Wednesday, May 16, 2012

What your coins are worth

I started metal detecting a couple of years ago, and I have used this site as a great reference to determine what my coins are worth - at least for american coins.  Keep an eye on the dates, as quarters, dimes, and nickels have some silver content that is pretty decent!!  Metal detecting is not about a profit, but it is nice to see some value come out of the ground.

Coinflation.com


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Metal detecting - Dig Everything

I guess it is a pretty well known statement, that when starting out you should dig everything.  So far I have been trying to stay with it, although it can be tough.  I am already beginning to be able to tell that certain signals mean trash, but from I understand, gold rings can come up as trash as well - so may as well check it out.  I have also learned that good things can be hiding around something junky, so you need to clean that hole and clear all signals.  Metal detecting appears to be a game of patience, so I will hopefully continue to keep digging!

Metal Detecting - The bigger the tree the better!

When starting in a large area such as a park or field, I always look for the biggest tree I can find and start there.  People tend to like like shade, as well as use them as a base-camp for gatherings. Generally the bigger, the older, which means a longer history of people having been in that area.  I work outward in a circle pattern and see what I find.  The roots can be tricky to work around, but it can be worth it.  So when your time is limited and you have a lot of ground to cover - look for the big trees!!!

Best Places to Metal Detect

There are many places where you can hunt for lost things when metal detecting - here is a brief list:


1) Old Schools
2) City/Town Parks
3) Circus/Fair Sites
4) Old Churches
5) Old Homestead Sites
6) Swimming Holes and Areas
7) Picnic Groves
8) Athletic Fields
9) Scout Camps
10) Rodeo Arenas
11) Campgrounds
12) Ghost Towns
13) Beaches
14) Taverns
15) Roadside Rest Stops
16) Sidewalk Grassy Strips
17) Amusement Parks
18) Rural Mailboxes
19) Reunion Areas
20) Revival sites
21) Fort Sites
22) Winter Sledding Areas
23) Lookout/Overlook Sites
24) Church Supper Groves
25) Fishing Spots
26) Fishing Camps
27) Resorts
28) Old Barns and Outbuildings
29) Battle Sites
30) Band Shells
31) Racetracks
32) Rural Boundary Walls
33) Roadside Fruit and Vegetable Stands
34) Under Seaside Boardwalks
35) Flea Market Areas
36) Ski Slopes
37) Drive Ins
38) Canal Paths
39) Vacant Lots
40) Motels
41) College Campuses
42) Farmer Market Areas
43) Town Squares
44) Urban Yards and Backyards
45) Disaster Sites
46) Areas Around Skating Ponds
47) Hunting Lodges and Camps
48) Mining Camps
49) Railroad Grades, Stations and Junctions
50) Hiking Trails
51) Waterfalls
52) Rural Dance Sites
53) Lover's Lanes
54) Areas Adjacent to Historical Markers
55) Old Gas Stations and General Stores
56) Fence Posts
57) Chicken Houses
58) Bridges and Fords
59) Flower Beds
60) Playgrounds
61) Old Garbage Dumps
62) Cloth Lines
63) Military Camp and Cantonment Sites
64) Wells and Outhouses
65) Abandoned Houses and Structures
66) Areas where Old Trails Cross County or State Boundaries
67) Piles of Scraped Soil at Construction Sites
68) Old Stone Quarries
69) Areas Around Old Abandoned Cemeteries in the Forest
70) Junctions of Abandoned Roads (crossroads)