MayberryMonte: watercolor and argentium hit the nail on the head: wheaties represent the strata/age-of-loss that tells you that you are deep enough (or in the right area, or whatever) to find silver next, since they circulated at the same time. And silver has some value. And older silver can have numismatic value (there's more early mercs, barbers and seateds that have numismatic value, that pennies. You are right, very few pennies, even IHs, are worth much numismatically).
But your question begs another answer: If you think of it, detecting, from a sherely monentary gain perspective, is nearly hopeless. Sure now and then someone "hits the big one", but basically, we all just hope to pay for our gas & machines, and have fun. I mean, it's like fishing: Do you really think the average fisherman is "saving money" because he can eat the fish, thus save money at the grocery store? Of course not. And think of it: If that fisherman could have two 10 inch bass, or a single 20 inch bass, which do you think he would prefer? Of course he'd rather catch the single 20 inch bass instead (even though the sum total of the two 10" bass total 20" anyhow), simply because the bigger bass is "more wiley" and tough to out-wit and catch. Same for metal detecting: Even though a wheat penny may be worth only .03c, I'd still rather find the one wheat penny, than 10 new pennies, simply because it's harder to find wheaties. Or a single barber dime worth perhaps only $2.00, I'd still rather find that, than 50 new dimes. It's all for sports and challenge sake. Fun to out-hunt your buddies, compete, etc.. And yes, just like Las Vegas, sometimes you do "hit the big one"
Tnx for reading. HH and good luck. Jim
