Best Christmas Ever

cti4sw

Bronze Member
Jul 2, 2012
1,555
919
Pennsylvania
🥇 Banner finds
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett AT Pro, Pro Pointer
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
So, I must inform the world that I have the BEST MOTHER EVER!!!

I went MDing in her living room and found these under the tree :laughing7:

at pro.jpggear.jpg

I had only asked for the MD, it was all I wanted - and she (without any prior MD knowledge) found me the shovel and scoop! :headbang:

Anyways, 2 days before on the 23rd I did some "yardwork" at a neighbor's place (c. 1900) with my Tracker IV. Found a 1941 nickel, 3 wheats (1917, 1949, 1956), 2 padlock keys, a marble, a faucet tap, a bullet casing that appears to be a .50 cal rifle round (no markings! Possible WWII souvenir?) and $0.80 in clad. Can't wait to test my new AT Pro!

EDIT: Forgot to mention... I will be testing my new AT Pro in two places over the next month - Coin Beach, DE and my uncle's property in Whitpain Twp., PA - a property (though not the home) that has major Revolutionary War ties! Can't get any better test beds than that!
 

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You're gonna love that AT Pro - here's a suggestion: For your birthday, ask for the 5x8 coil - it's a killer!
 

Now, that, is one heck of a Christmas! Remember though, as with any new machine, having is different from wanting. ;) Take your time, read and learn. The AT-Pro does have a learning curve. BUT, once you get familiar with the machine and all it's trying to tell you, it's a wonderful, all around MD! I know, I've been doing this a long time and I still had to slow down and understand what the machine's saying. Don't get caught up in the "75 - means penny", "40 - means iron junk" and you'll do fine. The numbers do change a bit depending on the ground and balancing from time to time is highly recommended.

Glad you had a good Christmas. Now, look forward to a lifetime of finds! :)

HH!
 

Now, that, is one heck of a Christmas! Remember though, as with any new machine, having is different from wanting. ;) Take your time, read and learn. The AT-Pro does have a learning curve. BUT, once you get familiar with the machine and all it's trying to tell you, it's a wonderful, all around MD! I know, I've been doing this a long time and I still had to slow down and understand what the machine's saying. Don't get caught up in the "75 - means penny", "40 - means iron junk" and you'll do fine. The numbers do change a bit depending on the ground and balancing from time to time is highly recommended.

Glad you had a good Christmas. Now, look forward to a lifetime of finds! :)

HH!

Yeah, I think I'm gonna skip Standard mode and go straight to Pro... that IS why I wanted it, after all... Numbers help but I know they're not concrete, or else gold wouldn't sometimes show as aluminum: it would always come up the same. Still, this is a damn sight better than my Tracker IV, which couldn't detect a LC at 5" the last time someone found one. Can't wait to go test it out........................................
 

Yeah, I think I'm gonna skip Standard mode and go straight to Pro... that IS why I wanted it, after all... Numbers help but I know they're not concrete, or else gold wouldn't sometimes show as aluminum: it would always come up the same. Still, this is a damn sight better than my Tracker IV, which couldn't detect a LC at 5" the last time someone found one. Can't wait to go test it out........................................

You will want to use the PRO mode, the Standard drove me nuts ( the first 5 mins i ever used it)..The only thing I had a isue with first was the Steel Screw Tops, they will read good sometimes, and espically if they are deep. But I have noticed by digging things that didnt really make since, that when I got them surfaced, it was trash.

I can tell you ..Its one hell of a Nickel finder, I found my first Buff, V Nick, and War Nick this year with it..The numbers for Nickels are almost Always right.

Good Luck !!!
 

I can tell you ..Its one hell of a Nickel finder, I found my first Buff, V Nick, and War Nick this year with it..The numbers for Nickels are almost Always right.

Good Luck !!!

What numbers do you see for nickels?
 

i got one also for Christmas and i was wondering what settings to use on the beaches in Delaware???? we also went mding with my Garrett at pro and my dad with his ctx3030 in our living room on Christmas morning. Congrats! Thanks, C
 

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What numbers do you see for nickels?

Now, see there? Already asking for numbers. LOL :)

Actually, it's not bad to become familiar with the numbers, but, if I may say, make them the numbers that YOU get in YOUR ground. I've identified most of my nickels as around 50-53 and short, small, solid, repeatable, coin type hits. But, that is in my ground with my mineralizaion. Yours and anyone else from around the world might get different readings.

The Pro mode is what I started using but I think that had something to do with my doing this for soooo many years. (What? Me? NOT be a "pro"!?!? ) LOL.

Just practice a bit in the type of soil you're hunting. It's a good practice to take a sampling of targets along with you. While in the field, just bury a known target (in a plastic baggy of course. ;) ) and see how THAT hits in the very ground you are searching. I'll tell you, you'll learn a LOT!

HH!
 

My at pro never lies about nickels. Usually 52 here in upstate NY soil. Sometimes 53. but the little indicator that identifies the coin up on top of the screen will be on nickel every time. If it bounces from nickel to pulltab then its most likely not a nickel. But I dig em anyways because you never know!!!! Good luck!
 

My at pro never lies about nickels. Usually 52 here in upstate NY soil. Sometimes 53. but the little indicator that identifies the coin up on top of the screen will be on nickel every time. If it bounces from nickel to pulltab then its most likely not a nickel. But I dig em anyways because you never know!!!! Good luck!

That's pretty much what I've found as well. But, I've also noticed quite a few ringing out at 47-50. Most of them, early Jeffersons, V-nickels even a Shield or two. Thing is, they seemed to be a bit more corroded than most of the others. That's why I say, while I still don't dig "everything", I am a little more cautious about the numbers.

HH!
 

Congratulations, You must have a great Mom my friend. Happy Hunting. Don't forget to take Mom out for dinner, looks like she deserves it and thanks for serving your Country. ( From an old guy that liked to jump out of airplanes. )
 

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My at pro never lies about nickels. Usually 52 here in upstate NY soil. Sometimes 53. but the little indicator that identifies the coin up on top of the screen will be on nickel every time. If it bounces from nickel to pulltab then its most likely not a nickel. But I dig em anyways because you never know!!!! Good luck!

My nickels always bounce from 51-52, sometimes 53..But Ive never dug one that read higher, or lower then 50. And its all about the repeatable signals.

Sometimes I will get a 80-81..82, which to my area usally means a Copper Penny...But if I see it drop to a 79, during any of my swings...9 times out of 10 its garbage

I personally dont dig anything less then 81-82, unless Im in a place that doesnt have 1000's zinc pennies...Quarters are always 87-88, sometimes higher..but anythign less than that, its normally garbage....Again it its gonna take digging some junk to figure your machine out...I was doing so good with my ACE, that I figured it would be nothing to learn this, but it did take some getting used to
 

My nickels always bounce from 51-52, sometimes 53..But Ive never dug one that read higher, or lower then 50. And its all about the repeatable signals.

Sometimes I will get a 80-81..82, which to my area usally means a Copper Penny...But if I see it drop to a 79, during any of my swings...9 times out of 10 its garbage

I personally dont dig anything less then 81-82,

Funny though, how different ground can read different. I find wheaties at 77-80. Not too mention a ring or two. :)
I'm just saying to be careful about getting too locked into the numbers. It makes you miss more than you might expect.

HH!
 

So, I must inform the world that I have the BEST MOTHER EVER!!!

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack your post.

Your mom does sound great! Maybe you better find her a ring. ;) :diamond-earrings:

HH!
 

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Funny though, how different ground can read different. I find wheaties at 77-80. Not too mention a ring or two. :)
I'm just saying to be careful about getting too locked into the numbers. It makes you miss more than you might expect.

HH!

I do agree. just gotta find the numbers that are consistant with what you are digging. Plus I have only used the machine for a year now, So I am definitly no expert. Thats wild you found wheats reading that low, sometimes I have had wheats and memorials read as quarters..I guess thats the fun part, you never know what is coming out of the ground
 

Now, see there? Already asking for numbers. LOL :)

Haha! I only asked about nickels because in the year I've been detecting I might have found six nickels bc my Tracker IV always thought they were pull-tabs when it didn't ignore them altogether, so I'm still waiting on my first Buffalo, V, etc. and it's been frustrating.

I was planning on - in my living room of course - using a variety of coins from my collection to get a sort of default reading list before I hit the dirt, so I will have my own set of numbers; I just wanted to have something to compare them to. I hunt in a variety of areas so the mineralization probably varies a bit from area to area.
 

Haha! I only asked about nickels because in the year I've been detecting I might have found six nickels bc my Tracker IV always thought they were pull-tabs when it didn't ignore them altogether, so I'm still waiting on my first Buffalo, V, etc. and it's been frustrating.

I was planning on - in my living room of course - using a variety of coins from my collection to get a sort of default reading list before I hit the dirt, so I will have my own set of numbers; I just wanted to have something to compare them to. I hunt in a variety of areas so the mineralization probably varies a bit from area to area.

You might want to test it outside, my AT Pro goes crazy when its around rebar. But thats a great idea, sorta get an idea what they read at before you head out. When ever I do the Auto Ground balance, my numbers are always between 70-80. So where I am at, its failry consitent.

Thou when I took it to Florida to do some beach detecting, it was at a 20 something, which was bizarre to me. I think you will do well with it.

GOOD LUCK!!
 

Haha! I only asked about nickels because in the year I've been detecting I might have found six nickels bc my Tracker IV always thought they were pull-tabs when it didn't ignore them altogether, so I'm still waiting on my first Buffalo, V, etc. and it's been frustrating.

I was planning on - in my living room of course - using a variety of coins from my collection to get a sort of default reading list before I hit the dirt, so I will have my own set of numbers; I just wanted to have something to compare them to. I hunt in a variety of areas so the mineralization probably varies a bit from area to area.

Like Diggin said, inside might throw off the test. Lots of stuff in that floor, let alone the air transmissions. :) Test to get a feel ANYwhere, that's not wrong at all. BUT, I'd still test in the field. Especially if you're getting indications of a good area. Nothing like tuning into the very soil you're hunting. Also, don't be afraid to stop and RE-balance that thing every so often. It's surprising how much ground can change! :)

HH!
 

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