Wheat to silver ratio?

[marcomo]

In Michael Chaplan's excellent book, The Urban Treasure Hunter, he said the expected wheat to silver ratio when detecting is 6 to 1.

My wheat to silver ratio is way higher than that. I haven't actually counted, but I'd say it's at least twice that if not a little more.

Chaplan's book came out in the early 90's so maybe it's changed since then? Wheat pennies were in circulation many years after silver disappeared

I'm curious as to what ratio others are finding.

 

[jim tn]

n/t

 

[Shambler]

Wheat pennies were in circulation many years after silver disappeared

I don't think that's true. I think they were done in 1958, weren't they? 6 more years of silver after that.

 

[marcomo]

Wheat pennies were in circulation many years after silver disappeared

I don't think that's true. I think they were done in 1958, weren't they? 6 more years of silver after that.

It is true that silver coinage was produced six years later than the last year of the wheatie.

But silver coinage disappeared rapidly after production stopped because the intrinsic value of the silver was worth more than the value of the coin. That's the entire reason they switched to clad coinage in 1965.

I remember that I started going through rolls of dimes in 1968 and as often as not you wouldn't find any silver in the rolls.

On the other hand wheat pennies were easily found well into the 1970's.

 

[markg]

My silver ratio has changed drastically since getting my F75.
Before F75 I'd guess 15 to 1
Now 6-8 to 1.

 

[ziphius]

So that's one silver for every 4.5 wheats. This is for southern CA, mainly hunting older parks and does not include the occasional piece of silver jewelry. Some of the older silver hawks out here manage closer to a 1 to 4.0 ratio. For some reason, if you hunt lots, you typically end up with more wheats. I've got enough F75 experience now in the turf where I feel like I can distinguish silver from wheaties, but I still dig 'em all, just making guesses before I dig. Happy hunting everyone. - Jim

 

[jim tn]

When I first started detecting back in 1972 with beep and dig detectors, 4 to 1 was my ratio for several years. I really don't know what would be considered a good ratio today as so many hunters cherry pick and only dig the higher vdi readings. I would be very pleased with your 4.5 ratio, Jim, as I have one site that still produces quite a few wheaties, but silver is now tough to come by. I also know this this particular site did see a lot of cherry picking when it first opened up a number of years ago now. I woukd guess on a pretty virgin site that the 6 to 1 ratio would still be pretty close. HH jim tn

 

[marcomo]

OK, I must have had one too many of glasses of iced tea at dinner tonight so I'm still up and I actually counted.

And my wheat to silver ratio was lower than I originally thought: 7.06:1

I think I might have misjudged because at the time I originally posted this I was hitting an old site hard where I found about 25-30 wheaties, mostly in the teens and 20's. Also a couple Buffs, Indians, a Liberty Nickel and various other interesting old stuff - but no silver.

 

[gmanlight]

Here is my ratio for today with a V in the middle
My hunting bud had 2 weats and 3 barber dimes

 

[dahut]

Wheat to silver ratio? You're kidding, right?
I found three silver coins in all of last year, and not many more wheats that that.

Silver was melted in the 70's due to a big rush on the metal, so they disappeared pretty quick. That period nearly wiped them out of circulation. 30+ years since have finished the job.

Of course, were not talking about currently circulating silver, but coins lost 50 years ago or more. I'm pretty convinced that locale has a lot to do with it, and Im not talking this field, over that one over there.
No, I'm referring to geographical demographics here. Some places seem to be carpeted with silver coins to this day, if all the posts are to be believed. There was just more going on and more money from industry and other activities circulating in such places.
Other places, like here in SC, well - I don't think Southerners in a podunk Carolina town like mine ever had much money. If they did, they sure as heck didn't lose it where I can turn it up!

Marcomo is right; Mr. Chapmans book was first written 20 years ago. Much has changed, and many detector coils swung over the same ground. But one thing hasn't changed... there has to be something there before any detector can find it.

 

[zaxfire69]

What i want to know is how can you come up with a standard ratio? Doesn't it depend on the site? I have dug Way more wheats than I have dug silver coins. It all depends on the site in my opinion. Those 2 silver coins I dug the other day were the first silver I have dug in a long time.

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

When you have been hunting as long as I have you just lose count one year I found in clad over 7000 clad coins that was two grand and in one year I found over 300 wheats as for silver I have a jar filled to the top with silver coins but the ones that I really count are the ones that are old say 1909 and before these are the ones that I have about 50 different coins saved. They are my pride and joy

 

[jim tn]

Last weeks hunting, 5 wheats, 9 silvers, 2 IH's and 1 V nickel. The silver to wheats ratio, however, is not the norm for me. Nor, actually, and unfortunately, are the 9 silvers for a week. HH jim tn

 

[marcomo]

Last weeks hunting, 5 wheats, 9 silvers, 2 IH's and 1 V nickel. The silver to wheats ratio, however, is not the norm for me. Nor, actually, and unfortunately, are the 9 silvers for a week. HH jim tn

But that is one fine week, congrats and may you have many more...and keep pounding that site!