My wheats to silver ratio for a good number of years since I started with this hobby in 1972 was 6/7 to 1. About the mid 80's as I recall, my ratio was creeping up a point or so every couple of years. About the mid 90's it seemed to level off at 12 to 1 for some years. Over the last few years my ratio has inched its way up to the 17 to 1 range. Unless one is a door knocker or is fortunate enough to come upon a virgin, or near virgin, spot, our ratio's of wheats to silver will continue to spread, i m h o. For a good number of years a lot of hunters passed up cent coins and high graded spots strictly for their silver. All wheats aren't created equal as far as tone and tid, either. Which perhaps aided in more of them being left in the ground.
Wheats are still a gauge that a spot might contain silver, but for most of us I fear, those 7 to 1 ratios are a thing of the past. HH jim tn