
Metal Detecting, My Finds in One Year
I have been Metal Detecting for a little over 1 year, so I should have a roll of silver dimes, right? Actually, that is not so. For Christmas of 2013, I got my best present: a Garrett ACE-150 Metal Detector!!! Unfortunately, the ACE-150 is not very strong, and does not discriminate very well, neither is there any pinpointing. However, this was my first metal detector, so I was very happy. We live in a house built in the late 1700's, so just imagine what could be found!!!
However, I was extremely inexperienced, and I was too over-zealous about getting coins and coins only. That day I did find an extremely crusty 1948 wheat. The next day was my second best hunt with my second best find. I started with another 1937 Wheat from the backyard; and then I moved into the front yard. After about 30 minutes, I got another good signal, I dug; but without good pinpointing, it was not very easy. Finally, a white metal disc popped out of the hole. I picked it up, knowing it was a coin. I saw the wreath with 'ONE DIME' in the center. I flipped it, saw the barber head, ran inside, cleaned it off, and discovered it to be an XF-45 1916 Barber Dime! I hunted longer, but didn't find anything else.
In January of 2014, I got a Garrett Pin-Pointer for my birthday, and five days later I got a ring/coin signal, I dug, but it was in the side of the hole. I stuck my shovel in, and out popped a shiny ring! I new it was silver, so I looked at it. It is a 6.0 Gram Sterling Silver Ring!!!
I didn't have any fantastic finds until June of 2014, when I was showing my grandfather and cousins how to use my metal detector, when I got a signal, dug it up, and then I saw the reverse of a roosevelt dime. It was a pale white, so I said that I may have found a silver dime, and it was a 1946 Silver Roosevelt Dime!
Only one week later, I was metal detecting in a totally different spot, when I got a signal, and dug 10 inches deep, when I saw a pale silver color on something. It was rounded slightly, and I guessed it was a spoon, and maybe even silver. I finally reached in, and yanked out an extremely bent spoon!!! There were some extremely worn markings, but no 925 on it. I have figured out that it is silver, it weighs 0.85 oz.
After many unsuccessful hunts, I began to be discouraged; I decided to try again where I found the barber dime, 'anyway,' I thought, 'I have 9 months more experience than when I found the barber.' I tried, and when I was 10 feet or so from where the other dime was, I got a signal, dug, and out flopped a coin! I saw the reverse of another barber dime, it was more worn, but who cares? I was so excited, I rinsed it, it was dated 1914. I then went back to hunting. I had been hunting for only 5 minutes when I got an inconsistent signal. I decided to dig. I heard it on the side wall, so I stuck the blade of my shovel in, when I saw the reverse of a high-grade Indian Head Cent!!! I rinsed it, but I found that the reverse was in fantastic grade, but the obverse was so crusty that I could only see a faint, green "62" in the date area. I had found an 1862 Indian Head Cent.
In November, I was hunting right behind a house, when I got a shallow 'Ring' Signal. I stuck my shovel in the wet soil, and out popped the most valuable find so far: a gold ring! I returned it to the owner of the house, but now I can say that I have found gold! (I get asked that three times every single time I go to a park!)
On New Year's day of 2015 I found a wheat penny, and I recently found three wheat pennies before they got buried under snow!
In the first picture I have my Top 15 Finds so Far, minus the gold ring.
#1 is the Gold Ring
#2 is my 1916 XF-45 Barber Dime
#3 is my Sterling Silver Spoon
#4 is my Sterling Silver Ring
#5 is my 1914 F-15 Barber Dime
#6 is my 1862 Indian Head Penny
#7 is a Civil War Frame found near to #9
#8 is my 1946 Silver Roosevelt Dime
#9 is a Civil War Button
#10 is a Revolutionary War Button
#11 is an old skeleton key to a grandfather clock
#12 is a spill of four large copper washers
#13 is a flat button, who knows how old it is
#14 is a 1948 Dog Tag
#15 is some sort of medallion to a keychain
The second picture shows my 1946 Roosevelt Dime and my Sterling Silvers!
If you are into Metal Detecting, Happy Hunting, but if not, enjoy collecting anyway; I hope to be back soon!
P.S. I am saving to buy the Garrett ACE-250!!! I hope to have it by spring.
Comments
CoinLady
Level 6
I always wanted to try metal detecting.
Mike
Level 7
You have some great finds there. It's an interesting thing to do. Someday you will find the perfect spot.
Kellen
Level 5
That is a lot of finds.
ShriekenGriffon
Level 5
cool finds!
Longstrider
Level 6
Great finds. Good work!
Kepi
Level 6
Wow! What great finds! My Grandpa and I used to mess around with metal detector's. It really is fun and exciting!
CMCC
Level 5
It is!
Peter
Level 4
Never had one. But I like to try it.
CMCC
Level 5
Metal Detectors are expensive! I have the cheapest Garrett Metal Detector, and it costs $150. I am saving to upgrade mine to the ACE-250 for $210. After that, I will save for the $600 AT Pro; and if I still want to upgrade, I will get the Minelab E-Trac (not garrett), which is $1500. Also, on top of this, you will need a pin-pointer, the Garrett costs $130. And if you want to get a metal detector, don't get the ACE-150, the ACE-250 is a lot better, and only $60 more.
Numismatics with Kenny
Level 5
Wow, I metal detect too. You have some great finds.
CMCC
Level 5
Thank You! I go out and usually come back with not a single coin. When I found the ring and spoon, those were the only things I found on those hunts. From December 20-31, I did about 8 hunts, with nothing more than a zinc penny! But this month, I found 5 wheat cents and some cool relics! Some days are good and some are not so good!