There was a fellow here in CA, that related the following experience. He grew up in Napa, CA. He graduated from high school in 1959. And he DISTINCTLY recalled seeing a fellow detecting in that town's oldest park. And he recalled that it was before he had graduated. Hence '58 or '59-ish. He'd seen a man using an odd contraption in the park. So he drew closer to have a look. He watched in amazement as the man dug coin after coin.
This inspired the kid to eventually, several years later, (mid 1960s by now), to get into it himself.
He could not remember the type machine the fellow had been using, nor the types of coins (old versus new), nor how deep they'd been. But he did distinctly remember that he'd been digging coins though, and distinctly remembered that he'd still been in high school. Thus being 1959 or earlier.
This inspired the kid to eventually, several years later, (mid 1960s by now), to get into it himself.
He could not remember the type machine the fellow had been using, nor the types of coins (old versus new), nor how deep they'd been. But he did distinctly remember that he'd been digging coins though, and distinctly remembered that he'd still been in high school. Thus being 1959 or earlier.