A surprise find...

[fwcrawford]

I actually found this last Sunday, but thought it would be interesting information and reading for others:

I was out last Sunday at a local school yard searching for coins and I happened across a target that ID'd as a nickel.
It sounded like it was not deep, so I just plucked up a small amount of sod to retrieve it when I caught a small glimpse of gold.
I looked in the sod and saw what looked to be a bracelet.
Thinking this was the signal, I removed it from the hole and laid it on the ground and swung over it with my Sovereign GT.
I did not get any sound from it and wondered what gave the signal..I went back over the hole and the response was a nickel ID.
I dug around and found a nickel.
I showed the bracelet to my buddy and told him what had happened and asked him to check it with his Explorer.. he did not get any signals either.
He looked closely at it and saw 14K on the clasp... it was indeed gold!!
Thinking back now, if I had found the nickel first or the nickel had not been there to start with, I would have left this in the hole.
I'm now wondering how many gold chains have been passed over by detectorists and not give a signal.
I tested this piece with several other machines I have with similar results.. the chain was actually balled up during the testing in case you are wondering.
Anyhow, thanks for looking!!

 

[Darkflight]

Because almost all machines show those as indivdual links. Balled up sometimes a scratchy no dig response. But I'd wager my Tesoro u-max would have sniffed it out via the small bells. Those look large enough. And I have found a few chains. But almost every one had a decent size pendant or charm to hit on. The chains just don't hit well till they get much larger.

And once upon a time. In a now bulldozed elementry school playground I found a chain all by itself. Very chunky, not marked and actually fairly crude. Solid 22K Rose Gold and almost oz. It was fortunate as my wifes family car had just died and we had no funds to replace it.. I bought a nice used Previa with the $ from the chain. I'm certain it was a piece made to pass customs or simple inspection. Probably from Russia according to the smelter.It does happen.

But small chains-best bet is hit beaches after heavy winds. You will find them uncovered if it blows hard enough. You see a glint of gold if your lucky. But the detectors miss 'em all the time.

 

[woody]

Detecting for 44 years and never found a gold chain. Way to go!!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy fwcrawford---

CONGRATULATIONS on your good fortune! You would have been happy with the nickle but you got a nice bonus find! It happens. It happened to me too.A few years ago, I was hunting a vacant lot where in the past I had dug several old wheat cents and a Barber dime. I got a signal @ 4" that VDI'd in the screw cap / Indian Head Cent range and dug the screw cap. I noticed some yellow in the side of my hole and to my surprise I pulled out 15.2 grams of 14K gold chain. It made my day as I'm sure your bonus find made yours! Here is a Finmall link to my chain:

https://www.findmall.com/read.php?66,2231869,2231869#msg-2231869

Beat of luck to you and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[fwcrawford]

Thanks for sending the link... that is amazing.
I was wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else.
Two lucky finds indeed.. by the way.. that is a nice chain you found.
Thanks again!!

 

[fwcrawford]

I tested this piece with several other detectors in addition to the Sovereign, but they all gave about the same results.
I do have a Vaquero with the stock coil and at min. disc, this detector would not sound off on it either, but in all metal it did give a very good signal.
I also have an Eldorado, but did not try that one since the Vaquero has a slightly higher frequency.
The Eldorado could give better results due to the disc range goes lower than the Vaquero I believe.
I may have to give it a try to see what happens.
I do like Tesoros, but as many others here, I have some other makes as well.. I think I have a problem!!LOL

 

[Mark kus]

Nice find I found this fine bracelet not marked but tested out at 14k found with my Deus and a LF 9” coil I was surprised it was about 4” down. Nothing else in the hole with it.

 

[fwcrawford]

That is a great find... i’m surprised that your detector could pick it up at that depth.
I’m not too familiar with the Deus, but it must have high sensitivity to gold and small items.

 

[Steve Keppel]

I once beepede a penny, dug, and a tiny gold cross came up. And sure enough, there was a penny in the hole. Lucky!

 

[Sanderling]

I also had a surprise find in this very thin 14K anklet. There must have been a pulltab or something in the hole that I did not see. When I dug it I found one of the ends sticking out of the sand and thought it was a foil strip from a cigarette pack. I have tried to get a response from my CTX, Safari, and a friends Etrac. No response by any of the machines.

 

[bugg]

Im sure the Equinox would have found those chains.

 

[JimmyCT]

Great find Felix! It is amazing how many detectors will not pick up on that gold chain. I can't even begin to imagine the jewelry that is being walked right over and not detected. Big eye opener for sure. Luckily for you, there was a nickel in the ground which made you dig. Otherwise, another gold chain would still be lying in the ground.