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About 2 years ago, I wanted to try my technique
of finding camps over in Louisiana. A couple of fellas I had
met at the Texas show asked me if I would be interested in
coming up and trying it out. I accepted the offer and made
arrangements to meet up with them within the next couple of
weeks. Once I arrived, we all jumped in the vehicle and off we
went, driving, driving, driving! The spot has to look just
right, but I gotta tell ya, everything looks just right in Louisiana
:) We selected a site along one of the many bayous in them
parts, and stopped and asked permission. The feller that owned
the land was as nice as could be. I only wish all land owners
were as nice as this gentleman. He filled us in as to what
once stood here and there, and off we went. Before walking
down the bayou, we fanned out and separated about 15 yards
apart. Everyone said lets do it and off we went! Well the
first 3 steps and we were in a camp Ha! I couldn't
believe it! One of my buds dug a large cent, then a button,
then a breast plate, and everything civil war started popping
up quickly. We hunted the site all day, lots of great stuff
was found. Tons of buttons, at least 6 or 7 seated coins, and
many bullets.
The day was coming to an end and most everyone had already
gone back to the truck but I wanted that one last
signal. I don't know what that little voice is we all hear,
but I heard it at that time, and turned left down the row. I received
a signal and dug down a few inches. I thought I had a wheat
cent or Indian head when I first saw the coin. When I picked
it up and took a closer look, it had a seated liberty looking
at me. I said to myself, "Hmmmm" I thought all
seated coins were silver, but yet this one is green with
patina and dated 1846 with an "O" mint mark. I put
it in my pouch and walked up to the truck with everyone else.
One of the guys had just dug a pelican button. I said hey you
guys gotta see this this coin I just dug. I showed everyone
and they never seen anything like it before.
Once I returned home I started doing some
investigation as too what this coin was and why it was made of
bronze. Well I looked in the coin book and the new Orleans
mint didn't make any silver half dimes, dimes, or quarters for
the years 1846,47, or 48. I was really feeling puzzled about
this time, but also a feeling of uniqueness. I came up with a
few of my own conclusions about this coin, maybe it was a pre
strike before running coins, then they decided not to run any.
Someone at the Philly mint or new Orleans mint was playing
around etc. I decided to call Bower and Merena coin
auctioneers and ask if they had an idea. I called and spoke
with Mr. Bowers and told him what I had found. He asked if I
had a picture he could look at, and I said yes on the depot
photo forum. While we were on the phone he went over to the
photo forum and looked at it. I asked Mr.. Bower two questions. First,
have you ever seen anything like this before? second, is it
real? Mr. Bowers told me he specializes in collecting seated
coins and yes this coin had been struck by dyes and no he has
never seen anything like this before. He did suggest I send it
to Colorado to the coin Numismatic and have it authenticated.
I called the Numismaticanosmatic in Colorado and they looked
at the coin picture in the photo forum and said it looks like
its been struck with dyes but we would like to put it under
scope, and asked if I would mail it too them.
Well, seeing that nobody has ever seen one, and
then they want me to mail the thing to them, something just didn't
seem right. I told them I would fly it up, but it wasn't
staying over night or out of my sight. I realize this may seem
harsh in sense, but, there are 5 known 1913 v-nickels :) I haven't
done anything as of yet, may not for a while. Its a neat
feeling thinking you have the only one known to exist. I was
told by Mr. Bowers there were counterfeits made, but this was
no counterfeit everything was too perfect and he said, "I
know a struck coin when I see one". I guess in time I
will do something with it, but for now, I'm happy not knowing
what it might be worth, cause then I just might be enticed to
sell it :) I guess that little voice we all hear comes into
play when we are out in the field. Next time you hear it and
it says go this way, or that way, you might want to listen, it
netted me probably the best find I have today. I wish everyone
great success in the field. HH TR
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