My first silver coin could make you cry

[pakeha63]

Hello all,

I've been detecting for about 5 months now, and have dug almost $450.00 in clad coins gold rings, silver rings, but no silver coins
Well today was my day. Put on a 6" Excelerator coil on my Minelab SE Pro, and off I went to the parks. I targeted 3 parks dating from the 1800's, hoping to dig a silver. Found almost $12.00 in clad, but these parks just didn't want to give up what I was looking for. It was getting a little frustrating too, as these parks were riddled with screw caps. First park, I decided to leave after a group of shady looking guys(10) started to congregate. Second park, my detector was singing a song to me all the time because of the large amount of screwcaps(they call this wino park here in Stockton). So I went to the third. Was pulling coins all over the place. Ever had that feeling someone is watching you? Sure enough this strange guy was nearby. He leaves, and comes back with a buddy, and they follow me everywhere I go. That was my time to leave.
Decided to hit a newer park just to find coins. Got a strong quarter signal, and started digging. Dug my plug, used my pinpointer- no signal Ran my detector over again, and it was still there. Dug down to about six inches, and out the coin pops. I looked, and thought this coin is extremely large for a quarter, and noticed the edge didn't have the copper line on the rim. Hooray!!, a silver half dollar 1954 Franklin. I couldn't believe it. I carefully wrapped it in tissue, and put it in my pocket. Went home.
When i was washing it under water, with a soft toothbrush, my heart sank as I could see I had got it with my digger
I'm sad, but I'm happy- my first silver is a half dollar.
Happy hunting everyone.

 

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[allen]

congrats on your first silver and its a sweet one !!!

 

[ibbasser123]

STILL VERY NICE!!!!!!

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Nice first silver! I wouldn't worry bout that little rim nick,its hardly noticeable.
Jerry

 

[sodiumrye]

First silver and a half to boot now thats something to keep a man diggin WTG

 

[civil war hunter]

whooo way to go!

 

[watercolor]

Excellent find
That's the only type of silver half I ever found as well.

On a side note, that damage COULD have been caused by a mower blade way back when. . . so you're off the hook

None the less, great hunt!
watercolor

 

[kdismuke1]

WOW THAT IS A GREAT FIRST SILVER.

 

[EddieR]

WTG!!!

 

[seger98]

They always say that the first one is the hardest to find! Now that you got that out of the way watch how easy they start coming to you now! Congratulations on nice find!


Chris

 

[Twin Digger]

rough area? Stay safe urban hunter.

I know how it is in the toughest area's where older parks and buildings are. Get out before you find yourself out.

Nice silver. I'm still hunting for my first...... I might ave to get a smaller coil...

Twin Digger

Check out my first video [youtube=425,350]LTIVUo0cLvk[/youtube]

 

[topdog]

Nice job on recovering the big silver,continued success.

 

[DAVID@RT6DETECTORS]

Anytime you can get a silver half, your doing real good!!!


Keep Diggin!!!
Crevias

 

[Jeff(or)]

Big silver is always a great find!!!! Congrats!!!

 

[gold nuggets]

Love to see pics and read stories of fellow metal detectorists finding silver
coins or jewelery. Nice finds on the silver half and best wishes for
findng many more. Gold Nuggets

 

[pakeha63]

Thank you everyone for your great replies. I can tell you something from my experience- don't under estimate the year of the park, the silver may be there. I'm thinking that either somebody lost it, or the top soil they used come from an older area. Next time I'm digging a bigger plug.
Hey Twin Digger- that is a fabulous video- keep warm, it made me shiver lol

 

[NJ Marty]

You will never forget your first silver and you got a franklin, just that much more of a memory. just great.
Marty

 

[nova]

Wow I have never found a Franklin half. That's a big find. I had the same experience the other day
I was at a local park when a group of people started watching me about 10 or 12. I got nervous
and did not want any trouble so I scurried out of there.

 

[davey cricket]

well pakeha63 glad to see a fellow stocktonian here , grats on the find and i feel you on the weirdos in the parks . I try to never hunt alone but that doesn't allways work ...HH hope to see ya out there

 

[CRUSADER]

Thank you everyone for your great replies. I can tell you something from my experience- don't under estimate the year of the park, the silver may be there. I'm thinking that either somebody lost it, or the top soil they used come from an older area. Next time I'm digging a bigger plug.
Hey Twin Digger- that is a fabulous video- keep warm, it made me shiver lol

Congrats on the first silver.

I hope more new starters read & learn from this. I learnt a similar lesson, way back when I started I had a small digging tool & broke a rare 1790s calendar token. At that point it was my best find, it made me sick for weeks & I still remember it 20+ years later. Sod's Law means you will always slip up on your best find. I tell everyone that starts detecting that the best way to detect is ALWAYS dig back from where you think it is. Because it could be on its edge or give a false reading which causes you to hit it. I have a medium spade & haven't hit anything of significance since other than to odd low grade item.

Although this is a sad lesson it will save you many good items in the future