saftgeek
Full Member
- Mar 2, 2007
- 111
- 355
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 1
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Equinox 800, CTX, GPX 4500, and another Nox 800 for my friends...
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
It's been extremely hot here in Missouri - hot and dry. Almost too hot to detect... almost. Recently I borrowed and broke a 70 year old Dearborne plow. I called one of my detecting buddies and asked him if he knew anywhere I could possibly find the part I needed. He told me he thought he did and told me to bring my detector when I came up. No problem... Well, I showed up and we went to the old tractor place - no luck. (Still looking for a coulter for a 10-1 Dearborn 2 bottom plow) It was already 90 degrees so I asked if he was sure he wanted to go... He said he knew of a spot that had to have some good stuff on it and that he'd already did a bit of prospecting there. We headed that way... upon arriving it was obvious the place was very old. There was an old house foundation all grown up along with several outbuildings and barns. My buddy educated me on the history - been in the family since the 1840's... All the stuff one likes to hear. We each got our stuff set up and had a bit of a discussion about 5 tone vs. 50 tone. I have been trying to get the hang of 50 tone with the Equinox 800. I try to run wide open, so I can hear what's there - the good and bad. This place is absolutely loaded with nails and iron. Mixed in was all sorts of tones. We both started digging - trash. Foil, bits of aluminum, old bolts and nuts and just junk. I said it was hot - and there was only one tree. It was about 10 degrees cooler in the shade so I just kept circling that tree - staying in the shade. After a couple hours I got my buddies attention and told him we needed to find another spot with more shade. He agreed and called to get permission at another spot. Luck had it, she answered and said to have at it. Neither of us dug one single decent target. Not even a stinking Lincoln. Just as we were about to pack it in I got a great solid 18-19 signal and asked my buddy what he thought it could be. He guessed a bullet - so I proceeded to see how good his VDI skills were. Dug the hole, scanned the plug - not there. I took the pinpointer and swept the hole and a target sounded off on the side-wall. I used my digging knife to pry off the side and dislodged a large chunk. As the chunk popped off the side, something slid out from behind and slid to a stop in the bottom of the hole. I immediately thought "no way" and started to freak out. I had both hands around my head and just kept saying, "Oh my God" - over and over. My buddy asked me if I'd been stung or bitten by something and I told him to look in the hole. He peered into the hole and asked me what it was. I told him I couldn't look (for one thing I didn't have my glasses and can't make out details without them) and asked him to look for me. He took the item from the hole and looked at me and said, "oh my God"! There was my white whale - an 1848 gold $5 coin. I was stunned. Never in my life did I expect to find that. I've literally dug thousands of holes - always hoping for gold - but this was my first. I sat there in disbelief, just staring at the coin in my hand. 172 years ago someone held that coin and I'm sure they had big, big plans for what they were going to buy with it. For anyone out there who has found their "white whale" - they understand the emotion. For those of you still looking... keep digging and never give up. I swear, it is an incredible rush. I'm blessed to have dug this coin in front of my digging buddy and good friend. Honestly - sharing this find made if even better. Good luck to you all and thanks for reading my story. I'm hoping by sharing there will be a few more good 18-19 finds posted up in the coming weeks.
Saftgeek-
Saftgeek-
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