Just starting detecting - this weeks finds!

dgree · Jun 17, 2012

Just starting detecting - this week's finds!

Just started detecting after finding a bounty hunter tracker II in my mom's attic. I have only been doing it for a week and am already addicted! I hunt locally at a park in Marathon, NY.
((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_(town),_New_York))

Given the age of the town and the advice on this forum I figured the local park would be a great start to my treasure hunting quest. After this week, I have had an excellent time and even met other detectors in the area. I plan on visiting the town historian next week to get a better idea just where to search next! I hope to upgrade my detector soon!

Here are my spoils of this week worth noting.
I also pocketed about $12 in clad, 3 matchbox cars, 1 metal dinosaur toy and a collection of scrap metal bits.
Enjoy! (click for a larger image!)

A 1948 D dime

A 1943 S mercury dime

A 1935 quarter

A ring marked "Sterling" inside the band (I was so excited that I immediately called my mom with the good news!!))

After research I believe this is a "Half Cent" piece. I can read the date and could hardly make out the word "cent" within a hardly visible wreath pattern on the back. It looks like a profile facing left with stars on the left side of the coin

Thanks for looking!
I found the silver coins all around some large trees (and they were all about 4 inches deep)
I found the ring around a park bench about 3 inches deep
I found the copper coin behind a set of metal bleachers at the baseball diamond - I am going to find out what used to be there and I certainly plan on hitting that area up more with a smarter detector.

Ashman · Jun 17, 2012

Congrats!

thtr12 · Jun 17, 2012

you are having some excellent finds. Parks in my town arent that old so I just get modern clad. No silver for me yet.

GoGoGopher · Jun 17, 2012

Your off to a great start with those finds...A half Cent is NOT an everyday find for most...

HH,

63bkpkr · Jun 17, 2012

Hello dgree and welcome!

There are many places to look though a lot depends on the area you are in. Is it a large city or a smaller more rural location?
Your idea of going to the town historian is a good start. From that visit and likely some research you should be able to put a list together of places to get permission to detect at. Permission is important! If you dig, be careful how you dig and then fill all your holes back in! Not killing the grass is important if you expect to be able to return to the same location! Public places are good as well as private places, like single family homes versus parks, churches, fairgrounds and anywhere else lots of people go to or used to go to like old picnic or camping grounds or drive in theatres. Since you've found some silver coins I suspect your area is more rural without many other detectorists around. If that is the case then you literally have a gold mine at your beck and call as long as you follow the rules above, common sense, being polite, giving back to folks who let you detect their property especially if a little child comes up to you and asks if you can find a piece of jewelry that he/she/a relative lost on the property. I had that come my way once, found the item and immediately gave it to the little girl who ran into the house yelling at the top of her lungs about my having found it and that I gave it to her. Good PR!!

A list of things and places to look for:
1) Where is the old part of town? Look for major trees as they will point the way to the oldest places around.
2) School yards, where do the kids like to hang out, watch what they do/where they go
3) Church picnic areas or any other organized group picnic/meeting areas/camping spots
4) Outdoor bleechers, actually the ground under them
5) What types of businesses have been in town for many years, do they have a piece of ground where they hold company
picnics
6) And if all else fails, where are the old bus stop pickup points at. The same for any public transportation pickup point.
7) Rivers or lakes where people have gone fishing/swimming for many years
8) Old Hotels

I think you see that there are all sorts of places to locate and detect. The list is as long as your imagination can think of.

Good Luck................63bkpkr

CASPER-2 · Jun 17, 2012

congrats on some nice finds :thumb_up:

CRUSADER · Jun 17, 2012

Funny how some find this hobby by 'accident', without fore-thought of starting. I got given a detector at 11 & have never looked back. Would I thought of it myself, maybe not, even though I collected coins at 9 & studied History later. :occasion14:

jewelerguy · Jun 17, 2012

you're certainly off to a good start! :icon_thumleft:

Bunker · Jun 17, 2012

Wow, what a first week!
Congrats, looking forward to seeing more of your finds.
Bunker

Gunrunner61 · Jun 17, 2012

Great finds......HH

dgree · Jun 19, 2012

Thanks everyone for all the praise, support and ideas for the future! I've got a pretty busy work week ahead of me, but I will certainly post again when I get the chance to get out there and hunt again!!