First Valuable Find Ever!! First Gold, First Ring

keverett

Hero Member
Feb 9, 2009
513
8
The NO town, CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab E-trac w/ Sunray X-1 Pro Coil and 10x12 SEF, Tesoro LST
After a week of rain, some of the local hunters and I decided to hit one of the old “pounded out” parks in our area. The warden and I left around 9:00 to go to Orchard to get her an apron for her finds and trash, and then head down to meet up with a fellow dirt fisherman. We packed 3 detectors, bags, extra coils, batteries, vests, pouches, aprons, drinks, and two of every animal into the trunk of my 2006 Chrysler 300 and off we were!

We got to the park about 10:00 and drove around a bit in search of the “prime” spots to detect on a beautiful Sunday morning. Lucky for us the traffic was very low, and the vagrants were still sleeping one off. After a couple of fly by’s we decided on an area that had produced a ton of silver coins when the Explorer first came out, and we were hoping that a few got left behind for us to find.
Since the warden decided to join us today, she was using the Minelab X-terra 70, and had my only pinpointer at her disposal. I was using the only other machine I have which is a Tesoro Lobo-Supertraq. I met Les Berg at the Gold Show last week, and he gave me a few pointers on using the LST. I was running in Discrimination Mode set at 2, and was running the Sensitivity at 10 as he suggested. I dug a couple of pulltabs close to the road, but decided against upping the discrimination. I was trying to get used to “hunting blind” without multi tones, or a Target ID display. Not the easiest when you are hunting a park with tons of trash!

The 4th target I got was a solid tone on the LST with the Disc. Set at 2. I moved the Disc. Up to 5 while crossing over the target, and the signal started to crack. I thought to myself that it was probably another pulltab, but I decided to dig it anyway since it rang up so clear. I dug the usual 3 sided trap door plug about 4 inches deep. The target was not in the plug, and since I didn’t have my pinpointer I had to scoop the dirt out by hand and wave it in front of the coil. The second or third handful of dirt had the target inside. I looked down at the clod of dirt in my hand and saw a shiny rim of a 10 sided object. The first thing that I thought was it had to be some kind of brass pipe fitting. I rubbed some of the dirt off and stuck my finger in the hole……..JACKPOT!!! The clod fell out of the center of the ring, and I could tell now that it was a Men’s gold ring. I turned towards the boss and told her that I just dug a ring. She came over to see what new shiny precious she was about to be the new owner of. She looked at the ring for a couple seconds and said “Its 14kt!” Too bad it was a men’s ring….LOL. :laughing7:
The ring is 8.20 gm of 14kt yellow gold. It doesn’t have any kind of inscription other than 14kt. Seeing as how it was at least 4 inches deep, I don’t think it was lost recently. Do you guys feel that I should post an add on craigslist in the found section? Judging by the style of the ring, and how deep it was I would guess that it was from the 1980’s, but I could be way off on that estimate. I would have no problems giving the ring back to its owner, especially since it’s a wedding band. I just don’t know if I want every wacko who lost a ring at this park to be calling me to identify the lost ring in question.

I was on cloud nine for the rest of the 4 hours we hunted. The girlfriend and I didn’t dig anything else of value (about $4.00 in clad), but I had found my first gold, my first ring, and my first valuable anything all in one day! Some of the hunting buddies did pretty well too. One of them found a nice F to EF 1939 Mercury Dime, and the other found a 1917 and 1919 Wheat Penny! Not bad for the ole’ “pounded out” park. I am very glad for the opportunity to hunt with class act guys!! I can only hope to dig something like this again. Thanks for reading everyone!

KEverett
 

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Upvote 0

silvestor

Jr. Member
Mar 2, 2008
55
0
Chautauqua County, New York
Detector(s) used
White's Spectrum XLT w/Sun Ray Invader XL-1 probe, Garrett AT Pro & Garrett Pro-Pointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
NICE Find !!! :hello2: :hello2:
I can't wait til the snow melts and the ground thaws where I live. I'm getting the MD'n fever !!! :P
 

testing123

Bronze Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,359
1,986
United States
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030, TDI SL
Superb find! That's a very cool looking ring.

I'd probably hold off putting an ad on Craigslist as the ring is now posted on a public forum. That would make it easier to describe it, its content, etc.
 

Cal_Cobra

Bronze Member
Oct 3, 2008
1,099
1,710
Northern California
🥇 Banner finds
3
Detector(s) used
Minelab EQ800 & Makro Multi Kruzer, the rest are collecting dust...
Very nice find KEverett :thumbsup:

I take it your in Fresno? I'm up in the bay area.

It seems that last weekend was ring weekend (lots of rings were found and posted on a CA only forum too) :hello2:

I wouldn't waste your time trying to chase down an owner if the ring was 4" deep. If it was on top of the grass, then it's your call (I've always felt that returning found jewelery is a personal decision that should be left to the finder, for better or worse).

Congrats on the nice chunky piece of GOLD!
Brian
 

jopher

Bronze Member
Jul 20, 2003
1,691
43
Mid Michigan
Detector(s) used
IDX Classic SL-x2....Excalibur1000
Wonderful chunk of gold. I would call that an earned reward. Rings with inscriptions , class rings , and known losses are one thing (actually three) , but...outside of that ...its finders keepers.
 

fathead

Sr. Member
Dec 19, 2009
363
3
Conowingo, MD
Detector(s) used
Bounty Hunter 505
If you are really concerned, check with the park office to see if they have any reports of a lost ring. Or just check out the lost and found section on CL and see if anyone posted a "lost ring" in your park. I think that more than covers your due diligence.

Fathead
 

BerntOut

Full Member
Jan 12, 2010
156
17
South West USA
Detector(s) used
Deus, BlissTool V3, CTX, Vallon VCM1, ......forgot the others!
keverett said:
Do you guys feel that I should post an add on craigslist in the found section? Judging by the style of the ring, and how deep it was I would guess that it was from the 1980’s, but I could be way off on that estimate. I would have no problems giving the ring back to its owner, especially since it’s a wedding band. I just don’t know if I want every wacko who lost a ring at this park to be calling me to identify the lost ring in question.
KEverett

DON'T ADVERTISE YOU FOUND A RING DUDE! FINDERS KEEPERS. THere are no identifying marks, names, SSN, DL#. THe original owner did not care enough about it to ID it. If the ring fits, wear it.
By the way, my offer for the ring still stands!
 

Toby1858

Sr. Member
Mar 21, 2009
364
40
Springfield Mo.
Detector(s) used
Whites m6
As much time and effort we detectorists spend hunting, and as long as its unmarked, and you like it and it fits, I would wear it, and enjoy it!!!! Excellent find! :icon_thumright:
 

Tnmountains

Super Moderator
Staff member
Jan 27, 2009
18,701
11,665
South East Tennessee on Ga, Ala line
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Conquistador freq shift
Fisher F75
Garrett AT-Pro
Garet carrot
Neodymium magnets
5' Probe
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
That is one good looking recovery. I like it. Thrillling when a hunt comes together and something good goes home with you. Congratulations on your first of many.
HH,
TnMtns
 

pepperj

Gold Member
Feb 3, 2009
37,032
137,024
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Deus, Deus 2, Minelab 3030, E-Trac,
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Congrat's on the nice ring :icon_thumright:
 

OP
OP
keverett

keverett

Hero Member
Feb 9, 2009
513
8
The NO town, CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab E-trac w/ Sunray X-1 Pro Coil and 10x12 SEF, Tesoro LST
Thank you everyone for the kind words. I agree with you all, and don't plan on putting an ad on craigslist, but I wanted to get the experts opinion. Cal-Cobra, yes I am down in the NO town, been hunting for about a year now with no rewards other than the usual clad. Guess I can put the gold ring on the tally for this year now! Thanks again everyone! :thumbsup:

KEverett
 

aa battery

Gold Member
Oct 11, 2006
10,620
3,240
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
bro ders only 1 WARDEN here N dats my wife but yur find is very good in da NO Valley. ;D
 

Deepdiger60

Silver Member
Jun 18, 2009
2,804
94
Long Island E-end
Detector(s) used
Minelab Sov GT,Sovereign xs2-pro Fisher CZ21 Custom Skullies , Stealth 720-i
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice chunky ring WTG :icon_thumleft:
 

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