I checked a path used for decades by customers of a small store. I found no silver. Mostly cents, 2 dimes, a quarter. Seemed to be cents everywhere near the store on this path. Further away I found mostly bottle caps, cans. 3 copper cents were in good structural condition, most zincs were deteriorating.
Checked my back yard. House was built in 1949 but another house existed in this spot in the early 1900's. Before that it was farmland for a neighbor's house built in 1909. I plan to go back and look deeper where a clothesline was. Found 1952 wheat 1972 cent,1976 canadian,1991,1975 dimes, 8 zinc cents. 1 key.