Ronstar
Well-known member
Friday jkline and I went to a small lot where an old 20s era house used to be. Earlier he had detected and dug a Merc and some older Wheats plus the normal college town clad. Invite was welcome as weather getting to the point of better do it now cuz tomorrow might be snowing. Nothing super to share but I did dig a 1925S Wheat in really good shape (slowly cleaning as its actually that good of detail on it) and a 1962 Canada penny in fairly good condition.
Saturday we hit a corner lot on campus. Both of us got maybe $1 in clad but Jeff recovered a big 925 mans ring stamped Mexico so things looking up!
Today, oh today..... last minute decision by me to get out as snow inbound tonite. 35 degrees and windy but it is what it is. Hit older elementary school where park area behind school developed several years ago. My hopes was to get at least $5 in clad and maybe one last silver ring. First hit the wood-chips at tot lot and nothing so moved to ball courts. Snagged a couple quarters and some dimes so getting better. Worked my way towards a grassy area with sidewalks on both side that funnel down towards another tot lot and a couple benches. I started hitting quarter after quarter and more dimes and nickels. One good dime signal ended up being a badly bent silver ring so now its a darn good outing in the crappy weather. I continued working the grassy area and still was hitting quarters and dimes!! I had decided for today if getting choppy signals for foil, tabs, zinc, etc to pass.
I hit a solid foil signal that was not budging off 20-21 (Fisher F75) and showing 5-6” deep. Ok, been down this road once with the big necklace that hit solid 20. Better dig........ Holy Shamoly!!! Its gold!!!!! Tore off the gloves and dug in with bare hands. Carefully recovering and noticing a greenish/yellowish almost reddish sparkle as it came out to daylight. As soon as I had it out and cleaned it up just a bit I knew what it was, a decent size polished Fire Opal. Oh man.......
Worked my way back towards the truck and just digging nickels, dimes, and quarters. Washed off the Fire Opal with clean water and now could see it had been resized. Ring cut in half and two small “hog ring” looking clamps placed on both sides where ring overlaps itself (blow up the pic and you can see the one clamp). When I got home and cleaned it up with hot water and Dawn with toothbrush I discovered it has two small diamonds on two sides of the stone. Does life get any better? Yes, got home and my bride of 44 years asked if she could have it...... done deal. $4 in clad and a happy wife, plus........ $10 off on sale of the good good whiskey!!!!
Next week is my birthday so end of the year turns out to be nice blowout!!!!
Saturday we hit a corner lot on campus. Both of us got maybe $1 in clad but Jeff recovered a big 925 mans ring stamped Mexico so things looking up!
Today, oh today..... last minute decision by me to get out as snow inbound tonite. 35 degrees and windy but it is what it is. Hit older elementary school where park area behind school developed several years ago. My hopes was to get at least $5 in clad and maybe one last silver ring. First hit the wood-chips at tot lot and nothing so moved to ball courts. Snagged a couple quarters and some dimes so getting better. Worked my way towards a grassy area with sidewalks on both side that funnel down towards another tot lot and a couple benches. I started hitting quarter after quarter and more dimes and nickels. One good dime signal ended up being a badly bent silver ring so now its a darn good outing in the crappy weather. I continued working the grassy area and still was hitting quarters and dimes!! I had decided for today if getting choppy signals for foil, tabs, zinc, etc to pass.
I hit a solid foil signal that was not budging off 20-21 (Fisher F75) and showing 5-6” deep. Ok, been down this road once with the big necklace that hit solid 20. Better dig........ Holy Shamoly!!! Its gold!!!!! Tore off the gloves and dug in with bare hands. Carefully recovering and noticing a greenish/yellowish almost reddish sparkle as it came out to daylight. As soon as I had it out and cleaned it up just a bit I knew what it was, a decent size polished Fire Opal. Oh man.......
Worked my way back towards the truck and just digging nickels, dimes, and quarters. Washed off the Fire Opal with clean water and now could see it had been resized. Ring cut in half and two small “hog ring” looking clamps placed on both sides where ring overlaps itself (blow up the pic and you can see the one clamp). When I got home and cleaned it up with hot water and Dawn with toothbrush I discovered it has two small diamonds on two sides of the stone. Does life get any better? Yes, got home and my bride of 44 years asked if she could have it...... done deal. $4 in clad and a happy wife, plus........ $10 off on sale of the good good whiskey!!!!
Next week is my birthday so end of the year turns out to be nice blowout!!!!
HH jim tn
Beautiful OPAL (that is my younger daughter's birthstone) Congrats! Ma
