Metal Detectors Super Store

It is not often that we get to metal detect here in the Midwest during the month of December. The weather- guessers have predicted snow for next week, so when I woke up to temperatures in the 40’s this morning, I made plans to hunt. I have been a coin hunter for over 30 years. I use to hunt parks and playgrounds back in the 70’s. But, I have found myself staying away from modern areas the past few years. Too many distractions! In recent years, I have done a lot of research on local history and like to hunt places that were used for recreation 100 years ago. I guess you could say that I prefer to find a few old coins as opposed to finding a whole pocketful of memorials and clads. Most of my favorite old hunting areas are in heavy timber. But with deer season in full swing around here, I hated to venture out to those spots. So I decided to stick close to home and hunt a residential yard or two. I know that there are a couple other local guys who have hunted many of the yards around here in the past. But I firmly believe that if you slow down your hunt, you can find a coin or two in almost any yard. I loaded up my Advantage and drove across town to an old house that belongs to a friend of mine. I had thought about hunting that yard for years, but just never got around to it. Getting permission to hunt was as simple as knocking at the door and asking.

The house was built about 1880 and the front yard is about 60 feet X 100 feet. I started detecting near the sidewalk at the edge of the street, working my way carefully toward the house. I made sure that I swept the coil right up against the edge of the sidewalk, as that has proven to be the hiding spot of many coins that other detectors may have missed. Within a few feet, I got my first signal. Sweeping the coil back and forth, I pinpointed the target and prepared to dig. The ground was moist from an earlier snowfall, so it was easy digging and stayed compacted when I placed the plug along side the hole. Laying in the bottom of the 4 inch hole was my first find of the day. A 1917 Wheat cent that had aged with a beautiful green patina. I had hoped to find some real old coins today, and this was a good start. As I worked my way up the sidewalk, I uncovered several more pennies and a couple older Jefferson nickels. Then I got a signal at the very edge of the sidewalk. At first, I thought it was just falsing from the coil. But by swinging parallel to the sidewalk, I could confirm it was a good target. At a depth of only 3 inches, I uncovered a 1900 Barber dime. It wasn’t in real good shape, but I will take any silver coin I can find. I continued to work the front yard for about 90 minutes, pulling several dozen coins from the cold, wet soil. Reading the dates on the muddy pennies would have to wait until I got home.

As I worked my way around the house, I hit a target that nearly knocked my ears off. At a depth of 5 inches, I pulled out what I thought at first was a child’s Sheriff’s badge. It was about 2 inches tall and in the shape of a five sided star. Gently rubbing it, I saw the dates of 1861 and 1866. Between the dates was the word Veteran and above this was Grand Army of the Republic. Having a great-grandfather that was a member of the GAR, I was familiar with the organization and knew this had to be some sort of GAR membership badge. I stuck it in my pocket and continued the hunt. Near the back steps, I passed over another target that had that sweet sound of silver. Surprisingly, what I dug up was not silver but a 14K gold ring. If silver is good, then gold is better!

Only three hours after I began this hunt, I was ready to call it a day. I had uncovered 62 coins, a ring, the GAR badge, a silver collar button and a pouch full of screw caps, pull tabs and items that I had no idea as to what they were. I made the short trip home and filled a bowl with water. I placed the “keepers” into the water and let them soak for about 15 minutes while I cleaned up my detector and coil.

Final tally was 38 memorial pennies; 4 Jefferson nickels; 2 clad quarters; 7 clad dimes; one 1951 Roosevelt dime; one 1900 Barber dime; six Wheat pennies dated 1916, 1917, 1937, 1940S, 1955S and 1957; three Indian pennies dated 1881, 1899 and 1907; the 14K gold ring, the silver collar button, a silver luggage tag and the bronze GAR membership badge.

I have to admit, maybe I have been underestimating the treasures that are hiding in our neighbors yards. You can bet that I will be scouting the town, asking others for permission to hunt. I only hope that old man winter holds off for at least a few more days. I am not ready to take the batteries out of the Advantage yet.

RT

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