z118
01-01-2014, 09:26 PM
Well, another year is in the books. Although 2013 was not my best year of detecting strictly in terms of the value of all my finds, it was nevertheless very easily the best in terms of finding the good stuff - old coins, nice relics, and otherwise desirable treasure.
2013 marked a real break from my past hunting tendencies. I started hunting a variety of new areas and atypical spots that I never would have bothered with before. I spent more time in new places that in any year before now, and it seemed to pay off. In addition, I hunted some old spots of mine with a new perspective and a new determination, and I managed to pull quite a few goodies from places that I had until then considered unproductive or "hunted out."
For as good as the year was, I had high hopes that it would wind up being even better, but a very early winter shaved a good one or two months off the season compared with years past. I also lost a solid month of detecting due to my step daughter's wedding in September. But otherwise I got in a good amount of digging this year, with good weather, nice conditions, and time to enjoy both. Although I will add this was the worst year for mosquitoes that I have ever seen.
So on to the finds...
I'll start with the clad as always. Although I went looking for it less this year than ever before, I nevertheless wound up with a decent amount. I dug somewhere over 5,500 clad coins worth about $450. In July I dug my 50,000th career coins which was pretty cool. Not sure how long it will take me to hit 100,000.
Here is most of it rolled and ready to go to the bank, minus a bunch of pennies I still need to roll:
36292
It was absolutely my best year for silver coins. My previous highest total in a year was 78. This year I dug 115. I found my first Barber quarter, and then 4 more after that. I also found my first two SLQ's in my home turf, and one with a legible date. And I was lucky enough to dig my first really excellent coin spill, comprised of two Barber quarters, 3 Mercs, and a Buffalo nickel.
Although I don't think of it as a contest by any stretch of the imagination, I was none the less quite please to be pacing myself in terms of silver coins with Tony on the forum. I figured I would have really arrived in the world of detecting if I could wind up with a silver count close to his at the end of the year. I was doing pretty well in that regard for a while - until the latter part of the season when he put of some amazing numbers in a short period. I'm still more than pleased with my total though. Maybe next year!
:lol:
36293
It was also my absolute best year for old, non silver coins. I found more Buffalo nickels, V nickels, wheat pennies, and Indian head pennies than any other year. I also found my first two shield nickels - and one with rays!
Here's all the good oldies:
36294
All the wheats in piles by decade. I think I wound up with around 550 total. As I was sorting them I was mystified to see that the older ones (from the teens, 20's, and 30's) consistently seemed to have a nicer patina and less corrosion than those from the 40's and 50's. I wonder what's up with that?
36295
Here are the pre-1959 Jefferson nickels, and most of the Buffs, V nickels, and Indian head pennies.
36296
Some close ups of the better ones. One of the new spots I hunted this year was very kind to old coins. All four coins in the second pic came from this location.
36297
36298
It was not my best year for non coin silver items, but I still found some nice pieces. It's always nice digging a silver utensil. The boy scout ring and the small log cabin charm are among my favorites. Combined these items weigh a bit over 4 troy ounces.
36299
A close up of the rings:
36300
I dug a good number of gold items this year (9) but most were small and only 10k (not complaining!)
36301
It was my best year for relics. I really enjoyed finding these items. I got a two nice crotal bells, a sweet old padlock, my first toe plate, a pocket watch, my oldest dog tag, and a mess of other goodies. The appeal of these sorts of items continues to increase for me. I know these pale in comparison with some of the sweet relics coming out of New England cellar holes, but I'm still thrilled to dig this stuff.
36304
36305
A close up of the dog tags and some coll tokens (and a button to fill out the pic):
36306
So that's my year! I also dug a mess of keys, tokens, trinkets, and miscellaneous junk but I don't have the energy to arrange it for pics.
Thanks once again to everyone on the forum for all you add to the hobby... for sharing your knowledge, excitement, and humor. It is priceless to me.
And good luck to everyone in 2014!
2013 marked a real break from my past hunting tendencies. I started hunting a variety of new areas and atypical spots that I never would have bothered with before. I spent more time in new places that in any year before now, and it seemed to pay off. In addition, I hunted some old spots of mine with a new perspective and a new determination, and I managed to pull quite a few goodies from places that I had until then considered unproductive or "hunted out."
For as good as the year was, I had high hopes that it would wind up being even better, but a very early winter shaved a good one or two months off the season compared with years past. I also lost a solid month of detecting due to my step daughter's wedding in September. But otherwise I got in a good amount of digging this year, with good weather, nice conditions, and time to enjoy both. Although I will add this was the worst year for mosquitoes that I have ever seen.
So on to the finds...
I'll start with the clad as always. Although I went looking for it less this year than ever before, I nevertheless wound up with a decent amount. I dug somewhere over 5,500 clad coins worth about $450. In July I dug my 50,000th career coins which was pretty cool. Not sure how long it will take me to hit 100,000.
Here is most of it rolled and ready to go to the bank, minus a bunch of pennies I still need to roll:
36292
It was absolutely my best year for silver coins. My previous highest total in a year was 78. This year I dug 115. I found my first Barber quarter, and then 4 more after that. I also found my first two SLQ's in my home turf, and one with a legible date. And I was lucky enough to dig my first really excellent coin spill, comprised of two Barber quarters, 3 Mercs, and a Buffalo nickel.
Although I don't think of it as a contest by any stretch of the imagination, I was none the less quite please to be pacing myself in terms of silver coins with Tony on the forum. I figured I would have really arrived in the world of detecting if I could wind up with a silver count close to his at the end of the year. I was doing pretty well in that regard for a while - until the latter part of the season when he put of some amazing numbers in a short period. I'm still more than pleased with my total though. Maybe next year!
:lol:
36293
It was also my absolute best year for old, non silver coins. I found more Buffalo nickels, V nickels, wheat pennies, and Indian head pennies than any other year. I also found my first two shield nickels - and one with rays!
Here's all the good oldies:
36294
All the wheats in piles by decade. I think I wound up with around 550 total. As I was sorting them I was mystified to see that the older ones (from the teens, 20's, and 30's) consistently seemed to have a nicer patina and less corrosion than those from the 40's and 50's. I wonder what's up with that?
36295
Here are the pre-1959 Jefferson nickels, and most of the Buffs, V nickels, and Indian head pennies.
36296
Some close ups of the better ones. One of the new spots I hunted this year was very kind to old coins. All four coins in the second pic came from this location.
36297
36298
It was not my best year for non coin silver items, but I still found some nice pieces. It's always nice digging a silver utensil. The boy scout ring and the small log cabin charm are among my favorites. Combined these items weigh a bit over 4 troy ounces.
36299
A close up of the rings:
36300
I dug a good number of gold items this year (9) but most were small and only 10k (not complaining!)
36301
It was my best year for relics. I really enjoyed finding these items. I got a two nice crotal bells, a sweet old padlock, my first toe plate, a pocket watch, my oldest dog tag, and a mess of other goodies. The appeal of these sorts of items continues to increase for me. I know these pale in comparison with some of the sweet relics coming out of New England cellar holes, but I'm still thrilled to dig this stuff.
36304
36305
A close up of the dog tags and some coll tokens (and a button to fill out the pic):
36306
So that's my year! I also dug a mess of keys, tokens, trinkets, and miscellaneous junk but I don't have the energy to arrange it for pics.
Thanks once again to everyone on the forum for all you add to the hobby... for sharing your knowledge, excitement, and humor. It is priceless to me.
And good luck to everyone in 2014!