My brother and I had a long discussion about gold coin depths. The crux of the discussion centered as to whether or not gold coins can migrate deeper in soft, wet pasture land. We are detecting an old ranch that was a big outfit, (as in very wealthy) in the 1880's-1938. As a matter of fact in the cellar they had a huge safe that was left there after all assets were sold off. The buildings were all tore down and it's now part of a pasture. The safe was placed before the house was built and at the end they couldn't get anybody to get it out. Anyway, we got permission to detect it about 25 years ago. When we got permission the rancher said, "maybe you guys will find some of the gold coins that have been lost in this area". Was he telling the truth or yanking our chain? Who knows. The area has produced exactly 113 silver coins and countless nickels and IH's. So we were wondering if the gold coins are deeper, (if there are any) because of their weight in the very moist pasture or are we yanking our own chain!! What do you think?
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Gold coins thought
- Thread starter xwyokid
- Start date
JimmyCT
Well-known member
I would ask the rancher to elaborate on this gold coin statement. Was there indeed a case where gold coins were lost? Or is he making a general statement that because the people were wealthy he is assuming they lost gold coins on the property? I have read in several articles that gold is about twice the density of silver. If this is an accurate assessement between the two metals, (gold & silver) I guess it could hold true that any gold (in this environment you speak of) could have sunk at a higher rate then the silver coins. A gold and silver coin of the same size but with obvious density differences the sink rate would really be dependent (I feel) upon moisture / rain / that the ground absorbs. If the ground is relatively dry neither are going to be moving very far. In your case of soft, wet pasture land I feel it can be a great possibility that (if any) gold coins will be deeper. How much? That I could not answer. The only factor I see is the moisture content making that decision. How deep are the silver coins that you are recovering? Hopefully someone with more knowledge on this subject will speak up and help us all out.
maybe you guys will find some of the gold coins that have been lost in this area
The crux of the discussion centered as to whether or not gold coins can migrate deeper in soft, wet pasture land.
maybe you guys will find some of the gold coins that have been lost in this area
The crux of the discussion centered as to whether or not gold coins can migrate deeper in soft, wet pasture land.
Critterhunter
New member
Absolutely gold coins will be deeper! The sink rate of a coin is based on two factors- It's weight and it's size. More size, more resistance to sinking. More weight, more ability to sink based on it's size. So a gold coin of similar size to a silver coin will sink faster. Coins sink until they reach a point where the density of the soil equals the density of the coin in terms of size and weight. That's why you'll find silver coins right on the surface in hard packed clay (I have in the woods at hard clay locations), where as ten feet away in better soil a silver coin of the same age could be 6 to even 12" or more deep. The moisture content of the soil also comes into play. I know of one site where the soil isn't ideal in terms of the best of the best in being "fine" soil, but it's one of my deepest old coin spots to hunt. In fact, at this very spot I dug a V nickle and an Indian in two separate holes at 11" with the GT and stock coil. The soil on that day was perfect in terms of being set enough to enhance signals well. This spot, though it stays dry most of the year, is a low field from a sloping hill, and so during the winter and spring months this field gets really soggy and wet...So, despite the soil not being the best, I believe that's the reason the coins are getting so deep there.
Even if you are finding silver coins at a certain max depth at that site, don't expect the gold coins to also be at that depth since they are heavier for the same sized coin. They'll sink deeper until they reach equal density with the soil, or at least sink faster than the silver of the same age has. For those two reasons that could cause the gold to be deeper, the only way I'd expect a gold coin to be found at the same depth as a silver coin that was dropped around the same time would be if there is say a layer or hard packed clay, stones, or bedrock at a certain depth that the coins seem to stop at. Once a site we hunted had about 12" of fine black topsoil stripped from it. Below this 12" they removed was very hard packed limestone clay. We found coins laying right on the surface of this layer. Several, in fact, and as suspected didn't really find any coins much deeper than the surface in that clay. That's despite all the silver that was pulled from the removed topsoil on prior hunts.
Even if you are finding silver coins at a certain max depth at that site, don't expect the gold coins to also be at that depth since they are heavier for the same sized coin. They'll sink deeper until they reach equal density with the soil, or at least sink faster than the silver of the same age has. For those two reasons that could cause the gold to be deeper, the only way I'd expect a gold coin to be found at the same depth as a silver coin that was dropped around the same time would be if there is say a layer or hard packed clay, stones, or bedrock at a certain depth that the coins seem to stop at. Once a site we hunted had about 12" of fine black topsoil stripped from it. Below this 12" they removed was very hard packed limestone clay. We found coins laying right on the surface of this layer. Several, in fact, and as suspected didn't really find any coins much deeper than the surface in that clay. That's despite all the silver that was pulled from the removed topsoil on prior hunts.
Critterhunter
New member
I'd say in *most* of my soil sites, silver generaly ranges from 6 to 8 or maybe 9". Probably about 7" being the key depth. But, I've found plenty shallower, and I've find a few old coins 9" or deeper. You have to key in on the sites where the coins can sink deeper. At a max of 7 or PERHAPS 8" deep allowed then most machines can find those, but if they are about 8" or deeper in even somewhat low minerals even Minelabs (ALL of them) have problems with IDing those coins 8" or deeper. The key is to find the sites where coins are deeper. Don't just go by the soil being "fine", as yes that's important and probably the best indicator, but I've got some deep coin sites where the soil has a lot of heavy clay in it, but because of the land sitting low or getting swampy at certain times of year, coins even in that heavier or heavy soil have got deeper. AND, at higher mineralized sites (not even very high in terms of minerals, but have them to some extent) machines I've owned have struggled to reach 6 to a max of even MAYBE (at the extreme) about 7.5" (Only a few machines I've owned could reach that in my soil). That seemed to be where all my non-Minelabs maxed out at the very most- 7.5". To go beyond that depth, despite all the machines I've owned in my soil (again, not always the most heavily mineralized, but mineralized to some small extent or higher), I've had to go Minelab to get even a bit deeper. One Minelab broke that 7.5" barrier, but the GT, in the end, was the deepest of *all* machines I've used, even compared to that one machine that got deeper than 7.5" in my soil.
Now, so don't just read and compare depths from people. Many have probably better soil than you. When it comes to getting those depths (despite how expensive the machine may be or even the same machine), you just might not be able to match those depths in your soil. I know I could never match the depths of others by a LONG shot of the same machines I've read and trusted others on in reading. It still took me a lot of machines and a lot of money to find that the GT got the deepest for me in my soil, despite how more expensive or "advanced" other machines may claim to be.
Now also, it's important to not try to fit a round peg into a square hole. If a site won't even show round tabs at more than 3 or 4", then chances are even the oldest silver isn't much more than 5 to 8" deep. Then, for that reason, chances are the oldest of coins are not at least much beyond 8" or so. So, since (if the soil isn't playing mineral tricks) most machines can generaly reach say about 7.5" or so (by my experience), don't rely on finding coins deeper. Instead, start looking for those masked or on edge coins. Dig the iffy or one way ones, and don't waste your time looking for some lone super deep coin that doesn't exhist, that is beyond the reach of some if not most other machines. Sure, I do that a lot for hours at some of my sites, but lately I know those 7 to PERHAPS 8" coins are long gone at those sites that don't let them sink deeper. Now you need to find the masked one way or on edge funky ones. Save the searching for deep whisper ones for sites that the soil allows to sink deeper. Or, at least recognize that the minerals at a shallower site will prevent "lessor" machines from even seeing coins good at 6", let alone deeper. At those 6 to perhaps 8" coins (although all the non-Minelabs by my experince max out IF THEY ARE LUCKY at about 7.5" in my soil....Really only one or perhaps two non-Minelabs could reach 7.5" in my soil) still await for a Minelab, because other machines couldn't see them in the even low mineralization.
Now, so don't just read and compare depths from people. Many have probably better soil than you. When it comes to getting those depths (despite how expensive the machine may be or even the same machine), you just might not be able to match those depths in your soil. I know I could never match the depths of others by a LONG shot of the same machines I've read and trusted others on in reading. It still took me a lot of machines and a lot of money to find that the GT got the deepest for me in my soil, despite how more expensive or "advanced" other machines may claim to be.
Now also, it's important to not try to fit a round peg into a square hole. If a site won't even show round tabs at more than 3 or 4", then chances are even the oldest silver isn't much more than 5 to 8" deep. Then, for that reason, chances are the oldest of coins are not at least much beyond 8" or so. So, since (if the soil isn't playing mineral tricks) most machines can generaly reach say about 7.5" or so (by my experience), don't rely on finding coins deeper. Instead, start looking for those masked or on edge coins. Dig the iffy or one way ones, and don't waste your time looking for some lone super deep coin that doesn't exhist, that is beyond the reach of some if not most other machines. Sure, I do that a lot for hours at some of my sites, but lately I know those 7 to PERHAPS 8" coins are long gone at those sites that don't let them sink deeper. Now you need to find the masked one way or on edge funky ones. Save the searching for deep whisper ones for sites that the soil allows to sink deeper. Or, at least recognize that the minerals at a shallower site will prevent "lessor" machines from even seeing coins good at 6", let alone deeper. At those 6 to perhaps 8" coins (although all the non-Minelabs by my experince max out IF THEY ARE LUCKY at about 7.5" in my soil....Really only one or perhaps two non-Minelabs could reach 7.5" in my soil) still await for a Minelab, because other machines couldn't see them in the even low mineralization.
Critterhunter
New member
I should clearify...In my low to heavy mineral sites (most of my sites contain at least some form of low mineralization, but I do have some with good neutral soil, so I'm blessed to have a broad spectrum of soil types to hunt in) only a couple of machines I ever owned could muster a max of about 7.5" on a silver dime. These were Whites, and I feel they excelled in my soil due to their low frequency they used. Anyway, nothing else that I owned over the years until my Minelabs could get deeper. I'm seeing depths with the GT (and even the stock 10" coil for it) that for me *in my soil* are deeper than any machine I've ever owned.
Well, we will have to see what the Sovereign can do. We don't expect miracles with our new machines but, we do plan on gridding out the detecting area. Pretty close to 3/4 of an acre so it will probably take a while. We have to wait and hit it at the right time as this part of the property receives a lot of water this time of the year. It is flooded at least twice a month. It's gonna be fun.
Critterhunter
New member
Flooded twice a month? For sure any gold coins (and silver) are going to be extra deep then, even if it's a hard soil. Only way they wouldn't be super deep is if there is a layer of gravel, bedrock, or say hard packed clay at a certain depth that is stopping them from sinking further. Just remember (check out the ID charts sticky at the top of the forum) that various gold coins read at various levels on the ID chart. Of course the $1 gold coin, being so small reads 129 to 132 on the VDI chart. The only other coin that reads lower than that is the 3 cent nickle. $2.50 gold coins are next up, but still read rather low on the scale (in the tab range if memory serves, but the charts have that VDI # for them as well as those for $5 and $10 gold coins).
If the site isn't super trashy with iron, then you may want to try hunting in All Metal or pinpoint mode and see if that might get you deeper. In my soil, though, I don't think all metal is deeper than discrimination on my GT. I know at least that PP mode won't see super deep targets for me that discrimination will.
If the site isn't super trashy with iron, then you may want to try hunting in All Metal or pinpoint mode and see if that might get you deeper. In my soil, though, I don't think all metal is deeper than discrimination on my GT. I know at least that PP mode won't see super deep targets for me that discrimination will.