Deep coins.....10 inches or more??

[1235CE]

O.K., question.....I have a Whites XLT my brother has a DFX....We have been detecting very regularly for 7 years and we live on the Mass/NY line.... Our detectors are considered by many to be top of the line and we each have found thousands of old coins. Neither of us has EVER found a coin deeper than 6 inches and when we do find coins in that range they are most always from the 1700's/early 1800's; copper or silver.

Here is an example of my depth ranges and what comes out of the ground here at certain depths.

clad/new coins = 0 inches to 1 inch
wheat cents = 1-2 inches
Indian heads = 2-3 inches
large cents = 3-4 inches
Colonials = 3-6 inches
shield/V/Buff/Jeff nickels = 1-4 inches
Roosie silver dime = 2 inches
Merc dime = 2 inches
Barber dime = 2-3 inches
seated dime = 3-4 inches
Bust dime = 4-6 inches
half dimes = 3-5 inches
silver Washington quarter = 2 inches
Standing Lib quarter = 2-3 inches
Barber quarter = 3 inches
seated quarter = 3-4 inches
Bust quarter = 4-6 inches
Kennedy/Franklin/Walking halves 1-3 inches
Barber halves = 3-4 inches
Seated halves = 4 inches
Bust halves = 4-6 inches
dollars (have 3 Peace, 1 Morgan) = 2-3 inches
2 cent pieces = 2-4 inches
3 cent pieces = 3-5 inches

Of course, there are exceptions (like a 1787 Fugio Cent at 1 inch and a 1963 Roosie at 6 inches....go figure)

I am always reading that people are recovering coins at 10+ inches and quite honestly, I don't think our detectors even go that deep....it makes me wonder if people are mis-reading their depths or they have very soft soil in their neck of the woods.

Now I'm not saying we don't miss any coins because I'm sure that we do but if we are finding all of these coins at these depths what could we possibly be missing?


Beep, beep and be deep (but not over 6 inches because we'll miss it )

HH all
Greg

 

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[Michigan Badger]

The main thing is to learn your machine and master target separation with it (some machines are better than others in this area).

After target separation is mastered, then go to where the stuff is to be found and hunt slowly but methodically.

I seriously think 95% of the whining over too few finds is either the result of not hunting the right places or not knowing how to use the machine (probably both).

 

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[bazinga]

The main thing is to learn your machine and master target separation with it (some machines are better than others in this area).

After target separation is mastered, then go to where the stuff is to be found and hunt slowly but methodically.

I seriously think 95% of the whining over too few finds is either the result of not hunting the right places or not knowing how to use the machine (probably both).

I agree with you there about not hunting the right places. You have to be in an old places before you can begin to find old coins, which most people don't realize. Like the people who are finding coins dated 1965 and just assume because I coin that is just one year off from being silver that there must be silver there. They usually don't take into consideration that coins from the 60s are still heavily in circulation and are lost every day. Until you start finding indians, you aren't truly in an old place in my opinion...

 

[JW]

In my first year of owning an Explorer2 I have found no less than 30 silver coins from parks that have been hunted by every detector for the past 30+ years...

Charles is not a Minelab employee, he just takes them apart and makes then better! From what I have seen and read Charles would be the last person to over-exagerate or lie. He is generous with his knowledge and his ability to manufacture all kinds of very cool MD stuff!

For the person that started this thread, if you want to nab a coin at 6+ inches, get a better detector!

Actually on second thought, stick with what you have... Where are you located again? The Explorer clean up crew will be there momentarily to get all those Bust coins at 7"...

 

[EDDE]

good natured banter no detector wars () how nice

 

[U.K. Brian]

Re the Garrett 2500 a good test of the performance of this machine with a range of coils is at
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/metaldetecting.html
There's many in air and in ground tests. A quarter that can be detected at 13 inches in air drops to less than nine inches when buried and the detection envelope shrinks dramatically.
As to the mention of Gary's U.K. metal detecting site I don't ever remember seeing a report on the Garrett on there but its not a machine seen in use much in the U.K. Excellent all metal depth but due to the amount of iron on old habitation sites other machines fair a lot better, are lighter in weight and cost a deal less.

 

[1235CE]

JW, in case you weren't reading carefully.....

"I too, have a similar collection from our area... 1,322 silver, 631 indians, 71 LC's and 18 Colonials...."

I never once asked for more depth, and definately didn't ask for a better detector.... just an explanation of who/what/how people were getting 10+ inches and I received the answer and proof I was looking for......

I live in Mass, you live in CA....we could trade houses for a week .....I promise to leave you some Colonials/Bust/Seated if you promise to leave me some silver Roosies.

HH all
Greg

 

[Rusted_Iron]

Two questions:

I'm of the understanding that the very deep coins (10" +) register as audio-only on most detectors; in other words you can't rely on visual displays. From what I've read, even with the Minelab machines you have to dig those deep "iron" signals if you want the deep coins. Is there any kind of tone differentiation or visual distinction at those depths?

(Based on my preferences and what I know at the moment, I'm going for a Tejon, then maybe in the future I'll try to save up for an Explorer when they come out w/ the next generation. )

2nd question, is there a big difference between the Explorer II vs. the Explorer XS or S on depth? Not tryin' to hijack your thread 1235CE, but I figured this has to do w/ deep coins at 10" or more.

 

[JW]

JW, in case you weren't reading carefully.....

"I too, have a similar collection from our area... 1,322 silver, 631 indians, 71 LC's and 18 Colonials...."

I never once asked for more depth, and definately didn't ask for a better detector.... just an explanation of who/what/how people were getting 10+ inches and I received the answer and proof I was looking for......

I live in Mass, you live in CA....we could trade houses for a week .....I promise to leave you some Colonials/Bust/Seated if you promise to leave me some silver Roosies.

HH all
Greg

Then why the comment about Charles being full of it if you have found the same stuff? I was trying to read carefully but I couldn't figure out why the diss on a guy I have found to be one of the more level headed people in this hobby, when you yourself have found similar quantities of stuff?

"I am always reading that people are recovering coins at 10+ inches and quite honestly, I don't think our detectors even go that deep....it makes me wonder if people are mis-reading their depths or they have very soft soil in their neck of the woods. "

It was this part combined with you doubt of Charles' words that prompted my response. The above statement insinuates that most folks who post 10" coins are full of it. In some way you are right, your detectors will not go that deep. Thus the comments from Explorer users, give one a try if you think we are all mis-reading our depths... And the parks where I hunt have very soft soil with 36"+ of rain a year. I personally use my Sunray probe as a depth guide it is 9" to the top of the probe, if it goes all the way in the hole...9" deep target. In your statement you ignore the FACT that other detectors go deeper than yours, your "top of the line" detectors are not so anymore... The Explorer will go deeper- FACT! And there are coins down there, give one a try, you'll see...

Why not ask for more depth? Sounds like a fair thing to ask to me. I personally am looking for more depth all the time and i'm considering a SD2200 or even the GP3500, both can see a dime at 15" plus with good ID's as well. Out here the good old coins have sunk below 10". It is common here to find a copper Lincoln at 8" but I have found Barbers at 3", which could have been because of gopher digging and pushing it up towards the surface. In general though silvers tend to sit throughout the 5-8" range here, mostly Mercs and Roosies. Seateds are further down and busts are rare at any depth. We do get the gold coins out here though!

I think that you would benefit from having 2 machines, such as your current axe and an Explorer, unless of course your totally happy with your large quantity of finds (if that is possible... ) I could always be finding more personally... I dug 2000 coins my first year with the Explorer, 30 were silvers and 100 were wheats. That is just the way it is out here, I could cherry pick more but then I would be finding less clad, which I don't really mind digging.

We could trade but I don't think you would like hunting out here at all. Silvers are deep and few and far between, the parks here have been worked over by all kinds of machines, I had a White's for a bit and didn't find anything good (silvers), it wasn't a DFX or MXT though. I'm still amazed how deep the stock 10.5" Explorer coil goes if your looking for deep targets, the visual ID still works pretty deep (the cursor jumps a certain and similar way each time for deep silver). I have hunted with a DFX user at some of the main parks out here and what is clearly a silver dime at 8-9 inches is a mere tick of audio response on the DFX, could be the ground, could be deep iron, the clarity just wasn't there... A close friend was a tried and true White's diehard who tried an Explorer and never looked back, the DFX just wasn't producing like the Explorer did at the sites around here.


U-238... The Explorer does give clues as to what the deep target is. First is the audio response and size of target. You know how the sound of a pull tab is slightly different than a coin on non- tone id machines, it is the same for the Explorer, the signal may sound like iron but it gives hints of being round in shape as you cross it with the coil. Second the cursor does what is called the deep silver bounce, for deep pull tabs it does a very different bounce and yet another response for deep iron. There are clues that set signals apart, it is less of a deep dig everything free for all than most people think.

The 2 major differences between the Ex2 and the XS is target separation/size and the numerical digital readout. A silver dime on the XS has a wider audio response that the Ex2 meaning that you hear it for longer as you sweep the coil over the target. Of course the down side of this is target masking from trash, thus the Ex2 is faster in that respect. This is apart from the fact that you can get a lightning fast target response on the E2&XS by switching to Audio 1,2 or 3. Or if in normal mode switching fast recovery on. Audio 1,2,3 is a tough way to hunt but if you get good at it you could probably see the edge of a coin under four or five nails... As for the numerical readouts, the XS gives a conductive numerical display and the Ex2 has the added ferrous content numerical display, I prefer not to hunt in the numerical display screen since it is probably the least accurate considering coins on edge, trash close by and ground noise. How often does any detector exactly tell you what type of coin it is?

Another thing to consider is that the Explorer goes deeper the higher you raise the sensitivity, in a lot of parks out here the max sens setting is 21 and I can still pull a dime at 8", the max sens setting for the machine is 32 and if you can get it to be stable you could probably know your digging a dime at 12". I have to say the one greatest feature of the Explorers is the tone ID, it is by far the one thing that makes hunting really deep coins possible without having to dig a ton of deep iron.

 

[Visionquest]

Other than welcome Charles to the site, and thank him for his great articles on other sites, I am staying out of this. Just another happy WOT user convinced by your article and rewarded for the trust with plenty of deep finds.

-Mike

 

[midas777gold]

To 1235CE, I also use a DFX and routinely get coins down below 10". One thing I can say, it's back breaking LABOR to continually dig that deep. after a couple hours of hunting, I'm finished for the day. BUT, most areas, the older coins are within the 6 inch range. The only areas where deep stuff is, is at backfilled parks and soggy ground.

 

[Charles (Upstate NY)]

Other than welcome Charles to the site, and thank him for his great articles on other sites, I am staying out of this. Just another happy WOT user convinced by your article and rewarded for the trust with plenty of deep finds.

-Mike

I'm with you Mike. I gave up debating peoples choice of detectors. The only valid machine comparison for depth and/or target seperation and ID is side by side field comparisons on the same target before its dug. Thats also the only way a brand loyal person is going to change their mind. Talk less, dig more = post more!

Charles

 

[1235CE]

JW, "your current axe and an Explorer".....nice one...lol.....you're right, I am a Whites fan and I have never tried anything else.....my MAJOR point was that I am finding the full spectrum of coins (Colonial thru clad) and never having to dig more than 6 inches and my question was "what am I missing".....

HH all!

Greg

 

[JW]

JW, "your current axe and an Explorer".....nice one...lol.....you're right, I am a Whites fan and I have never tried anything else.....my MAJOR point was that I am finding the full spectrum of coins (Colonial thru clad) and never having to dig more than 6 inches and my question was "what am I missing".....

HH all!

Greg

Your finds are rocking to say the least! Who knows what could be deeper! Get a hold of the guy above who gets 10"ers on his DFX, you might start finding reales! Or Spanish gold bars! You folks back east get some awesome stuff, just call me green with envy!

HH

JW

 

[Mirage]

Charles


The 1864 IH and two cent I just dug Tuesday? Both about 5 inches max hiding right in the middle of a trash heap of rusty bottle caps, iron, and pull tabs. Actually that is a pretty good example of what I'm talking about. The coins on the slopes of the bandstand are shallow, the ones down on the flat area around it are quite deep, its a soggy bog of sorts and there is less trash. That night I spent about an hour in each area as I gridded up and down the bandstand. Deep coins zero, shallow coins in trash 3.

Hey, Charles. Was up to your park this last weekend hunting with Butch. You have some phenomenal parks that still have amazing finds. Butch told me about your two cent coint and showed me about where you found it. I thought - that is going to be the last place I hunt. He must have gridded it to death. Butch knew better. I was having trouble getting those deep signals. He found a signal where you gridded(slope of the bandstand) and told me to see if I could get it. I got it loud and clear on my Quattro. He told me to dig it. I dug and at about 7 inches out pops a mint 1901 Barber dime. Me being the greenhorn, covered the hole, showed my find to Butch and went on my way. Butch comes over and rescans the hole and says there is more down there. My son comes over with his DFX and can't get a wisper. Butch proceeds to dig out two seated dimes.
Needless to say I got an education and my son wants to sell his DFX.

I'll post our finds later tonight.

Bob

 

[Rusted_Iron]

How often does any detector exactly tell you what type of coin it is?

Another thing to consider is that the Explorer goes deeper the higher you raise the sensitivity, in a lot of parks out here the max sens setting is 21 and I can still pull a dime at 8", the max sens setting for the machine is 32 and if you can get it to be stable you could probably know your digging a dime at 12". I have to say the one greatest feature of the Explorers is the tone ID, it is by far the one thing that makes hunting really deep coins possible without having to dig a ton of deep iron.

thanks for all the great tips JW. I actually just got myself a used Explorer XS and a new Tejon (stretched meself a little thin monetarily ) and I am excited to learn both machines. As it stands now I have more time on the Tejon from this weekend, and already I found a 1940 Jefferson nickel at a solid 10 inches. The signal was not strong, but it was consistent, and I guess you could say it had a "round" quality to it, even at that depth. I'm sure the Exp XS would have found it too, with tone ID to boot, but that Tejon is quite a machine in its own right. Audio-only is not for everyone, but as I gain more experience I think I'll do pretty well with it.

Based on what I've read here, I am considering a WOT coil for the Exp XS, but I need to learn to use the machine itself first. It seems rather complex

 

[1235CE]

"Hey, Charles. Was up to your park this last weekend hunting with Butch. You have some phenomenal parks that still have amazing finds. Butch told me about your two cent coint and showed me about where you found it. I thought - that is going to be the last place I hunt. He must have gridded it to death. Butch knew better. I was having trouble getting those deep signals. He found a signal where you gridded(slope of the bandstand) and told me to see if I could get it. I got it loud and clear on my Quattro. He told me to dig it. I dug and at about 7 inches out pops a mint 1901 Barber dime. Me being the greenhorn, covered the hole, showed my find to Butch and went on my way. Butch comes over and rescans the hole and says there is more down there. My son comes over with his DFX and can't get a wisper. Butch proceeds to dig out two seated dimes.
Needless to say I got an education and my son wants to sell his DFX."

I'll post our finds later tonight.

Bob


Bob, please, please, PLEASE tell me that you are spoofing on Charles (and White's).....because if you're not then your post opens up TONS (oh, and I mean TONS) of other questions...

beep, beep and......are you freakin' kidding me??!!

Greg

 

[Rusted_Iron]

Needless to say I got an education and my son wants to sell his DFX."

I'll post our finds later tonight.

Bob


Bob, please, please, PLEASE tell me that you are spoofing on Charles (and White's).....because if you're not then your post opens up TONS (oh, and I mean TONS) of other questions...

beep, beep and......are you freakin' kidding me??!!

Greg

If he's not spoofing, don't be put off if someone is that quick to dismiss the DFX. (yes I edited this part, I shouldn't have said "can't take them seriously", after all it's just their opinion). I'm finding about an equal # of people who love the thing as there are who bash it. I also know a lot of these people are setting it up incorrectly. I'm going to fall back on an old standby... it's not as much the detector as it is the person using it.

The other day I read a forum post where some Minelab owner said the Tejon is "junk". What is this person, stupid?? He / she used the thing for maybe a couple hours and gave up. Wow, what an expert, I better listen to that opinion.

Recently I spoke to a dealer who routinely uses both a Tejon and an Explorer. He loves both machines and says they both find deep coins. He says the Explorer has an edge because of tone ID, but the Tejon is otherwise pretty much even with it on raw depth. I have spoken to numerous dealers and found this guy to be the most balanced, knowledgeable, and sensible person yet. Anyway, he says the Tejon and Explorer are two of his favorite units, but he also says good things about some of the Fishers and Garretts. (I don't think he's used White's that much, so he doesn't have any advice on them).

As a proud new owner of a Minelab, I've no reason to bash 'em. But some of what I've seen on other forums is less than reliable to say the least. The attitude I'm picking up from some people is "D00D TEH M1NELAB IS SO MUCH kEWLER THAN yOUR D3T3CT0R U WASTEd UR M0N3Y LOL I'M F1ND1NG C01N5 AT 2 F33T D33P LOL LOL LOL!!!!"

Come to think of it, maybe I should just sit back and enjoy the detector wars. After all, D00D I g0T A M1N3LAB U aRNT AS kEWL aS ME LOL. Now I can turn the thing on, set it up incorrectly, and complain that I'm missing coins deeper than 6"

 

[Born2Dtect]

U-238,

Were you enjoying a bottle of wine with that last post. I do mean the whole bottle. What happned? Huh!

Ed

 

[Gabbit]

I say just let the finds speak for themselves

 

[Rusted_Iron]

U-238,

Were you enjoying a bottle of wine with that last post. I do mean the whole bottle. What happned? Huh!

Ed

I was being facetious. I guess nobody got the joke... Some of the younger guys on the forum will know what I was talking about, if they've spent any time at all on computer or gaming forums.