Cache or Bust

- click for larger photo -

by Donna A. Trefry
Article reprinted with permission from
Western & Eastern Treasures Magazine
1996 Annual, Silver and Gold

During the great northeast blizzards of 1996, metal detecting in the State of Maine was not first on anyone's list! The beaches were great, but often so frigid that any searching became a numbing experience. That left wintertime as a time for reflection, writing about the "one that got away", dreaming about the spring thaw, or just sitting around sulking because the snow was three feet deep.

Most of my friends know that I am an avid detectorist and that I enjoy trying to identify old coins. They're also aware of my yearly trips to England in pursuit my hobby. Most would never believe that I would gladly give up the oldest coin I have found in England if only I could find an American silver Bust coin of any type. Old time Yankees trusted the U.S. paper money so didn't squirrel away bullion. Therefore, gold coins are rather out of the question around here, so why hold out for the impossible? I'll settle for a silver bust coin to fulfill my dreams. The "bust" series (draped bust & capped bust, 1796-1837,8,9), has been on my "wish list" for as long as I can remember. The closest I ever got was an 1840 seated liberty half-dime. So much for winter dreams. I must get back to reality.

Early in January my friend, Gladys Dyer, came to me with the largest coin I had ever held. It was a ten kopecks 1776 Siberian coin from the reign of Catherine the Great.

One and three-quarters inches across and almost a quarter inch thick, it was a hefty piece to hold. "My husband found this while fighting in Europe during World War Two" she told me. "It is one from an old purse containing many more strange coins." "I wonder if you can tell me anything about them?" Whoa! I'm not a numismatist but I sure wanted a peek at those babies! "Bring them!" "Bring them to me!", I pleaded.

When I got them a week later I began a long, interesting process of sorting and identifying the coins. I keep a good library of reference books which gave me a good start. The purse contained an assortment of eighty coins from all over Europe. They were from Russia, Germany and the German States, France, Italy, The United Kingdom, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland - you name it, it was there. The dates were from the 18th century up through the 1930s. Their sizes ranged from the large 10 kopec down to a Canadian "fish scale" (5-cent silver).

I saved the smallest coins to identify last. Most of them were silver and were so tarnished they were hard to read. I knew enough not to clean them but one in particular was so knarled and mutilated I knew it would be worthless. With a lot of scrubbing using a fiberglass cable, I began to recognize familier characteristics. It was a 1902 Barber dime! The first American coin of the lot.

The next coin was peculier size. It was larger and seemed thinner than the Barber dime, I could see what resembled a bird. Looking closer I recognized it as an American eagle. Out came my loupe to check even closer. "United States of America - E Plurebus Unum/10C." as clear as could be! I turned it over and experienced the same shortness of breath and weakness of knee as when I dug up the half-dime. It was an 1821 capped bust dime! The first I have ever held.

It doesn't take much to please a house-bound New Englander. Maybe the next capped bust I find will come out of some moist, fresh, Maine, spring soil?

Somewhere in Germany,
Al Dyer takes a break from the fighting in the last days before VE Day.

Other articles by Donna
"Four Centuries of Treasure"
"Truly a Golden Age"
"The Mystery of the Seven-stoned Ring"
"Ghosts of History Guide the Searchcoil"
"Cache or Bust"
"Treasure Hunting Through the Internet"
"Where Gold Coins Grow on Trees"