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 Replies: 27 / Views: 8,794 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5854 Posts |
I was wondering how successful have you been with your metal detecting. I am curious because I have been told by a dealer many years ago that I would find like a fortune metal detecting. He encouraged me to try it saying that I would be able to recoup the cost of a metal detector very quickly. He said that he had considerable success searching Franklin Park here in the Boston area. He said that he had found dozens of 1909 VDB cents, lots of silver coins, and a many more things that can't quite remember. He told me his best find was some gold spoons he found near a tree that he said at the time was worth several thousand dollars. Now, I have read a few articles about some magnificent finds of roman coins and anglo saxon gold in England so it is possible to find some treasure but everything he said seem too good to be true. I have not tried metal detecting yet but maybe I might one of these days. So, let's hear some of your thoughts on this. Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1000 Posts |
I am assuming that dealer was trying to sell you a metal detector  I have found a couple wheat pennies, no silver yet. Not quite a small fortune. Maybe twenty some bucks worth of change. On the other hand one member here found so much pocket change and jewelry that he was able to use it to put solar panels on his house. Of course they got out a lot more than me. It is a fun hobby. And there is always a chance that you could find a piece of jewelry that would pay for your metal detector in one find. But don't be surprised if you find a lot of bottle caps, pull tabs, rusty nails, and some pocket change. A dozen 1909 VDB's seem far fetched....gold spoons also seem far fetched. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
 I heard the same old story a few years ago when I was with my in-laws and they were buying one. Dude talked them into a $1400 Whites by saying that they could pay for the machine with just 2 or 3 finds. I have had mine for nearly 3 years now and if I rolled all the change it would only be half way paid for. However, I have found a nice assortment of relics and several nice coins which if sold would fetch around $400-$500. Civil War relics tend to be somewhat valuable and can still be found in my area. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
I barely keep up with the cost of batteries. The only real luck I had was when they were tearing up the sidewalk from in front of the Middle School a block away. I found a few dozen Mercs. It was kinda strange in that I found only one or two Roosies, and no Barber dies. NO quarters or larger, no nickels and only a few pennies. Usually I find a lot of pennies. An old timer told me that the area I found them in was where the old interurban tram used to stop and pick up kids from school and the cost was a dime.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
DOubl3Eagle, you have to look up Sarkany one of the CCF members "from the land of the Bluenose."(Canada) His adventures and stories on metal detecting are hilarious. He also finds some amazing stuff to add to his "Drink Guiness in the UK Fund"\." I bet you will LOL! Enjoy.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
As with all hobbies it should be done for the enjoyment not for profit. If profit does come then it's an added bonus.
My wife and I detect together and when I am at home we try to go out every day. We don't relic hunt or beach hunt. With the amount of detectors in our area its pointless. We stick to Elementary schools and city parks.
Yes we find a lot of money and a fair amount of jewelry. We bank around $1500 a year in coins we also hold all the scrap- metal until we have sufficient to make it worth while selling. Even though pull tabs are not my friends. Its still fun for us and as long as it keeps being fun then we keep detecting.. This year I up graded my $200 Garrett Ace 250 to a $500 Garrett AT Pro. To be honest I don't think it has increased my find rate but I like the fact its waterproof so I can now play in lakes.. You don't need an expensive detector to find stuff you just need to spend the time to get to know your machine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1391 Posts |
I mostly find pennies and pull tabs. I have found some silver jewlery. A lot of different artifacts. Found a lot of gold and silver dust with it in prospector mode. I mostly take to out to where I know old homesteads used to be, schools or along paths that people frequent. Lots of fun but no where close to finding enough to pay it off.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
570 Posts |
Quote:
You don't need an expensive detector to find stuff you just need to spend the time to get to know your machine.  I had a bottom of the line detector that has found just as much stuff as my newly upgraded one. I metal detect because it is fun, not because I'm trying to strike it rich (that would be nice though ). I find it relaxing to me. My girlfriend and I like to go to the beach and I metal detect while she gets a tan, so it works out for the both of us. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
509 Posts |
I wouldn't get into metal detecting with the expectation of getting rich or finding a treasure trove or even paying for your metal detector. Few of us even come close to the "big one" but....it's a lot of enjoyment and gives me exercise I wouldn't otherwise get like 75-100 deep knee bends a day Mostly I've just found clad coins and some cheap jewelry along with some interesting tokens. If you do get into it though you'll probably find it strangely fascinating and it'll keep you coming back wondering what's in the next hole. Location is the key and if you're willing to do your research you just might come up with some very interesting finds. |
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Valued Member
United States
325 Posts |
when I first started mding I found a bunch of stuff, rings, coins, junk and all other kinds of stuff. One day on the beach I found a 14k 49.8 gram necklace, then I found a 6 gram 22Kt ring, a 4 gram 18K er. Since then I haven't been out that much because of the weather. I found a playground that was unused and forgotten about, pulled about $400.00 worth of clad and coins out of it, a 1944 Merc that was toned blue by the soil along with a 14k diamond engagement ring that I still have because no one wants to pay a decent price for it. I've found foreign coins, religious stuff, bling-bling, and in short had a great time doing it. I have a water machine and two land machines. I think my total investment equipment wise is 2k american so I've done alright. Now if it would just cool off a bit or if we could have a tropical storm to clear the beaches, I'd be kickin.  |
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Valued Member
United States
458 Posts |
^ This guy has it made lol
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5854 Posts |
Thank you for all your responses.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
I got into it about 3 years ago, after a 25-year hiatus. I love history and my favorite spots to hunt are ballfields. All the ballfields that I hunt are still in use. I've dug about 250 silvers, including silver dollars, halves, quarters, dimes, lots of Barbers, even seateds. My oldest dug coin here in Michigan is dated 1758. The more you research, the better, older the finds. If you do decide to take the plunge, all I have to say is, stick with it, and don't become discouraged if you don't dig a diamond ring right at the get-go.
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
666 Posts |
Reviving an old thread but... My Ace 250 paid for itself the very first time I used it.
While playing softball I went to throw the ball and my college ring flew off my hand with the ball. We spent some time eyeball hunting for it but weren't able to find it.
That evening I went and bought the 250 and went back to the ballpark. Found my ring in about 10 minutes and also found 13 cents in change.
I don't know the metal value of the ring, but I bought it for $600.
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Valued Member
United States
66 Posts |
* learn your machine inside and out---practice with many differnt targets.
* Keep your discrimination button set low.
* Tesoro and Fisher are among the best machines, In my Opinion, Whites the worst and expensive.
* Nearly all the easy places have been hunted out by now--but with a little research you can find treasure.
* Dig,Dig and dig some more--it wont come easy.
* Find a hunting partner.
I have found many nice items and had some great adventures since I started MDing in 1975.
I haver never found a gold coin of any kind.
My oldest coin was an 1830 1/2 dime with a square nail hole in it.
My most valuable coin an 1853 O quarter in XF with much mint luster(Civil War Campsite find.
My best memory--hunting in a city park, two little girls and there little brother come up and watch me metal detect and ask Questions, following me around, etc.... As I am showing them how the machine works--I get a signal and out pops a fat Gold Ring---The look on their faces was priceless.
Its a great hobby but not an easy one.
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New Member
Australia
40 Posts |
i use my minelab for gold. I have never had a go at looking for coins or relics with it. But I remember one chap in England hitting it big with a detector with an early Roman haul, last year from memory. At the moment I'm looking for a deep water detector coil. I have located a ship (the union brig) in Tasmanian waters that came from the Victorian gold fields in 1852 and had 50 pounds of gold that was not recovered. so if I find it, I will let you know :)
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Replies: 27 / Views: 8,794 |
Posted 08/11/2011 10:27 pm
