Beach finds

vthepresident · May 22, 2008

Hey gang,

Went to Destin Florida for a few days. Not much found in the dry sand with the DFX, but I did find a junque toe ring and a cross pendant. I was able to rent a White's Surfmaster PI Pro, which I was very excited about. I had it for a whole day, and wouldn't you know it, the waves were at least a hundred and fifty feet tall that day, so I almost drowned numerous times trying to pinpoint targets and manage the monstrous scooper that came with it.

I struggled for about an hour before I realized it was hopeless. I waited all day long for it to calm down, and it never did. Not to be bested by nature, I dragged the first lady out at 5:30am the next morning before we had to return the detector, and it was much calmer.

I was just happy to be detecting out in the water for the first time and pulling a few pennies when guess what, I hit a large silver ring. The marking is 925, and I will post new pictures later after I polish it up.

When we returned to Birmingham, I went with my father in law to a local 1840s church, where we pulled a few old finds. I got a tiny teardropped thingy that says "patented Apr 30 '18." anyone know what might have been patented that day that fits?
Also, I got the head of an old fishing lure called "Shimmy No. 6"
I dug a 1 mil Alabama Luxury tax token, and Mark got the elusive tiny 5 mil tax token, his first. We had lots of dirt in our faces, but it was fun and he will be posting his finds soon so be on the lookout.

Thanks for looking!

juju · May 22, 2008

Great story. Sounds like you had a great time. :icon_pirat:

NZGJC · May 23, 2008

At first glance i didnt see you head above the wave

Looks like you had a good time

liftloop · May 23, 2008

nice find

guzz1 · May 23, 2008

congrats man ,, good job ,, Guzz1

Ozzygold · May 23, 2008

Gotta love them big waves...Nice finds!

49r Relics · May 23, 2008

I wish I could do that here on the left coast . . . 1st of all I would freeze without the right wetsuit, secondly, the state park police would confiscate my detector. It's funny we have very strict treasure laws and can't detect beaches here around San Francisco because of "Shipwrecks", whereas, Florida has WAY more actual shipwrecks than we do here. You never hear stories about shipwreck coins being found here in the SF area, but you always hear about them in Florida. Sorry for the rant . . . . It is frustrating that we only have a few small (unpopular) beaches here to detect on. Our main beaches must be loaded with goodies. The park police are everywhere in trucks, ATV's and on horseback watching our every move

Ron B · May 23, 2008

Destin, Florida; a great place to vacation. Being originally from Mississippi I once went there often. Pensacola Beach was fun too. You did alright with the White's. Maybe your next trip, the waves will be less montrous! That little 5 mil token is simply awesome!

GRB

vthepresident · May 23, 2008

UPDATE

I identified my own find for once. I am now a bonafide Googler. The two weird metal pieces I found right next to each other are both parts to an antique Al Foss Shimmy No. 6 fishing lure patented in 1918. I thought the two were unrelated, but they came from the same thing. Wouldn't it have been neat if the whole thing had been in there.

urnotalone1970 · May 23, 2008

cool beans, sorry mother nature was not cooperating with you on your first day. that water is a force to be reckoned with isnt it??!!! glad u had the "bug" and got out that next morning, made it all worth it. congrats, cant wait to see the pic..HH :icon_sunny:

tlc

Fishstank · May 23, 2008

Sweet I like when people find fishing lures.

Bridge End Farm · May 23, 2008

great digs :thumbsup:

urnotalone1970 · May 23, 2008

holey bajeezers!!! that water looks awesome, you had your work cut out for ya i'd say... and quite a workout. great pics, congrats..tlc :icon_sunny:

Happy Harry · May 23, 2008

How long can you tread water? Great photo's. nice fish lure and tokens. have a great time mding. HH

tapoutking · May 23, 2008

BeachBumm said:
I wish I could do that here on the left coast . . . 1st of all I would freeze without the right wetsuit, secondly, the state park police would confiscate my detector. It's funny we have very strict treasure laws and can't detect beaches here around San Francisco because of "Shipwrecks", whereas, Florida has WAY more actual shipwrecks than we do here. You never hear stories about shipwreck coins being found here in the SF area, but you always hear about them in Florida. Sorry for the rant . . . . It is frustrating that we only have a few small (unpopular) beaches here to detect on. Our main beaches must be loaded with goodies. The park police are everywhere in trucks, ATV's and on horseback watching our every move

Is this true? I also live on the left coast and down south there are no problems with detecting any of the beaches.

Nana40 · May 23, 2008

OHHH! The glorious beach! LOVE Destin! I'm heading down there next weekend. I can't believe you got out there in those waves!

Awesome silver, though! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the great pics!
I've only found one of those tiny tax tokens. Those things are itty bitty. Wonder why they made them so small?

Congrats on all those finds!

Nana

Bridge End Farm · May 23, 2008

Nana40 said:
OHHH! The glorious beach! LOVE Destin! I'm heading down there next weekend. I can't believe you got out there in those waves! Awesome silver, though! Thanks for the great pics!
I've only found one of those tiny tax tokens. Those things are itty bitty. Wonder why they made them so small?

Congrats on all those finds!

Nana

don't find all the stuff now save some for me :tongue3:

luckysgirl · May 23, 2008

I was in Destin in March over spring break and I didnt really find anything either! I had to crack up over the monster wave pictures...lol....

mumszie · May 23, 2008

Now I LIKED those pictures of you actually detecting! I need to get a photographer to go along with me! Those were great along with the pictures of the finds. Really made the story great.