Need help with ID on this very worn coin!

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by detectorben, May 24, 2020.

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Is this a seated dime or barber dime?

  1. Seated

    66.7%
  2. Barber

    33.3%
  1. detectorben

    detectorben Member

    Ok guys I know this is a stretch but any input would be greatly appreciated. I came to you because I figure many of you know US coins like the back of your hand. I am a metal detectorist and still very green when it comes to older coins. This coin has very little left on it to put it kindly lol. Here is the story. This coin was found metal detecting in a park founded in 1891. It was in a 3 coin spill which also contained a 1900 barber dime and 1906 barber dime. Both Barber dimes where in much better shape and easily readable. This leads me to believe this is a seated dime. I think I can see a very faint lady liberty arm and pole in the upper right area. It doesn't show up real well in photos. I also see the reeded edge and by the size I know it is a dime. I also found an 1892 indian head penny near by. I have found seated coins in this park before. What do you think? Can anyone see something I am missing or have any ideas on this coin? Thanks in advance.

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    Last edited: May 24, 2020
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  3. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Looks like a Seated Liberty of some sort to me. I see just the faintest bit of the pole where she is holding up the liberty cap.
     
    NSP and Oldhoopster like this.
  4. QuintupleSovereign

    QuintupleSovereign Well-Known Member

    Definitely a Seated; look at the arm floating in space. Barbers have a head only, no arms!
     
    NSP likes this.
  5. detectorben

    detectorben Member

    Awesome! I am glad I was not just seeing things. This is only my 3rd seated coin dug so I am stoked if it really is!

    That is what I thought! Thanks! Probably no chance of dating this thing huh? Last seated dime I found in this park was an 1887.
     
  6. detectorben

    detectorben Member

    Part of the reason I love to metal detect is the history aspect. There is just something about holding a coin possibly for the first time in over 100 years! So dating my finds and researching the history is one of my favorite parts. So now I am trying to find any evidence of the date at the bottom of coin. We know obviously it is an 18XX. Seated dimes minted from 1837 to 1891. I cannot see any evidence of a 3rd number but I do see what looks like part of a 5 where the last digit is. Anyone else see that or have any ideas? The curvature doesn't seem to quite match other photos I have looked at for example an 1885 seated dime. So I am not sure it is a 5. I do feel it is part of a number and not just random wear. Any thoughts or ideas?

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    last number.jpg
     
  7. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    It could be a badly made or worn contemporary counterfeit of Seated dime. The reeding does not look even to me.
     
  8. detectorben

    detectorben Member

    Interesting thought. I had not considered that. This coin was actually stuck to one of the other barber dimes that came out of the hole and the barber dime is definitely authentic. However I guess that doesn't mean this coin is. I wonder if there is any other signs or details I can look for to confirm if it is real or counterfeit? I am pretty confident it is silver as it came out of the dirt very shiny and just a quick squirt of water washed the dirt away which is usually the case with all silver coins I dig. These coins were dug in a spill about 8 inches down so with info coupled with the condition and detail on the coins leads me to believe they were dropped a long time ago. Likely shortly after the 1906 dime was minted as it has very little wear.
     
  9. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Try putting a little distilled water on it. The water will sometimes cling to denser areas and help reveal the date as it evaporates.
     
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