CRH took a little of the thrill away from my detecting find

ArkieBassMan · May 1, 2011

A few days ago I was detecting an old homesite that is now just an empty lot, and will probably soon be a paved parking lot. It wasn't all that trashy as compared to most sites, but it was littered with several old pipe fittings that would give a great sounding solid tone and VDI solidly in the half/dollar range on my DFX. Late in the day (and after digging at least 30-40 similar signals) I got another solid half dollar reading. I honestly thought about not digging it. I was tired and about ready to quit for the day, and almost positive that it was just another pipe fitting or something similar. But, I correctly surmised that if I'm not going to dig solid half dollar signals, then I might as well find a new hobby. I cut the plug and check with my pinpointer. The target is in the plug. I break open the plug, and a big silvery reeded edge is poking out. I pull out the coin, wash it off, and there is a 1958D Franklin half dollar in my hand. I've been detecting off and on for around 30 years or more and this is only my 2nd ever silver half that I've dug. My first was a '43 Walker about 30 years ago - the first silver coin I found detecting.

Please don't misunderstand - I don't want to sound like, "Ho-hum. A silver half dollar. Big deal." I was, and still am, very happy with this find. But, I should have been ecstatic, and I wasn't. Due to my CRH activities I now have several Bens in my collection and I guess that is the reason I'm not on "cloud 9" over this find. Any of you CRHers that detect have any similar experiences?

frankiefry · May 1, 2011

Congrats on your nice 'find'. I gotta say, I just dug my first Walker a few weeks ago and was super thrilled since I've never found one while CRHing. Besides, the silver you dig is free, whereas the ones you find while CRHing cost you, even if it is only FV. Good Luck with all your 'hunts' : )

Scott (Mich) · May 1, 2011

I know what you mean about the thrill being somewhat diminished, but for me that only is diminished for the newer silver finds (Roosies, Kens & Bens). My first silver this year was one my wife got in change - a 1957 Roosevelt dime.

I very much doubt that I will ever find two cent pieces, three cent pieces, large cents, or coins like my avatar (1861-O half) by CRHing. So when I am out at an old homestead and get a good hit I keep my fingers crossed and hope it is an oldie. CRHing did (does) make up for the dry spells if I haven't detected a silver in a while.

I have not bought a half box in a couple of years, but lately I have been nickel searching on a small scale.

eolson3 · May 1, 2011

I totally relate. I have been doing both less than a year, but when am averaging at least 2 silver coins per CRH with some big scores in there, its hard to stay motivated with the detector that I havent found a thing with. I get excited with finding nails cause at least its not a pull tab lol.

fistfulladirt · May 1, 2011

Torn between my love of crhing and dirtfishing, I put more time into digging now. Three years in, I've dug about 200 silver coins. Oldest being a 1758 reale dug in Michigan. I've dug about 20 Barbers and 1 seated dime. Six or seven Walkers, 3 Barber halves, and 2 Franklins last year. Funny thing, no Kennedy silver half yet. So far, about 25 silvers dug this year, including one Walker. Oh, and one Morgan, one peace dollar.

TheRandyMan · May 1, 2011

Up to this point, nothing in CRHing has surpassed the thrill of finding that 1943 Walking Liberty Half Dollar coin that I found the first week I started detecting almost 30 years ago...6 inches off my grandma's driveway, 3 inches down...It was only one of over 200 coins I found in the yard that week. I was the first one to ever hunt the home built circa 1920 and I was hooked forever right then and there.

None of the hundreds of silver halves found CRHing since has even begun to touch that feeling!! :headbang:

Emperor Findus Cladius · May 1, 2011

I have been CRHing for over 10 years, and have found many, many silver. I also dirtfish, and am thrilled each time I find a silver coin. It makes my trip worthwhile just to find a silver dime, and that is after finding over 1200 90% halves while CRHing. It is the thrill of the hunt, no matter whether it is CRHing or dirtfishing.

dave5710 · May 1, 2011

I still enjoy detecting, but hunting places where I don't find silver, isn't as appealing. Coming home after a three hour hunt, with only a dollar in dirty change and nothing of interest otherwise, makes me wonder if it is worth it. I just get to thinking about how I could be putting my time to better use. I'd bet if that half had been a Barber instead of a Franklin, you would of felt alot different. Or even if it was a older Walker. I remember my first Indian head that I dug was 1906, that was my oldest coin to date. I found a couple more afterwards, but they were 08's and not as exciting. Then 22 months after the first one, I dug a 1901, and the thrill was back.

Scott W · May 1, 2011

Coin rolls and boxes of rolls are for finding silver coins.

Metal detectors are for finding sterling silver and GOLD jewelry!

There's alot more than silver coin to be found with a MD.

I can relate to the meaning of your post, though. It is rare to find even a clad half dollar where I hunt. Last month I found a BiCentennial clad half. If not for CRH, I would think that an especially rare find.

MentalUnrest · May 1, 2011

I agree 100%. I have not found my first silver yet MD and before I started CRH knew I would be very excited when I found my first. After CRH for about 4 months and finding hundreds of halves and dimes and even a few quarters, seeing that silver in my plug won't be nearly as exciting.

Steve L. · May 1, 2011

ArkieBassMan,
Congratulations on the big silver! I think the thrill of digging silver is different from finding it in the rolls. I get a huge charge when I or someone with me pops a silver coin or jewelry out of the ground.
The fact that this is only your second in as long as you have been digging speaks volumes about the rarity. I have only dug one half and it was a clad, there just aren't that many out there. Great recovery!
Steve