Clad verses Silver

[Lowjiber]

As you've likely figured out by now, I'm a rookie to the fine art of MDing. Hence, my "basic" question....'

I've yet to find any "silver" (my fault) Do sliver coins turn brown in the soil like clad? I watched a UTube video this morning and everything the MDist dug that was silver was just that...SILVER colored.

Please advise and next week, I'll deliver my first pic of my first silver.

Thanks in advance...

 

[foreverRich]

Silver and gold come out of the ground just like the day it was lost. The exception is, silver found around salt water usually has turned black.

 

[generalwalton]

You can normally tell if something is silver or gold right away. If there is any dirt or crud on it, it normally falls right off its its pure and you are left with nice sparkling metal. It always makes my heart skip a beat.

Silver and salt is another story though.

 

[DougF]

Silver does occasionally come out of the dirt tarnished or darkened, especially from swampy soil, but not often.

 

[Krom]

Here's my '08 example, Low... it's a 1785, 1-reale that I happen to have found where cattle (cows, primarily) were being herded for a couple hundred years, and then some (I also found an 8-reale not far from this 1 reale).
Yes, discoloration can occur if the soil conditions are acidy, salty, or mega-mineralized (and cow poop will never help a coin's life spanse... unfortunately).
(By the way... I didn't do anything to this coin before scanning it. It's exactly as I dug it!)
I'm sure I could clean that "pissy" look on the reverse, but they say, "if you dig an old coin, you shouldn't go overboard trying to get it clean, 'cause you could be sitting on a small fortune"... and I will never forget that statement.
Do the smart thing... if you have a coin that is even remotely worth anything, have it slabbed by a respectable grader, then, whatever they rate it as, will always be what it's worth. Coins will always "appreciate", as opposed to "depreciate", so it even will have the tendancy to climb in value over the years.
So... invest wisely... live long & prosper... and drink a lot of crystal-clear, spring water... but treat your dug coins like they're new-borns! {winkl} {smile}

 

[steve in so la]

Here's some quarters dug from the same dry area here in the southwest. Which one is silver - The second pic tells, steve in so az

 

[SeabeeRon]

Hey Lowjiber! I have had this addiction for about 18 months now and have not found any silver dimes or quarters. They will come, just gotta be at the right place and swing your coil over the right spot on the ground!
Good examples by others who posted! Ya gotta check those dates on the coins as Steve in SoAz shows! I assume you know that silver dimes and quarters will be 1964 or before, after that it's all clad! Good luck and HH!

 

[Lowjiber]

Thanks EVERYONE!!!! I did go to US Mint website and learn (as SeeabeeRon says above) that silver quarters and dimes are pre-1965. It's a lot like fishing...you gotta keep the bait in the water to catch a fish. I'll keep swinging. I've found gold metals (14K) and silver metals (2), but REALLY want that first silver coin.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[wyoming hunter]

are mercs silver or clad cause i found a merc that was black no salt water even close to it

 

[Capt. Clad]

dont feel bad

I have yet to find any silver, but i know i'm getting close.