The year was 1936. The U.S. was deep into the Great Depression and in Germany Jesse Owens was kicking some serious butt. In Philadelphia, a bright shiny Buffalo nickel was being struck. Sometime later, a person in Wichita sat down to take a break in Riverside park and dropped the nickel along with another Buffalo nickel.
The year is 2012. I dig the two Buffalo nickels from a hole five inches deep. Elation followed by sadness as I discover that I scratched the better of the two coins.
Riverside park continues to give up old coins. No silver yet but I know it’s there. Waiting…
Freshly dug
Such nice detail
Sigh!
Nice detail on the date
If you look very very closely, you can see the 1935
These are my first Buffalo Nickels of 2012 and two of only four for my whole metal detecting career.
The Dirt Is Good To Me 
That’s a nice looking 1936 nickel! Most of the buffalo nickels I have seen are so worn, you can’t even make out the date! Congrats! At least you didn’t scratch a silver! I usually put scratches in clad coins that I find. I have to get better about that, but it’s so easy just to hack at the dirt, because you are so excited to dig the target! 🙂