That is a neat coin. Congrats on an awesome find.
 

Ronald? I totally get it! Now that is funny right there. Tennessee digger
 

Quindy,

That is a real prize find! I have never dug a Liberty Cap. I have a dug precious few early LC's (Classic Head and Draped Bust) out of all the ones I've found over the years. If you want more LC's, dig those old house sites. You are living in a good area for LC's, and I am very surprised that you haven't dug one before now. TN is not cursed compared to KY. I dug 20 LC's in 2009 alone in KY, but averaged 8 per year in KY and 6 per year in Virginia where I spent most of my time CW hunting. House sites are where some of the best CW relics are hiding, you can bet your bottom dollar. We can talk via phone at some point if you are interested in going this route, because I have some ideas I'd like to share that have worked for me in the past. I am excited to see the cleaned photos of the coin.

Now...finding a LC here is going to prove difficult. I will dig one sooner or later for sure, but it seems that copper coins did not find their way to Louisiana from Philadelphia until the 1820s or '30s...so the sites we have been digging are a bit early for those.

There are few better LC's to find for your first than a Liberty Cap. Beats my oldest American coin by a few years. I really enjoyed hearing from you via phone. I knew you'd dug something really special and could hear the excitement in your voice.

Cheers,


Buckles

I would take BuckleBoy up on the offer, Quindy. TN is killer for coppers! You just have to hunt those old dwellings.

Kirk
 

EXCELLENT Find!!!!! WTG!!! this must be the week of large cents ....

Sunday I found a 1797 Draped bust also...1797 LC (1).jpg


They're out there you just gotta keep hunting!!!
 

EXCELLENT Find!!!!! WTG!!! this must be the week of large cents ....

Sunday I found a 1797 Draped bust also

Must be! I found my first Large cent today. 1818 matron head. It's funny that my first reply to this thread was that I really wanted to find a large cent and then I find one within the same week. lol Congrats again, Quindy. Can't wait to see it cleaned up. I'm afraid to clean mine. lol
 

That was the last thing I expected to find Matt. I guess it's like Indian arrowheads-the best way to find one is to be not looking for one-LOL. Thanks, Q.
 

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