Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Metal Detecting Finds From My Early Days. |
Lately I've been going through a stack of my old find photos that I found. So far I've posted about ten of the old find photos that I recently discovered while going through some things, I noticed a couple things about the photos. Some are a cardboard and others on a black foam.
I recalled that the photos with the cardboard backing are the earlier ones. I noticed that the earlier finds are generally not as good (high quality) as the later finds. You would hope that would be the case. You should learn and improve with experience, and it looks like my finds got better.
There is also another thing to be considered though. While I did get better finds as I improved my detecting, I was also more selective about what I photographed. More of the lower quality finds were left out of the later photos. I included more silver finds in my earlier photos As you improve your detecting, your standards will probably change too. You will expect more and be less impressed by common or lesser finds.
The same thing happens with a lot of things. It is like that for me when it comes to fishing. At first I was happy to catch almost anything, but later I was satisfied only by bigger or better fish and hardly took notice of the little fish, which became something of a nuisance.
When I began metal detecting I was trying to find as many coins as I could. I kept detailed records of my coins. I learned a lot from that, but eventually I shifted from targeting coins to targeting gold jewelry. Coins, unless they were something unusual, maybe old or rare in some way, were not my goal. I quit keeping track of general coin finds.
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| Some of My Early Coin Find Records. |
My coin records were eventually replaced by my find photos.
When I began metal detecting I had a White's Coinmaster that I got from a Sears catalog. I'm sure I didn't know how to use it very well, but I found coins and got more coins as I learned and improved. That was a necessary step and an important learning experience.
One thing about metal detecting and treasure hunting is that you can continue to learn and improve as many years as you continue the activity.
The cardboard photos represent phase two of my metal detecting activities. Phase I would be when I began and was targeting primarily coins. Phase II started when I began targeting jewelry rather than coins. Phase III would be when I switched to the customized Nautilus detectors and began more hunting on the shipwreck treasure beaches. Phase IV would be marked by my move to the Treasure Coast and greater focus on shipwreck treasures. Phase V would be when my treasure hunting became more varied to include not only shipwreck treasures but also hunting a lot of other things, such as fossils and bottles.
The above photo would be from phase II. It shows a pretty typical group from that period and includes some class rings, fancier rings, bands, pendants, and some gold and silver but as many gold chains.
There is only one find in that group that really sticks out in my memory. Oddly enough, it is the big silver ring about four rows from the bottom with the red and green setting. It was such a big clunker. I remember where I pulled it up. It is one of those rings that will fit on your thumb or toe.
There is one item in the photo that I still consider to be a bit of a mystery item. It looks pretty old, but I don't know how old. It appears to be part of a locket.
Here it is.
HEre is the link for more about that.
Tropical Storm Barbara forms off southwest Mexico | AP News
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| Fort Pierce Surf Forecast from Surfguru.com. |
The surf forecast is about as flat as you'll ever see.
There sill be slightly negative low tides in the afternoon.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net