First coin finds ever, neophyte detectorist

[heepiepow]

Hi everyone!

Today my mom and I rented a very basic MD in town, and went to the beach to find treasure. The last time we went detecting was when I was a teen and we didn't have great results. This time though we hit the (rookie) bonanza! 3 quarters, 7 dimes, 3 nickels, and 13 pennies! The oldest was a 1959 penny. No silver I don't think, but boy did it exceed our expectations! We were high-fiving and shouting left-and-right. I can't believe how many coins were just sitting there after being lost! Some apparently for very many years.

We live in Monterey CA and first tried around a bunch of fire pits on the beach. After we figured the best way to set the detector we started finding a lot of coins. Stayed there a long while, then walked up to a picnic area. A guy there said someone had just been through a half hour ago with a sand scoop and detector, but we still found some pennies and a dime.

We used a very large shovel and a homemade plastic sifter, which worked great on the dry sand but not so much on wet sand, and on another place with some wood chips.

Needless to say we want to go out again, and also research older areas to detect.

I got great inspiration and advice in lurking on this site, so thanks to everyone here! Here's a picture of our meager, but proud finds, if I can figure how to do the picture thing. Oh, this is what I kept, my mom has more!

 

[Rogerm069]

Welcome aboard Tnet my friend. You made a nice haul! Now it's time to invest
In one of your own and as you can see if you keep at it, it will pay for itself.
What other hobby in this whole world does that?

 

[heepiepow]

Thanks Roger!

And YES!, saving for a cutting edge detector is something I've been more and more eager for as more and more coins came in.

Another great thing is that we both had a very nice workout, with shovelling, walking, sifting, carrying equipment. It's (embarrasingly) the most exercise I've gotten in a couple years! And we got to enjoy the salt air, pelicans, gulls, friendly passersby, and one amazing large hawk that swooped down unusually close to about 300 gulls that were sitting about. A lot of them quickly fled!

 

[steelheadwill]

Great haul!
Glad to hear you have caught the bug!
I started MD'ing in march of this year, and am absolutely amazed at the finds I've made. (Humbly).
Investment in a detector will pay itself off quickly!
Not just in the financial sense, but the excersize you mention, fresh air, and mostly the excitement of saving pieces of history!
That 59 is first issue memorial, check the 82's for 3gram wieght, they changed to zinc 2.5 gramthat year, but a lot made it out in copper,(and a few 83s I hear), I cull all pre 83 coppers and save. the ratios in the rolls i search are getting smaller, in a couple years there will be none in circulation. A copper cent is worth over 2cent scrap value.
Looking forward to seeing your posts! HH, Herbie

 

[underdogger]

Ok . last week I found a mens wedding band did not think much of it . Took it to a lady I take all my jewelry to. 104 bucks . I about fell on the floor . I will tell you when you find your first piece of jewelry there will be no turning back . Congratulations on your first finds and welcome to t-net . This without a doubt the best hobby in the world. Rob