Metal Detecting is a lot of fun. I inherited my grandfather's metal detector which wasn't much of a unit - but I did find coins. A lot of pennies... few nickels and dimes and every now and then a quarter. I must say though - there is a stigma to it. People see you digging up lawn and they freak out! In order to be successful at metal detecting you have to go where LOTS of people have been. A lot of times that's schools and sporting fields. Beaches are great because what you dig up isn't as personal as that chunk of lawn turf. The one thing that keeps me though from metal detecting and this is the honest truth - is that I really can't stand corroded coins. I would just hate to find a 1797 half cent and then see all the thrill be taken away by the ugly bubbles of corrosion! hehehe Esky
I enjoy digging through my dealer's junk silver bin. Occassionally there are better dates in there. I found an unc 55 Franklin and a 21 Walker half in PO1/FR2, so I've had decent luck that way.
Metal detecting is a great way to find cool old coins. If you do your research which can be just as much fun as detecting. If you stick with it and learn your detector you can make great finds with a metal detector. I will give you a sample of my best year detecting which was 2003. These finds are from a lot of research and knowing my detector and what it is telling me. That year I found 134 Indian head pennies. One was a 1877. Which I sold on e-bay for $400. In one hole I recovered a 1866 and 1872 Indian head pennies with full liberty on both. I got a total of $230 for both of em on the bay. Found a war of 1812 officers sword belt plate which I sold for $200. Should went for more. Those 4 finds alone paid for my detector. Granted they are not common finds but I did find em. Plus about 70 silver coins that same year. Some of them semi-key date barber dimes and about 6 seated dimes. Now if you live in an older state than Michigan your chances of finding older coins increases. If you put in the time you will be rewarded. My first few months with a detector back in 1998 I was total frustrated and all I could find was junk and clad. Buit I stuck with learned my mid range detector and after a few years bought a top of the line detector and each year I get better and better with it. Its a blast! So much fun finding old coins in the ground and wondering who might of lost it and how hard they looked for it. Sorry for rambling but deteccting is my passion. Jim
My best luck findng coins has always been searching rolls from local banks. Seems to still be a fair amount of 40% and 90% silver in rolls of halves, and later date wheaties can still be found in cent rolls. If you develop a good relationship with the tellers, they may set aside unusual notes and coins for you. Last week, mine set aside a high end VF 1950 Series $20 Star Note! The thrill of the hunt makes roll searching fun, even if the results are not always great. Shortgapbob
