Mason Jarr
New member
A few months ago I made a post advertising my intent to travel back east from Idaho with two goals in mind: find my first Large Cent and visit the last nine of our fifty states I've never been to. I'm pleased to report that both goals were accomplished. Here are some statistics from my journey. I left Idaho on April 10th and returned on May 27th. In those 48 days I traveled 9104 miles, spent $2418.30 on hotels and campgrounds, $1076 on gas, $30.50 on tolls, $179 on vehicle repairs and $921 on food and miscellaneous items. Other than my first LC, I had several other first finds on the trip: first 1800s silver coin, first Barber quarter, first Shield nickel, first Two Cent piece, first Seated Liberty dime, first Seated Liberty quarter, first 90% silver Kennedy half, first Standing Liberty Quarter and first coin of any type from the 1700s. In total I was fortunate to find three LCs (two Liberty Heads from Pennsylvania and one Draped Bust {1797} from New York), 46 silver coins, 19 Indian Head cents, 116 Wheats (including a 1914D), one Two Cent piece, one Shield nickel, seven "V" nickels, nine Buffalo nickels and a US minted Filipino one centavo. I'd like to thank the following people who I was either fortunate to hunt with or they assisted me in locating places to hunt:
PastorBob - we hunted together in SE Nebraska and northern Kansas...and both found a little silver
ShawnIN - he recommended some places in Indiana and also took me to one of his hot spots at an old fairgrounds
Bell-Two - although we weren't able to get together for a hunt, Tony shared a spot where they've made some great finds in the past and I was able to get my oldest IH to date
SteveO - Steve was determined that my first LC come from Pennsylvania and he put me onto a spot where I was able to get two within 10 minutes of each other. The rain prevented us from being able to hunt together, but I'll always credit Steve with helping me find my first LC.
GKMan - Gary was gracious to offer his assistance in finding a LC when I got to New York. Since I found two in PA I opted to bow out of hunting with Gary as I knew he had a busy schedule and I didn't want to be a burden. I did stop by and look at his amazing collection of Colonial coins and relics though. Very impressive.
DigginVT - Jon and his friend Garry, took me to some old sites in Vermont. We found some relics and I was able to dig a 1854 Seated Liberty quarter and two cent piece in the same hole.
DiggerODirt - Robert and I met up with his friend Bob to hunt an old race track/fair grounds that's produced gobs of finds over the years. I was able to get my first (and only) Barber dime from the 1800s...1898. All three of us lost about a pint of blood each due to the brambles in this thickly overgrown spot.
Ultimately, I had one of the best trips of my 54 years. The cost wasn't insignificant, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm truly grateful to the above folks, and lots of others who helped behind the scene, for their willingness to help a total stranger to achieve his goal. Too many people get caught up in protecting their "secret" spots and don't want anyone else to find any of their coins. It was refreshing to know there are still some people around who know this hobby is truly about the relationships and time well spent in the hunt.
Of course there are some photos!
PastorBob - we hunted together in SE Nebraska and northern Kansas...and both found a little silver
ShawnIN - he recommended some places in Indiana and also took me to one of his hot spots at an old fairgrounds
Bell-Two - although we weren't able to get together for a hunt, Tony shared a spot where they've made some great finds in the past and I was able to get my oldest IH to date
SteveO - Steve was determined that my first LC come from Pennsylvania and he put me onto a spot where I was able to get two within 10 minutes of each other. The rain prevented us from being able to hunt together, but I'll always credit Steve with helping me find my first LC.
GKMan - Gary was gracious to offer his assistance in finding a LC when I got to New York. Since I found two in PA I opted to bow out of hunting with Gary as I knew he had a busy schedule and I didn't want to be a burden. I did stop by and look at his amazing collection of Colonial coins and relics though. Very impressive.
DigginVT - Jon and his friend Garry, took me to some old sites in Vermont. We found some relics and I was able to dig a 1854 Seated Liberty quarter and two cent piece in the same hole.
DiggerODirt - Robert and I met up with his friend Bob to hunt an old race track/fair grounds that's produced gobs of finds over the years. I was able to get my first (and only) Barber dime from the 1800s...1898. All three of us lost about a pint of blood each due to the brambles in this thickly overgrown spot.
Ultimately, I had one of the best trips of my 54 years. The cost wasn't insignificant, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'm truly grateful to the above folks, and lots of others who helped behind the scene, for their willingness to help a total stranger to achieve his goal. Too many people get caught up in protecting their "secret" spots and don't want anyone else to find any of their coins. It was refreshing to know there are still some people around who know this hobby is truly about the relationships and time well spent in the hunt.
Of course there are some photos!
