How Many Use Metal Detectors?

In the next year or so I will be getting into treasure hunting with a metal detector. I'm wondering how many coil collector/enthusiasts bolster their collection with a little bit of digging? If so, could you share your special finds and stories with us?

 

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use to have one, a good and interesting place to go if you can is old civil war battlefields

 

I have had a MD for 11 or 12 years but it has been a while since I have used it. Be sure you either have permission to MD a location or MDing is allowed for that location. You will be arrested and you will lose your MD if you are caught MDing on a National Park, National Battlefield, etc.

 

Civil war battlegrounds are out of the picture. We have plenty of places locally that would seem to have excellent potential since I've not seen a single one being used in the past several years.

One of the best places to find coins as I was told by a friend is the cemetary....though I cant see going there even discretely.

 

i bought a cheap metal detector to use for a few months and sold it to a friend before winter season. its kinda fun but there really isnt that much to find out here. in the $14+ in change i did find the best i got was 2-3 wheat cents.

 

I started MD'ing about 1989.

Years of fund, I have found Seated 1/2 dimes & seated dimes, plus a bunch of Barbers (mostly dimes & quarters and one lone $1/2)

Plus a lot of old beat up large cents, Indian head cents, etc.

 

It can be alot of fun, I usually try to avoid any distractions, like talkative people or noisy areas. My best find so far is a half dollar, but one day will do better. Good Luck...

 

Never had any luck other than finding common modern stuff. Probably haven't even recovered the cost of batteries.

 

I really didnt have any ideas of getting rich or even paying for the unit....the fun will be worth it. Just wondering if any have made interesting finds.

My friend mentioned old cemetaries as being the best place for finding coins. When you think about it, you have hands in and out of pockets during all-weather graveside services reaching for hankies and handshaking (in and out of pockets during cold weather). I've just not heard of many hunters covering this area. Our countryside is dotted with very old cemetaries and possibly very old coins.

There has only been one well experienced treasure hunter that I've seen over several decades and he was covering a playground at a private campground. You couldnt tell where his little shovel/scoop had been.

Sorry if all this is off topic for a coin forum. I'm just curious, that's all.

And thank you for all your replies!

 

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That's the stuff I want to find right there.

 

Welcome to Coin Talk!

Cemeteries are strictly off limits! In some areas it is considered private property and you could get yourself arrested and lose all your equipment. Also, it is very disrespectful. There are a lot of areas that would be a lot more productive than a cemetery... parks, old fair sites, etc. for example. If you are serious about metal detecting as a hobby, I would recommend joining some of the metal detecting forums. There you have MD enthusiasts and can get some very good tips on how to use your equipment and where to dig (legally).

I've had very good luck with the hobby and found some interesting and sometimes valuable items. But, you have to learn how to use your detector properly in order to get results.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

Just got one for Christmas, so I'll be out detecting soon!

 

No, I couldnt find myself hunting in a cemetary for the same reasons you'd mentioned. Thanx for the advice, nonetheless. Since we are near the Great Lakes and inland lakes I'm going to center my searches in those areas.

I look forward to coming back here if/when something is found.

 

Ive done some limited metal detecting at Boonville and Glasgow Mo. sites but as Hobo pointed
Out ALWAYS GET PERMISSION!! Where ever you go especially if your not sure, i did find some
Muskett ball,s at the Glasgow site

 

Got an Ace 350 today so hopefully I can search the old homes where I grew up and where my wife grew up. Her dad has a few properties I can go over as well as her grandma.

Looking to get in to it now.

 

I ordered a Fisher F75 a few days ago and it should be here sometime this week. I am looking forward to getting started. I have been doing some reading on this. It appears that here in Oklahoma, one has to get a permit from each Park before searching public parks grounds. It's interesting to think about where one might be able to make different types of finds, such as ghost towns, old schools such as places your grandparents went to school that may no longer be there. It will be interesting.

I've seen some videos online of people recording their searches, and believe it or not, most start rubbing the coins as they pull them out of the ground.

 

It's not for the faint of heart. For some practice, go out and hand dig about 40 holes while it's 85 and humid. It's easy to forget that the holes don't dig themselves. And then, even with discriminate set you'll be finding junk.

I think it really depends on location and properties you think you have available. Out east would be awesome. Illinois pretty much sucks. Virtually no chance of finding 18th century stuff. I've never found any more than modern change but have found a lot of that. I got a Garrett Pro Pointer this year so I look forward to having that for assistance in the future.

Somebody on here found a really nice draped bust dime that was worth about $400 out in PA.

It's not easy to get access to "good" property. Many people don't want you digging up their yards, while others think whatever is in the ground on their property is theirs. Even if they have no way of knowing or finding what is there.

IME, it's easy to read wild success stories on the internet and dream about your own. In actual practice, most people will not be interested in it for long.


Edit: Just wanted to add that it really pays to have some knowledge of the land before you take off searching. Many homes have had fill brought in which basically buries the old ground. Where ever there's been fill, I wouldn't waste my time. If you don't know the area, this becomes more difficult. Original untouched ground where people gathered in the past, is where you'll want to be.

 

I`ve had one for 20 years, found stacks of Roman and Celtic coins, jewellry, musket balls.
Mine cost me £90 back then and it paid for itself within a month just with spendable cash.

Beaches are good place to go especially after a storm, if you see a line of pebbles or stones along a beach, that is where any heavy metal will be from wrecks. (Gold)

Also any steps that lead down to beaches where people have fallen or tripped up and lost the contents of their pockets.

One unusual find was a small cannon ball and not more than a foot away I found a live WWII tracer shell within minutes.

 

Thats whats so nice about where I live in the Southwest.....99% of the land is government owned with little to no restrictions on what you can do on them. I've been making a listing of old mines and ghost towns that I want to detect, all of which are open to the public and who's claims have ceased to exist for well over 100 years. Even the few places in the desert where people live, the land isn't theirs but merely leased and the public still has full access. I could graze cattle in their front yard if I wanted, though I may get shot!
Guy

 

Anyone know places near Houston area that may be good to hunt?