Metal Detecting - Hot Days and US Silver Dimes

A while back, I was working at Langley AFB near Hampton, VA. I would frequent a bar on J Clyde Morris Blvd called "The Sandbar". Anyone who plays the TV Trivia game they have in many bars may be familiar with "The Sandbar"...they are almost always in the Top-10 in the country for trivia.

There's a group of 6-7 guys (and gals) that are simply brilliant when it comes to trivia. You may also see another bar on top of the Trivia charts (Manhattan's). It's just around the corner and the same bunch of geniuses play there, too.

Anyway, two of the guys (forget their names) stop in after their day job with VDOT (Virginia Dept. of Transportation). At the time, they were working on a project to widen Ft. Eustis Blvd. After work, they would grab their metal detectors from their trucks and scan any newly disturbed patch of ground. They would come into the bar late at night with a treasure trove of Civil War relics (mostly unspent ammo, but some uniform buttons and coins, too).

One evening they came in with an 1807 dime in nice XF "details" condition. It actually looked quite nice, but had a small amount of environmental damage on the reverse.

I offered them $100 cash on the barrel head...but they graciously declined my "generous" offer. It's illegal to metal detect in many areas where Civil War battles were fought...but it was somehow OK for VDOT employees (I guess).

 

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I'm retiring in 9 mos and would like to start metal detecting.

I saw your gear. Any suggestions by anyone are welcome.

 

Edited.

 

Wow, you found all those mercury dimes in the park?! Very cool.

 

Trumpet mouthpiece?

 

Correctomundo!

 

Every state have Metal Detecting rules and regulations. Go on the Maryland Parks or Annapolis Parks Department website to check requirements in order to detect. Or simply call them.

 

Great finds!

 

Is that an old skate key? Long time since I've seen one of those.

 

I'm retired, too. I was looking at that Garret AT PRO model. I would be interested to hear other opinions, too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X9Q16R7/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A2MGCYMD3ELAEN&psc=1

 

One of the guys in my detecting club has one. It takes time to learn it. He likes it but Garret has simpler machines. Garret Ace 400 is also good.


I got the Minelab Vanquish 440 a few months ago for my daughter. I've been testing it out with excellent results!

 

I found a sweet spot at my local park and started another park nearby I never detected thinking I wouldn't find anything. Avoided both areas for almost 10 years. To my surprise they have been very great. I also have over 200 Wheat Cents in both areas!

 

Hey you got the hoover boys foo foo

 

Yes! 4 Bottles

 

And I recently purchased one of the Predator Shovels used by the Hoover Boys!
The Phoenix!

 

Appears to be a bell clapper.

 

Nice finds only silver ive found is a couple war nickels.

 

Nice haul!

 

WoW That's awesome!!!!! I need to get me some of them. Im thinking about buying the new garret they have out...

 

Congrats on the silver finds. It’s unbelievably hot in NE Florida too and my often full day excursions are now an hour to two hours at most before retreating to air conditioning and Gatorade.

I’ve also been silver lucky lately. There have been a few coins, 1899 Barber dime, ‘58 Franklin half, ‘41 Washington, and a ‘40 Irish half pound which since it had a hole drilled in it, my wife had it made into a medallion I now wear. I’ve also had a small handful of Roosevelt’s and a few Mercuries as well.

But there have been a number of other silver finds. In fact I’ve found more silver recently than I ever have before. A few days ago I found my 4th sterling spoon. I’ve found 2 silver buckles, one from a purse and one from a man’s belt. A couple of ear rings and small rings. One of the most amazing I dug a silver tone and uncovered a thin piece of folded up metal. I saw an American flag so I carefully unfolded it and it’s a commemorative item honoring President Harding. The curator at the Harding Museum said they’ve never seen one of these and I plan to donate it to them.