I think metal detecting is becoming a dying hobby ....

[Donna(NJ]

It's so ironic as we have some great machines right now and the good old days are in the rearview mirror!!
I'm sure most beach detectorist will agree gold finds are waaay down. Coins are on the vast decline. Plastic and cell phones rule financial transactions.
Here a 'wedding ring' I eyeballed.
Years ago we thought stainless steel and titanium was going to be the end. Now we have have silicone....
Many years ago i found a local carnival. Morning after was like fishing in a barrel. I had to go back and empty my pouch, it was so heavy. My favorite spot was the ride, The Zipper It flung the kids and the spot was loaded with coins.
yesterday it was pretty pitiful. Just a handful of bright shiny coins. The field is a shared baseball & soccer park thus the brown coins. I remember way back when I had over 75 quarters. i never counted anything but quarters. That was my barometer. At least I found a silver necklace. Times they are a changing

 

[fwcrawford]

I have to agree with you that coin losses are decreasing.
I have never found lots of gold jewelry, but have found a few items over the years.
I started detecting lakes in 2012 and was doing pretty good for a few years, but that has gotten very slow the last few years in my area.
I figured others are detecting there too, and in some cases they are, but targets are just getting lost to start with now.
I even decided to do some river hunting and did good for a couple years, but that is slowing down too.
I will say when I started detecting in 2006, and got to know what I was doing, I could not believe the amount of quarters that had been lost in local parks and schools.
30-40 per hunt was the norm back then…..many times even more….i still get into a few now and again, but I am spending more time driving to new areas now.

 

[sprchng]

Coins have taken a back seat to credit cards and jewelry has passed the torch to tattoos. Access has fallen victim to fear of trespass and antiquity to pavement and concrete. In my case ambition has been tempered by age and heat but the general hobby is in a definite decline. Published tales of magnificent finds will keep a steady flow of neophytes falling down the rabbit hole but the zenith of detecting has come and gone.

 

[Donna(NJ]

I have to agree with you that coin losses are decreasing.
I have never found lots of gold jewelry, but have found a few items over the years.
I started detecting lakes in 2012 and was doing pretty good for a few years, but that has gotten very slow the last few years in my area.
I figured others are detecting there too, and in some cases they are, but targets are just getting lost to start with now.
I even decided to do some river hunting and did good for a couple years, but that is slowing down too.
I will say when I started detecting in 2006, and got to know what I was doing, I could not believe the amount of quarters that had been lost in local parks and schools.
30-40 per hunt was the norm back then…..many times even more….i still get into a few now and again, but I am spending more time driving to new areas now.

I cant even cover gas and Im only a few miles from the beach !!! Im lucky to come home with $1-2 !!!
Back in the day, easily $10 in change, several silver rings and at leat 1 gold.
Now I pick up beach chairs and umbrella's to repair and resell. Evens out the time/gas ratio !!!!

Just seeing the sunrise every morning sure smooths out the lack of finds !!!

HH
Donna

Coins have taken a back seat to credit cards and jewelry has passed the torch to tattoos. Access has fallen victim to fear of trespass and antiquity to pavement and concrete. In my case ambition has been tempered by age and heat but the general hobby is in a definite decline. Published tales of magnificent finds will keep a steady flow of neophytes falling down the rabbit hole but the zenith of detecting has come and gone.

Very eloquently said !!! I love the jewelry to tatoos.... I never thought of that one... Great !!!! Thanks to social media hyping these spectacular finds tht in reality is like hitting the lottery.
Us old timers know better. Glad I got in when it was great fun and there were tresures to be found.

But the tug is always there to find that one great find !!!

HH
Donna

 

[Ted S]

You will note my lack of finds this year! I have like 23.00 in clad and a seated quarter and a Franklin half. The fields will open up this fall and I will still get a couple of good coins!