COIN DEPTH ????

[Anonymous]

I have been puzzled recently regarding the depths of some of my finds.....a buddy and myself were detecting a homesite that dates back to the late 1800's....i was using my EXCEL and he was using another brand....i found a 1951 wheatie at around 5-6 inches in the middle of the front yard.....(my birth year).....so that was neat....also that day i found a jefferson nickel the last year they made them....another good find....then i found my first buff nickel......(my first since i rarely dig signals that low) ...and i dont even wish to talk about the 1919 merc dime that i decided to pass over and not dig....(my buddy ran across it behind me and decided to make the effort!!!!).....%^&$##%%^!!!!.....anyway the question is, i found that 1951 penny 5-6 inches down and later that day i was digging close to the mailbox area and cut a plug on a good hit and nothing in the hole....started peeling back the soil on the plug....shaving it back all the way to the roots, i saw a dirty coin.....figuring that close to the surface, it must be a memorial penny.....after rubbing some dirt off of it, low and behold!....a 1903 Indian!!!.....as uneven as the yard appears, I dont think it has been leveled.....my questions is, how can a 1951 be 6 inches down and in the same yard, a 1903 Indian be an inch down?....one thing....the yard is very infested with Moles......so i was thinking, maybe that could be an answer.....with all the burrowing they do, could be coins are moved up, down and all around....just wondered.....anyone else have any ideas?

 

[Bill Ladd]

I have read all kinda theories & have found some similar experiences. Last year, at another colonial cellar hole, using the Coin$trike I got a strong signal & it pinpointed in the 90's (92 maybe?), I forget. But usually that means large & or shallow. Some folks even skip 90's targets thinkin' it must be modern or they figure old stuff has to be deeper. Well, a couple inches down up pops an 1830's large cent! I was pretty surprised. Then I looked around & saw I was on a path. So foot traffic probably explained that case. Other times, roots growing seem to force targets upward. Winter frost heaves are another theory, & like you mentioned moles too. But in a yard ya never know what kinda landscaping was done over the years. Like roots, I think stones in the ground can help keep things more shallow. I know I find alotta goodies fairly shallow in rocky/sandy ground. A big burden for us is pine tree's Pine needles, gathering up over hundreds of years makes small targets pretty much out of detection range. We need to scrape 6" or more just to have a chance at diggin' a signal

 

[Anonymous]

Whiskers, I would check all high tones or questionable numbers in pinpoint mode. I have found that many of the numbers on deeper coins will change when you open the hole. If I am at an older site, dig the over 5 inch deep signals that jump from good to bad. Don't 100% rely on numbers and tones. Try it, it might surprise you. R.L.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response, BILL....come to think of it.....although I didnt encounter roots in THAT particular hole I found the Indian in, there were 2 big depressions in the ground where large trees had been nearby......so that theory is a possible....I would like to go back to this site in the near future with my x1266.....I know there is a good chance of some nice oldies there and I know that baby will get me down there....however the old rusty iron nails will drive me crazy I am sure....haha......anyway....thanks again for your time and effort.....is greatly appreciated......whiskers