Critterhunter
New member
OK, I'm excited! Up until today this year has been a bust for me, with only one rosie and a bunch of wheats, but no other good finds to speak of until today. But, in my defense, I haven't been hunting as often or with the vigor that I usually do this time of year. Some of you might remember a few months back that I took two friends with two very good detectors to a house lot around the corner from me less than a mile away. That day I was not feeling well, so I mostly watched them hunt. They came back the next day and finished gridding out this lot that had one of the older houses in the area on it that they tore down over the winter.
Anyway, the total they ended up with after finishing gridding this place was a few rosies and mercs, a seated dime, 7 to 9 indians, and many wheats. The one guy also got a worn (no date) standing liberty quarter. The front yard of this site is divided into three small areas of grass by two driveways, with all three patches maybe 50 to 70 feet wide and a little longer, so the area suits it's self well to gridding well without getting sloppy and missing rows.
So, my one friend that gridded this particular center patch of grass between the two driveways that I decided to work today was digging any and all coin signals from zinc penny on up, and that's why he got a bunch of indians out of there as well as the other coins, including 3 indians in one hole. He's a good hunter and maticulous about his grid patterns, so I figured this would be a good challenge to see if the old Sovereign GT could pull any stuff he missed out of there. (EDIT: I have since been told by him that he didn't grid this particular patch of grass as tightly as he normaly does, which explains the numerous copper memorials I was finding that he must have missed along with other clads. I knew he was better than that....But I think what helped me was I went VERY slow and only advanced the coil by inches at a time, not to mention that I too have a very good machine.)
I started my grid off and right away dug a few copper non-wheat pennies out of one hole. "You missed that one bud...", I thought to myself. A good sign, as they were only a few inches deep. My plan was to dig any and all signals above iron as this yard, like many yards, wasn't all that trashy, and I've had good luck digging rings in yards because the ring to trash ratio is usually pretty good, and people have had years doing yard work or playing in the yard to potentially lose a ring. Besides, this place is old enough for a gold coin or some other odd old coin that reads lower on the scale. I decided that as long as the signal was good and locked on to one or two numbers, and didn't bounce around or sound sick, then I was digging anything from foil on up as rings usually lock into one or two numbers.
The only sick sounding or iffy changing stuff I was going to dig was any coin signals, because obviously there probably wasn't going to be much junk in this yard to give false coin hits, so any bad sounding or one way ones could be a coin on edge or masked or something. But, as said, from foil up to just under coppy penny, I wanted a good locked on solid hit to avoid any can shards or other aluminum and such junk that usually will change by 3 digits or more. That was my game plan, so I probably in total only passed up maybe 5 to 10 signals or so that were below copper penny and junky sounding or with a jumpy ID in total.
So an hour to an hour and a half goes by and I'm taking it real slow and nice and easy, and thus far I've got an apron full of about 14 copper non-wheat pennies, 1 wheat, around 8 zincs, 5 or 6 pulltabs, and a few other assorted bits of junk. Along with that, probably about 4 or 5 clad dimes and a couple clad quarters. Obviously he didn't get everything here, despite how good and tight he grids and he does go slow with his machine like he should. (EDIT: Again, I since found out from him that he was a bit sloppy gridding this particular patch of grass and not up to his usual standards.) I think the difference was I took it real slow, and tried to follow my new found religion to go even slower with coil advancement then I normaly go. A few inches at a time advancing, and keeping the coil just in front of my feet. I knew I'd need to go slow like this to find the stuff he missed, because he's got a very good machine that's equal to mine in finding old coins and he's the best hunter I personaly know.
Anyway, sorry for the big build up. An hour and a half or so after I started I'm still not done with this small patch of grass in the center of the lot between the two driveways, but I'm starting to get sloppy so I figure one more row and I'll pick up where I left out tomorrow, as there was a tree in this row to mark where I left off. I get to the end of the row and am about 5 feet from the sidewalk when I get an instant and perfect 180 signal. "OK", I thought..."Got to be at least a clad quarter or perhaps a silver dime or such because I noticed they tend to jump to 180 more instantly while copper pennies can linger in the 178 or 179 area and clad dimes are a bit slower to make it to 180 than a clad quarter or a silver dime or quarter."
I dig the hole, stick in my Pro Pointer, find the target, and flip out a bit more dirt at the bottom of the hole at a depth of about 5" or so. Instantly I see a silver quarter's back! Either a barber or a standing liberty, I think to myself, as the back of those are either the same (?) or look the same to me from memory, so it's either or. Pick the coin up, flip it over, and it's a 1921 Standing Liberty Quarter! Instantly I see there is just a little tiny bit of wear on it! No mint mark. Hmmmm....I think, this could be a good chunk of change, as the early standing liberty quarters wore badly and fast, and normaly didn't have a date, as the lady and the date were raised and they say would wear off in a year or so! Later they re-designed them so the date and stuff was recessed so they didn't wear as fast, but I knew a 1921 was one of the ones that wear fast.
This is only might 5 to 7th standing liberty quarter from memory, and I think either one of the others had any date, or maybe I could just hardly read the date on one. Can't remember. Anyway, I decided it's time to quit because I'm getting sloppy and pick up tomorrow. Besides, I wanted to check the book to see just what kind of value I have here. GET READY FOR THIS!
Only one coin type for 1921, and that's one with no mint mark. I look down the grades for it and my heart starts going....This book was published in 2010, so I'm sure these prices are even higher than what I'm about to list! G-4 $177. V-G8 $210. F-12 $425. VF-20 $650. EF-40 $750.
I read the grading guide to see what it might be. The shield still has fine detail on the rim pattern that goes around the edge. It's not just a line outlining the rim, but rather these rims have some kind of pattern on them. It looks unworn there. The center of the shield still has some line detail to what's there, but it's a bit warn. The lines in her dress are still pretty darn crisp too.
According to the book I know this coin is easily and conservately a G-4. But I'm pretty sure it is at least either a V-G8 or a F-12, and *possibly* even a higher grade then that! I've got to put my scope on her to really see for sure, but by the eye I'm guessing V-G8 or F-12 if not higher, but a sure bet this baby is at least G-4 by the naked eye!
Now, thus far my two other most expensive coins were a seated quarter that looked in uncirculated condition but had a couple of nasty dings in the edge (they weren't shiney so I didn't do them digging I don't think). If it wasn't for those dings that coins was like $1350. The other good coin was a silver 3 cent piece that was I think about a $190 coin from memory, as it also had no visible wear. Anyway, depending on where that seated quarter would have sold for this standing liberty might be my most expensive coin!
Unfortunately I don't have a very close up focus camera, and it uses a compact flash card that the computer I use now doesn't have a port for, but I'll try to get ahold of either an adaptor or somebody elses camera to post a picture for you guys.
Needless to say I'm pumped and going back tomorrow. After this small patch of grass is done I've got two other blocks of grass in the front yard and then a big back yard to hunt, so this might be a two week type of deal. My two friends with great machines like mine are good hunters, but obviously they didn't get it all! Not to mention the guy with a 90's detector that showed up and hunted this spot while they were there one day.
Update: I'll let you know what the dealer offers me for it and how he grades it. I gave it a gentle cleaning with some dish washing soap and warm water and looked under a loop. From what I see it's either V-G8 at $210 or F-12 at $425. These are retail prices from a 2010 book, so I bet those prices are a bit higher today. It's easily G-4 $177 without a doubt, but I feel according to the grade guide it's either VG-8 or F-12.
I'll keep you guys updated on my future hunts at this site as I continue to grid it out.
By the way, I talked to my friend who gridded that center patch of grass and he said he was a bit sloppy by then because he had been hunting the site extensively already that day. I know how that goes, and that explains all the copper memorials and other coins I dug because I didn't think he would normaly miss that many coins in such a small area. He's better than that. But, either way, I think what made the difference was that I crawled along only inching the coil forward by inches at a time. I'll tell you guys how well I do at the next block of grass on the other side of the driveway, because I think he said he gridded that one more intensely. Should be a good challenge to see how I and the GT can find what he missed at that spot. The key is going super slow and not getting in a hurry.
Anyway, the total they ended up with after finishing gridding this place was a few rosies and mercs, a seated dime, 7 to 9 indians, and many wheats. The one guy also got a worn (no date) standing liberty quarter. The front yard of this site is divided into three small areas of grass by two driveways, with all three patches maybe 50 to 70 feet wide and a little longer, so the area suits it's self well to gridding well without getting sloppy and missing rows.
So, my one friend that gridded this particular center patch of grass between the two driveways that I decided to work today was digging any and all coin signals from zinc penny on up, and that's why he got a bunch of indians out of there as well as the other coins, including 3 indians in one hole. He's a good hunter and maticulous about his grid patterns, so I figured this would be a good challenge to see if the old Sovereign GT could pull any stuff he missed out of there. (EDIT: I have since been told by him that he didn't grid this particular patch of grass as tightly as he normaly does, which explains the numerous copper memorials I was finding that he must have missed along with other clads. I knew he was better than that....But I think what helped me was I went VERY slow and only advanced the coil by inches at a time, not to mention that I too have a very good machine.)
I started my grid off and right away dug a few copper non-wheat pennies out of one hole. "You missed that one bud...", I thought to myself. A good sign, as they were only a few inches deep. My plan was to dig any and all signals above iron as this yard, like many yards, wasn't all that trashy, and I've had good luck digging rings in yards because the ring to trash ratio is usually pretty good, and people have had years doing yard work or playing in the yard to potentially lose a ring. Besides, this place is old enough for a gold coin or some other odd old coin that reads lower on the scale. I decided that as long as the signal was good and locked on to one or two numbers, and didn't bounce around or sound sick, then I was digging anything from foil on up as rings usually lock into one or two numbers.
The only sick sounding or iffy changing stuff I was going to dig was any coin signals, because obviously there probably wasn't going to be much junk in this yard to give false coin hits, so any bad sounding or one way ones could be a coin on edge or masked or something. But, as said, from foil up to just under coppy penny, I wanted a good locked on solid hit to avoid any can shards or other aluminum and such junk that usually will change by 3 digits or more. That was my game plan, so I probably in total only passed up maybe 5 to 10 signals or so that were below copper penny and junky sounding or with a jumpy ID in total.
So an hour to an hour and a half goes by and I'm taking it real slow and nice and easy, and thus far I've got an apron full of about 14 copper non-wheat pennies, 1 wheat, around 8 zincs, 5 or 6 pulltabs, and a few other assorted bits of junk. Along with that, probably about 4 or 5 clad dimes and a couple clad quarters. Obviously he didn't get everything here, despite how good and tight he grids and he does go slow with his machine like he should. (EDIT: Again, I since found out from him that he was a bit sloppy gridding this particular patch of grass and not up to his usual standards.) I think the difference was I took it real slow, and tried to follow my new found religion to go even slower with coil advancement then I normaly go. A few inches at a time advancing, and keeping the coil just in front of my feet. I knew I'd need to go slow like this to find the stuff he missed, because he's got a very good machine that's equal to mine in finding old coins and he's the best hunter I personaly know.
Anyway, sorry for the big build up. An hour and a half or so after I started I'm still not done with this small patch of grass in the center of the lot between the two driveways, but I'm starting to get sloppy so I figure one more row and I'll pick up where I left out tomorrow, as there was a tree in this row to mark where I left off. I get to the end of the row and am about 5 feet from the sidewalk when I get an instant and perfect 180 signal. "OK", I thought..."Got to be at least a clad quarter or perhaps a silver dime or such because I noticed they tend to jump to 180 more instantly while copper pennies can linger in the 178 or 179 area and clad dimes are a bit slower to make it to 180 than a clad quarter or a silver dime or quarter."
I dig the hole, stick in my Pro Pointer, find the target, and flip out a bit more dirt at the bottom of the hole at a depth of about 5" or so. Instantly I see a silver quarter's back! Either a barber or a standing liberty, I think to myself, as the back of those are either the same (?) or look the same to me from memory, so it's either or. Pick the coin up, flip it over, and it's a 1921 Standing Liberty Quarter! Instantly I see there is just a little tiny bit of wear on it! No mint mark. Hmmmm....I think, this could be a good chunk of change, as the early standing liberty quarters wore badly and fast, and normaly didn't have a date, as the lady and the date were raised and they say would wear off in a year or so! Later they re-designed them so the date and stuff was recessed so they didn't wear as fast, but I knew a 1921 was one of the ones that wear fast.
This is only might 5 to 7th standing liberty quarter from memory, and I think either one of the others had any date, or maybe I could just hardly read the date on one. Can't remember. Anyway, I decided it's time to quit because I'm getting sloppy and pick up tomorrow. Besides, I wanted to check the book to see just what kind of value I have here. GET READY FOR THIS!
Only one coin type for 1921, and that's one with no mint mark. I look down the grades for it and my heart starts going....This book was published in 2010, so I'm sure these prices are even higher than what I'm about to list! G-4 $177. V-G8 $210. F-12 $425. VF-20 $650. EF-40 $750.
I read the grading guide to see what it might be. The shield still has fine detail on the rim pattern that goes around the edge. It's not just a line outlining the rim, but rather these rims have some kind of pattern on them. It looks unworn there. The center of the shield still has some line detail to what's there, but it's a bit warn. The lines in her dress are still pretty darn crisp too.
According to the book I know this coin is easily and conservately a G-4. But I'm pretty sure it is at least either a V-G8 or a F-12, and *possibly* even a higher grade then that! I've got to put my scope on her to really see for sure, but by the eye I'm guessing V-G8 or F-12 if not higher, but a sure bet this baby is at least G-4 by the naked eye!
Now, thus far my two other most expensive coins were a seated quarter that looked in uncirculated condition but had a couple of nasty dings in the edge (they weren't shiney so I didn't do them digging I don't think). If it wasn't for those dings that coins was like $1350. The other good coin was a silver 3 cent piece that was I think about a $190 coin from memory, as it also had no visible wear. Anyway, depending on where that seated quarter would have sold for this standing liberty might be my most expensive coin!
Unfortunately I don't have a very close up focus camera, and it uses a compact flash card that the computer I use now doesn't have a port for, but I'll try to get ahold of either an adaptor or somebody elses camera to post a picture for you guys.
Needless to say I'm pumped and going back tomorrow. After this small patch of grass is done I've got two other blocks of grass in the front yard and then a big back yard to hunt, so this might be a two week type of deal. My two friends with great machines like mine are good hunters, but obviously they didn't get it all! Not to mention the guy with a 90's detector that showed up and hunted this spot while they were there one day.
Update: I'll let you know what the dealer offers me for it and how he grades it. I gave it a gentle cleaning with some dish washing soap and warm water and looked under a loop. From what I see it's either V-G8 at $210 or F-12 at $425. These are retail prices from a 2010 book, so I bet those prices are a bit higher today. It's easily G-4 $177 without a doubt, but I feel according to the grade guide it's either VG-8 or F-12.
I'll keep you guys updated on my future hunts at this site as I continue to grid it out.
By the way, I talked to my friend who gridded that center patch of grass and he said he was a bit sloppy by then because he had been hunting the site extensively already that day. I know how that goes, and that explains all the copper memorials and other coins I dug because I didn't think he would normaly miss that many coins in such a small area. He's better than that. But, either way, I think what made the difference was that I crawled along only inching the coil forward by inches at a time. I'll tell you guys how well I do at the next block of grass on the other side of the driveway, because I think he said he gridded that one more intensely. Should be a good challenge to see how I and the GT can find what he missed at that spot. The key is going super slow and not getting in a hurry.
) to celebrate tonight. 
. GOLD SILVER OLD COINS. I WEIGH AND TEST ALL MY GOLD AND USE EBAY TO SELL MOST FOR TOP DOLLARS. But don't forget after ebay's super fees you might be better off selling local. But I get near double most of the time.