🥇 BANNER My First US GOLD COIN!

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,721
40,799
Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
10
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Probably should have titled this, check out your finds right away, dummy. But I wander away from the point. I went to the beach...again...went over some of the old places I normally detect...again...I watch where the crowds go, where the "events" are held, etc. and then go behind them to see what they lose.

Well, this was a pretty usual day. The sweeper had been there but after the 3rd sinker or so and the 3rd or so pulltab, finally started finding individual coins. Most of the coins were older, you can tell by the pics, and by older I mean they were corroded. Did find a recently dropped 1939 Lincoln. Interesting. Weather was perfect, so I figured I'd go down to the FAR end of the beach where I only go once or twice a year.

As I was starting down to that point, I found a coin spill, or something similar. About 8 coins in a 10' x 10' area, mostly new drops. And found a golden colored arcade token, the kind with eagle on it. It was with two shiny pennies and a quarter in the scoop so I didn't take a second glance at the "token" until I had gotten home.

In the meantime, In the pouch with the "token", go the sinkers, fishhooks, pulltabs, bottle caps, and a total of 35 coins, sunglasses, ad nauseum.

Late in the hunt, I decided to "tune up" the Deus to "kill" mode. I was detecting "dry beach" at a frequency of 14.4 and bumped it to 28.8. Picked up some tiny split shot and broken barrell swivels. All go in the pouch with the POS golden "token".

About 50 feet later I got a decent but deep signal. I dig it, and the dumb thing slips through the holes in the scoop. It was the top half of a 14k gold ring. Half? Come on already! Well, here's the picture. IMG_0463.JPG

I now go back to where the fishermen spend a lot of time, and sinker heaven awaits me. Yes, the meat of the story is coming! I found more sinkers and HALF of a man's tungsten ring! Come on! Half! It's on the left top of this picture. Also pictured is my loose screw. View attachment IMG_0466.jpg

So I keep digging but the cat's getting tired. Here's some of the stuff. IMG_0467.jpg IMG_0465.jpg

So, on the way back I dig out the 14k ring and drop it at the jewelers. It is 14k, not worth much of anything but I'm having it restored JUST BECAUSE. Having a red garnet set in it. I'll have it back in about two weeks. They must have thought I was nuts, but did learn one thing - tungsten rings, while tough, are brittle and will easily break in half.

THEN, I finally get home and start sorting. I set aside the driftwood and the seaglass, and chuck out the aluminum cans, the plastic lures, the sunglasses, the swimming goggles and dump out, actually, unceremoniously dump out the coins and the "golden token".

Then I got my glasses out. Note to self: do not assume you have an arcade token when you detect a gold colored coin, and TAKE YOUR GLASSES WITH YOU WHEN YOU DETECT. The token DID feel kind of heavy. Not corroded either. So, FINALLY with the glasses on I actually LOOK at the thing. It is a 1905 $5 US gold coin. I think I almost needed to change my clothes. And it looks like it was lost YESTERDAY, IF that long ago. And on the beach?

At this point I'm having a fit. THE BEACH? Now it is scratched up quite a bit, has it's share of dings and scratched and worn flat spots on it. But the BEACH?????

Best assumption is someone had this in a screw closure pendant and the thing came out. Very recently, or I or someone else would have found it last weekend when there were several of us detecting that stretch of beach.

So I had a cow. A BIG cow. Upon close examination I can see some damage around the rim, like it was clamped in one of those little screw coin clamps.

I am still playing with it. While this is my first US gold coin, it is my third gold coin found since 2013. I dig a LOT.

First gold coin was a 1774 English Gold Guinea found at Coin Beach, Delaware after Hurricane Sandy in 2013. It was ON TOP of the sand.

Second was the ugliest thing ever. A 1945 Mexican coin found on another beach in 2016.

I think you're supposed to find gold coins in the DIRT. I do dig a lot of historic sites, but can't seem to find many coins there with the exception of English and early American coppers, but no state coppers except one Virginia Halfpenny found a very, very long time ago. Well, for me, it's a sandy kind of deal.

I'm not excited but almost forgot to post the picture of the coin! The thing is in amazing condition. I don't think the picture shows it well, but there are worn high spots, especially on the face, looks like someone liked to rub it, best guess. IMG_0460.jpg View attachment IMG_0459.jpg
 

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smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,721
40,799
Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
10
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I will post the finished ring. It will be a major suck out of my checkbook when that thing is ready, but what good is half a gold ring?
 

GB1

Gold Member
Jul 12, 2017
7,428
21,863
East TX
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Teknectics eurotek pro
bounty hunter time ranger
bounty hunter quick draw 2
used a teroso compadre.
Primary Interest:
Other
congrats on banner
 

Tom_in_CA

Gold Member
Mar 23, 2007
13,837
10,360
Salinas, CA
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Explorer II, Compass 77b, Tesoro shadow X2
Great story from a great contributor. And now you are officially a studmuffin ! :headbang: Fellow md'rs must call you "sir". And you can autograph their metal detectors. :laughing7: Congratz dude !
 

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OP
smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,721
40,799
Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
10
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
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XP Deus II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Tom IN Ca, now that's funny. A couple of us have more untouched sites to hit this fall, starting in about 2 weeks when it cools down, that you can shake a stick at, including the now famous Pennsylvania farm that has produced three CW plates and two jars of 19th and early 20th century silver coins and misc. silver out of a third broken jar cache. Still in standing corn and soybeans. Might be interesting. Or nothing. You can never tell.

I like the beaches in the fall and ocean beaches in dead of winter when the nor'eaters stir up stuff.
 

Benjamin52

Sr. Member
Apr 26, 2011
436
695
Germany
Detector(s) used
XP DEUS :-:
Minelab CTX 3030
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
congrats, great story and beautiful gold coin!
 

trdking

Gold Member
Feb 28, 2015
5,139
7,923
Fullerton CA
Detector(s) used
Minelab CTX 3030
AT Pro
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Congrats on the much deserved banner! Way to go
 

fongu

Bronze Member
Mar 30, 2012
1,335
875
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Nice assortment of finds and fantastic find on the 5 dollar gold coin. Congratulations. One gold coin in my detecting career would be wonderful, but 3 gold coins in a few years might overwhelm me.
 

Terry Soloman

Gold Member
May 28, 2010
19,424
30,109
White Plains, New York
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Nokta Makro Legend// Pulsedive// Minelab GPZ 7000// Vanquish 540// Minelab Pro Find 35// Dune Kraken Sandscoop// Grave Digger Tools Tombstone shovel & Sidekick digger// Bunk's Hermit Pick
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting

Davers

Gold Member
Jan 8, 2013
8,127
7,147
N.of , I-285...GA
Detector(s) used
Whites Spc xlt & Tesoro Tejon- Now back ...Fisher 1266-X. TRX Pointer. New .Teknetics G2 + . New AT Pro .
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Way to go Smokey.
I know you search hard, & the finds prove it.

If getting the half Gold ring fixed makes you happy , That 's wonderful.

I see more good stuff coming yr way & soon.
No I'm not Psychic ,just hearing about yr sites gives me good vibes.

Great Story & I always save those play/ Car wash tokens.
 

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smokeythecat

smokeythecat

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2012
20,721
40,799
Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
10
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
XP Deus II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Got a new 55 acre site square atop the MD PA state line with permission. Has to rain first, and the soybeans need to go. Who knows what that will produce. This has been an unreal year. I don't which find shocked me most at this point.
 

BigWaveDave

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2013
9,323
16,998
Mountain Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, AT Max, Minelab
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Good stuff right there....huge congrats!
 

Loco-Digger

Gold Member
Jun 16, 2014
11,827
17,744
Northern O-H-I-O
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
F75 LTD, 1280X Aquanaut, & a Patriot (back-up/loaner)
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Congrats on yet another Banner Smokey, you must be doing something right.
 

doggoneitdignit

Hero Member
Oct 2, 2016
747
374
Canada
Detector(s) used
Current: Vaquero,Compadre,T2,300i, ML 440V, and Simplex+
Past:Whites 4000 D Series 3, Radio Shack 3001 Micronta
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Happens to me all the time getting home finding the good stuff after the fact realizing you have a great one of a kink find there. Can't say that I ever turn up a gold coin though and for that congrats on your find and great story indeed.

HH.
 

Lanny in AB

Gold Member
Apr 2, 2003
5,660
6,360
Alberta
Detector(s) used
Various Minelabs(5000, 2100, X-Terra 705, Equinox 800, Gold Monster), Falcon MD20, Tesoro Sand Shark, Gold Bug Pro, Makro Gold Racer.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Probably should have titled this, check out your finds right away, dummy. But I wander away from the point. I went to the beach...again...went over some of the old places I normally detect...again...I watch where the crowds go, where the "events" are held, etc. and then go behind them to see what they lose.

Well, this was a pretty usual day. The sweeper had been there but after the 3rd sinker or so and the 3rd or so pulltab, finally started finding individual coins. Most of the coins were older, you can tell by the pics, and by older I mean they were corroded. Did find a recently dropped 1939 Lincoln. Interesting. Weather was perfect, so I figured I'd go down to the FAR end of the beach where I only go once or twice a year.

As I was starting down to that point, I found a coin spill, or something similar. About 8 coins in a 10' x 10' area, mostly new drops. And found a golden colored arcade token, the kind with eagle on it. It was with two shiny pennies and a quarter in the scoop so I didn't take a second glance at the "token" until I had gotten home.

In the meantime, In the pouch with the "token", go the sinkers, fishhooks, pulltabs, bottle caps, and a total of 35 coins, sunglasses, ad nauseum.

Late in the hunt, I decided to "tune up" the Deus to "kill" mode. I was detecting "dry beach" at a frequency of 14.4 and bumped it to 28.8. Picked up some tiny split shot and broken barrell swivels. All go in the pouch with the POS golden "token".

About 50 feet later I got a decent but deep signal. I dig it, and the dumb thing slips through the holes in the scoop. It was the top half of a 14k gold ring. Half? Come on already! Well, here's the picture. View attachment 1500508

I now go back to where the fishermen spend a lot of time, and sinker heaven awaits me. Yes, the meat of the story is coming! I found more sinkers and HALF of a man's tungsten ring! Come on! Half! It's on the left top of this picture. Also pictured is my loose screw. View attachment 1500509

So I keep digging but the cat's getting tired. Here's some of the stuff. View attachment 1500510 View attachment 1500511

So, on the way back I dig out the 14k ring and drop it at the jewelers. It is 14k, not worth much of anything but I'm having it restored JUST BECAUSE. Having a red garnet set in it. I'll have it back in about two weeks. They must have thought I was nuts, but did learn one thing - tungsten rings, while tough, are brittle and will easily break in half.

THEN, I finally get home and start sorting. I set aside the driftwood and the seaglass, and chuck out the aluminum cans, the plastic lures, the sunglasses, the swimming goggles and dump out, actually, unceremoniously dump out the coins and the "golden token".

Then I got my glasses out. Note to self: do not assume you have an arcade token when you detect a gold colored coin, and TAKE YOUR GLASSES WITH YOU WHEN YOU DETECT. The token DID feel kind of heavy. Not corroded either. So, FINALLY with the glasses on I actually LOOK at the thing. It is a 1905 $5 US gold coin. I think I almost needed to change my clothes. And it looks like it was lost YESTERDAY, IF that long ago. And on the beach?

At this point I'm having a fit. THE BEACH? Now it is scratched up quite a bit, has it's share of dings and scratched and worn flat spots on it. But the BEACH?????

Best assumption is someone had this in a screw closure pendant and the thing came out. Very recently, or I or someone else would have found it last weekend when there were several of us detecting that stretch of beach.

So I had a cow. A BIG cow. Upon close examination I can see some damage around the rim, like it was clamped in one of those little screw coin clamps.

I am still playing with it. While this is my first US gold coin, it is my third gold coin found since 2013. I dig a LOT.

First gold coin was a 1774 English Gold Guinea found at Coin Beach, Delaware after Hurricane Sandy in 2013. It was ON TOP of the sand.

Second was the ugliest thing ever. A 1945 Mexican coin found on another beach in 2016.

I think you're supposed to find gold coins in the DIRT. I do dig a lot of historic sites, but can't seem to find many coins there with the exception of English and early American coppers, but no state coppers except one Virginia Halfpenny found a very, very long time ago. Well, for me, it's a sandy kind of deal.

I'm not excited but almost forgot to post the picture of the coin! The thing is in amazing condition. I don't think the picture shows it well, but there are worn high spots, especially on the face, looks like someone liked to rub it, best guess. View attachment 1500513 View attachment 1500516

Love the story, love the finds!

Nicely done, and all the best,

Lanny
 

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