I have a Pro, I bought it in November 2010, it's been a flawless machine, no issues whatsoever. If they had offered the Gold at that time, I'd have had a hard decision to make. I was used to a threshold, but I also wanted to try beach hunting...
You have to make the decision...
What are you used to and what are your expectations?
Are you into the gold hunting as well as relics? If that was what I was doing, I'd go Gold.
Relics and beach hunting? The only answer is Pro.
Unfortunately, neither machine offers it all...
No threshold (Pro), or threshold (Gold)
Usable in Salt water (Pro) or fresh water only (Gold)
There are other factors as well, but the two above are the ones I'd focus on as I think these are what drive most folks decisions one way or the other...
If you get the Pro, you should get the Gold 5X8 coil, if you get the Gold, you can get the Pro coil; then you'd have additional weapons in your bag.
Only you know what you plan on doing with it.
I have both, if soneone was just going to do coin hunting mostly i think the Pro is the way to go..
You can also set the gold where it has no threshold. I've seen time when i had a headache that i turn it to zero & i dont think that it didnt make any differance in it
Both are very good at coin hunting but the pro has a better screen for coins.
both are excellant for relic hunting. If you going to do any nugget shooting the gold would be best. It has the ability to pick up a nugget the size just smaller than a match head at about 5 to 6 inch.
I'am thinking about going to beach next couple of week and i'am going to take both.