I can relate! I just got my first md for Christmas (G. Ace 250) and it seems when the weather is good, the wife has to work and I've got the 3 year old. So, I've been digging the heck out of my own yard and public parks which have been hit hard before. We just moved into our place in 2007 and it had been a rental for a few years, built circa 1971.
I would never have believed how many coins would come out of this yard! Probably 100+ and every time I go over it again I'm finding more. It's nearly hunted out now. Great training ground. No silver, not even a wheatie in the whole bunch.
I have been in a couple of private yards very, very briefly... like 20 minutes and half a dozen holes, plugged carefully and replaced nearly perfect. Once I've mastered the art of plugging and replacing flawlessly, I'll do a bit of door knocking in some older neighborhoods. I know the local history quite well and am kin to a lot of the old families, so do quite well making introductions to area natives.
But, along with the theme of this thread, oldest I'd found up until a week ago was a 1952 wheat... right next to the sidewalk in a very public park... probably been passed by a dozen times. It was a weak, jumpy signal, so probably ignored or missed before. Hit a root about as big around as your thumb about 2 inches down and just worked either side of it loosening the soil until I could get my fingers under it and work the dirt out. It was a really great feeling to see wheat for the first time!
Then the other day, great weather, had the boy, spent mom's entire shift at work in the playgrounds. One in an old neighborhood has a sandbox so the little guy could pretend he was looking for treasure just like dad. Right in the gate and just a couple inches down I plucked a 1945! So, if I gain another 7 years everytime out I should be hitting some great stuff this time next year!
I got some sense of pride, some feeling that I know what I'm doing, to find these oldies right in the middle of the beaten path, so to speak.
What's the best/oldest coin folks here have ever found in a very public and likely oft hunted spot?
Good hunting!
-Vance
