You dont see these everyday...............Seated Liberty Trade Dollar

screwynewy

Hero Member
May 10, 2011
988
1,034
North Carolina
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800
Teknetics T2 SE
Teknetics G2+
Primary Interest:
Other
You don't see these everyday...............1877 American Silver Trade Dollar

I almost fell over when I saw the thick reeded edge of this silver dollar sticking out of the dirt. I've been hunting this 1795 plantation home about 5 times before and never dug anything better/older than a 1935 wheat penny. The current owner has lived in it since 1974 and says that only one person had detected the front yard area (at least with permission). I've searched the yard area around the entire perimeter of the house and found very little which brings me to the conclusion that it has been pounded by detectors or there is fill dirt over the yard area.

I decided to move out further from the house this afternoon and see what I could find. I was detecting along the old driveway area and got a dead solid 93 reading on my Teknetics T2 SE and thought probably an aluminum can but the signal sounded too good so I started digging. Using my Raven relic digger and cutting around the target on 3 sides I laid over the plug and immediately recognized the reeded edge of a large silver coin. I grabbed it out of the dirt and with it mostly still covered in dirt I could see the 1877 and quickly realized that meant it had to be a Seated Liberty silver dollar. I was dying to see it but wasn't about to try and clean it there in the woods.

When I got home I ran it under water then soaked it for an hour or so to soften the dirt then lighted blotted it under water with a sponge. At first it looked to be in excellent condition but a little closer inspection revealed an old gash on the obverse above Liberty's feet. It makes me feel a little better knowing that I didn't gash it but still kinda bummed about it. I had to look in my Red Book to learn about US Trade Dollars, didn't know anything about them (see link below for more info). Either way I am still in disbelief over this find and can't wait to hit the woods around this property again.

American Silver Trade Dollar Coins
 

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Upvote 16
congrats on finding a coin that is so rare!! I don't think I've ever seen one on here! WTG!
 

great looking dollar.....and is in great shape
 

Great find! I don't understand the remarks about it being a Seated Dollar, as it is clearly a Trade Dollar. Read the letters on the reverse under the eagle. Trade Dollar!

While fake Trade Dollars are common these days, I'm not concerned about the authenticity of your find. If it had come from eBay, then that would be a different story. Deserves Banner votes for sure!
 

Ken,

Reed told me to check this out.....great find....I thought I would win the coin of the month at our club with a 1900 barber I found with reed saturday.

Ps....I have found a site to hunt in morisville near the historic battlefield.....not privately owned and secluded...I found my first two civil war bullets today and some other relics.
Email me if you want to go this week or weekend.

Mark
 

Great find! I don't understand the remarks about it being a Seated Dollar, as it is clearly a Trade Dollar. Read the letters on the reverse under the eagle. Trade Dollar!

Wasnt sure if it was going to be a Seated, or a Trade dollar from the title either.

Nice looking coin with much detail left and maybe even some luster
 

Great find! I don't understand the remarks about it being a Seated Dollar, as it is clearly a Trade Dollar. Read the letters on the reverse under the eagle. Trade Dollar!

Wasnt sure if it was going to be a Seated, or a Trade dollar from the title either.

Sorry for labeling this coin incorrectly. I fixed the thread title. When I found it and posted this I thought that it was a Seat Liberty coin that was also I Trade Dollar. Now I know, thanks!
 

Ken,

Reed told me to check this out.....great find....I thought I would win the coin of the month at our club with a 1900 barber I found with reed saturday.

Ps....I have found a site to hunt in morisville near the historic battlefield.....not privately owned and secluded...I found my first two civil war bullets today and some other relics.
Email me if you want to go this week or weekend.

Mark

Mark, sorry about stealing your thunder for coin of the month 8-). I'll email you about detecting, I'm definetly insterested.
 

Awesome find !!!!!!!!!!!!!! :notworthy:
I can only hope to find a silver dollar some day.
 

That is a sweet coin! I'll also add my vote for the banner. It'll look really good up there. :coffee2:
 

That's a very uncommon find and I can't even remember when I last saw one dug. Congrats on a digging a very unique coin.
 

Definitely a great find and something you don't see every day. Congrats on one of those finds of a lifetime!
 

WOW!!!!! An absolutely incredible find!!!!
Congrats!!!
Banner voted!!

Joe
 

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