To all our new detector owners.............

[Elton]

Don't give up after the first few days of detecting.

Learn your machine.......... It has characteristics that you must know about for finding items. Sure you will find surface finds almost immediately if your in the right area.
For deeper finds it may require tweaking for the area.

Unless your in an area where silver is lost and in the ground you will not find it easily. UNLESS YOUR VERY LUCKY !.

1964 was the last years general silver coins were minted. Dimes, Quarters, Halves etc.1958 was the last Wheat cents.So unless your on private never hunted property silver and old pennies will not be easy finds.

Do not over expect results from your machine. Think of detecting as a hobby.. Not a get rich quick activity..

You will see plenty of posts here showing silver and yes even some gold finds. You will also see some posts with a few pennies ( Wheat's ) zincs, and some other finds of interest. Remember it took these people some time to learn their machines, learn where to hunt, and how to get the most out of their choices in machines they use...........

You will also see post after post of peoples finds with all kinds of silver...... trust me that isn't the typical results.. they have detected for years and years, and have done extensive research on the areas they detect. They also spend hours, and hours, daily, and weekly, detecting.
Sure once in awhile you will find a park that gives silver finds..and even maybe the first time out for some of you. That is lucky spots. Most successful hunters work the fields, woods, private property, and old parks for hours and hours on a almost daily basis for those big silver ( Multi finds posts) .............

Keep at it..you will get better........... Just to be honest.A hour here, and there, of detecting will mostly find new lost coins and other items............ Welcome to the hobby .......... keep at it..you will love it...

Most importantly... YOU WILL DIG JUNK ITEMS .....pull tabs, can slaw, foil, bottle caps, and pieces of iron junk.. We all dig it.. It's normal..

 

[PSS1963]

1958 was the last years general silver coins were minted. Dimes, Quarters, Halves etc.

Really?, I thought it was 1964.

-pete

 

[Goldstrike]

Great post Elton. I would agree with all you stated. Looking at the posts displaying awesome silver and gold items, a newbie can easily get the impression that it's pretty easy to get those treasures but in real life, it's usually just plain hard work. Those bystanders on the beach or in a park that see you constantly retrieving items from the ground can easily think that your picking up valuable things but in reality, it's usually trash!
I also remember the frustrations I felt when I was just starting out detecting. I soon realised the price to be paid for finding a gold ring or a silver coin is digging up lot's of assorted trash and and some sore muscles! BUT, every once in awhile, you will get that something that will give you a feeling and a memory that you will always remember. Also, even if you don't find anything, try to enjoy each detecting trip. Take a camera with you. Take pic's of that sunrise or that sunset at the beach. Or that beautiful forest or stream where your detecting. Looking at those (especially when you are not able to detect because of illness or accident) will bring back treasured memories. I like to remember what Andy Sabich, a well known and respected detectorist has stated, that the most valuable treasure he has found is "peace of mind".
Always remember it is only a hobby and don't quit your daytime job.....unless your retired!!

 

[sprchng]

I think 1958 may have been the end of wheat pennies but not silver coinage.
Or maybe Elton's moderator position has gone to his head and he has decided to begin rewriting history.

 

[D&P-OR]

1958 was the change over year from wheat backs (Wheaties) to memorial pennies.----There were both styles minted that year & they were both "copper" (actually a misnomer). but they are called coppers.----The glorious zincs started being minted in 1982 & there both "coppers" & Zincs minted that year---then zincs from then on.-------As to the silver coins----1964 was the last year of production for them-----but----"40%" Kennedy halves were minted from "65 thru '69-----there were some 40% Kennnedys minted in 1970 also but they were produced for mint sets.-------All that is what you meant to say isn't it Elton?? --------Hope everybody had a great fourth!---------------Del

 

[PSS1963]

1958 was the change over year from wheat backs (Wheaties) to memorial pennies.----There were both styles minted that year & they were both "copper" (actually a misnomer).---------------Del

Nope! Only wheats were produced in '58 and only memorials in '59* . . . that is what you meant to say isn't it Del? I guess the 5% Tin and Zinc was enough to quality them as Bronze in the technical sense, so you are right that they were not pure copper, only 95%. (except for those made in '43 which were zinc plated steel).

Buy a "Red Book"!

-pete

* Reference: A Guide Book of United States Coins - R.S. Yeoman, 2012 edition, p118.

 

[Elton]

Thanks all for pointing out my typo error.. I meant Wheat's 1958 and then silver in 1964.

1964 was the last general silver coins minted... ..MY TYPO on that..1958 was last wheat cents made..
Sorry for the bad info on dates.......... I did neglect the 40% silver Kennedy halves in my post......... Should have been there,,

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[HaroldILL.]

And don't use a shovel period! And always back fill your holes if you don't know how google it or search some old post's. Otherwise this Hobby won't be around long for ''you and other's'' to enjoy.

 

[PSS1963]

. . . and the banned played on . . .

-pete

 

[marcomo]

Dupe post, sorry

 

[marcomo]

Sorry Elton to be another guy to get technical on you.

It would be intuitive and logical to think that the last 90% silver coins were released in 1964 since that's the last date you see on silver cons.

But silver dimes were actually released up until early 1966, with a 1964 date.

Silver quarters were released into circulation until late 1965, again with a 1964 date.

The Johnson Coinage Act where LBJ signed the change to clad into law happened in July 1965, but the first clad coins didn't get released into circulation until Nov 1, 1965.

Kind of funny to read LBJ lying like the sleazy politician he was: "Some have asked whether our silver coins will disappear. The answer is very definitely no. If anybody has any idea of hoarding our silver coins, let me say this...There will be no profit in holding them out of circulation for the value of their silver content."

LBJ knew better. And so did the many who profited from hoarding silver coins.

 

[mudpuppy]

To all New Detector Owners...

read as many Forums as you can for inspiration and tricks that will compress your learning time and ramp up your skill/finds...try to settle in on a style of hunting that suits you and your area, and pattern yourself after some of the posters that appear to have a similar situation...

Plan on getting discouraged/disappointed, and when you are, just keep going out anyway...grind it out...pay for your detector with just clad before you call it quits for good...by that time, you will really have gotten the hang of this sport....
Mud

 

[Elton]

..................... Hahahahahaaaa..........................................


I give up ................... LOL................... Elton has self ..........................

 

[Elton]

. . . and the banned played on . . .

-pete

and on, and on, and on .................. You guys are tough............!!!!!!!!!!!!...........

 

[PSS1963]

Sorry Elton to be another guy to get technical on you.

It would be intuitive and logical to think that the last 90% silver coins were released in 1964 since that's the last date you see on silver cons.

But silver dimes were actually released up until early 1966, with a 1964 date.

Silver quarters were released into circulation until late 1965, again with a 1964 date.

The Johnson Coinage Act where LBJ signed the change to clad into law happened in July 1965, but the first clad coins didn't get released into circulation until Nov 1, 1965.

Kind of funny to read LBJ lying like the sleazy politician he was: "Some have asked whether our silver coins will disappear. The answer is very definitely no. If anybody has any idea of hoarding our silver coins, let me say this...There will be no profit in holding them out of circulation for the value of their silver content."

LBJ knew better. And so did the many who profited from hoarding silver coins.

That's interesting - I never heard that before. Yeoman doesn't mention it. I wonder if the '65 and '66 mintages are included in the numbers he quotes for '64? Johnson's comment about silver coins not disappearing is akin to a cop standing next to a flaming car wreck and saying "Move along - nothing to see here." I suppose he and most people knew that it was inevitable but he was doing what he could to discourage rather than encourage some of the hoarding and perhaps buy a little bit of time.

-pete

 

[sprchng]

They had a legitimate concern that there would be inadequate coinage when the change to clad came about so the mintage for 64 dimes and quarters was much higher than normal. About 5 times the "normal" amount of dimes and 10 times the normal mintage of quarters so they continued to be introduced into circulation well after their mintage dates. The FED was correct in the need to offset the hoarding that was going to occur and they didn't have time to manage it as they were so busy having Kennedy assassinated.

 

[slingshot]

Back in the 80' Karl Von Mueller even spoke of keeping COPPER pennies, as they would be valuable one day. Lots of wisdom back then.

 

[D&P-OR]

Yeah, that's what I meant to say!!!----Going by my (flawed) memory!------Buy a Red book you say??-----I've got a ton of 'em going back to who knows when.-----Forgot to mention the "steelies"----how many of them have you found?------My wife & I find one once in awhile in the dry, arid areas of the SW.----Don't find many but one turns up in our hunts once in awhile.------Most places they are long since disintegrated (or close to it).--------Del

1958 was the change over year from wheat backs (Wheaties) to memorial pennies.----There were both styles minted that year & they were both "copper" (actually a misnomer).---------------Del

Nope! Only wheats were produced in '58 and only memorials in '59* . . . that is what you meant to say isn't it Del? I guess the 5% Tin and Zinc was enough to quality them as Bronze in the technical sense, so you are right that they were not pure copper, only 95%. (except for those made in '43 which were zinc plated steel).

Buy a "Red Book"!

-pete

* Reference: A Guide Book of United States Coins - R.S. Yeoman, 2012 edition, p118.