1st day with E-Trac brings 1st silver of the year

[Dr. Ace]

Hi everybody!

I received my birthday present, a new Minelab E-Trac (Thanks Windy City Detectors!), last Saturday. Before I could use it, I had to wait a few days for the weather to warm up and the ground to thaw. In the mean time, I read, studied, and re-read Andy Sabisch's great book The Minelab Explorer & E-Trac Handbook. This morning I headed out to give the E-Trac a try. I decided to go to a park that I have hunted fairly extensively in the past. I spent the first hour getting used to all the sounds and information I was being given. It was almost a sensory overload compared to the Garrett Ace 250 I've been using the past year and a half! The first coin I dug was a 1973 dime about two inches deep. It was soon followed by three more dimes and a penny. About this time, it began to rain and sleet, so I decided to take a break for lunch. It cleared off later in the afternoon, so I headed back to the park. This time I pulled a 1978 quarter from four inches, and four pennies - from two to four inches deep - before I had to head off for an appointment. Following the appointment, I still had an hour of daylight, so after getting permission from my wife I headed back to the park. This time I managed two quarters and four more pennies. Time was running short when I got a solid hit reading 14 - 47 and showing seven inches deep. I dug down and in the bottom of the hole, I saw the glint of silver! I pulled out a nice looking 1942D Mercury dime, my first silver of the year. What a great way to start out with my new detector.

I think I am going to love using this machine. It is a big step up from the Ace 250. Don't get me wrong, I love the Ace and think it is an awesome introductory detector, but the E-Trac is going to open up a whole new world. I can't wait to get back out and see what else I can find.

Thanks for reading, and HH everybody,

Dr. Ace

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Bridge End Farm]

1942 excellent year

congrats on your dig

 

[Brian W]

Very nice Merc...Id check that for a 2 over 1...Its worth some money ...The one with the D mint is tougher to see.. use a lupe

 

[Captn SE]

Darn, Bruce, no sooner did I PM you about your silver dime find, you make a post!

Nice job, my friend. I think you're really going to see what your parks have to offer now!

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[Deno]

Mercs are always welcomed. My first silver coin was a 41 Merc.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

Good job

Keep @ it and HH!!

 

[bigrig40]

congrats on your first of many silver finds this year! bigrig

 

[NJ Marty]

Caotain SE is correct, learn that machine and every outing the finds will come. Your arm will get a bit sore getting used to the weight but hang in there. The ace 250 is a good start up detector but is a toy compared to your new detector.
Marty

 

[silverfreak]

Nice find buddy. That E-trac will provide you with many more

 

[Narthoniel]

Not a bad find there, love that silver.

I too have an Etrac, and have been using it for about 6 months. It ismy first dirt machine, so I completly understand feeling lost with it. One thing I have done to make it easier on me is change it from multi tone to 4 tone conductive. I love those high conductive readings(45-48), but I have never seen a dime, silver or otherwise, read above a 44. Sure is strange how ours differ in that reguard.

Looking forward to seeing the silver you find.
Anthony

 

[drodda777]

ACE where are you located. I am in Pleasantville.

I just got my E-trac tonight. This is my first detector so I don't have anything to compare it to. I was so excited when I got home at 11 pm from the trip to pick up my machine I went out by flashlight. Dug alot of trash but managed to find a few pennies, a hot wheel, and a river boat token. Nothing like your merc though. Ralph gave me a quick lesson when I picked up the machine, I have alot to learn though.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice report on the Etrac and congrats on the silver! HH, Mike

 

[Dr. Ace]

1942 excellent year

congrats on your dig

Thanks Bridge End Farm. I was excited to get a silver the first day out. I can't wait to get back out there today!

Very nice Merc...Id check that for a 2 over 1...Its worth some money ...The one with the D mint is tougher to see.. use a lupe

Thanks Brian. I will check it closely. Thanks for the tip!

Darn, Bruce, no sooner did I PM you about your silver dime find, you make a post!

Nice job, my friend. I think you're really going to see what your parks have to offer now!

Dan, Thanks for all your help and advice. I'm really hoping my parks will start giving up some great coins. Last year I was told by a local detector that he has pulled 10,000 coins from the local area, and that he has been over 'every foot' of the main parks with a 'Minelab' (he couldn't remember what model it was!), so it will be interesting to see what I can find. I think there is still plenty in the ground!

 

[Dr. Ace]

Mercs are always welcomed. My first silver coin was a 41 Merc.

Yeah, Mercs are one of my favorite coins. I love the design of them.

Good job

Keep @ it and HH!!

Thanks MUD(S.W.A.T)! It will be a joy to detect with the E-Trac. I really looking forward to learning the machine and what it is telling me.

congrats on your first of many silver finds this year! bigrig

Bigrig40, I'm hoping to find a decent amount of silver this year. I have the machine to do it - now all I need is the expertise to run it correctly!

Caotain SE is correct, learn that machine and every outing the finds will come. Your arm will get a bit sore getting used to the weight but hang in there. The ace 250 is a good start up detector but is a toy compared to your new detector.
Marty

Marty, I agree completely. I did notice my arm was getting tired, but after a short rest, and it was good as new. I think you are correct about the Ace/E-Trac comparison, too. You get what you pay for. I do love the Ace, but I don't think it will be getting much use anymore. It was a great way to get introduced to MDing, but now I'm ready for more.

Nice find buddy. That E-trac will provide you with many more

Thanks Bryce. I have been inspired by what you and Dan have found with your detectors. I also appreciate your tips from the site as well as the ones in Andy's book. That book is awesome. It has helped me so much already. HH.

 

[OPUS1]

I dug my first merc a 1941 with my new Bounty Hunter QD II about a month ago.

I have yet to hit a nice old park but it sure feel good to get the first one. Almost as good as... Well you know.

HH and thanks for sharing.

 

[Dr. Ace]

Not a bad find there, love that silver.

I too have an Etrac, and have been using it for about 6 months. It ismy first dirt machine, so I completly understand feeling lost with it. One thing I have done to make it easier on me is change it from multi tone to 4 tone conductive. I love those high conductive readings(45-48), but I have never seen a dime, silver or otherwise, read above a 44. Sure is strange how ours differ in that reguard.

Looking forward to seeing the silver you find.
Anthony

Anthony, thanks for the advice. I will be playing with different settings as my comfort level increases. It's just so much fun to detect with a machine of this caliber. It's like owning a Ferrari. It's a guilty pleasure!!!

ACE where are you located. I am in Pleasantville.

I just got my E-trac tonight. This is my first detector so I don't have anything to compare it to. I was so excited when I got home at 11 pm from the trip to pick up my machine I went out by flashlight. Dug alot of trash but managed to find a few pennies, a hot wheel, and a river boat token. Nothing like your merc though. Ralph gave me a quick lesson when I picked up the machine, I have alot to learn though.

Hi Dave. I live in Pella. We're only about 20 miles apart. We'll have to get together, compare notes, and do some hunts. The E-Trac makes it a pleasure to detect. I've been surprised how many hot wheels I have found in the past year and a half I've been detecting. They're everywhere. Good luck with that new machine. HH.

Nice report on the Etrac and congrats on the silver! HH, Mike

Thanks for the encouraging words Mike. Good luck to you and HH!

 

[Dr. Ace]

I dug my first merc a 1941 with my new Bounty Hunter QD II about a month ago.

I have yet to hit a nice old park but it sure feel good to get the first one. Almost as good as... Well you know.

HH and thanks for sharing.

Opus - Yes, patience and persistence definitely pay off. I hunted for weeks when I first got my ACE 250 before I found my first silver, and then it was months before I found the second, so I was really glad to get my first one with the E-Trac on my first day. Old parks are a great place to find silver. I can't wait to get back out today. HH!

 

[crazyjarhead]

Nice coin DA and good luck with your machine. Will be looking forward to all of your finds this year. Ron

 

[twistidd]

Dr. Ace,

Congratulations on your new Etrac!! Windy City Detectors is the only place I get my detecting stuff from nowadays. I got my last two detectors and all my supplies from Ron (helps he's only a few miles away!)...he's got great deals.

It's interesting to dig all of the deeper targets you weren't finding before with the Ace, I'm sure. Keep the Ace for the tot lots, that's what I do. I'm looking forward to reading your future silver-drenched posts!

Joe

 

[dfxmatt]

nice merc......u look like your about to die in your avatar lol