Found My White Whale!!!

[oldmxrat]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[oldmxrat]

I wonder what the purpose is of that hole in the badge?

I believe they hung them on a board when the workers came on shift so they knew who was on the job in the canyon.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[oldmxrat]

Very cool, is that a badge that employees wore?

Yes, but not while they worked. Boulder City was like a military base and they had to have the badge to come and go.

 

[Nathan W]

Yes, but not while they worked. Boulder City was like a military base and they had to have the badge to come and go.

Ok so that is a rare find! Glad you could get something you sought out for some time

 

[KodyB]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!
View attachment 2077564
View attachment 2077565

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

I know it’s priceless to you, but I’ve seen a couple sell recently for over $100.

 

[ironhorse]

If you keep getting finds like that Green Peace will be after you for harpooning the rare whales lol
Man if you gotta have a piece of the Hoover Dam history you can hold in your hand well brother you done it!
Congrats on a meaningful find!

 

[dognose]

very nice find.
I was aware of these.
congratulations on a great find

 

[bc5391]

Nice find.

 

[jewelerguy]

I've been across the dam a couple of times and toured it once. It is an impressive structure. I'm glad that you found a worker's badge after setting a goal to find one. I'm sure you were quite shocked to have actually found one. Congrats!

 

[Trezurehunter]

What a great pin, and piece of memorabilia from the Dam.

 

[Jorgeke]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!
View attachment 2077564
View attachment 2077565

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

Old,

Congrats

You have a piece of history, very nice, amazing finding.

Simply perfect day when those kind of finding pop up, congratulations again.

Kind of objects for what I die😎👍🏽

 

[Digger RJ]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!
View attachment 2077564
View attachment 2077565

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[oldmxrat]

Thanks guys, I still can't believe it! It's going to be pretty hard for me to beat that thrill!

 

[sandchip]

i say, I say, "Banner!"

 

[Peyton Manning]

My white whale is a $40000 diamond ring

 

[Kona Koma]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!
View attachment 2077564
View attachment 2077565

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

Nice find!

 

[dnewbury2]

On the dam tour can you ask all the dam questions you want and is there anywhere I can buy some dam bait?

 

[igloo777]

Amazing! So rare that you find exactly what you were looking for. Congrats.

 

[mike b]

Ever since buying our winter home in Southern Nevada I've been fascinated with Hoover Dam. If you've never been, the dam tour is incredible!
Anyways, I've read several books about it, and being a md'ing addict I thought of what would be the ultimate dam-related find. Boulder City was fenced off and gated with armed guards during dam construction and workers were issued badges to allow them to come and go to Vegas and elsewhere. The badges were carefully accounted for by the government and the contractor (Six Companies Inc.).

Long story short, I figured it would be next to impossible to ever find one, but made it my lofty goal. My wife's uncle lives in Boulder City and knows a great many people. He secured me a permission to hunt a very tiny yard in one of the first houses built for workers. I searched that yard for hours listening for the tiniest blip. Pulling a handful of clad and modern junk it didn't seem like I was going to get any of the old coins I was expecting.

Then I got this barely repeating signal that was high one way, but low at 90 degrees. A nail, right? Well, I dug that nail signal and low and behold, at about 12 inches down...
Holy moley, I could hardly believe my eyes!
View attachment 2077564
View attachment 2077565

The pin is broken off at both ends and the back was really crusted over (I know, I know, shouldn't have cleaned it so aggressively, but it's mine and I'm not selling!) but it is perfect in my mind.

I guess you gotta dream big. I'm thinking my new white whale is gonna be a $20 gold piece!

I've been detecting since 1995 and always felt like I was lucky to walk over a target and be thrilled with whatever I found. But when we put the time in and do the work and research for a specific item or proof of an event and complete that task, that's an entirely different level of detecting beyond simple luck. Congratulations on reaching that level!

 

[oldmxrat]

My white whale is a $40000 diamond ring

I like it, go big or go home! Good luck!

 

[oldmxrat]

I've been detecting since 1995 and always felt like I was lucky to walk over a target and be thrilled with whatever I found. But when we put the time in and do the work and research for a specific item or proof of an event and complete that task, that's an entirely different level of detecting beyond simple luck. Congratulations on reaching that level!

Thank you very much for the kind words Mike!