Metal Detecting a Lakeshore park YIELDS 6 coins

[metalman2024]

Metal detecting a park not too far from 19th century buildings did not yield 19th century coins unfortunately. All within 3" to 4" of the top of the turf. I seem to dig only the ones that register on my pin-pointer.

I suppose there were two targets that made my GMT detector hum but did not register on my pin-pointer I should have dug them out but did not. They might've been the 19th century coins I was after.

But not a bad bunch of 5 Canadian modern coins and one Chinese coin I think.

 

[robertk]

All within 3" to 4" of the top of the turf. I seem to dig only the ones that register on my pin-pointer.

You should dig the other signals too. Just because they're too deep for the pinpointer to see them, they will still not be so deep that you can't dig them easily. You never know what you might be missing unless you dig it up...

 

[Tony in SC]

You will miss good stuff if you don't dig! My wife is a ring finder. On her detector pull tabs' nickels and rings read 20/22. At a swimming area I watched her dig 24 pull tabs, number 25 was a $2ooo platinum diamond ring.

 

[pepperj]

The pinpointer is only good for a certain depth.
The detector can easily detect 2x that depth for a coin.

Your just digging modern clad. The park I believe your in certainly has good history.

I recovered silvers 6-10" from the said park.
Now for the query:
Why didn't you dig the deeper targets?

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Nice finds !

Not all the time but most of the time the older targets are deeper.
Decaying grass and leaves turns into a little bit of topsoil every year.
Now multiply this very thin layer of topsoil by 100 or 200 years.
It can add up to several inches or more of dirt over the older targets your after.

Good Hunting !

 

[Digger RJ]

Metal detecting a park not too far from 19th century buildings did not yield 19th century coins unfortunately. All within 3" to 4" of the top of the turf. I seem to dig only the ones that register on my pin-pointer.

I suppose there were two targets that made my GMT detector hum but did not register on my pin-pointer I should have dug them out but did not. They might've been the 19th century coins I was after.

But not a bad bunch of 5 Canadian modern coins and one Chinese coin I think.

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[metalman2024]

You should dig the other signals too. Just because they're too deep for the pinpointer to see them, they will still not be so deep that you can't dig them easily. You never know what you might be missing unless you dig it up...

Thank you for the encouragement and the education, I honestly hear ya, while the benefits would outweigh the work done, a signal yielding a depth of 8" is almost guaranteed to be a coin from the 30s/40s era at least, the very low sound wasn't encouraging enough especially when the location is not too secluded, the calculations in my head included those of 1) human proximity factor 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 as I am calling it along with 2) "what the heck are you doing to the park with an 8" hole and similarly deep" factor and the 3) what-if just aluminum/bottle cap 🍬factor after all that work factor? If you multiply the 3 together, giving each factor my approximate weighting score, say, 30% x 50% x 10% , I got 1.5% encouragement to dig! ; ), I just got to find me more promising and secluded areas that do not have a lot of trash!! It just might be a tall order! The research involved appears daunting.

 

[metalman2024]

You will miss good stuff if you don't dig! My wife is a ring finder. On her detector pull tabs' nickels and rings read 20/22. At a swimming area I watched her dig 24 pull tabs, number 25 was a $2ooo platinum diamond ring.

That is awesome! Hard work along with determination pays off!

 

[metalman2024]

You should dig the other signals too. Just because they're too deep for the pinpointer to see them, they will still not be so deep that you can't dig them easily. You never know what you might be missing unless you dig it up...

thank you I will strive to do that

 

[metalman2024]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

Thank you!

 

[metalman2024]

The pinpointer is only good for a certain depth.
The detector can easily detect 2x that depth for a coin.

Your just digging modern clad. The park I believe your in certainly has good history.

I recovered silvers 6-10" from the said park.
Now for the query:
Why didn't you dig the deeper targets?

In hindsight I wish I did, and thank you for the encouragement, I must increase my Mark Manson factor, because this hobby is great and the history knowledge gain is priceless.

 

[pepperj]

Thank you for the encouragement and the education, I honestly hear ya, while the benefits would outweigh the work done, a signal yielding a depth of 8" is almost guaranteed to be a coin from the 30s/40s era at least, the very low sound wasn't encouraging enough especially when the location is not too secluded, the calculations in my head included those of 1) human proximity factor 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 as I am calling it along with 2) "what the heck are you doing to the park with an 8" hole and similarly deep" factor and the 3) what-if just aluminum/bottle cap 🍬factor after all that work factor? If you multiply the 3 together, giving each factor my approximate weighting score, say, 30% x 50% x 10% , I got 1.5% encouragement to dig! ; ), I just got to find me more promising and secluded areas that do not have a lot of trash!! It just might be a tall order! The research involved appears daunting.

Digging deep in a urban setting.
1st: Cut a plug in the shape of a U.
Leaving a hinged side.(won't dry out)
Cut the plug with vertical sides (not like a saucer)

2nd: Pry the lid of the plug up. ( this should be the sod, with its roots)
3rd: Use the pinpointer/detector to see it the target is in the sod or deeper.
4th: If the target is still deeper loosen the soil up that is in the hole.
Note: Go from edge towards the center. (Less chance of hitting the target)

5th: Now push pinpointer in and around in the loose soil. If target is at the bottom still go to #6.

#6: Dig into the soil and press the soil into a ball. Repeat if necessary.
(Have a piece of cloth/plastic lid or what ever to place the ball(s) on.)

#7 Now dig deeper until you recover the target.

The original cut plug hasn't grown in area, only deeper.

Things to remember.
Dirt is 30% more in volume once its disturbed.
Now to fit the balls back into the plug hole.
1st one, press dirt, then follow with the others.
Leave the last dirt loose, flip lid closed.
Stomp heel down, fluff the grass back.

Smile at the good job done with zero impact showing on the grass.
I've dug in the urban grasses of the GTA and without a single complaint.
The staff of High Park always waved and never gave me grief.

 

[xr7ator]

When you flip the lid closed, be sure to comb the surrounding blades of grass back to keep them from being pushed into the hole.

 

[metalman2024]

Digging deep in a urban setting.
1st: Cut a plug in the shape of a U.
Leaving a hinged side.(won't dry out)
Cut the plug with vertical sides (not like a saucer)

2nd: Pry the lid of the plug up. ( this should be the sod, with its roots)
3rd: Use the pinpointer/detector to see it the target is in the sod or deeper.
4th: If the target is still deeper loosen the soil up that is in the hole.
Note: Go from edge towards the center. (Less chance of hitting the target)

5th: Now push pinpointer in and around in the loose soil. If target is at the bottom still go to #6.

#6: Dig into the soil and press the soil into a ball. Repeat if necessary.
(Have a piece of cloth/plastic lid or what ever to place the ball(s) on.)

#7 Now dig deeper until you recover the target.

The original cut plug hasn't grown in area, only deeper.

Things to remember.
Dirt is 30% more in volume once its disturbed.
Now to fit the balls back into the plug hole.
1st one, press dirt, then follow with the others.
Leave the last dirt loose, flip lid closed.
Stomp heel down, fluff the grass back.

Smile at the good job done with zero impact showing on the grass.
I've dug in the urban grasses of the GTA and without a single complaint.
The staff of High Park always waved and never gave me grief.

pepperj: priceless knowledge gained, incredibly appreciated

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

Metal detecting a park not too far from 19th century buildings did not yield 19th century coins unfortunately. All within 3" to 4" of the top of the turf. I seem to dig only the ones that register on my pin-pointer.

I suppose there were two targets that made my GMT detector hum but did not register on my pin-pointer I should have dug them out but did not. They might've been the 19th century coins I was after.

But not a bad bunch of 5 Canadian modern coins and one Chinese coin I think.

looks like fun anyway, wtg

 

[Almy]

Here's a tip from an old detectorist: Gold detects the detector signal and then goes into "hide" mode and becomes undetectable to the pinpointer! It's hard to coax it out of hiding. I've never been able to.
A few times, I have done careful digging, plugging and replacing. My holes were virtually invisible - until the next day. Skunks and raccoons like easy digging for bugs and grubs! They had been out in the night. In areas where they are plentiful, I often go back and inspect a day or two after detecting and repair any animal damage.

 

[High Plains Prospectors]

Keep at it but dig those deeper signals. The older stuff will work its way deeper over time as it becomes covered with decayed grass clippings, natural, sediments, etc. Here is a chart I found years ago about coin depth/age.

 

[ArfieBoy]

You are off to a good start! I almost always dig every target. I find a lot of junk (pull tabs, nails, iron, etc.) but I have found a lot of silver and jewelry over the years also! It has always been worth it. Plus, I throw the junk in the garbage can and help clean up the site and maybe reveal new good targets.

 

[pepperj]

Here's a tip from an old detectorist: Gold detects the detector signal and then goes into "hide" mode and becomes undetectable to the pinpointer! It's hard to coax it out of hiding. I've never been able to.
A few times, I have done careful digging, plugging and replacing. My holes were virtually invisible - until the next day. Skunks and raccoons like easy digging for bugs and grubs! They had been out in the night. In areas where they are plentiful, I often go back and inspect a day or two after detecting and repair any animal damage.

Back in 2011 we rented a cottage down the road while we built.
Had unlimited detecting on 3 properties.

Sitting there one day watching the skunk digging my
plugs out.
I soon figured it was the grubs it was after.
So I tossed the grubs away from the plug.
Couple of days later, it did a pass on the plugs.
Went over to where I tossed them, scratched around and had a snack.

 

[SilverCoinHound]

You will miss good stuff if you don't dig! My wife is a ring finder. On her detector pull tabs' nickels and rings read 20/22. At a swimming area I watched her dig 24 pull tabs, number 25 was a $2ooo platinum diamond ring.

Wish i had a friend wife that would dig just 1 pull tab!