It's a risk to NOT have it graded at PCGS or NGC. I don't think you're explained it to her fully. Again, I would highly recommend reaching out to Tom B or another trustworthy dealer to get more detailed info outside of this thread. If you want to maximize your money and maximize the safe handing of the coin, you need to have it graded. But since you are new, all of this can be explained better by a dealer talking to you directly. Don't bring it to some shyster in a mall or a pawn shop. We can give you a short list of recommended dealers to talk to, Just need to ask.
Sounds like he had some other cool stuff too. Some of those early comics, especially if they are superhero ones are worth some dough. Might want to look some of those up as well.
I know everyone already covered NOT CLEANING IT, but I'd like to add: HANDLE IT BY THE RIM ONLY. Do NOT hold it pinched between your fingers, or in the palm of your hand, or let your fingers/fingertips touch the faces of the coin. It is an older coin with age, but it'd be a shame to leave a big fresh fingerprint on it. Condolences to your family and congratulations on the find.
Great coin shaner! If you live anywhere near a city that hosts a large coin show, you can take the coin there yourself and submit it in person. Most of the big grading companies are set up at the larger shows. You can take it in early, have it graded and pick it up later in the show. That way is a bit expensive but the comfort factor for you is high. If you're near Baltimore, there's a big show there next month. Most of the grading services take submissions. Good luck, and keep in touch. Bruce
i found two of them in my pool last week...not! thats an awesome coin shaner and itd be a disservice to you and your wife to not get it slabbed. you should post the pictures of the other coins as,in my experience from being in the numismatic exchange bussiness, that if you found a coin of that rarity that where there is one theres more. and even though the other coins may be of foreign origin they often circulated in the american colonies. I hope you find a Albany church penny or some other rarity you could retire off of. your wifes uncle had good taste! congrats a find like that doesnt happen everyday. also i will also be attending the baltimore coin show this upcoming march i hope to meet andgreet some of you guys there. keep us posted and keep those coins under lock and key.
More... I have zip lock bags of many more... this is only 1 bag 1/4 full... some of the bags are full.
not really I was about to graduate from Army ROTC and wouldve graduated college as a contracted officer, 2nd LT, that picture was taken back in 2008 at a ww2 ammo depot around ransomville NY. the milsim was operation northern wind 5. i was the youngest squad leader at the age of 18. that terrain was harsh as the nights were cold, hot days and tons of mesquitoes that could bite through my kevlar gloves!
a bit of friendly advice youll have better photos if you had the light in front of the coins and not behind. i highly reccomend doing research on all the coins, it may take some time but youll get the most money out of them and have fun learning about numismatics!
Seems everyone is drooling over this coin and missed the statement about a Gettysburg canon ball! Duh! Just last month a Canon ball was found of all places a chimney in Georgetown a high priced neighborhood in D.C. Yeah it had been in the chimney 100 plus years and yes it was alive ..... meaning they had to evacuate the neighborhood..... have the bomb squad move it to a base in Va. Where It was exploded . Stop worrying about a dime and have that canon ball checked out! And don't touch the Canon ball till you're sure it's dead. You can Google this story...... black powder is very unstable. BTW nice dime.....
Here are some close-up... The coin isn't silver in color like the one picture of the back shows... but its not dark brown either...
It's a die crack. In these early days, dies would often crack during the minting process. When this die was used to mint subsequent coins, they would appear with a raised portion of metal, like you see on your coin.
Die crack? Just a guess....compared to the others here I'm an amateur. Love the color on that coin! Best of luck to you on your finds!