How many coins are beyond the depth of detection?

[robertj298]

I think there are way more coins beyond the depth capabilities of the modern detector than are in the depth range. I've hunted way too many prime old spots that I know have never been detected and have come up with little to nothing. I have done very well since starting back up after not detecting for probably 15 years but I did far better back in the early 80s when I first started. Back then most of the silver coin finds were in the 5-7 inch range so I imagine if they were that deep then they are quite a bit deeper now.When you think about it, back then mercury dimes had only been out of circulation 35 years and silver rosies and washingtons 16 years.

 

[BHNugget]

I agree completely with your theory

 

[JamesBondaka]

At least millions of coins are out there just waiting to be found.

 

[Goes4ever]

Honestly? I think more coins are being masked by trash than more coins being too deep to detect

 

[Neil]

Honestly? I think more coins are being masked by trash than more coins being too deep to detect

certainly a large number of coins still in the ground due to masking

 

[ChicagoJohn]

I believe that lot more out there deeper than we cant reach them!

 

[nge]

Ron, that is why you must keep your eyes and ears open for construction sites! I read the local papers for bids on future construction needs. Also, it helps if you have a few people in local gov't. that are privy to info, that can call you with that info, (ie) my mother in law works for the Plymouth Mich. township hall and she calls me before they tear any roads or properties up.......nge

 

[CladDog]

You answer can depend a lot on the kind of soil your have. Areas with dense, clay based soil and really slow the sink rate.

I live in Florida, which is nothing more than a giant sand bar with a few trees thrown on it.

Our mild sandy soil has an incredible sink rate for coins.

Most coins dropped in the 1960s are probably 8"-9" down already.

Older coins, forget it. They are hard to come by here.

Not impossible, just very uncommon.

 

[MAcle1997]

"In the first 50 years of this century, people lost an estimated 100,000 tons of silver coins."
The quote above was used as a space filler in our local newspaper in 1980, I clipped it out
and still have it in my scrapbook as an inspiration to get out there and find some silver. I don't
know if the quote refers to estimated loss worldwide or just here in the USA, but I think there
are still a lot out there waiting to be found, many too deep or masked by trash.

A few weeks ago I dug a few dozen screw caps. Most had nothing else in the hole with them,
but two concealed wheat cents, I think they were 1935 and 1953-D. I keep digging those
caps and hoping for silver in the hole.

Mark
Fredonia, NY

 

[pointer80]

I think back in the late 70's and early 80's etc. there were more virgin sites available also. You could just drive from one area to the next and hit any older public school or park and find the goods. Now, like Goes4ever said you have too seek out the targets that are masked by trash. Lucky the newer machines are allot better at separating and also have better depth capabilities. Also I think you have to do allot more research today to find those un hunted spots where as back in the day most spots where un hunted. We do not have virgin sites like "in the old days" but we have the internet which helps allot as far as researching.