metal detecting

[burpalot]

i was wondering if this is an enjoyable hobby and

do you actually find anything worthwhile.

it said on a website that i went on that a metal detector

is a coin collectors best friend so is it worth having a look.

BURPALOT

[Jamesred]

i used to go metal detecting but thats all i found ----- metal coke can rings and rubbish.... did fnd a few hammered coins though, never looked at em cos im scared to clean them..... more interested in farthings anyways

jr

[krasnaya_vityaz]

Actually you might want to examine those hammered, every year something new like a new variety is found, this is true with Scottish and English. One I recall from Mike Vosper's site was a Reading Penny from one of the Henry's.

If you study up on the subject it might not be to awfully difficult to a reasonable cleaning job without damaging the coin.

[Jamesred]

i may have a look when i go home at the weekend

[Guest Panterex]

Yeah... about Tresure Hunting...

This one addressed to every member here, but especialy I would like to ask Chris & Hus, since these two men are the TANKS on this forum..

So do you THing? And Why?

[Hussulo]

Yeah... about Tresure Hunting...

This one addressed to every member here, but especialy I would like to ask Chris & Hus, since these two men are the TANKS on this forum..

So do you THing? And Why?

There are a few "TANKS" on this forum. It's a great place to get answers and gain knowledge. I think a few of the regular, old school members have been busy (holidays etc.).

I have always fancied metal detecting, but I have never got round to it. I did recently discover that there is a club not too far from where I live, so I might give them a phone and see if I can join. Even if I don't find anything I'm sure it will be good fun trying.

Here's a good site for people interested in metal detecting:

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/

[Chris Perkins]

I've got a detector and have found some coins with it! Only crappy old East German pfennig made out of aluminium, but coins nonetheless. If also found a part of a bomb (in England) and old spoons, tools, a badge, a horsebrass and bits of lead etc.

It doesn't really matter what you find, it's nice to go out and get a bit of fresh air. A useful tip though, if you do try it make sure you have a handheld pinpoint device to find small treasures in clumps of dirt after the detector has done its bit. Withoug a pinpointer you can waste hours of a day looking in holes when you've dug out the metal object and it's stuck to your spade!

[Guest Panterex]

i was wondering if this is an enjoyable hobby and

do you actually find anything worthwhile.

it said on a website that i went on that a metal detector

is a coin collectors best friend so is it worth having a look.

Yes, it is a great FUN!

Do you like fishing? It's something like it, you never know what you're gonna dig out next minute! Yes, it could be some trash like pull tabs, rusted nails and stuff, but it's not always gonna be like that - some day you WILL find some nice items!

The main rules are:

Take it easy & have fun

Respect private property and do not go treasure hunting without the owner's permission.

Fill all excavations.

Appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife, and private property.

Use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy at all times.

Build fires in designated or safe places only.

Leave gates as found.

Remove and properly dispose of any trash that You find.

DO NOT litter.

DO NOT destroy property, buildings, or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures.

DO NOT tamper with signs, structural facilities, or equipment.

Never go THing with a thought that you just have to find something today... go to have some fun! You will enjoy yourself as long you have some fun! Combine it with the family BBQ (if you go somewhere in the woods or park), or even just a day out with pals. Hunt same area a few times (few days or weeks appart), searching in opposite direction (if you know what I mean).

Allways dig out any trash that you find and take it home. It'll take more time, but next time you go to hunt, you could find some itemes you could have missed.

Doing the research is the hardest part... Go to the local libraries look for some events in the past, look for old churches, castles... even old farms good place to go THing. Talk to the farmers, ask where used to be houses, pubs, markets...

Good Luck!

[scottishmoney]

I got a detector a couple of months ago, and have only used it in my yard. But I live in an older home, so I found a 1917 cent, and several other 50+ year old coins. Also found pretty interesting old tools that must have been used when the house was built 75 years ago.

[Chris Perkins]

Were any of the coins silver? I long to find something made of a precious metal just so I can be satisfied that I saved it from slowing turning back to dirt over the next few thousand years!

[scottishmoney]

Not so far. I have found several cupro nickel dimes and quarters though. I haven't gotten around to playing with the more sensitive settings yet, because I want to find a sifting screen and pointer so I don't have to excavate the whole backyard.

[Alan Parry]

All my 'coin collecting' is done through metal detecting.

If you seriously want to collect coins though it is not really the right way to do it. Most coins I find (95%) are copper/bronze from 1700 onwards and are in such bad condition that most coin collectors wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

If they have enough detail on them to make an ID then I am happy as I use them to produce a report to the farmers of what I've found. Normally I spend hours trying to spot the edge of a 'bust' or part of Britannia amongst the corrosion to make that ID.

Occasionally you find a silver coin, bu tagain unless you go back to a time when they were almost pure silver, they also can degrade very quickly. I have found a handful of hammered silver coins, these are generally worn almost smooth but are very exciting to find.

I'm still waiting for my first piece of gold and my first Roman with enough detail left to ID.

[scottishmoney]

Since my side pursuit is 17th century tokens, I would love to TH over there. I would rather find a nice one of those than rose farthings etc. Most of my 17th century tokens are TH finds. I recently got an Irish token that was found in Shropshire with all of the "Treasure Trove" etc. paperwork on it, noting when found, by whom etc. It was a 1672 token from Dublin, and had travelled quite a bit to rural Shropshire whence it was lost apparently. I am kind of surprised it got reported, not being part of a hoard, but perhaps because it was a bit unusual to find something like that in Shropshire.

[Guest Panterex]

I want to find a sifting screen and pointer so I don't have to excavate the whole backyard.

Wanna advice? Take a decent size of cardboard and ask your friend to tape a few coins on it. Then let him to turn it up side down (I mean you don't see the coins) and your task is to try to locate them with a metal detector using a paper pin. You don't know, how many coins out there, and their locations. Then, when you think you finished, turn the cardboard up side down and see if you were any good in targeting. So by practicing this way you will improove pinpointing techniques.

Do you use cross technique?

[scottishmoney]

Yes, I have been using the cross technique and have acquired the skill of pinpointing a bit better. At first I had some construction size excavations going on with half hour digging and sifting. Now I sit and mess with the machine in differing directions to isolate the signal to a particular point. Admittedly I have not savoured the thought of depth detection yet, so most of the older stuff I might find might could still be hiding from my clutches.

[Guest Panterex]

I use a probe to pinpoint the target, and can tell you that after a LOT of practice, you CAN tell if you got a coin, piece of aluminum, or hitting a rock under the tip of your probe; a lot of the old time probe users can verify this. It's just a certain feel you develop over time using one of these.

Be sure it is a brass (or in my case it's a stainless steel welding rod) probe which does not have an extremely sharp point (but still sharp enough to penetrate the soil easily), as brass will not scratch a coin. Some TH use a screwdriver, but I don't like this idea, because you can damage the coin easily by scratching it. In very rocky soil or very deep targets (usually greater than 4 inches or so), you got to dig, but where you can use it, pinpoint with your coil and carefully push the probe into the soil to locate the target. Once located, loosen the soil above the target by turning the top of the probe in a small circle and then "feel" your way, using the tip of the probe, to the center edge of the coin and start to pry it up to the surface. Sometimes working the coin a little in one spot and moving all the way around the edge in order for it to come up is necessary.

At times, you can turn it on edge and bring it to the surface easily. It's really something that each individual has to put their own "personal touch" to see which method works better for them. Like I said, it takes a LOT of practice, and is something that is not mastered overnight, but it is a great aide in getting you permission to hunt yards at old houses and doesn't leave a noticeable "scar" in well kept parks. Just "pinch" the dirt back together and your on your way! Matter of fact, some of the parks around here will let you detect ONLY if you use a probe of this type. To me, it's well worth taking the time to learn!

Good luck to ya!