Oldest Finds?

[RedSox8945]

I was just wondering what everyone's oldest finds have been? Just thinking about the possibilities of finding an old coin are intriguing. Imagine being the first person to touch that coin since it was lost or buried years ago. Since I am new to the hobby, I am trying to get a feel for how long I should expect to hunt before I find some coins from the 1800's or early 1900's. Plus I'm interested in hearing everyone's story about how they found their oldest coin!!

Chad

 

[ksdiver]

Chad,
I too am new to the hobby - only been detecting for a few months.
The oldest coin that I found is a King George II half penny dated somewhere between 1740 and 1754. The coin is in very poor shape - cannot read a date on it. The soil here in PA is really hard on copper coins.
I've also found wheat penny's dating back to 1919 and a Barber Dime from 1905.
Keep at it and you will come accross something old eventually.

 

[~Alan~]

The oldest man-made item I've found is a flint arrow head, at around 3,500 bc.
Nicest artefact would be a Papal Bulla, this was a lead seal which the popes used to use to seal documents. This one was of Pope Gegory XI circa 1370.
I gave this to a museum, close to where it was found.

Nicest coin is a silver hammered Elizabeth I sixpence, 1566 lovely condition too. And that was found on the surface !

 

[poptop]

1783 Washington Unity States of America 1 cent coin. The coin is worn and the last # of the date is not readible. This coin was minted around 1820 in England I think. Also near it I found a 2 cent coin and a Barber dime.
pop

 

[TonyinCT]

My oldest find is a Roman Coin from 79 AD.

 

[OkieDigger]

Where I am the best I could do in the last 9 months is an 1898 IH. Pretty depressing, but at least I'm finding a lot of early 1900 coins so I can't complain too much.

 

[zoyboy]

The oldest coin that I have found is an 1806 Draped Bust half cent. I found this coin on a pathway in the woods that was used as an escape route for slaves in the early 1800s.

 

[Jeff R]

Alan and Tony Nice finds!!!!!
I guess my 1737 British 1/2 penny is only 1800 years younger than some of your finds :o(
I look foward to cutting that 1800 years in half!

ps Alan the dirt I am diggin isn't as old as that flint

 

[~Alan~]

My oldest find is a Roman Coin from 79 AD.

Where did you find that Tony, have the historians got it wrong, and the Romans did reach what is now the USA ?

I've only found a couple of coins (just) recognizable as being Roman.

 

[seas1to2]

well everybody got me beat here,I have been at this for about5-6 months an so far a 1921s wheat, 1939 1940 nickel, hey there older than me.... got more rings then nice coins

 

[Cladius]

Several in the 1840's and some soaking? don't know yet. Cladius.

 

[DeepBeeps]

My oldest is a 1891 IH I found in the front yard of a house I used to own. HH

 

[bearbqd]

My oldest find is a 1970 penny. WooHoo! I rule!!

 

[bearbqd]

Nicest artefact would be a Papal Bulla, this was a lead seal which the popes used to use to seal documents. This one was of Pope Gegory XI circa 1370.
I gave this to a museum, close to where it was found.

Alan, that is unbelievable. What an amazing find. What does it feel like to find something like that? I can only imagine.

 

[Treasurekidd]

My oldest find so far is an 1882 Indian Head penny, found in the woods next to an elementary school. She's in just good enough condition to where I can read the date. I, too have found more nice jewelry than old coins, and I found some antique bottles in an old dump that may be the roughly the same age or older than the Indian Head.

 

[TerryEastTexas]

My oldest is a 1880 IH. It was also one of the easiest, half inch, at an old home site that had been plowed over the years.

 

[RedSox8945]

Wow!!

Wow, everyone's got a great story here!!
Personally, I will be really excited if I find anything older than the normal change I get at the store, but it sounds like I will find alot more than that. I'm stoked now! I can't wait for this snow to melt so I can get out there and dig.

Chad

 

[~Alan~]

Nicest artefact would be a Papal Bulla, this was a lead seal which the popes used to use to seal documents. This one was of Pope Gegory XI circa 1370.
I gave this to a museum, close to where it was found.

Alan, that is unbelievable. What an amazing find. What does it feel like to find something like that? I can only imagine.

Well, it was the first good find I'd made, after about two years of detecting.
It was a club site that we'd only had for a few months, and I don't think had been detected on before. I didn't even know what it was until one of the others told me.
It was also in an area where around four other club members had been searching for some time. How they missed it I don't know, as it wasn't very deep, and lead gives a very good signal.

I think I can say, it made my day

 

[BillV]

My oldest coin so far is a 1723 British Farthing. It's actually not in bad shape considering it was found in a corn field. I was suprised to find out that a farthing is worth 1/4 of a penny.

 

[Cfmct]

1649 Liard de France its ugly though... found it on a homestead that was built in 1802.