The short answer, from what I have experienced is that a nail may have IRON in it and, I usually find, shows low bars on the graph. Coinage is usually all higher in the scale.? So, I would say, if you see multiple bars on the graph, how are they dispersed.? Are they all high on the graph and fairly close together?? Or, are they low and, maybe, more spread out.? Going from memory here,? and that could be questionable these days....?
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![:-\](https://www.treasurenet.com/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
? I think, the VDI numbers have been corresponding like this.? +70s Pennies? +78-84 Dimes +86-89 Quarters.? ?I don't recall where nickels have been showing up.? Will pay a little more attention to that later.
Also, The icons on my screen, or however other machines show different specific object IDs,? are just an indication of what an object MIGHT be.? I don't put as much trust or faith in them alone.? I look more at the number associated with the target and the pattern on the "Signagraph" on my XLT.? ?As well as the strength of the tone when I sweep over an object and whether it beeps consistant with each pass.? I then look at the signagraph and if it has a single bar or maybe a double with the bars right up against each other, and they are tall and strong, I will easilly dig it.? ?That is when I know I have a good solid target.? Often they may be Pull Tabs or Bottle Caps but mostly they will be a coin.? ? I still haven't found a lot of jewelry.?
I tend to dig anything that is a good solid signal and reads completely on the display. Some do say though, that digging broken signals and the like can lead to deeper older finds and some jewelry.? Sometimes I will do that but usually just go for the quantity as my time is more limited.? Then, if I have more time, I will dig some of the more questionable signals.? ?
Supposedly, small iron like nails and some of the wire that I had been finding before, might sound, and will show on the signagraph, but won't display a number or icon on the readout.? ?On the graph, the junk does usually read in the lower end of the scale and thus, I usually pass on it.? Unless I have plenty of time and am doing good with other stuff. The beaches I search are full of wire ties, I think from tying rebar, nails, screws and other construction debris.? When ever I go out using Relic as my program, or decide I am going to dig everything, I usually find more of that kind of garbage and spend the bulk of my limited time digging trash.? ?There have been days when I have almost taken nothing but rebar ties.? ?
I often find that a ring or a nickel, on the display will be a piece of foil or that a, I think it might be Quarters, sometimes come up as bottle caps.? ?Likewise, I read that many people wonder why they don't find more nickels.? With my XLT, I find a lot of nickels.? So far, my count is, 132p 21n 38d 26q 1sac.? Except for Pennies, My nickel count is about even with everything else.? I have a theory that a lot of people may not be finding many nickels because they are passing over the foil and pull tab indicators and thus passing over the nickels.? ?Dig the foil and I think you might find more nickels.?
Mainly dig heavilly when the graph is showing readings in the plus ranges. Or, when your readouts are strong and consistant.? Then, even if it is low on the graph, if it is a loud and strong signal, it could still be something interesting.? ?Use a little more discretion when digging the low readings, near the bottom of the scale, especially.? ?I try not to, completely, ignore the lower readings as mentioned above where the signal is solid and strong.? I have found some interesting items there.? But, with a few of the beaches where I have searched, I just find myself spending so much time digging wire and nails when I dig things in those ranges.?
Oh, and as for groups of coins, Don't trust or interprate your read out that way.? That is, even if there is only one bar on the readout, there could be more targets there.? Multiple bars could also, still, be one target.? Maybe the machine is just having difficulty isolating the readings. Could be due to rocks or other, non treasure or non metalic objects, hard soil, depth...? ? ?On more than one occasion, gotten single readings and I have pulled multiple coins from the same hole or area.? Always, even after you have located your item, check over all the sand or dirt you have dug out, thrown back on the ground.... and then check your hole again.? And, check the entire area surrounding your find.? Coins, especially, along with keys and other things that might have come from somones pocket, are dropped in multiples.? Say, pulling out your car keys and 3 or 4 coins, another key, your cigarette lighter... etc. fall into the sand.?
Here is my procedure on the beach.? ?I pass back and forth or in paterns covering areas as througoughly as I can.? Because I am not one of great patience, I sometimes wander a little.? When I do hit something, I dig it up, put it in my pocket.? But, after I find, say a quarter in my scoop, and dump the remaining sand on the ground, I will scan over that sand again,? Just in case there might have been a penny there also.? Then I search the area around the hole where I might have piled some other sand.? ?Sometimes, you might find another coin was there too.? Then check the hole again.? ?Once everything is clear, I fill the hole and stand next to it.? ?In a pattern radiating out from that area, I will scan or sweep the area very throurougly, about 6' in all directions.? ?I can't tell you how many times that has resulted in finding more coins in the general area.? One time I found 6 quarters within about a 4 sq' area.? ? Another time I found about 15 pennies, all wrapped in foil on a play lot.? and then, under the swings, found another 20 pennies in another 4'sq area.? ?I found so many pennies under those swings that I gave up digging them.? ?When I left, I swept one last time and hit about 4 more targets before I said, this is nuts.? ? When digging, every time I would set my detector down, to dig, I would, literally set the detector on another target.? ?
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