So I was walking back to my car...

[Silvermonkey]

...after a three hour hunt in the woods. The ground was soft enough to dig, and I had managed to find a no-date buffalo nickel, a 1909 wheat, and a 1942 mercury dime. Not bad. My car was in sight, but I decided to keep swinging. My AT-Pro suddenly rang in with a " 66" signal at about 4 inches. I was pretty sure it was going to be trash, but dug it anyhow. Out pops a large copper ( 8.9 grams, 27 mm). After some gentle cleaning at home, I'm not seeing any identifiable markings...its pretty slick. That was only my second large copper for the year, so I'm very happy. But I'm also puzzled by the "66". Other coppers I have dug in similar conditions have all been in the high "80's" . Does anyone out there have any theories? I did re-check the hole, and there was not anything else there that could have accounted for this low number. Happy New Year's and Happy Hunting to all!

 

[Appalachianman76]

Congrats on the finds. The 66 reading could be due to several factors. I've had luck with careful cleaning using a cold hydrogen peroxide bath on my LC to bring out better details (understanding that I'm cleaning the LC for myself to enjoy not to sell). Keep the finds coming!!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the old copper and silver!

 

[Geochem]

Looks like a significant layer of oxided copper with possible oxidized zinc sections. The soil must have higher acidity than most soils.

I'm still new to how you all cleanup items, like this one. Keeping everything oxidized while removing tarnish sound like a safe and mild way, than use of a weak organic acid used for pots and pans.

 

[A2coins]

My AT has done that if another target was right under or next to it that was a better conductor try thye coin once you get it a little cleaner and check your readings. I found what I thought was a gold ring it had markings like initials but rang in the high 60s turns out it was not real solid gold your detector will be pretty accurate most times mabee the metal content is lower in that one any way great find!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Thanks for the suggestions and nice comments. I hope that 2017 is a banner year for everyone!

 

[fishstick]

I know on my T2 the 30's - 50's largies ring in at 91 maybe 90 and my earlier ( teens ) largies ring 88 solid... Jumplng 20+ sounds a bit much.. CONGRATZ....

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[trapperart]

Could be the way the coin was positioned in the ground. I've dug a lot of coppers with readings all over the board. That's why Crusader says don't pay attention to the numbers just dig. Congrats on some nice finds

 

[treblehunter]

Could be the way the coin was positioned in the ground. I've dug a lot of coppers with readings all over the board. That's why Crusader says don't pay attention to the numbers just dig. Congrats on some nice finds

Nice finds, I agree, sometimes I have to go with what I hear. Numbers (sometimes) can be influenced by the speed of your swing. When I'm trying to decide on a target, I'm barely moving that coil, very slow.

 

[Scrappy]

Positioning and metal content affect signals greatly. I've dug poor quality counterfeit British coppers that rang in at IHC levels because the tin or pot metal content was high.

That said, you have a counterfeit KG3 right there. In the second pic I see the back of the bust and head on the left.

Cheers

 

[JackalopeZL1]

Now that it is out of the hole what does it ring up? that will answer the question why it rang in weird if now it rings up normal now. My guess something else was in the ground, heck maybe a 3 cent nickel was in the hole with it nice find either way !!!

 

[UnderMiner]

Nice large old coin whatever it is, likely an over 150 years old Large Cent or even a colonial copper!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Thanks very much for the ID Scrappy! I have a hard time seeing anything in the picture, but I'll take your word for it. I was wondering if this might be a counterfeit, given the low numbers. I double-checked once it was out of the hole, and it still rang in as a "66".

 

[RustyGold]

Very nice finds! Always pays to keep swinging when returning to your vehicle!
Best of luck in 2017!

 

[CRUSADER]

Could be the way the coin was positioned in the ground. I've dug a lot of coppers with readings all over the board. That's why Crusader says don't pay attention to the numbers just dig. Congrats on some nice finds

Yeap, I was digging 00's & --'s TODAY that were deep Roman Coins, that normally ring in at anything like 40-80.
Like I've said a thousand times digging just numbers is dangerous.

 

[Tommy G]

I've had copper and silver ring up lower than expected due to their orientation in the ground, as sometimes rock being in the way. That said, counterfeit coins are as collectible as the real thing. Its all history.