Night detecting with the Explorer SE Pro

[Goldpick]

Thanks silver, I know you are going to hate it, but couldn't help but to give them a light cleaning with some bi-carb to remove the soil from the detail. They really are in extremely good condition, only a couple of light handling scratches on the rear, but can't expect them to be absolutely perfect.

Side view of the detail/condition of the florin

 

[Paulmarr]

Can I share some of my experience here? If you already know this then my apologies.

I was a bit of a coin collector extraordinaire in my younger days (8-21 yrs old) as my father is a serious collector. He carted me to so many coin shows and auctions as a kid - literally several per month. I couldn't help but learn, and we are talking US coins which have many more varieties and age.

What I learned is how to grade a coin. The luster of a coin is secondary to the wear points on the design of the coin when grading a piece.

For example, take a look at the diamond pattern on King George's crown in the picture below:

This is one of the high points of the design when minted, and the first area to show wear on the coin. Notice diamond two and three are not clear and show some wear. So even if the coin had no scratches and otherwise looks beautiful, a dealer can see it is not a uncirculated coin, and the wear dictates the grade of the coin, and ultimately the price. Also the tiny nick on the rim.

Not claiming to being an expert in Australian coins - I would give the the Florin a grade of Extra Fine MS50 from the pictures supplied. The price difference between Extra Fine and Uncirculated is probably substantial.

Of course cleaning a coin if detectable also brings down the value - and dealers can tell by the colour of the luster or even residue left on the coin that can be seen with a powerful microscope/ loupe.

Both of these coins are in great condition, especially when you know where they came from, but I just wanted to highlight the way a coin is graded and what dictates the value.

 

[deepblue]

This is what the equal finest ever graded 1931 Florin looks like and is graded PCGS MS65 and Valued at $1950.

I'll try and dig up the 1927 Shilling for you.

Cheers db

 

[deepblue]

This is what the equal finest ever graded 1927 Shilling looks like it is graded at PCGS MS65

And this is the second equal highest graded 1927 Shilling graded at PCGS MS64+

Cheers db

 

[deepblue]

Hey Goldpick,
Noticed the pockets that you are storing the coins are they the Non PVC type if not try and get non PVC pages after sometime the PVC pockets will coat the coins white. Then they are very hard to clean back to a great state. Ruined a lot of great coins before I found out about it.
Cheers db

 

[Goldtarget]

Amazing silvers X2 will done GP, great showing! The odds of finding two primo early predecs like that must be staggering. It's amazing to think they've sat in soil and not degraded. Hope that grin subsides sometime soon, I can see it from here! Any chance you'll go revisit the digs?

 

[Goldpick]

Hey Goldpick,
Noticed the pockets that you are storing the coins are they the Non PVC type if not try and get non PVC pages after sometime the PVC pockets will coat the coins white. Then they are very hard to clean back to a great state. Ruined a lot of great coins before I found out about it.
Cheers db

Yes, it has started on a couple of coins, so I intend to store them elsewhere. It seems to affect coins with any major copper composition moreso than the coins with high silver content. My 1926 florin seems absultely fine, whereas a 1961 florin has really started to cloud up. All a bit of a pain, but you get that.

 

[Goldpick]

Can I share some of my experience here? If you already know this then my apologies.

I was a bit of a coin collector extraordinaire in my younger days (8-21 yrs old) as my father is a serious collector. He carted me to so many coin shows and auctions as a kid - literally several per month. I couldn't help but learn, and we are talking US coins which have many more varieties and age.

What I learned is how to grade a coin. The luster of a coin is secondary to the wear points on the design of the coin when grading a piece.

For example, take a look at the diamond pattern on King George's crown in the picture below:

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/1695/1420971284_img_20150111_204539.jpg

This is one of the high points of the design when minted, and the first area to show wear on the coin. Notice diamond two and three are not clear and show some wear. So even if the coin had no scratches and otherwise looks beautiful, a dealer can see it is not a uncirculated coin, and the wear dictates the grade of the coin, and ultimately the price. Also the tiny nick on the rim.

Not claiming to being an expert in Australian coins - I would give the the Florin a grade of Extra Fine MS50 from the pictures supplied. The price difference between Extra Fine and Uncirculated is probably substantial.

Of course cleaning a coin if detectable also brings down the value - and dealers can tell by the colour of the luster or even residue left on the coin that can be seen with a powerful microscope/ loupe.

Both of these coins are in great condition, especially when you know where they came from, but I just wanted to highlight the way a coin is graded and what dictates the value.

Thanks for that Paul, as mentioned previously, I like collecting coins, but am not too anal about them being in any grade worthy of selling to a dealer or otherwise, they would probably be horrified at some of the micro scratches from cleaning on some coins.

There is no doubt there are flaws on these coins, including a couple of pits and scratches, but considering they have been in circulation and progressively devoured by the ground, the detail that remains on some of these silvers is just amazing.

It's all purely sentimental value for me, just like the tin of pre-decs handed down to me from my Pop. Some of them are really worn, some are actually in pretty good nick, but none would please a collector looking for a coin in any decent state.

 

[Mikezoom]

Great find mate!

I don't think I would ever part with any of my finds unless I was in financial trouble... Or found a million one cent peices

Mike.

 

[Goldpick]

Pretty ordinary nights detecting with nothing too interesting, some mangled bb's, chunks of lead, and the saving grace was an old 1920-21 dog tag, possibly from West Torrens.

 

[silver]

I like how they had the Coat of Arms on the Dog Tags in the old days,...like it was going to wander off into some neighbouring country to be found and brought back(ha).

 

[Ramjet]

Cool dog tag. Like silver I'm impressed that it has the coat of arms on it.

 

[Goldpick]

Pity they couldn't have made it in a coin shape with the coat of arms.

This 2c coin from last night would have to be the most mangled coin I have come across, I reckon it has been through the mower blade a few times over.

 

[Average Joe]

That 2cent is a beauty... You couldnt bust one up like that if you tried

 

[silver]

Looks like a new error type(ha)

 

[treasureman]

that is a show piece mate, in uniqueness of a 2 cent peace

 

[Goldpick]

Hit a few parks tonight, no pre-decs again but a few $2 to help the cause. Also turned up a St John medallion and the second sterling silver ring for 2015 to finish the night with, so ended up getting my silver kick thankfully.

Found two 20c coins stuck together, you can see which two in pic - part weathered, part shiny.

The medallions were not awarded, but purchased by St John members to show their proficiency in first aid. They were available in sterling silver, 15kt gold, bronze and brass - unfortunately mine is the brass one, but nice bit of history all the same. Pretty hard to tell the date of this medallion, as the top bar with the issue date is missing - I'm guessing WW2 era.

Please forgive the pics of my dry dirty hands, comes with the territory.

 

[Guest]

can i come to your park/s , very productive

 

[silver]

I'veneverseenabadgelikethatbefore.
space
bar
not
working
at
all.

 

[treasureman]

Always on the money mate. Nice badge. That goes in the collection