Hunting an older clad laden park....opinions needed!

[Erik]

This park that has produced the seated quarter and IH cents as of late obviously has some history to it - and the jury is still out as to whether the stratigraphy has been disturbed at one or more times in the past. I'm starting to believe that it has not been that much disturbed, but that some dork (or dorks) back in the stone-age of detecting (70's) probably hit this park and cleaned out a considerable amount of silver.

Here's the issue - if they did, I'm convinced that there's still more there, however, there is a LOT of clad in the first couple of inches. I'm considering cleaning out all of these "junk" targets, but need a quick way of doing this. I have a brass probe, but I can't effectively use it for popping coins quickly. If I dig plugs, it's too much work and I'll end up decimating the grass there. I'm considering using a screwdriver....has anyone any experience in popping lots of shallow clad....I just want it out of there so I can look for deeper targets.

Any other opinions on how to handle a park like this. There's also a fair amount of foil and pull tabs as well....this stuff is a little deeper. I am seeing Lincoln cents from the 60s and 70s fairly deep in places, but it looks like they've been there since then (some copper cents are very green colored) and I know I can get deeper.

Currently, I have been only looking for targets at 4" - 5" or deeper and ignoring the rest. Someone on a forum once (maybe the Garrett forum - I used a Garrett 2500 and it only found shallow stuff within 6") thought I was crazy for leaving coins in the first 4", but I don't ever remember finding silver this shallow.....I know some people do find it.

So what's your input as to a strategy to try and get some good stuff from this park?

Thanks in advance for your sage advice.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Take out the quarters first to pay for gas etc.

Next take out the dimes to pay for long distance calls to girlfriend.

Next take out all nickels and hopefully find a diamond or gold ring or two to give to said girlfriend.

Finally take out pennies. A penny earned is a penny earned.

 

[Erik]

Thanks Tony, but I don't care about the cash value of the clad in the ground, if you give me a proven technique on getting it out fast I would gladly send it to you. I've even toyed with the idea of hiring a dedicated digger. PS don't tell my wife about those long distance calls!! (just kidding)

 

[Jack(IN)]

where you did find the Seated/Indians and grid it, just dig everything deep and unfortunately the newer stuff. No easy way about it, you'll find alot of goodies I'd say, hopefully you pretty much have the Park all to yourself, wish I could think of a better solution, but thats my two cents worth!!

 

[Erik]

Hi Jack, So essentially what you are saying is to dig everything, right?? I guess the point I was trying to make is that there seems to be a LOT of coins near the surface and digging all that takes a LOT of time using the current techniques I employ. I was wondering if anyone knew of a quick way to pop relatively shallow coins. Thanks, Erik

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

The only advice that I can give you Erik is that in order for you to get to the good old silver you have to get through the clad and junk first and unfortunately that means digging or popping it out of the ground. Why not get a couple of buddies who don't own Minelab machines and let them have at the clad and that would be less digging for you, but then if this place is a secret then you might not want to let anyone else in there. If this is the case then I suggest taking your time and grid off one area at a time and when it's pretty well cleaned out then you can move to another grid area. Best of luck and I hope you find lots of neat stuff at this place. HH.

Eddie

 

[Bill W.]

You might want to start digging only the deeper coins then work your way shallower. I'd also do different areas of the park each visit to minimize the impact. I know it's hard not to pound an area where you've found an seated quarter. But, if the park is that old they're probably in most of the areas in the park. BTW, I've dug many old coins at less than 4 inches in parks. Some people cherry pick too much but you do have to have a stategy for minimize holes in a park and let the grass recover. But, that's not too say I haven't cherry picked a few times... About the time you use a probe you'll scratch a good silver. I wouldn't get caught up in who has done what in this park as far as old detectorist. If you found a seated quarter the didn't do too good of a job. That's telling me you know your Explorer alot better than they knew their machine. Go get those coins!

-Bill

 

[James N.D.]

you can easily pop the clad coins from the ground. All you have to do is take a nice thinner and longer Standard Screwdriver and probe the ground until you hit the object. But if you are in an area that you may think was turned or dug up at one time, you may want to be careful since you never know when the shallow coin will be an old one. Back to explanation of use of Screwdriver. Then just take the Screwdriver and push it at an angle above the object and pull it forward. This should give you a small type like slit that you can get access to the coin or what have you easier and faster. Just make sure to push the slit back down so it isn't noticeable and on to your next target. I did this recovery procedure for a few years when I was running an old Compass Detector and the Bounty Hunter Big Bud Pro Select 220-d. It worked great for the surface coins but it took a thicker Screwdriver to recover the deeper items. Hope this helps you out a bit and one other thing, if you don't have the Sunray X-1 Probe, BUY ONE!!! It will speed up your recovery. If you switch it to the Probe and wave over the area where the item is and no signal try and wave it fast back and forth over the area and if not deep it will give you somewhat a signal or a null if over target. Then just dig it and insert Probe and you will know if you are in the right spot. Good Luck and HH.

 

[Erik]

Hi, Don't know any other detectorists.....I'll probably take your suggestion and try to dig everything in a test grid when I can find the time.

 

[Erik]

Thanks Bill....good advice there, you certainly sound like a well seasoned pro. I may try popping just the shallowest clad with a rounded over screwdriver and then dig the rest in a couple of test grids to see what's down there.....I'll stay in touch.....Thanks again!!

 

[Erik]

Hi, Yes I have the X-1, wouldn't ever detect w/o one any more. Also have a Vibraprobe...so I'll try and quickly locate all the shallowest surface clad and try to pop it. Will try to dig the rest in a few test grids.....problem is time....tough to find some long stretches of time in which to detect

 

[Eddie in Poulsbo]

Where do you live Erik? I'm on my way............ Just kidding, but seriously, what state are you in? If there are no clubs in your area and you don't know any other detectorists then you may have a gold mine in this park you are hunting. Best of luck and look forward to your next post of your older finds. HH.

Eddie

 

[alfano]

WHEN I TAKE SHALLOW TARGETS I FIRST LOCATE WITH X1 AND THEN PROBE THEN TAKE LESCHE STAB INTO GROUND SO THAT WHEN I PRY UP THE TARGET IS UNDER THE LESCHE. THE GROUND USALLY SPLITS IN THE MIDDLE YOU CAN IN MOST CASES STICK FINGERS IN AND FIND TARGET. THE DISTURBED GROUND PRESSES RIGHT BACK DOWN AND EVEN AN EXPIERENCED DETECTORIST WILL NEVE SEE IT. THIS METHOD WORKS GOOD. HOPE THIS HELPS ITS FASTER THAN TRYING TO DIG OUT OF GROUND WITH SCREWDRIVER. IF IM PRETTY CERTIAN WHERE TARGET IS ALOT TIMES I DONT EVEN LOCATE WITH PROBE. JUST STAB POP RECOVER AND GO. WHERE DO YOU LIVE MABEY I CAN COME OUT AND HELP YOU CLEAN UP THAT PARK

 

[Erik]

Hi, I'm in northern NJ. C'mon out

 

[Erik]

Hi, I'll try that. Think I've done some of that, but the Lesche leaves a little more damage that I would like (the ground is very dry right now). I think you meant to say the target is OVER the Lesche no? I'm in northern NJ.

 

[alfano]

n/t

 

[Erik]

n/t

 

[alfano]

n/t

 

[Bill W.]

I've been around for awhile... I hunt parks alot and can tell you from experience I've NEVER went to a park I knew was old and not dug an old coin. I'd be careful with gridding an area and digging alot of holes when it's dry. I'd hate to see you get kicked out of a park that you've dug old coins in. I was out yesterday and would dig a few targets then move on to another area. Normally, I would grid an area but not when it's dry. Although, if you're using a probe and do it well you might not be able to even tell. Good Luck!

-Bill