Silver! WHY I Follow the Dirt Trucks!

[Michigan Badger]

It's Labor Day weekend and we're down near Grayling, Michigan (my daughter lives there) checking out the coin situation. One can't cover a lot of ground in two hours especially with a bad knee.

I found someone hauling black dirt with a small pickup truck and dumping it in their yard. Permission granted I hunted the sidewalk and found the stuff you see in one of the pictures.

Then I looked at the meager pile of black dirt and decided to swing my coil by it. All of a sudden I get this solid coin signal deep into the pile. With permission I dug way down into the heap and near the bottom layer I got a blasting signal. I spread out the dirt and there it was...another War nickel.

You can easily tell these by the large mint mark positioned over Monticello.

"War nickel Synonym for Wartime nickel.
Wartime nickel Five-cent coins struck during World War II with the composition 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese."

Well now my knee tells me I've had enough for this vacation.

From now on I'm following the dirt truck

Badger P.S. I asked where they got the dirt and they told me. Guess where I'm hunting next?

 

[coolcash2004]

Very nice finds Badger! SILVER!

-CC

 

[stoney56]

Nice going! From the looks of it, there's no telling what's gonna come out of there. HH!

 

[DPBOB]

Nice Eye Badger....


UMMMM It doesn't look like you filled your hole in very good....

Nice finds......love the Dog Tag.............

 

[Burdie]

Now I understand the true meaning of throwing a dog a bone and he will follow you any where. Congrats on your finds.
Burdie

 

[Spitfire Reddie]

Nice finds !! HeyBadger,whats that screw driver handle looking thing ? I dug one of those up before.

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice finds !! HeyBadger,what this that screw driver handle looking thing ? I dug one of those up before.

I believe they're tire valve stem caps that were used on trucks back in the 20's and 30's.

I've found about 5 or 6 over the years.

Badger

 

[Spitfire Reddie]

Really ? I always thought is was a lipstick top ! LOL

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice finds MB, even with a gimp knee, congrats on the silver! I once followed a dump truck full of dirt from the middle of a Roman fort, you should have seen the look I got when I asked if I could follow him to the dump site! After about 10 miles of following he turns down a dirt/muddy road, I followed as far as I could in a rental car and noticed several other dump trucks driving into the dump site. Walked the last 1/2 mile in mud and discovered they were dumping into a deep ravine where a dozer was pushing it over the edge mixing it with all kinds of dirt. Had a work colleague with me who got just as muddy, I didn't even get to turn on the detector, we still have a laugh over that experience. Nice bent dog tag by the way, LOL! HH, Mike

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice finds MB, even with a gimp knee, congrats on the silver! I once followed a dump truck full of dirt from the middle of a Roman fort, you should have seen the look I got when I asked if I could follow him to the dump site! After about 10 miles of following he turns down a dirt/muddy road, I followed as far as I could in a rental car and noticed several other dump trucks driving into the dump site. Walked the last 1/2 mile in mud and discovered they were dumping into a deep ravine where a dozer was pushing it over the edge mixing it with all kinds of dirt. Had a work colleague with me who got just as muddy, I didn't even get to turn on the detector, we still have a laugh over that experience. Nice bent dog tag by the way, LOL! HH, Mike

Gosh, I dream about being able to hunt ancient sites...ravine or no ravine!

I'd even be happy hunting CW/Rev.War loot in the south. Nothern Michigan is sort of depressing treasure wise if ya get my drift. :P

 

[Boobydoo]

Nice Badger, congrats!
seizing the opportunity, awesome.

Smiles!
BDoo

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

way cool finds, man. i especially dig the dog tag.....i love that personlized stuff

 

[Blackjack77]

Nice finds Badger-- isn't it satisfying to find coin where least expected??
Minnesota doesn't have the obvious relic possibilities like some states, but French trappers were here in the 1700s which gives MN Th a chance at older finds. How about Michigan??
Bet early explorers were there also.
HH

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice finds Badger-- isn't it satisfying to find coin where least expected??
Minnesota doesn't have the obvious relic possibilities like some states, but French trappers were here in the 1700s which gives MN Th a chance at older finds. How about Michigan??
Bet early explorers were there also.
HH

Thanks.

Oh yes, up in the area of the old Fort Mackinac I find French trader knives and even an occasional cannon grapeshot.

We also have lots of old unknown lumber camps and those are my personal favorite. One of the photos below shows my finds for one day at a lumber camp which includes (3) full size crosscut saws, blacksmith tools, etc.

Badger

 

[Mirage]

That is a very cool dog tag. I love it. War nickels are good finds also. I see you are using that funny Natalis detector. How is it working out for you?

Mirage

 

[Michigan Badger]

That is a very cool dog tag. I love it. War nickels are good finds also. I see you are using that funny Natalis detector. How is it working out for you?

Mirage

Ya, them there dog tags sure beat colonial coppers and such :P

As for the Naughty...THEY STINK! Don't buy one! Spread the word to everyone.

Just kidding

 

[Mona Lisa]

Ok..That does it, I'm going to start following the dirt trucks.

You always make the best posts, badger. Thanks!

 

[bluehunter1973]

dont follow to close might be carrying manure

 

[99Brown]

Cool digs. I really like the dog tag.

99Brown

 

[treasurekidd]

Nice finds! I love those war nickels and the dog tag is cool too! MB you are correct, that is a tire valve stem cover. Found a Schrader myself last summer