First Indians of the season...and more

[DirtFlipper]

Howdy,

I got out yesterday for my second hunt of the season. Stayed with the small Excelerator coil and just re-worked some areas I've been over many times before with the 6x8 SEF. I suppose things could shift a bit due to the freezing/thawing, but I think the smaller coil is really helping. These areas have a high signal density, with lots of nulling, even with the iron mask turned way down.

Anyway, the first signal and recovery of the day was a Wheat, which put me in a good mood. Picked up an Indian after that, so then I thought I'd try to find some silver. Well, that turned out not to be so easy! I managed to recover several more Wheats and another Indian, but still wasn't having luck with getting some silver under the coil.

I got another signal which I thought would be another Wheat, but when I cleared the dirt, I saw a flash of white instead. After I recovered it, I saw it didn't have a reeded edge, so I thought I had a token, but then saw the back and realized I had a silver War nickel instead. Works for me!

There wasn't much time left, so I started making my way back towards the car. Picked up another couple Wheats, and then the last signal of day was a more shallow sounding tone, which I recovered a bit too quickly. Turned out to be another Indian, and I nicked it! Grrr.

After I was able to clean things up, I discovered that one of the Indians was an 1875, which is the oldest coin I've recovered from this site. Most of the oldest coins are late 1890's at best, so this one must have been in circulation for quite awhile. The other two Indians were 1899 and 1902. Also found a couple better Wheats in the bunch (16-S, 26-S, 32-D). The rest of the Wheats were 30's/40's. The War nickel is a 43-S.

Several of the coins were found mixed in with rusty nails (and one with a large tack). It was pretty neat how the smaller coil was able to sniff those out still. In effect, it gives me just that much more territory to cover now (again).


HH,
DirtFlipper

 

[MNCoinhunter]

Nice finds !! Look at that big, fat "S" on that nickel...gotta love it !

 

[TokenDigger]

Nice finds-especially those Indian Heads. They are really good looking. That's also a nice collection of early Lincolns. The 1926 S is a semi-key coin. I have been using a small coil in really trashy areas and is is working great. I may give up a little in depth but it makes up it in separation ands makes pinpointing a lot easier. Way to go and HH!

 

[DirtFlipper]

Oops - typo on my part, that's a '26-D Linc, not the S (I wish!).

 

[digginrebel]

Nice digs! Your soil is very kind to coins. Lucky you.

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

n/t

 

[bbqman]

Great Hunt ! congrats LOVE the indians !

 

[TwoRivers]

john in Va

 

[snevlida147]

awesome

 

[jer4004]

Very nice. And don't feel bad I put a big scratch on a V nickle this year already busting it out of frost. It happens!!

 

[DirtFlipper]

I like the 6x8 SEF quite a lot. I hunted all last year with mainly that coil, hitting the trashy areas that are still hiding things from the other detectors and larger coils. Did OK. I'll use the 10x12 SEF (or larger) when I find spots that are more open and less trashy, but I find that the odds favor the older areas with lots of trash, and a small coil to sniff through it.

But, I picked up this smaller Excelerator coil over the Winter, and am just now trying it. It seems to be picking up some stuff that I missed with even the 6x8 SEF. I'd probably even try a small SunRay coil if I find one sometime. These trashy, signal rich areas are challenging!

HH,
DirtFlipper

 

[DirtFlipper]

Very nice. And don't feel bad I put a big scratch on a V nickle this year already busting it out of frost. It happens!!

Hey, Jer - you been out awhile already? I waited until the snow (and frost) was gone this year. Just made it out the first time last weekend finally, for a grand total of two hunts! But, so far, so good.

 

[Jim D]

Congrats on the nice finds!

 

[sgoss66]

Hey DirtFlipper --

A few things...

ONE -- AWESOME digs!

TWO -- I'm interested in hearing more about your thoughts on the 6" EXcelerator vs. the 6x8 SEF. I need to get a small coil for my SE Pro before too much longer, and I don't know which -- 6x8 SEF, 6" Excelerator, or X-5 SunRay. I can only get one, so I need to make a good choice. I read Bryce's sticky with coil reviews, and talked with him a bit; he says they are all good and you can't go wrong with either of the three. Curious to hear your comparisons, as you clearly have used the 6X8 SEF alot, and are now hitting the same areas with the EXcelerator.

Finally, THREE -- I LOVE your avatar!! Nothing better than seeing those silver rims in your plug!

Steve

 

[DirtFlipper]

Hey DirtFlipper --

A few things...

ONE -- AWESOME digs!

TWO -- I'm interested in hearing more about your thoughts on the 6" EXcelerator vs. the 6x8 SEF. I need to get a small coil for my SE Pro before too much longer, and I don't know which -- 6x8 SEF, 6" Excelerator, or X-5 SunRay. I can only get one, so I need to make a good choice. I read Bryce's sticky with coil reviews, and talked with him a bit; he says they are all good and you can't go wrong with either of the three. Curious to hear your comparisons, as you clearly have used the 6X8 SEF alot, and are now hitting the same areas with the EXcelerator.

Finally, THREE -- I LOVE your avatar!! Nothing better than seeing those silver rims in your plug!

Steve

Thanks!

As for the choice between the coils, I suppose the thing to bear in mind is that they are each different. By that I mean that although they are 'smaller' coils, it's not just a matter of picking one to have a 'small' coil, like picking a certain brand and all else being equal. They really are further separated by their size and layout. I hunted probably 80% of the time last year with the 6x8 SEF and it performed well (the remaining 20% spent with the Pro coil, and a little with a 12x15 SEF for a few 'open and deep' opportunities). I found the 6x8 SEF to be very versatile, and with good depth and target separation. It managed to help me detect and isolate targets in areas that I wasn't able to as effectively with the Pro coil.

In much the same way the yet smaller 6" Excelerator appears to be doing the same thing in areas I've been over extensively with the 6x8 SEF. While not conclusive, my sense is that the yet 'smaller' coil is again helping. I've not tried an X-5, but I suspect it would have a similar capability.

But, if I could only have one from among those three, I'd probably lean towards the 6x8 SEF, since it somewhat 'splits' the difference; it can do well hunting in spots where the larger coils start to become challenged, but also take it another step and get down into the trashy spots. I actually got the 12x15 SEF so I could have a larger step 'up' from the 6x8 when the site called for it. A lot will depend on the type of sites you will typically be hitting. If you know you'll focus on very trashy, iron-infested quagmires, smallest may be best. For a broader mix, the 6x8 SEF will help find plenty.

Honestly though, I've purchased all my 'secondary' coils used, so I'd probably keep an eye out for any of those three and just pick up the first one that came up with a good deal. Then saving for the next one isn't as far to go.

Good luck, and HH.

DirtFlipper

 

[sgoss66]

Yeah, DirtFlipper -- that's what I was thinking, buy whichever one comes up for sale, used...I do hunt alot of trashy areas, and I like the Pro coil, but would like to get something that has better see-through for more trashy areas. Sounds like the 6x8 is good, but the 6", being smaller, helps even a bit more. I'll see what's for sale when I'm ready to buy...

Steve