| I am always amazed as a Treasure Finder at | | | | between $300.and $400. US dollars depending on |
| where I find coins with my metal detector. The | | | | my condition. My owner found me using a Fisher |
| unusual places and circumstances of how that | | | | 1280 in the Gulf of Mexico in 1990 after a winter |
| coin(s) got there has led me to believe that many | | | | storm had moved me close enough to the |
| of those coins have their own story to tell. Let a | | | | surface to be detected. I look good for my age |
| few of these coins tell you their stories. | | | | and time in the water and will be offered for sale |
| Hi! I am a very fine 1861 Indian Cent | | | | in the near future on the world wide net. |
| manufactured in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I was | | | | Have you heard someone say that he is older |
| dropped by a Union soldier from Fort Brooke in | | | | than dirt? I am close to that age, and, I am sure |
| Tampa FL in 1862. Just last night two men | | | | that I am one of the oldest coins ever dug up by |
| escaped from the fort. Word got out that the | | | | a coin- shooter in America. Having been minted in |
| two Confederate escapees were headed west | | | | 69 A.D. in Jerusalem one year before the Roman |
| through the Trail of Pines, now called Pinellas | | | | army attacked and destroyed the city, I am quite |
| County. My owner and a small squad of about 10 | | | | the treasure. My patina is perfect and I am in |
| other calvary men caught up with them on a | | | | extraordinary condition considering I was buried in |
| small knoll overlooking the Anclote River, on the | | | | a Greek schoolyard in Tarpon Springs FL for |
| one side, and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. | | | | several years. My owner's son took me to school |
| Their steps were easy to follow through the | | | | to show me off and lost me. The school was |
| sandy soil and our horses made great time in | | | | torn down in 1964and I was found in 1978 by my |
| catching up with them. I have to admit that they, | | | | new owner, who located me at nine inches deep |
| tired and weary from running, did a good job of | | | | using a Fisher 555 VLF metal detector. Keeping |
| making the 30mile trip across this unsettled area. | | | | me good company was a 1950 D Jefferson nickel |
| My owner lost me while setting up a hangman's | | | | that Larry says is a great find and a key to his |
| noose on a tall pine tree on the knoll. I saw them | | | | nickel collection. I am much older and better |
| hanging lifeless on what is now called Hangman's | | | | looking than that youngster. In fact, an appraisal |
| Hill in beautiful Tarpon Spring's Florida. My owner | | | | by a dealer of ancient coins says I am worth at |
| did not know that I fell out of his pocket or he | | | | least $350.00 and Jefferson is only worth $6.00. |
| would have searched for me as a penny then | | | | He has over 2 million brothers and sisters and only |
| was close to being his daily wage as a soldier. | | | | a few hundred of my brothers and sisters |
| Soon I was covered with pine needles and sank | | | | survived the attack of A.D. 70. I am a bronze half |
| into the soil until a hot summer day in 1988, one | | | | shekel and Larry says he would not sell me for |
| hundred and twenty two years later, my new | | | | anything. |
| owner dug me up. Larry treats me real nice and | | | | I am an Extra Fine 1882 San Francisco Mint Silver |
| shows me off to all of his coin collecting friends. I | | | | Dollar. I could well be a Vam. Most people don't |
| live in a nice case with my story on it and he | | | | even know what a Vam is. There is this guy who |
| says I am priceless. He believes in me and let me | | | | appraises silver dollars that have special pedigrees. |
| tell you my story, or at least a part of it. I have | | | | If he or his team feels the coin is really different, |
| much more to share but that is another story. | | | | it can be declared a Vam and given a distinctive |
| Splish, splash I was taking a bath! (A very, very | | | | code. Vams are consistently worth more than |
| long bath of almost two hundred years in the | | | | other coins of the same mint and year. I was |
| Atlantic Ocean) Let me introduce myself. I am a | | | | found with a Fisher 1260 metal detector in Tarpon |
| counterfeit 1796 Spanish Eight Reales coin. No I | | | | Springs FL in 1995. My owner was admiring my |
| am not a reproduction! I was made of pewter | | | | good looks one day as he was going through his |
| instead of silver before the year 1800 by a | | | | silver dollar collection and noticed that there were |
| member of the Spanish navy who made a small | | | | some very distinct differences in my body. I have |
| number dated 1793 - 1796.Several coins just like | | | | doubling on both sides in the lettering, stars, date |
| me have been found in the Atlantic Ocean, and in | | | | and parts of my face too. I was taken to a coin |
| the Gulf of Mexico by Treasure finders using | | | | shop and a team of dealers said I am a goodie |
| underwater metal detectors. I, in fact, am more | | | | and my owner needs to submit me for possible |
| valuable to counterfeit collectors than the actual | | | | classification as a Vam since there are no known |
| silver pieces manufactured by the Spanish | | | | 1882 S's like me. I am very valuable and Larry |
| government during these four years. Why, | | | | says I will be offered for sale on the world wide |
| because I am very rare. My value is somewhere | | | | net soon. |