What is your greatest bust you thought was not a bust?

[Stuperduke]

Like the title says, can we hear some stories about something or some situation in which you thought you had hit the jackpot but found out it was just a bust.

 

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[Plumbata]

Once while hiking along a river in Ohio looking for exposed bottle-dumps, I stumbled across a gleaming golden pocket-watch laying flat, half buried in the bank. I greedily snatched up my heavy golden treasure then beat a cautious and rather paranoid retreat back through the homeless-infested territory to my car.

Turns out it was just a 20 year gold-filled case

 

[GB1]

I was hunting a new site from the 1860's got a nice signal and popped a coin out a 1980 penny

 

[SD51]

Here's my latest one from just last week...

Found what I thought was quite possibly a diamond in a parking lot and this beauty was well over one carat in size.






Jeweler said it was a CZ that he would sell for $35. I didn't even ask him what he would offer me.

 

[bologna321]

Thought I had found a brass US buckle or similar a few inches down, it was brass and the right size and shape. Pull it up, brush the dirt from it, and its a tag from a hotel cleaner with the name Sarah on it circa 1970.

 

[Stuperduke]

0h my gosh those are so amazing. Dont think I have had any similar.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Had a good but deep signal and dug a dime at 10 inches.

A 1996 Roosevelt. :-(

 

[Tedyoh]

Was at an 1850's site in the woods....dug at least a couple dozen of IHP and LC's over the years....never a silver......so being stubborn i must keep going back until i find one..there must be one there..dug a hole and FINALLY a freaking silver coin from this place! Not...what was peaking out of the dirt was the ring of a beaver tail pull tab.

 

[Davers]

Once while hiking along a river in Ohio looking for exposed bottle-dumps, I stumbled across a gleaming golden pocket-watch laying flat, half buried in the bank. I greedily snatched up my heavy golden treasure then beat a cautious and rather paranoid retreat back through the homeless-infested territory to my car.

Turns out it was just a 20 year gold-filled case

As are 70% of my ring finds .

 

[Davers]

I was hunting a new site from the 1860's got a nice signal and popped a coin out a 1980 penny

I feel ya gold boy .
Just last Sunday I had dug 3 Civil War Minnie's , then got a similar Bullet signal turned out to be a 19? Zinc Cent at 4 inches .

 

[Davers]

Was at an 1850's site in the woods....dug at least a couple dozen of IHP and LC's over the years....never a silver......so being stubborn i must keep going back until i find one..there must be one there..dug a hole and FINALLY a freaking silver coin from this place! Not...what was peaking out of the dirt was the ring of a beaver tail pull tab.

You bringing back bad memories .

 

[bologna321]

Here's another. I was back in the woods close to dusk detecting dredge piles from a pond next to an 1800's mill. Got a good signal in the mud, pulled a coin. In the dim light i swear it was an indian. Got another signal next to the hole and another and another. My first nice old coin spill. Quarters, dimes, pennies...

Got out into the sunlight and poured water on them, yep clad, got about $1.00.

My imagination got the better of me that day.

 

[Davers]

I've had so many let downs , I talk to myself when I'm digging a good signal ( It's likely a Bottle cap , Burnt Aluminum, ) so I won't be disappointed .

Many times I thought Id actually found mt 1st Civil War 'Round' Breast plate & it's been Ball jar Lids , or Deep tin can top's or bottoms .

A year ago at the Lake I eyeballed a BIG Man's ? White Gold or Platinum ? , got to the Truck rinsed with water & saw "Tungsten" Written on the inside . Oh well it still looks nice.

 

[SusanMN]

A massive thick gold chain marked “14 k Italy” that turned out to be a total fake.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Through my wife, I obtained a great permission, middle of town, in the Historic District...beautiful, early 1800 house, and the longtime reside said as far as he knew, no one had ever hunted it. Digging perfect plugs as not to upset the perfectly manicured lawn, I got that magic 92,92,92 signal with an angelic tone. Pinpointed it, dug a wide plug, popped it and 5 inches down sat 2 clad quarters stuck together. Ugh...I would have lost good money betting on finding big silver. Ddf.

 

[chub]

Found a Colnago Italian racing bike at the goodwill. I dont know anything about bikes but the components looked good quality.Nice period 1980's brakes etc. Italian rims.....Flipped it immediately....lots of calls . First buyer declares it as fake. Sticker kit on a crappy frame. one wheel out of true.... still sitting in the tool shed. will take it back to them sometime. $20 poorly spent

Chub