brianc053
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,016
- Reaction score
- 3,682
- Golden Thread
- 0
- Location
- Sussex County, DE
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 3
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Equinox 800
XP Deus 2
- Primary Interest:
- Metal Detecting
Hi everyone. In my town I've become somewhat known for my metal detecting activities, and last year a nun - we'll call her Sister M - contacted me and asked if I would like to detect at her convent. Her organization owns about 100 acres that consist of the convent itself (back of the property) and a now-vacant school closer to the front of the property that was used from the late 1800's until the 2000's.
I've detected the property many times (often with a friend), and we've collectively pulled maybe 20 or 30 silver coins from various areas. This is the location where I found my 1901 Barber half earlier this year (http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...-first-barber-anything-first-half-dollar.html).
Sister M is a progressive Sister, an active user of Facebook and Messenger, and I've shared pictures of various finds with her over the last year. She's enjoyed hearing about the discoveries, which have also included some interesting relics like an early 1900's cigarette case that I gave to her. (But we never got together face-to-face due to Covid; instead I would leave an item for her on a bench outside the convent building and text her that it was there.)
Early on I offered the coins to her, but she told me that the coins weren't of much use to her and her Sisters; wanting to make some sort of contribution I've made some donations to their charity fund.
Anyway, yesterday I found myself having 30 minutes to kill while waiting to pick up take-out, and unlike SlateBeltDigger my detecting gear was in my car. (see this thread for reference: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/655042-dandy-old-iron.html#post6749894). I was near the convent/school property, so I popped in and quickly got to detecting.
I wasn't there 5 minutes when I noticed two Sisters walking toward me - and one was Sister M! She didn't come too close but was interested in seeing how I detect and asked, "Did you find treasure yet?"; unfortunately the target she saw me recover was foil. She and her Sister walked on looking unimpressed.
I detected for another 15 minutes but only found a few pennies. On the way back to the car I got a good signal (because I just can't turn the machine off...) and even though my food was waiting for me I just had to dig it. Out of the plug came a piece of iron and I thought, "tricked again" - but then I heard the good signal still in the plug, and there it was: a 1945 Mercury Dime. I snapped a quick picture of it and the iron.
Then inspiration struck: I needed to give that dime to Sister M. She and her Sister had been walking the grounds, so I was hoping they hadn't made it back to the convent yet. I quickly jumped in my car and I managed to catch up to them just outside their building.
I put my mask on (can't be too careful), rolled my window down, stuck my hand out and said, "I found a pretty good treasure: a 1945 Mercury Dime".
It's hard to describe the look of joy that came across her face as I handed her the dime and she looked at it. I recall her saying, "Oooh these are rare aren't they?" and I answered, "well you don't see them too often any more, that's for sure."
Then Sister M's said two things that will stay with me forever, as she turned with a huge smile on her face to show the treasure to her Sister: "You've really made my day" and "I'll treasure this forever."
And it was then I knew that it had been a really, really good day.
- Brian
A note on the pictures: In my haste to give Sister M the dime I failed to get any closeups of the dime; I didn't even check for a mint mark!
The grounds themselves are very beautiful, but in an effort to keep the Sister and her convent's identity vague I won't share picture of the buildings. I wish I could but they're somewhat distinctive and may be too revealing.
The road where I caught up to the Sisters is the last picture.
I've detected the property many times (often with a friend), and we've collectively pulled maybe 20 or 30 silver coins from various areas. This is the location where I found my 1901 Barber half earlier this year (http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...-first-barber-anything-first-half-dollar.html).
Sister M is a progressive Sister, an active user of Facebook and Messenger, and I've shared pictures of various finds with her over the last year. She's enjoyed hearing about the discoveries, which have also included some interesting relics like an early 1900's cigarette case that I gave to her. (But we never got together face-to-face due to Covid; instead I would leave an item for her on a bench outside the convent building and text her that it was there.)
Early on I offered the coins to her, but she told me that the coins weren't of much use to her and her Sisters; wanting to make some sort of contribution I've made some donations to their charity fund.
Anyway, yesterday I found myself having 30 minutes to kill while waiting to pick up take-out, and unlike SlateBeltDigger my detecting gear was in my car. (see this thread for reference: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/655042-dandy-old-iron.html#post6749894). I was near the convent/school property, so I popped in and quickly got to detecting.
I wasn't there 5 minutes when I noticed two Sisters walking toward me - and one was Sister M! She didn't come too close but was interested in seeing how I detect and asked, "Did you find treasure yet?"; unfortunately the target she saw me recover was foil. She and her Sister walked on looking unimpressed.
I detected for another 15 minutes but only found a few pennies. On the way back to the car I got a good signal (because I just can't turn the machine off...) and even though my food was waiting for me I just had to dig it. Out of the plug came a piece of iron and I thought, "tricked again" - but then I heard the good signal still in the plug, and there it was: a 1945 Mercury Dime. I snapped a quick picture of it and the iron.
Then inspiration struck: I needed to give that dime to Sister M. She and her Sister had been walking the grounds, so I was hoping they hadn't made it back to the convent yet. I quickly jumped in my car and I managed to catch up to them just outside their building.
I put my mask on (can't be too careful), rolled my window down, stuck my hand out and said, "I found a pretty good treasure: a 1945 Mercury Dime".
It's hard to describe the look of joy that came across her face as I handed her the dime and she looked at it. I recall her saying, "Oooh these are rare aren't they?" and I answered, "well you don't see them too often any more, that's for sure."
Then Sister M's said two things that will stay with me forever, as she turned with a huge smile on her face to show the treasure to her Sister: "You've really made my day" and "I'll treasure this forever."
And it was then I knew that it had been a really, really good day.
- Brian
A note on the pictures: In my haste to give Sister M the dime I failed to get any closeups of the dime; I didn't even check for a mint mark!
The grounds themselves are very beautiful, but in an effort to keep the Sister and her convent's identity vague I won't share picture of the buildings. I wish I could but they're somewhat distinctive and may be too revealing.
The road where I caught up to the Sisters is the last picture.
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