how to tell if its silver or clad

[Lensman]

The shift from from 12:45/46 to 13:45/46 has pretty much been right on the money every time I've found silver. But I'm sure I've missed digging silver because of some of the other numbers I've gotten I still have much to learn about this rig. :-(

 

[Dwayne2010]

I am finding that the 17 inch coil gives pennies the 12-45 12-46 13-45 13-46. So, on that note, finding a penny is still okay. I always check teh dates on them to see what years I am digging up. Its only a matter of time before I hit the silver quarters

 

[electricmetal21]

Something to think about:

The coin acceptors in vending machines are highly sophisticated metal detector type instruments. They can tell the difference between Penny's, nickels, dimes, and quarters. And, if you put in a foreign coin or a slug, they'll know that too.

But, If you put an American dime into a vending machine, it doesn't matter if the American dime you put in the vending machine was a silver dime or a clad dime. The coin acceptor in the vending machine will still see the dime as an American dime, accept it, and give you your can of soda.

In addition, it doesn't matter if the American dime you put in the vending machine was a Roosevelt Dime, a Mercury Dime, or a Barber Dime. The coin acceptor will still see the dime as an American dime, accept it, and give you your can of soda..

Where am I going with this?

To keep the correct change from being rejected by vending machines, the U.S. mint makes ALL of it's clad coins to look IDENTICAL to a vending machine coin acceptor as the silver coins that preceded them.

If a vending machine coin acceptor can tell the difference between copper pennys and silver dimes (something our metal detectors have a hard time doing), but, can't tell the difference between a silver dime and a clad dime, it's pretty tough for us to tell the difference with our machines.

My personal opinion is that when people say they can tell the difference between silver dimes and clad dimes, it's a myth.

Maybe they can but, it's very doubtful that they can do it 100 percent of the time.

 

[BootyHunter]

Don't take this any other way than friendly advice: you can never ever rely solely on numbers to detect only good targets. I have found Large Gold rings at zinc cent numbers, small gold band at Indian Head number, silver brooch at clad numbers. Best thing about CTX is if the signal is a 12-anything with a SOLID round red or Maroon target trace, DIG IT!!! It is USUALLY something good. Will you dig a twist top or some other horse $h!+ now and again? Sure will, but you won't be missing a lot of great targets.

 

[coondog]

I just want to address the original question that hiluxyota brought up. That is silver or clad? I think the first post by Southwind is a very accurate way to tell silver from clad.

This is what I have observed using ground coin mode. Numbers are different in other modes . A coin at 6 to 8 " that hits around 12.39 to 12.42 is usually a wheat penny. A 6 to8" hitting hitting 12.43 to 12.45 usually silver dime. 12.44 12.47 usually a silver quarter.

Again this is with my machine my ground and my settings using the stock coin program in ground coin with sensitivity at about 20 to 23.

Now for you guys that want to bring up exceptions to the rules and debate wether everything should be dug or not I think you should bring it up in another post for debate. Like me yota mayhave good reason for not digging everything. This weekend for example the ground was so dry and tough I did not want to dig a bunch of holes. I had a few hours to kill so I went to the back of the park and found 2 coins that sounded like silver and I was wright. I left the park having dug only 2 plugs. I will not dig any more plugs there until we get some rain and my other plugs recover. I probably should not have even dug those.

So lighten up guys and lets try to stay on subject.

P.S I left a lot of stupid wheats back there but some day when the time is wright I may go back and dig just to make sure , or maybe not.

 

[mcb613]

JA415 is right on. I too believe and expect more i formation with the high end machines. Time is your enemy unless you have endless time. I want as much intel to know whether to dig or pass by got better target. Its a best use of time issue for me. Otherwise buy a surplus mine detector and dig everything. Whats yhe sense of paying for technology unless you plan on depending on it to help. However, i dont want yo ever see the day that a machine will tell uou exactly what is on the ground before dig, maybe even the date on the coin.

 

[NiagracountyNY]

Wide open screen 2 tones.I use the target trace when pin pointing to make sure what i have.Its super acurate..Im able to dig alot of coins mixxed with iron since the target trace will track Both targets.As far as knowing if its silver for sure..Impossible.Even with the etrac and se /explorer.someone posted earlier upon release of each new model people have complained it lost the silver sound..YES THEY HAVE! Wouldnt be much fun if i knew 100% what i was digging everytime..The surprise is what makes it fun.

 

[ML]

The sounds, the numbers, make no difference to me in my experience with the unit. The only way I could ever tell is by digging it.

 

[jerseyjim]

I use an open screen on coin and count on the audio more then the #s. Lets face it, you are not going to be able to tell silver from clad 100 % of the time.