definition of "deep coins"???

[gunwolf]

I know it's different all over the country and world as far as the soil and conditions go. when I lived in WNY our soil was dark topsoil and sandy loom...it wasn't unusual to find Deep coins at 12"-14" and sometimes deeper. here in upstate SC the soil is red dirt and red clay, most older coins are between 4"-8" . maybe we should start a post of average coin depths for your location so those just starting out or visiting different areas can have a guide to what coil and sensitivity to use to gain depth.

 

[fwcrawford]

That is a good idea…. I see a lot of posts by people that have found coins much deeper than what I experience.
In central Va., I have dug coins at 8-9” max., but most are in the 5-6” range or less.

 

[still looking 52]

My definition of a deep coin is anything deeper than 4".
Love to get those faint weak clear signals that don't move when I go to all metal, even if it turns out to be junk I still get excited.
Around here in WV a super deep coin is 9" and that's with the ground being damp, 8" with dry ground.

 

[Ronstar]

Looking at construction site literature it says surface is 2” and less, shallow is 8” to 2” and deep is 8” and beyond. I think deepest coin Ive dug is pretty close to 10” but the average ‘50s coins and older have been in that 5”-8” range. Those 1890s shot-shell case heads were 4”.
Interesting subject for sure……Most of our ground is fertile topsoil with various depths of clay levels so that probably controls depths as well.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

hunting for large cents with the Sovereign gt with WOT coil 8”-10” large cents still usually give a good signal..occasionally a 12” deep one would ring out..deepest I’ve dug feold hunting was an estimated 14” deep.. it gave a good but very weak tone and I had to swing very slow ..it was partially into the clay layer.. I did dig an Indian head penny once that I estimate to have been a foot deep and that was with the 10” coil…. This is in Pennsylvania soil..

 

[JimmyCT]

That is a good idea…. I see a lot of posts by people that have found coins much deeper than what I experience.
In central Va., I have dug coins at 8-9” max., but most are in the 5-6” range or less.

I thought you were getting 15” in tot lots?

 

[fwcrawford]

I thought you were getting 15” in tot lots?

Oh, that was only on so far!!

 

[Odanscoils]

With my oll Explorer XS and 15" WOT coil.
On a fresh water beach
Dry sand for 12 inchs.
I dug a silver plated bottle opener
At maximum arm reach with a scoop.
At least 30 inchs.
Nice firm quiet signal before digging
Just started screaming at a foot
I truly thought I was digging another tire rim.
That would one wore me out.

 

[Tony-Ok]

Here in Oklahoma, 6-10 inch deep is the sweet spot …… I personally don’t want to dig deeper. I do mostly private permission old homes . Home owners look out and see me digging deeper than my elbow, I will surely be asked to leave. Just my two cents . Tony

 

[ydnar6]

6-10 inches. Love going back over the spot where a shallow coin was found, and hear that faint ring.

 

[RLOH]

I have found 90% of my older coins in the 8 inch range. Found a large cent from 14 inches once with an Explorer XS.

 

[DFX-Gregg]

average depth surface to 4-5 inches... again this would really depend on where you are hunting though...

 

[u2robert]

To say a deep coin it's all about your soil.
Culpeper, Virginia 5-6" is deep (red mineralized soil)
Central Florida 10-12" is deep (Loamy neutral soil)

 

[Monte]

A lot depends on the type of site I'm hunting.

Older Parks and similar locations that have a regularly mowed grass and a lot of leafy trees that lose those leaves to decay:
* Modern coin loss the past 40 years (aka Zinc Penny Era) surface to 4".
* Deeper coins are typically over 4" to about 7".
* Very deep coins are over an honest 7".

Mining, Ranching, Farming, RailRoad era and Military & Pioneer Encampment areas, Forts, etc., Homesteads from 1850's through the Depression Era to 1940:
* About 85% have been surface-viewable to 4, if that. Generally shallower.
* Occasionally over 4" to an honest 6" are typically what we consider to be a 'deep' coin'.

Most of the places I have hunted for over five decades do not have many deeper coins, and I have had detectors that would go that deep. It's been more site selection that has been in my favor.

Monte