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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,025 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2216 Posts |
I bought a Relco metal detector back in the mid 70s when I began collecting. The only things I found were a few rusty cans.
I'm curious to hear stories of people who have used a detector successfully in finding coins. What coins did you find? Have you determined the best areas to look in terms of the likelihood of finding something? Were the coins buried or on the ground? If they were buried, how deep? And do you recommend a certain make of detector?
*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***
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Valued Member
United States
419 Posts |
Well, I am no metal detecting pro, but walkways in parks are usually pretty good places.
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New Member
United States
11 Posts |
People say that parks and schools are a good place to find coins. I just started to MD so I'm not sure of a good detector. I currently use a Bounty Hunter Lone Star because it was free.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
I just have a really cheap detector, a bounty hunter tracker 2, and I bought it 6ish years ago and just took it out a few months back when I got hooked on coins... I think cellar holes, around pre 1900's houses & barns (specifically walkways to and from doors) farm fields, old roads that history says armies were marched on (I live near a branch of the old Lafayette trail, (untouched for a LONG time) that was marched, SOMEONE must have dropped something.. That's my next search) I have has horrible luck so far.. Checked a few old cellar holes, around old buildings and barns, as well as a few fields.. Nothing but old nails and other scrap metal.. As well as new things. I ran into a friend (who doesn't collect coins...) and he said he finds them all the time.. So 2 days ago he brought me out to a cellar hole about a mile out in the woods, (probably the ones I'd been searching had already been checked) and within a half hour my tracker 2 beeped this... An 1820 small date, I'd say EF-45 to AU-50? (the pics are horrible, not as dark in person, not is it porous as the photo appears, it's actually really nice considering it's been in the ground for probably about 190 years)   It was a bit deeper than 5 inches and packed tight in hard soil... I about passed out when I saw what it was and the condition it was in... Not bad for a first find! I owe my friend big for bringing me with him!!  He has a very expensive detector.. But obviously the cheaper ones work too.. Your guys opinions on grade of this one? Possible value? Not that I'd ever sell my first find, just curious... Would this one be worth sending in for grading? Probably NGC? |
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Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
I detect the beaches and parks here in So Cal with a friend and fellow CCF member.
So far, just common clad and an aluminum ring for me but my friend found a couple wheat cents and a cool old bullet shell.
We are yet to find gold or older coins but, it's just a matter of time ;-)
I use an ACE 350 which I have been very happy with. Accurate, easy to use, target i.d. and depth.
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
Nathan, did you post that in the Classic Grading Forum?
swcoin.ecrater.com
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
No, not there but in "classic US coins", a few people said the same I guessed, EF-45 to AU-50, but they also added environmental damage, so now I'm just curious as to what that does to value...But as I said I'd never sell it anyways, it's worth way more to me as my first find, I'm just trying to learn more about grading/affecting value.. I just don't want to post it all over.. Lol, you might see it in a couple other posts already too...  Had I seen classic US grading I would have put it there first.. But everyone's great here so more than a few people helped out a lot already. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2216 Posts |
Nathan, based on the image of that coin, I think I'm going to run out and buy me a detector! That coin is amazing! Wow!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
I have done great in the "hunted out" spots. 150+ y.o. coins from county parks dedicated in the 1970's. 150+ y.o. large cents dug in front yards. Morgan and Peace dollars in ballfields. 25+ silver coins from what look like newer soccerfields. Hundreds of old silvers and old coins and I started about 3 years ago. I think outside the box when I hunt. I didn't have internet access when I started, learn on your own through trial and error. A cheap machine in the hands of a pro may produce the goods. A high-end machine in the hands of a newbie may be an effort in futility. Grab a machine, get out there, and earn your wings. When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
Quote:
Grab a machine, get out there, and earn your wings.  Remember these three words when you decide to pick that machine back up and go out hunting. Patience, Persistence, Perseverance |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
I could recommend detector brands all day long. I bought a new $1,000 popular name-brand machine when I started. My buddy was using a 10-y.o. foreign machine and kicked my butt. I had hundreds of hours on mine, and tweaked it to the max. Ended up buying my buddies machine, and the sounds of a 2 year old kid playing a flute came into my head and almost drove me nuts for a while. Now those sounds are like sweet music to my ears.
When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,025 |
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Posted 08/31/2012 9:03 pm
