Okinawa Beach First Silver Find EVER!!!(pics)

[vegasmtl]

Well, I got out for a few hours today to a local beach that all the Japanese schoolgirls go to for lunch, so of course all the construction workers go there too I took my MD buddy, with his toy detector, but he was busy chasing birds and girls to do much of my digging today. The Japanese women really like my 3 year old son, the always want pics and to pick him up. He eats it up and works it! He gets candy everywhere we go!

Anyway, I started hitting targets right away, mostly pull tabs near the vending machines. They are right up on the sand, so I figured had to be some coin drops there. I pulled 2 quarters from there, which is funny since the machine is yen only.

I was dry sand searching only, as my detecter(Prism III) isn't for the surf.
Got a shallow target that was all goofy and all over the scale on depth, turned out to be a pocket spill, with 3 100 yen coins.
Right next to that hole I was still getting a target, but reading pulltab, but I dug it of course. It was a 24" .925 Silver Chain, with a pendant that says "Silver" and "G's Fact", but the pendant was not as pretty as that chain! Felt really cool, and a little odd at the same time. A wet silver chain right out of the sand is a feeling I think I will remember! I quickly stuffed it in my pocket and kept going, really pumped now! Found a few more U.S. coins, and then some more yen.
My total was 525yen=about 4.80 U.S. and .66 in U.S.(not .60 like in the pic, I was too excited to post, lol)
The fake Louis Vuitton thing had me thinking it was silver too, but nope, just junk metal. Which makes me think it is a fake, as the stupid purses are so expensive (yes ladies, I said stupid 8) ), I can't imagine them selling a junk metal pendant. Lots of fake purses for sale on the island too.
Here is a pic of the day's finds.

Here is one of the back of the pendant. Anyone know what the compostion of this might be?

Also, anyone tried the salt/vinegar thing on silver chains? What is the best way to clean it up?

Thanks for looking!!

 

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[Bavaria Mike]

Nice beach hunt! I use a silver cleaner, liquid type, check at the local AAFES jewelry counter. Be careful with it and only dip the silver for about a minute then rinse, repeat if necessary. HH, Mike

 

[tymcmurray]

Nice silver chain.
Looks like Okinawa has some potential.
Keep it up.

 

[Derek752]

Nice silver !!

Im curious , what are the Japanese rules about detecting ? I'm going to Thailand for a 3rd time and I've not seen anyone hunting the beaches I've been to and I wonder what the rules there might be.

I imagine the beaches would be full of lost jewelry if they've never been searched !

HH!

D.

 

[vegasmtl]

I have been told that the beaches are ok, but parks might be a problem. I have been here about a year, and have never seen anyone detecting the beaches. The west side of the island is covered in tourist beaches, the east are a little more difficult to get to, not near any of the U.S. bases. A little scary though, as I have found unexploded ordinance on an eastern beach. I think it is an WWII Japanese grenade, but it is pretty rusted up. They even run commercials on the base cable system about unexploded ordinance. I am currently trying to get permission to hunt on one of the bases now, hopefully I can get permission. The island used U.S. money exclusively until sometime in the mid 70's, so lots of silver out there to be had.

I plan on hitting a couple of the more ritzy beaches this weekend, gotta pull some gold!

Thanks for looking!
vegasmtl

 

[detectoraddict]

Nice silver chain and pendant!

 

[Wasabi]

Nice finds Vega,
At first I thought your post stated you found 3100 yen. Then I realized it was 3-100 yen.
Cool chain and glad you and your son were able to go out together.

 

[Jack(IN)]

Beaches have never been a problem detecting, but check the laws because when I was there I had alot of problems outside the bases. The laws can be hard to understand and when you do have a chance to detect just beware of where you hunt, very surprising when its thought you were in an area you are not allowed. That Island isn't big at all. You want silver coins, hit the bases, many Mercs/Roosies/Washingtons to be had and you have access to them all!! Good Luck!!

 

[vegasmtl]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I too had heard that there were issues outside of the bases. There are so many places to hunt, that I am just going to stick to the beaches and the bases if I can secure permission. I am sure the base is full of silver, but permission might be a trick, but I have my fingers crossed. I need to get a pinpointer and digging tools first though. Trying to buy some substitutes for the real thing, as there isn't a detector supply place handy. All else fails, I will head to ebay

Jack, when were you here?

HH
vegasmtl