First “real” coin

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

Fair warning: This may be the least exciting post you read today, but I could not be happier. :cheer:

I have a White’s Spectrum DFX, and little clue on how to use it - primarily how to tune out nails, etc. So, I dig EVERYTHING...

I also seldom get it out - once a year, max. Anyway, I was on vacation this week, and have been eyeballing a park in town for many years (“One day, I am going to hunt that place...”).

The stars aligned, and today was the day. In about two hours, I found the customary nails, a fair bit of wire fence, a bottle cap, and then this!

I have found a few modern coins, but this is my first old one, a 1935 Indian Head Nickel (aka “Buffalo Nickel”). I really like the color it turned in the ground, and just lightly brushed / rinsed it with tap water and a soft-bristled toothbrush.

I will add a pic of the rest of the finds in a little bit. Thank you everybody.

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

I will add, it must have been lost shortly after it was minted, as the year is still crisp. If you know this particular coin, the years wear really fast, based on their location.

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

The rest

As promised, here are the rest of the items I dug today. Looks like a blade off of a pocket knife, a straight razor, and a button of some type.

KenG · Oct 23, 2020

Congrats on the Buffalo. That date is really crisp.

Ken

ToySoldier · Oct 23, 2020

Nice job getting out there and digging a keeper!

Leave-No-Coins-Behind · Oct 23, 2020

Good looking buff...congrats!

rob.ream258 · Oct 23, 2020

Sweet find!!!!! Took me 5 years of digging 4 days a week to find my first "buff"...and your coin has a date which is quite rare...

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

Thank you my friends, I truly appreciate all of the kind words.

Like any other hunting, I know to expect dry spells, and that days like today help sustain us.

JimR_TN · Oct 23, 2020

Congrats on the dated Buff!

Tom_in_CA · Oct 23, 2020

You are no longer a buffalo nickel virgin :cool:

EmuDetector · Oct 23, 2020

Buffs are cool to find! Good job

GroundSweeper · Oct 23, 2020

Beautiful, and congrats!

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

Thanks again everybody, I really appreciate this forum.

Quick question: Are Buffalo Nickels usually that color when found; or, does it depend on the soil it’s found in?

Oh, and does anybody recognize the anchor button? I am wondering if it’s military or civilian.

Best regards.

Tom_in_CA · Oct 23, 2020

Seawolf said:
.... Are Buffalo Nickels usually that color when found;....

Yes. Buffs/nickels take on the red color appearance , d/t there's iron in the composition of USA nickels. Thus iron "rusts" and thus the "red" color. That's what I was told anyhow.

Which is why naval jelly works as such a good nickel cleaner, since it's a rust remover.

Seawolf · Oct 23, 2020

That is very helpful Tom - thank you Sir.

Tom_in_CA said:
Yes. Buffs/nickels take on the red color appearance , d/t there's iron in the composition of USA nickels. Thus iron "rusts" and thus the "red" color. That's what I was told anyhow.

Which is why naval jelly works as such a good nickel cleaner, since it's a rust remover.

Seawolf · Oct 25, 2020

Two outings, two buffaloes

Happy Sunday all. I went back out today, for about 2.5 hours, and found another Buffalo Nickel. It was about 20-25 yards away from where I found the one above on Friday.

I am delighted, and think I am of the mind to keep them as-dug. I took the same tap water / soft toothbrush approach to get the dirt off, and will leave it as-is.

This one was a little shallower, and came up as a +18 to +21 on my DFX.

First “real” coin

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