Danimals Lunchtime digs-PART UNO

[Danimal]

Danimal's Lunchtime digs-PART UNO

As some of you have read on my earlier posts, I usually go out for an hour at lunch during the workweek. Finding good hunting grounds is difficult, as it has to be close by in order for me to have enough time after driving to make it worthwhile. Around March of this year, I found where there were three homes torn down in the early 70's and the area is now heavily overgrown and wooded, completely unrecognizable for what used to be there. The only reason I stopped to begin with was because I saw two huge old oaks about 30 ft apart amidst the other smaller tree growth, and figured it looked like planted oaks in someone's front yard (and I was right)
There's SO MUCH trash back there it's frustrating, but recently I have narrowed down some "hot spots" and have come away with (up until today) about 2 dozen wheaties and one 1949 Rosie, two buffalo nickles as well as some late 60's clad. Also I have found 3 nearly complete 1950's capguns and 2 broken up old airplanes, a badge off of an old Western Flyer bicycle (which is now on the front headtube of my son's mountainbike!) and several old bottles from a local now-defunct soda manufacturer.
Today I tried hard to visualize what the area looked like back in the 50's, and tried to imagine all the smaller (4" or less) diameter trees gone!...that suddenly made the backyard area stand out, and in the middle was a large old crabapple tree. I hadn't THed around it before because of SOOO many fallen branches and trash. After spending some time clearing the debris, I started getting good hits. First was a 44 Wheatie...then part of a 50's capgun....then most of a harmonica (I was getting excited by now)...then a rifle cartridge....then an old toy car (not too old I think because of it's futuristic style)...then, thinking silver quarter by the sound and ID, I freed a nice sterling ring surrounded by linked hearts.
I glanced at my cell phone's clock, and thought I'd better be going!...as I moved a foot or so, I got another sweet belltone. From about 6" came the beautiful sterling baby's ring, again with a heart in the center and intricate scroll work around it!
No doubt there's more there....I'll be back tomorrow.

 

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[debistogs]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-the continuing saga.

The odd shaped old bottle is a LePage glue bottle. We used that glue when I was in elementary school.....LOL
http://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m_12008/mpage_1/anchor/tm.htm#12036

HH
Debi

 

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[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-the continuing saga.

Well here's the latest and greatest installment of my lunchtime digs!
Went back to the area where I got that last bunch of wheaties, near the old apple tree, and started working a wider circle. Due to overgrown thorns, I had to walk a long ways around to get to where I wanted (short of busting right through them...something I really didn't want to do today. I'll bring the hedge shears tomorrow) and as I came up from behind to the area I was working towards, I got a nice signal, AND, most importantly, at the right depth. LOTS of stuff that sounds and IDs as coins, are trash much closer to the surface.
Up pops a key. While not exciting in itself, keys here usually portend coins. I slowed down and tried stomping down some thorns and working into the thicket. The next good sounding signal produced a section of gas line from 6" deep. Then another. Then another and so on. In 15 minutes I think I pulled up a dozen 12-18" long 1/2" pipe sections. NOW, in the exact same area, I got another hit, but louder. Up comes the Matchbox earthmover (sans treads). About a foot away, again, in the same area all the gas line came from, I got a 4-6" deep signal that the ACE locked in on as a 1/2 dollar!...I was really kinda excited, as the only three times my ACE had said half THIS clearly, from any sweep angle, it WAS a half.
Up popped a 1962D Washington silver quarter!
And less than 30 seconds later, about 8" away, it's older brother, a well-worn '46 Washington, was brought up and allowed to breath air again.
Rounding it out, as I was about to walk away, I got a mixed dime-quarter signal that ended up being a 1940 wheatie.
This is a first for me, 2 silver quarters in one hunt! And while I am new to this hobby (6 months) I have dug 38 silver dimes, but only 6 silver quarters.
Even though this is the same property, parts of 3 old (but not too old...remember, I have pulled 1978 pennies here) foundations in woods near my workplace, it's really a new "area" in itself, defined by a few larger older trees. I fully expect more coins in this spot this week. I have barely touched this area.

Debistogs: Thanks for the ID on the bottle!..I remember LePages glue!

 

[Blackjack77]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-the continuing saga.

Wow- you just keep finding the stuff!!
It must be fun to have a site close to work all to
yourself!!
Good luck and keep on keeping on!!!!
HH

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-the continuing saga.

Wow- you just keep finding the stuff!!
It must be fun to have a site close to work all to
yourself!!
Good luck and keep on keeping on!!!!
HH

It's weird, as there ARE a few people that work near where I park that see me day after day walking out of my car, strapping on my pouch, putting gloves on and grabbing my detector and walking right into the woods. I get the strangest looks too when I emerge! And yet, not once has anyone asked me what I am doing or where I am going.
I did check, and it's city property, slated to be torn out VERY soon to make room for a retirement village. Once I found THAT out, I stopped filling my holes. It really makes it easy to see where I have been.
Now before anyone preaches to me about not filling the holes, please understand that this area is heavily overgrown and FULL of trash from people dumping. I have removed a BUTTLOAD of trash from here, never leaving a single crushed can or old toothpaste tube laying around, so if anything, I am cleaning the place up!
Knowing that soon the entire wooded area will be bulldozed flat has me NOT worrying about the holes (it does look like some crazy gopher on crack has been at work though!)


HH all!

 

[River Rat]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/3 update.

Da,

Like that story...LOL But, I do enjoy seeing your finds. Once that place is bulldozed, I would hit it a few more times.

RR

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/3 update.

Da,

Like that story...LOL But, I do enjoy seeing your finds. Once that place is bulldozed, I would hit it a few more times.

RR

I have worked my way almost through two of the three foundations there, and the forth one is almost entirely engulphed in thorn bushes, so I think that by the time I DO stop finding stuff here, I will actually be looking forward to seeing the bulldozers pull up.
Hope to have more silver tomorrow!

 

[Danimal]

Re: Daily Lunchtime digs-the continuing saga.

So does the coil go deeper? Were the finds just coins you missed cause of chance or because they were deeper?
Did you try the new coil in your coin garden? What, no coin garden?! Shame.

I tried the larger coil on the Coinstrike and it only gave about an extra inch. And since it was very heavy also it was too big a price to pay. I think if you are getting those wheat pennies at the place we discussed yesterday you are getting as deep as Nate and I can get with our top of the line detectors. Some of those are a good 7 inches deep.

Bob

Sorry Bob, I missed these questions. I'll answer them now:
-Yes, airtesting shows about 2-3 " depth increase over the stock coil on the ACE
-I really think that the stock coil in this location would work just as well because the coins are only 4-6" deep, BUT, with the bigger coil I think I can reach that depth even with the coil 2-3" above all the branches and weeds and crap on the ground. In other words, I get the same depth, without having to have the coil scraping the ground.
-I don't HAVE a coin garden.
maybe I could try it on yours??

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/4 update.

Hurried right back to the same area the two Washingtons came from yesterday and kinda rushed along as it looked like the skies were about to open up.
Within 5 minutes I had freed 3 nickles from their dirtly constaints. Each and every one came out and each time as I rubbed the dirt off enough to identify yelled at me "sorry...no buff"...I knew they were most likely from the silver era nonetheless.
As rain began it's song on the trees above me I had a very nice tone at the kicka$$ depth of 6" ID as dime, and out came miss mercury to greet me! She's very worn, so no closeup is warranted.
She was followed shortly later by a lone memorial.
Cool find today was a charm shaped like a pair of glasses!
dates:
24 Merc
46,54 and 64 Jeffersons
64 Memorial

HH all!!

 

[shootist]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/4 update.

I have to say those finds look quite scrumptious presented on that sweet platter,looks like a well balanced lunch to me:}

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/4 update.

Great finds Dan, you are doing very well on those lunch hunts! HH, Mike

 

[Mirage]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/4 update.

Nice recent finds there. Two Silver Quarters in one hunt is great in my book.

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Well...yada yada yada...hunted at lunch...yada yada...hacked through brush...(got my cheek ripped today)...and I keep trying to work areas I previously passed up because of heavy growth, but NEAR open areas wher i have hit paydirt. Trample, cut, trample, yank, I feel like a landscaper in Vietnam lol!
I hit a lot of targets today, but no silver. Still some interesting stuff.
3 wheaties 45,56D and a 40
Capgun #7 (I think..lost count)
large caliber shell casing
lipstick tube
two old pocketknives
1oz lead weight
6-22 cal rounds
a small brass star that looks like it's supposed to fit into a button hole
a small silver crest/insignia with "BHS" on it, looks like it belongs on a class ring
and the cool find today, for me at least, is the old doorknob. I about had a heart attack, as my machine read "dollar coin" and it was locked in at the perfect depth I have found almost all the coins at here, 6"...I kept thinking "hmmm...Peace Dollar?"...ahhh well...I really do think this spot may cough up a large silver soon, but for now, I am content with my occasional Merc, Rosie or even the silver Washingtons! This place has so far been my best spot for silver, and to a beginner like me, that's something special.

HH all!

 

[River Rat]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Getting better everyday!! Won't be long now.

RR

 

[Night Stalker]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Those are some great digs for lunchtiime break, I spend ALL day out sometimes and don't find digs like that! GOOD JOB!

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Those are some great digs for lunchtiime break, I spend ALL day out sometimes and don't find digs like that! GOOD JOB!

I think the main difference here is that it is obvious no one has detected this area in the woods where these homes were before me. I think anyone who's willing to try swinging their coil in the brambles and such would do just as well. I attack the area like a madman each day, knowing that my time is so limited.
Man I wish I had a picture of these houses and their yards back when people were living there. I think it was only about 40 years ago they were still standing.

 

[Nana40]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Beginner, you say? Looks to me like you know EXACTLY what you are doing! 8) And what time did you say lunch was? 11ish?

Awesome.

Keep 'em coming!

Nana

 

[Postalrevnant]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/5 updated

Congratulations again. Lunch is still treating you very well I see.

Postalrevnant

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/6 pics of hunt

BEAUTIFUL weather today, sunny and slightly cool...perfect for a lunch hunt at the old woods!
Decided to document the hunt, think some of you might enjoy more than just pics of what was found at the end!
Total finds coin-wise was a 62 nickle and a 45 wheatie!
-another pocket knife, this one more corroded than any of the other dozen or so I have dug up.
-FOUR spoons, two siver plated in one hole, one stainless and one that looks like it was ground to a funny shape.
-mason jar lid (it's galvanized part revealed it)
Anyways...NO silver today, but ahh well...on to the pics, showing some of the hunt.

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/6 pics of hunt

more pics

 

[Danimal]

Re: Danimal's Lunchtime digs-10/6 pics of hunt

even more