My first find was a dime in the gravel out in front of my next door neighbor. I had a cheapy that had a read and green light on it....it is broke but I still have it...
It was way back around 1965, and I was working on a ranch in Nevada, there were several finds, but I don't remember which was first. My machine was a Whites BFO and either I didn't know how to use it, or it didn't work very well. Probably a combination of both. Those first finds were many times on top of the ground, but I wouldn't have been out there to find it if I didn't have that machine, so that was a plus. I found a 1860's era general service button, square nails, a couple of gun parts, powder cans, on still full of black powder. I was looking for relics because the ranch was located where pioneers using the California trail camped. Other top of the ground finds included a hard rubber louse comb and broken doll parts. I did find an ox shoe and a spoon that were under the ground.
my first detector was a jetco mustang from western auto,my first money find was a 1960 D nickel.Found it beside a barn in spring of 68. in DryRidge,Ky. Have had a truck load of fun since then and found a lot more,but that first find got me hooked and I still have it in one of my treasure boxes.This is a great hobby. H.H.