Julesray Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Hi all, In 1978 I found a 1785 Connecticut Colonial Copper Cent. I was doing a garden for my mother. After digging two feet deep. I came across three coins. One 1827 and 1829 Large Cent. The third coin was a 1785 Connecticut Copper Cent. It has been eroded, being under the ground for almost 200 years. but under magnification, you can make out the year. I would like to have it encapsulate but unsure if could be. The other coins dates are legible Thoughts? Advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinbuf Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Welcome to the forum, to damaged to be worth the cost to submit for grading, it will almost 100% guaranteed be returned in a details holder as environmentally damaged. It is a cool find but has very little collector value in that condition imo. rrantique and JT2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julesray Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 Thanks for your answer. Yes it is a cool find. It was found on Staten Island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Neophyte Numismatist Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Very fun find that almost makes me want to start gardening. This coin is not worth the cost of encapsulation, but certainly a fun conversation piece worth keeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l.cutler Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 (edited) Is there any detail on the obverse? I collect Connecticut coppers by die variety, they are fascinating coins. They are surprisingly affordable for such a historic coin. I just bought a Rarity 6 variety, 13 to 30 estimated known, for $25 in fully identifiable condition. I fully agree that there would be no point in having this one slabbed, enjoy it as is! Edited March 21, 2023 by l.cutler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebo Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Time to buy a metal detector and go digging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 I would have been happy just to have found the two large cents. Finding that Connecticut copper is icing on the cake. Congratulations! Have you had it stored away for the last 45 years, or do you take it out and show it to people? rrantique 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julesray Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 9:45 AM, Just Bob said: I would have been happy just to have found the two large cents. Finding that Connecticut copper is icing on the cake. Congratulations! Have you had it stored away for the last 45 years, or do you take it out and show it to people? I have it stored . I bring it out to show friends. The Large cents have legible dates. I always wonder when/year it was dropped. Who held it. Questions that will never be answered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julesray Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 4:34 AM, l.cutler said: Is there any detail on the obverse? I collect Connecticut coppers by die variety, they are fascinating coins. They are surprisingly affordable for such a historic coin. I just bought a Rarity 6 variety, 13 to 30 estimated known, for $25 in fully identifiable condition. I fully agree that there would be no point in having this one slabbed, enjoy it as is! There are details that I was able to identify it as 1785. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powermad5000 Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Those are some great finds to pull out of the ground!!!! As for the Connecticut, if the date on a coin is not legible enough to be read by the graders (even though they might be able to identify the actual coin as you have with the Connecticut), NGC will not put the coin in a holder and it will be returned to you as Date Not Legible. You will be out the shipping costs, grading fees as they still do have to look at the coin, and the return shipping, so it is really not worth trying in this case. I found this out the hard way sending an 1811 Half Cent in which the numbers were barely legible but not enough for their standards. I would assume PCGS would do the same. Keeping in mind that Poor 1 is the lowest grade possible for a coin but even the standards for that grade level are that the date be readable. I would put it in a flip and hang on to it though. Cool finds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julesray Posted March 22, 2023 Author Share Posted March 22, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 11:19 PM, powermad5000 said: Those are some great finds to pull out of the ground!!!! As for the Connecticut, if the date on a coin is not legible enough to be read by the graders (even though they might be able to identify the actual coin as you have with the Connecticut), NGC will not put the coin in a holder and it will be returned to you as Date Not Legible. You will be out the shipping costs, grading fees as they still do have to look at the coin, and the return shipping, so it is really not worth trying in this case. I found this out the hard way sending an 1811 Half Cent in which the numbers were barely legible but not enough for their standards. I would assume PCGS would do the same. Keeping in mind that Poor 1 is the lowest grade possible for a coin but even the standards for that grade level are that the date be readable. I would put it in a flip and hang on to it though. Cool finds! That's what I'm going to do. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...