Dug up gold coin
I found this very very beat up $5 gold coin while metal detecting. It's dated 1807. I know it's not worth anything but probably the gold content. My question is why did it come out of the ground so tarnished? Most gold coins come out of the ground like new.
What should I do with it? Should I keep it for the history of the coin? Should I put it in my melting pile? If it was in new condition I probably would retire. I'm pretty sure it only worth the melting price. Seeing theat I only have 2 thirds of it. I think maybe back then someone cut it for use of change.
Any input on this topic would be appreciated. I did test it for gold and it is real gold.
Jim
Comments
user_7180
Level 5
Wow what a find. Gold value as melt is probably all you should count on.
numi613
Level 4
Wow, thats one cool find!!!!
Kepi
Level 6
It's very cool whatever it is! Especially since you found it out metal detecting! Maybe take it in to your local coin dealer...
Well worn Copper
Level 5
The coin being cut in half makes you wonder if it was intended to circulate as a primitave "bit" type coinage.
The Coin Student
Level 5
Wow that's great! I just got a metal detector. I hope I find some stuff like that coin.
Conan Barbarian
Level 5
in the future don't clean the coins on your own and nice find i wish i can find coi like that even if they aren't in the best shape
Jim
Level 3
I probably shouldn't had cleaned it. If I didn't clean it I wouldn't even known what it was. It was a tough call. If it was a full coin I would have never of thought of cleaning it.
Mike
Level 7
Now this coin has to go to a dealer. They will authenticate it or not. If you don't bring it to a dealer then send it away those are your options. All gold coins have copper to give it strength.
CoinLady
Level 6
Are you sure it's a genuine coin and not a copy? Maybe it's so tarnished because it's not gold but some kind of token struck in a base metal.
Jim
Level 3
I gave it a gold test to see if it was real gold. I found it about 10 inches deep at old 1700's homestead in Brooklyn CT. Also got a Connecticut colonial coin my buddy got a 8r Spanish silver and we got a lot of other old silvers out of there. I'll take it to my local coin club I'm joining I a couple of weeks.
Pliny The Elder
Level 5
Heck of a find, just as it is. Neat to own.
Longstrider
Level 6
I would take it to my coin dealer. Someone will know what it is here. Thanks!
Jim
Level 3
I placed a picture of what I matched it up with. It's hard for anyone to see any detail of my coin. If u see it in person u can make it out a lot easier.
Mike
Level 7
I can't tell you what it is how how much it's worth. It depends on the price of gold on any given day and what is part of. The couple in California had to have there coins cleaned. They were in coffee cans. In the hobby we don't clean coins because you damage them. We send them in to be cleaned like that couple did. I know someone will know what it is. The date should help the experts but I can't make out a design a design will tell all with the date. You might have to send it in to a grading service to identify it. I said you might. There are alot of people maybe someone will know. I hope you find out. I would go back and look for more!. Mike
Jim
Level 3
I don't think it's worth the effort to send it anywhere. It's almost cut in half. I don't clean coins usually, but this thing was black. I tried everything that I can find to clean it enough to read it but nothing worked. So I figured it's only worth the gold so I just cleaned it till I can read it. This is how it came out.
Jim
Level 3
I just researched it 91.7% gold 8.3% copper. Could that be why it was so tarnished? As u can see I did polish it up. Only because it was impossible to even identify and it wasn't a complete coin. 8.75gr I only have a little over 4gr so I have about half a coin.