Not including re-landscaped areas, how deep do they go?
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What Is The Average Depth Old Coins Are Found In Your Area?
- Thread starter John-Edmonton
- Start date
In my areas, they average about 4-5 inches, where the silver and large cents are found. I get the odd stray, say down to about 8", but not very often. Some old silver has popped out at 2"/
Southwind
Well-known member
Normally around 5-6" at the deepest.
Now the exception is our local 130+ year old city park. It sits alongside the Arkansas River, which when it had water, used to flood every 30-40 years depositing from 3-6" of mud. This has made the perfect detector depth testing garden. You can start from the south and the mud had nothing to hold it so the coins are relatively at normal depth. As you move north you start to approach a wall that was built in 1933 which held the mud. At the very north end the wall is 24" tall and the grass now is level with the top of the wall. That means coins from the 1883-1930's are going to be at least 24" deep. So you just take a detector, start on the south and walk north until the coins get too deep for that detector.
So far it has been the E-Trac/CTX that has gone the furthest north and still consistently produce coins down to around 12".
Now the exception is our local 130+ year old city park. It sits alongside the Arkansas River, which when it had water, used to flood every 30-40 years depositing from 3-6" of mud. This has made the perfect detector depth testing garden. You can start from the south and the mud had nothing to hold it so the coins are relatively at normal depth. As you move north you start to approach a wall that was built in 1933 which held the mud. At the very north end the wall is 24" tall and the grass now is level with the top of the wall. That means coins from the 1883-1930's are going to be at least 24" deep. So you just take a detector, start on the south and walk north until the coins get too deep for that detector.
So far it has been the E-Trac/CTX that has gone the furthest north and still consistently produce coins down to around 12".
That is a good question and I'm looking forward to the replies. Generally 4 inches and sometimes up to 6. Have thought maybe I'm just not ever getting deep coins. But when you go past a certain depth you can tell there's nothing ever been there. The ground will be hard packed and clean with no other junk of any kind. One place I've found no coins but deep pull tabs. That is a place that stays damp a lot, so they probably get pushed into the ground by foot traffic or mower wheels.
still looking 52
Well-known member
Here in WV the old coins(silver age) are deeper than most areas it sounds like by the replies received so far. They are running 6" to 9" in this area, maybe even deeper that's the limit of my F5. Now in a wooded area they seemed to be a lot swallower, 3" to 5" range. We've talked about that difference, my two brothers and myself, and what we think is the areas that are mowed are deeper because the trimmings keep piling up on top of the ground making the coins deeper. If you look at the curbs around here most of them has dirt piled up several inches above them.
John, I have paid a great deal of attention to depth since I started using mid to high priced detectors. The first two years in the hobby was with cheaper models and I think I found three silver coins. Two were found on the side of a hill and virtually on the surface. As I upgraded, I found with the higher priced detectors came increased depth.
My first detector that gave me "eye popping" depth was a Sovereign and in the same exact places I thought were hunted out started finding 8 inch deep silver coins. It was unbelievable to me.
I next tried CZ's and the new Explorer. They were no deeper than the Sovereign, but much easier to interpret. I had a run of seven years of over a hundred silver coins a year. I can honestly say, that 9 out of 10 silver coins came from the 7 to 8 inch deep range. I have dug several older coins from over a foot deep with Explorers. These were large cent type coins.
After years of scouring my favorite places and seeing my older finds all but disappear, I tried some of the newer, faster detectors. With these detectors, I started finding the shallower older coins that were being masked. One of the best detectors for this type of detecting is one of your favorites, the AT Pro. I remember going to the old fair grounds the very first time out with this detector and finding an incredible amount of Indian Head pennies that were in the 5 to 6 inch deep range with all kinds of trash surrounding them. I really think this detector is one of the best all around detectors available.
When I am in the market for a detector that meets my local needs, I look for one with an honest 8 inch deep range, but will do this in trashy environments. As I have aged(not so well), I also need a detector that is light or well balanced. That narrows the field considerably.
My first detector that gave me "eye popping" depth was a Sovereign and in the same exact places I thought were hunted out started finding 8 inch deep silver coins. It was unbelievable to me.
I next tried CZ's and the new Explorer. They were no deeper than the Sovereign, but much easier to interpret. I had a run of seven years of over a hundred silver coins a year. I can honestly say, that 9 out of 10 silver coins came from the 7 to 8 inch deep range. I have dug several older coins from over a foot deep with Explorers. These were large cent type coins.
After years of scouring my favorite places and seeing my older finds all but disappear, I tried some of the newer, faster detectors. With these detectors, I started finding the shallower older coins that were being masked. One of the best detectors for this type of detecting is one of your favorites, the AT Pro. I remember going to the old fair grounds the very first time out with this detector and finding an incredible amount of Indian Head pennies that were in the 5 to 6 inch deep range with all kinds of trash surrounding them. I really think this detector is one of the best all around detectors available.
When I am in the market for a detector that meets my local needs, I look for one with an honest 8 inch deep range, but will do this in trashy environments. As I have aged(not so well), I also need a detector that is light or well balanced. That narrows the field considerably.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
Since I am in an area that at one time was ocean bottom there is a lot of sand in our soil. I have dug coins that were a measured 9 and 10 inches deep. Usually those coins are old cu pennies. My son dug one that was a measured 11 inches. But the vast majority of silver coins that I have found have been 3 to 4 inches deep
A given detector may be capable of finding a silver dime at 8-10 inches, but that doesn't mean it will find most coins at that depth that the coil sweeps over . It's very easy for a deep target to be compromised...masking, angle of target, sweep speed, coil position over target, user error, etc.
In most soils, I would argue that older coins at less than six inches would be the exceptions, not the rule.
That most old coins are found at 6" or less has to do with the inherent capabilities of VLF detectors, not because that's where most of those coins reside.
In most soils, I would argue that older coins at less than six inches would be the exceptions, not the rule.
That most old coins are found at 6" or less has to do with the inherent capabilities of VLF detectors, not because that's where most of those coins reside.
dfmike
Well-known member
But there is no such thing as "most soils". It differs greatly from one area to another (at least in the New England region and Canadian provinces just north of that). Surely soil types can have a very important incidence on how deep a coin will sink over time.
Interesting articles by Tom Dankowski regarding depth and sinking rate:
http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/loveisdeep.htm
http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/hunt_wisely.htm
Interesting articles by Tom Dankowski regarding depth and sinking rate:
http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/loveisdeep.htm
http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/hunt_wisely.htm
still looking 52
Well-known member
I once asked the question on this forum, which coin would sink the fastest in the same type soil a dime or a half dollar? I got a lot of interesting answers and I still wonder about that. The dime being lighter would have less gravity pull, the half dollar would have more mass which would help it stay afloat better.
Agreed, Mike. And fortunately for us, there are soils where old coins haven't sunk out of detecting range.
Think about the 1964 silver dime often found at 4-6", with a very high probability of being dropped in a narrow time frame between 1964 and 1967. On average, how much deeper would the barber dime (minted 1892-1916) in the same area typically be, or the seated (1837-1891), or the bust (1809-1837)?
Think about the 1964 silver dime often found at 4-6", with a very high probability of being dropped in a narrow time frame between 1964 and 1967. On average, how much deeper would the barber dime (minted 1892-1916) in the same area typically be, or the seated (1837-1891), or the bust (1809-1837)?
dfmike
Well-known member
I would have liked Tom to explain the differences between Northern and Southern soils and sinking rates in more detail just to get an idea of the advantage that we have in the lower Canada/New England states. Can we expect the coins to drop at half the rate as say California or Florida or is it nowhere near that. Maybe he has an article on specific details and testing but I haven't seen it.
I can tell you that I've never found a silver coin from the 60's at more than 3 inches around here. We definitely have an advantage but how much of an advantage is it really ? I don't know but I'm glad we have one.
After reading those 2 articles I can better understand why detector depth capabilities are so important to some.
I can tell you that I've never found a silver coin from the 60's at more than 3 inches around here. We definitely have an advantage but how much of an advantage is it really ? I don't know but I'm glad we have one.
After reading those 2 articles I can better understand why detector depth capabilities are so important to some.
MarkCZ
Well-known member
I'm sorry, but unless the soil is VERY muddy, or VERY sandy (like an Ocean beach) coins don't SINK!
Yea, I've even head the story about rain drops pound the coins into the ground to, only at the muddy surface.
If You take a 50 gallon garbage can and fill it with dirt and pack it pretty good, put a coin on top of the dirt, put a lid on it, water it a bit once a week and replace the lid
and your great Great Grand children continues the process that coin will still be on top of the dirt in 200 years! they don't sink!
I found a 1899 quarter at our park and it was about 8" deep my brother a year later finds another one in the same date range a few yards away with about the same wear on it, his was maybe an inch
in the ground, why the difference?
Mine was out in the open area, his was under something that had been placed over top of it just a few years after it was lost, he finds it 70 years later because of some work in the area and the stuff had been move off from it.
Mine was exposed to soil growth from leaves and grass trimmings that the park don't bag when the cut the grass, my brother's quarter was in the same area, for near the same amount of time but his wasn't exposed to the soil growth.
I really don't believe in coins sinking past soft mud, or deep moving sand!
Mark
Yea, I've even head the story about rain drops pound the coins into the ground to, only at the muddy surface.
If You take a 50 gallon garbage can and fill it with dirt and pack it pretty good, put a coin on top of the dirt, put a lid on it, water it a bit once a week and replace the lid
and your great Great Grand children continues the process that coin will still be on top of the dirt in 200 years! they don't sink!
I found a 1899 quarter at our park and it was about 8" deep my brother a year later finds another one in the same date range a few yards away with about the same wear on it, his was maybe an inch
in the ground, why the difference?
Mine was out in the open area, his was under something that had been placed over top of it just a few years after it was lost, he finds it 70 years later because of some work in the area and the stuff had been move off from it.
Mine was exposed to soil growth from leaves and grass trimmings that the park don't bag when the cut the grass, my brother's quarter was in the same area, for near the same amount of time but his wasn't exposed to the soil growth.
I really don't believe in coins sinking past soft mud, or deep moving sand!
Mark
You're missing the biggest reason why coins sink, Mark.
Your garbage can of dirt scenario does not take into account living organisms. For example, think about earthworms and the tunnels they burrow in the ground. Eventually those tunnels collapse. A tiny collapse in the surrounding soil repeated over and over. Other organisms both larger and smaller are doing the same thing as those earthworms, creating pockets in the soil. The further down in the dirt you go, the less dense those organisms become because the deeper you go, the harder it is to access needed oxygen. Therefore, the rate of sinking is not linear. As the density of living organisms decreases, the rate of sinking slows.
Cover the ground with a structure or asphalt and the sinking is arrested because of no exposure to the oxygen organisms need to survive. That's why sidewalk tearouts in old locations can be so good.
Your garbage can of dirt scenario does not take into account living organisms. For example, think about earthworms and the tunnels they burrow in the ground. Eventually those tunnels collapse. A tiny collapse in the surrounding soil repeated over and over. Other organisms both larger and smaller are doing the same thing as those earthworms, creating pockets in the soil. The further down in the dirt you go, the less dense those organisms become because the deeper you go, the harder it is to access needed oxygen. Therefore, the rate of sinking is not linear. As the density of living organisms decreases, the rate of sinking slows.
Cover the ground with a structure or asphalt and the sinking is arrested because of no exposure to the oxygen organisms need to survive. That's why sidewalk tearouts in old locations can be so good.
REVIER
Well-known member
I found a Barber quarter, a merc, a V nickel and Indians at 1-2", also other old coins much deeper.
I have found modern clad way deeper than where they logically should be.
Too much goes on out there that we never know about...dirt is moved around during construction or by plows, hard clay should stop coins from sinking much while nice loose moist black dirt might let them sink a bit more and even though I have observed this a lot sometimes these rules don't apply.
I don't care what the depth reading says...if I get good signals I just dig.
I have been surprised, and thrilled, more than once.
I have found modern clad way deeper than where they logically should be.
Too much goes on out there that we never know about...dirt is moved around during construction or by plows, hard clay should stop coins from sinking much while nice loose moist black dirt might let them sink a bit more and even though I have observed this a lot sometimes these rules don't apply.
I don't care what the depth reading says...if I get good signals I just dig.
I have been surprised, and thrilled, more than once.