This is a metal detecting find from 2 years ago. It went into the rock tumbler, back when I didn't know any better. It used to be bright copper, but I used sulfur on it, and it's almost toned everywhere.
There are a few good machines out there. If it's just for fun with minimal outlay, the Garrett's Ace 250 for around $400 or less. If you want to get serious, then I would use a higher end model. I have a White's DFX that I bought new for around $1400 several years ago. You can pick them up now for about $700. It takes a good full season to understand the machine but the rewards are well worth it. I've retrieved half dimes at more than a foot deep; gold rings and chains; relics and much more. But, it took a while for me to understand how to program it to the soil conditions I was digging in. Fine tuning it made a lot of difference. It also comes with pre-set programs, so you can turn it on and go. You have to spend at least $500 for a decent machine plus another $100 for a good pinpointer, about $30 for a good quality digger (cheap ones will snap like twigs), another $100 for headphones. If you skimp on anyone of these, you'll be digging nothing but pennies and surface change.
I've used all Brands except minelab. I used bounty hunter, tesoro, garret, whites and one else I can't think off the top of my head. I love whites. Their customer service is awesome. They repair very cheaply. I had them basically make me a new detector out of an old one for $125. The Whites XLT is a fantastic machine, and during the wintertime I have seen them as cheap as $350. Make sure to to get the one that says "e-series", they are newer. Get something called "Garret Propointer" and "Lesche Digger", both great tools that cut down on recovery time and allow you to not make a mess of someones yard. The pp is about $130 shipped and the lesche is $40. The lesche is made in usa and has a lifetime warranty. The complication of a metal detector may confuse you, but the XLT has turn on and go programs. Then once your used to it, you can fiddle with over 40 different settings, and even save them into a custom program. Do not get a cheap detector. If you can afford the V3i, get it. The deeper you can go, the more goodies you can find. I've rehunted yards with the XLT where I used an old Garret, and found quite a bit more. You might be 1 inch a way from a $20 gold piece, by using a cheap detector, keep that in mind. One thing I have found out is , the wetter the ground, the deeper it goes. Hunting after a good ground soaker is best. My theory is that the water spaces the dirt out more, and allows the eddy currents to seep into the ground more.
