To Buy or to Dig?

[Michigan Badger]

I've always been a lover of old stuff.

Since ebay, one can buy almost anything one can imagine. Thanks to ebay, I've held in my hands items that 10 years ago could only be seen through glass at a museum.

One thing I have discovered, however, is that purchased old things get boring after a while. And on top of all this I find myself wondering about their authenticity. Are these really 2,000 years old? Did this piece of eight really come from the Atocha? It has been found out that many bogus Atocha coins have been sold with fake certificates (I think this is just the tip of the iceberg).

You know, unless we dig it ourselves, or bring it up from the ocean floor, how do we know for sure it?s the real thing?

I've just decided not to buy anymore high priced old goodies. I will find them myself or go without.

Now, the items I've dug myself never seem to become boring. I have coins I dug 37 years ago and they still mean the same today as they did back then!

It's all about the thrill of the hunt and find. When I show someone one of my artifacts, I want to be able to say I know this is the real thing because I found it.

What are your feelings or thoughts?

Share.

 

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[Mental Granny]

Granted finding and digging something can give you a sense of satisfaction and can say "I found this and didn't pay one red cent for it" but it doesn't always guarantee the item is real as it could just be an old fake. But that doesn't stop the rush of popping something neat out of the gound.

 

[bafromkc]

I agree. (Save your money)... Over the years, I put every silver coin, indian head penny, really everything but wheaties and clad coins in 2 X 2 holders with the place and date found written on the back. I go through the notebooks and still remember finding just about every one, who I was with etc. I'm saving my money for a trip to Europe where my wife's cousin just bought a 2 Mil $ castle! That, and beach hunting / diving will prove much more fun than buying artifacts on eBay! I know the temptation, hell, I get up in the morning and check to see "My Favorites" on eBay nearly every day. And a couple years ago when we were at Mel Fisher's museum in Florida...Jeez what a tempt that was!

While I'm here, on my previous post about my new (used) Minelab Explorer, I saw a couple of people talking about taping or painting their coil. What's the point for this? As always, Thanks... BA

 

[Kentucky Kache]

With all the scepticism, and justly so, I guess we need to explore ways of authenticating our own finds.

 

[bafromkc]

GREAT! "Research" has always given me an excuse for having so much "Stuff".

 

[Michigan Badger]

While I'm here, on my previous post about my new (used) Minelab Explorer, I saw a couple of people talking about taping or painting their coil.? What's the point for this?? As always, Thanks... BA

That's a new one on me. Never heard of painting a Minelab coil?

Every once in a while things like this pop up. You know, like using an electric nightcrawler unit to get greater depth, etc.

We'll see on this one.

 

[rvbvetter]

? ? ? ?There's something about finding a coin and being the first to see it or touch it since the person lost it a 100 or 200 yrs ago. I feel I'm literaly linking with the past.
? ?As far as fakes. I dug a 1943 copper wheat. And after a hundred dollar visit to a high price coin dealer in San Francisco. I came back with a 1948 wheat that someone had sanded down years ago, to pass off as genuine.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?HH ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

[bafromkc]

And Jeff of PA said, "& I painted The Tip of the Coil On My Sovereign, Instead of Tape." remarking on a previous post by willisjj "I placed a small 1/2" peice of duct tape on the very front middle of my coil to help out even further."

I've got my Explorer User's Manual open to see if this new-fangled Minelab detector doesn't "center" the "hit" on the center of the coil? Or why paint the tip? Or the FRONT middle??

 

[Michigan Badger]

Good comments!

By way of clarification, when I mentioned knowing an item is the real thing at the start of this thread, I meant that it is real because it actually came from a particular location--not that it itself was a genuine item.

I had in mind mainly these shipwreck items sold on ebay. Many come with a certificate that states that the seller purchased it from an antique dealer who in turn purchased it from some unnamed salvage team. Such certificates are usually worthless and the item may have come from a garage sale.

 

[bafromkc]

I think you mean...Garbage Sale?

 

[AK in KY]

Zeb - To me, buying old stuff would be similar to buying a shoulder mount 10 point buck that someone else shot.
The thrill is in the hunt.

AK in KY

 

[JakePhelps]

i agree, the thrill of the unt is half the fun, also having the item as a sort of "trophy"

 

[stoney56]

Zeb - To me, buying old stuff would be similar to buying a shoulder mount 10 point buck that someone else shot.
The thrill is in the hunt.

AK in KY

Unless you can pay $50 for a $20 gold piece. I mean they did make 2 1/2 X's their money, right?

 

[birdman]

I went through an ebay phase before I started detecting again.I bought lots of civil war buttons ,bullets, hooks,all common stuff.Now I look at the display that I have and think to myself ,Where am I going to put this stuff when I start displaying the stuff that I have actually dug? I think the bottom line is when you dig something it is much more valuable to you.

 

[ZumbroKid]

There is one on ebay right now, go there and type in Pope pancake. This should help change ones luck. Free shipping, seller has never had a negitive feedback. Check it out and see the miricle yourself.

 

[Hoggtyed]

LOL, I think I'll cook up a miracle myself here in a few minutes with some eggs and coffee. At 50 dollars and reserve not met. I put it on my watched items I gotta see what this goes for if it sells I am gonna start an ebay store sellin burnt pancakes.

 

[Michigan Badger]

I think the problem with me is I'm not a collector at heart.

I like good experiences and then move on to the next.

I view treasure hunting more like watching fireworks. It's a big deal for a little while but it eventually turns into smoke and thin air.

Stuff is just stuff to me. I have in my office all kinds of super old stuff from shipwrecks. It's all neat but it just sits there and that's it. I like action and doing things. Sitting isn't for me and I get bored really easily.

The hunt, the find, and then move on to the next cycle. That's for me. After the find I can sell some of my treasures on ebay to buy a new detector

 

[Mental Granny]

LOL, I think I'll cook up a miracle myself here in a few minutes with some eggs and coffee.? At 50 dollars and reserve not met.? I put it on my watched items I gotta see what this goes for if it sells I am gonna start an ebay store sellin burnt pancakes.

Maybe my wife's cooking is worth something after all.

 

[DigEmAll]

People are retarded.

I'm not saying anything about faith, but if I can make a pancake that sells for ten bucks and I have ten cents invested in making it...? Hell yeah, I'll throw in free shipping!

Take a toarch and cut out a rough image from 1/2 inch plate.? Doesn't need to be perfect, just close and thick.? Now, put that into the freezer for an hour.? Take it out and put it on top of the stove eye and set the skillet on top of the image.? Pour in the batter.? Now, turn on the stove on it very highest setting, searing the bottom.? As soon as it's seared, turn off the heat, flip the pancake, and slowly finish cooking from the other side.? Make as many as you like.? Put a pic of one on E-Bay and start collecting E-mail addresses.? When you have enough, pull the item from auction.? Start sending E-mails to the bidders.? LET THE RIP OFFS BEGIN!!!!

Faith is great, people are retarded sometimes.? What makes people think that God decided to get creative in this guy's kitchen this morning?? Now, if I have ticked you off, I am sorry.? Not my intent at all.? Here's a link to the E-Bay aution where you can place your bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pope-on-a-Panca...ryZ16710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[hollowpointred]

I've always been a lover of old stuff.

Since ebay, one can buy almost anything one can imagine. Thanks to ebay, I've held in my hands items that 10 years ago could only be seen through glass at a museum.

One thing I have discovered, however, is that purchased old things get boring after a while. And on top of all this I find myself wondering about their authenticity. Are these really 2,000 years old? Did this piece of eight really come from the Atocha? It has been found out that many bogus Atocha coins have been sold with fake certificates (I think this is just the tip of the iceberg).

You know, unless we dig it ourselves, or bring it up from the ocean floor, how do we know for sure it?s the real thing?

I've just decided not to buy anymore high priced old goodies. I will find them myself or go without.

Now, the items I've dug myself never seem to become boring. I have coins I dug 37 years ago and they still mean the same today as they did back then!

It's all about the thrill of the hunt and find. When I show someone one of my artifacts, I want to be able to say I know this is the real thing because I found it.

What are your feelings or thoughts?

Share.

i feel the same as you jeb. the fun is actually in finding it i believe

And Jeff of PA said, "& I painted The Tip of the Coil On My Sovereign, Instead of Tape." remarking on a previous post by willisjj "I placed a small 1/2" peice of duct tape on the very front middle of my coil to help out even further."?

I've got my Explorer User's Manual open to see if this new-fangled Minelab detector doesn't "center" the "hit" on the center of the coil?? Or why paint the tip?? Or the FRONT middle

i think the reason for "painting" or "marking with tape" the coil was to point out the coils sweet spot for pinpointing.

People are retarded.

I'm not saying anything about faith, but if I can make a pancake that sells for ten bucks and I have ten cents invested in making it...? Hell yeah, I'll throw in free shipping!

Take a toarch and cut out a rough image from 1/2 inch plate.? Doesn't need to be perfect, just close and thick.? Now, put that into the freezer for an hour.? Take it out and put it on top of the stove eye and set the skillet on top of the image.? Pour in the batter.? Now, turn on the stove on it very highest setting, searing the bottom.? As soon as it's seared, turn off the heat, flip the pancake, and slowly finish cooking from the other side.? Make as many as you like.? Put a pic of one on E-Bay and start collecting E-mail addresses.? When you have enough, pull the item from auction.? Start sending E-mails to the bidders.? LET THE RIP OFFS BEGIN!!!!

Faith is great, people are retarded sometimes.? What makes people think that God decided to get creative in this guy's kitchen this morning?? Now, if I have ticked you off, I am sorry.? Not my intent at all.? Here's a link to the E-Bay aution where you can place your bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pope-on-a-Panca...ryZ16710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

YOU MEAN THAT POPE PANCAKE ISNT REAL!!!!!!!!!!!.....................DAMN!!!!!