(Click to view full image)
WINNER #1
My favorite U.S. favorite find for August 2016 is the Silver 1652 Pine Tree Schilling, found by Steve S. from Massachusetts with his AT Pro and Pro-Pointer II.
Steve’s story (edited): “Most Saturday mornings I spend valuable bonding time metal detecting with my teen son Jonathan. He loves the hobby of finding and collecting old coins just as much as his dad. We belong to a club in central Massachusetts that meets once a month, 1 hour from our home. I had just purchased a new AT Pro for my son’s 15th birthday, yet this story used my older AT Pro with the standard Double-D. This past Saturday morning, my son and I headed out to a local farm dating back to the 1700’s. The area I was working was the location of a barn that was demolished back in the 1930’s. After a few hours of not finding much, I heard a faint tone in the 75-81 zone. The depth indicator was between 8 and 10, and at 8 inches we saw something silver with strange markings. My son looked at me, and I looked at him and couldn’t believe our eyes. I knew it was old but had no idea it was rare. My son and I dusted it off and fell back for a moment then high-fived each other. I will never forget that moment he and and I shared after finding this. After being sent to ANACS, it was authenticated and graded VF-35. It’s a 1652 NOE 18 Pine Tree Schilling, a find of a lifetime. Treasures like this still exist and are waiting to be found. My son told me this is what keeps him alive in the hobby. You just never know what you are going to dig up!”
Steve V. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
Steve’s story (edited): “Most Saturday mornings I spend valuable bonding time metal detecting with my teen son Jonathan. He loves the hobby of finding and collecting old coins just as much as his dad. We belong to a club in central Massachusetts that meets once a month, 1 hour from our home. I had just purchased a new AT Pro for my son’s 15th birthday, yet this story used my older AT Pro with the standard Double-D. This past Saturday morning, my son and I headed out to a local farm dating back to the 1700’s. The area I was working was the location of a barn that was demolished back in the 1930’s. After a few hours of not finding much, I heard a faint tone in the 75-81 zone. The depth indicator was between 8 and 10, and at 8 inches we saw something silver with strange markings. My son looked at me, and I looked at him and couldn’t believe our eyes. I knew it was old but had no idea it was rare. My son and I dusted it off and fell back for a moment then high-fived each other. I will never forget that moment he and and I shared after finding this. After being sent to ANACS, it was authenticated and graded VF-35. It’s a 1652 NOE 18 Pine Tree Schilling, a find of a lifetime. Treasures like this still exist and are waiting to be found. My son told me this is what keeps him alive in the hobby. You just never know what you are going to dig up!”
Steve V. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
(Click to view full image)
WINNER #2
My second U.S. favorite find for August 2016 is the 18k Gold European cut diamond ring, found by Jim K. from Michigan with his AT Pro.
Jim’s story: “First off I am very fortunate to have found a site that produces finds like this. Second I’m thankful to have a water machine that can handle the iron infested areas like my AT Pro can! I was working the iron again this day, already had a V nickel, a buffalo, a silver rosie and Washington. I was getting a little tired and thinking about calling it a day. I decided to push a little harder, just one gold, any gold and then you can quit, I told myself. I then picked out a nice crispy mid tone through the iron. I thought it was going to be another buffalo, but what I saw in my scoop was no buff. Sleeping with iron for over a century, it’s color was pretty off, but when I picked it up there was no mistaking the weight. Already excited I looked inside for karat marks, and was just blown away! It read “Julia To Mason Xmas 1890" with the old style block mark of 18K! I immediately knew it was the best ring I’ve ever found with over four hundred preceding it. Turns out to be 9.9 grams of 18k, with a half carat European cut diamond. Not sure if I’ll ever top this find, but I know I’ll have a lot of fun trying to! Thanks Garrett!!”
Jim K. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
Jim’s story: “First off I am very fortunate to have found a site that produces finds like this. Second I’m thankful to have a water machine that can handle the iron infested areas like my AT Pro can! I was working the iron again this day, already had a V nickel, a buffalo, a silver rosie and Washington. I was getting a little tired and thinking about calling it a day. I decided to push a little harder, just one gold, any gold and then you can quit, I told myself. I then picked out a nice crispy mid tone through the iron. I thought it was going to be another buffalo, but what I saw in my scoop was no buff. Sleeping with iron for over a century, it’s color was pretty off, but when I picked it up there was no mistaking the weight. Already excited I looked inside for karat marks, and was just blown away! It read “Julia To Mason Xmas 1890" with the old style block mark of 18K! I immediately knew it was the best ring I’ve ever found with over four hundred preceding it. Turns out to be 9.9 grams of 18k, with a half carat European cut diamond. Not sure if I’ll ever top this find, but I know I’ll have a lot of fun trying to! Thanks Garrett!!”
Jim K. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
(Click to view full image)
WINNER #3
My third favorite U.S. favorite find for August 2016 is the Confederate Virginia Officers Sword Belt Plate, found by Lee J. from Virginia with his AT Gold.
Lee’s story: “On 8/06/2016 I ventured to a new permission with my AT Gold on some land that I just obtained in central VA. Little did I know my whole life was about to change. Twenty years of hunting I have dreamed over finding a Confederate plate. Little did I know that day I would dig my holy grail! A civil Virginia officers sword belt plate. Rung up a solid 88 on my AT Gold. I told my buddy before I dug it I got either a plate or a soda can. The AT Gold has come through for me again and again. Thanks for making a great machine.”
Lee J. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
Lee’s story: “On 8/06/2016 I ventured to a new permission with my AT Gold on some land that I just obtained in central VA. Little did I know my whole life was about to change. Twenty years of hunting I have dreamed over finding a Confederate plate. Little did I know that day I would dig my holy grail! A civil Virginia officers sword belt plate. Rung up a solid 88 on my AT Gold. I told my buddy before I dug it I got either a plate or a soda can. The AT Gold has come through for me again and again. Thanks for making a great machine.”
Lee J. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
(Click to view full image)
WINNER #4
My fourth U.S. favorite find for August 2016 is the $5 gold coin necklace, found by Barry N. from Oklahoma with his AT Pro.
Barry’s story: "While hunting a sidewalk area that had been turned up for a highway expansion, I found this 1996 $5 gold bullion coin. It appears to have been a necklace at one time."
Barry N. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
Barry’s story: "While hunting a sidewalk area that had been turned up for a highway expansion, I found this 1996 $5 gold bullion coin. It appears to have been a necklace at one time."
Barry N. WINS a Pro-Pointer AT!
