I really wasn't going to make a year end post...but I received a few pm's requesting that I do so. I also figured that I'll never experience another year like this one....so I might as well share it. I posted this on the Explorer forum...but I wanted to share it here too. I know I didn't post here as much as I did the previous year...but trust me...I visited this forum almost every day.
I don't even know how to begin to describe the whirlwind 2008 I had. With the loss of my mom...it seemed as though the walls were closing in...and there was nothing I could do about it.
I do know one thing though...without the joys and thrills of metal detecting...along with the soothing calm it brings...I truthfully don't think I could have made it through with any sanity left. The good Lord was definately with me every step of the way.
I met a lot of "good" people in 2008 through responses to my posts...pm's...phone calls...actual hunts...etc.
I also had the honor of Andy Sabisch asking me to be a part of his Minelab Explorer and E-Trac book....annialated my previous year end totals for silver and injuns...and then suffered the loss my loving mom all in the same year. A complete rollercoaster ride of some of the happiest times of my life...along with the saddest moment of my life thus far.
From a detecting standpoint....I am amazed at the amount of silver and injuns I was able to pull from the exact same pounded parks I beat up last year....and the years before. There is no secret...honestly....I have found the slower I go...the more I find. This year I was able to reach the depths needed to hit a layer of "older" era of coins unlike any previous year.
Last year was a great one for silver...and I ended up with 102.
This year was absolutely insane...and I ended up with 206. I'll tell you what...you know you are getting older, "missed" coins when you find more Barber dimes than Roosevelt dimes in a year. I found 32 Barber dimes this year...but only 31 Roosevelts..which attests to the fact that most of the coins from 4" to 7" were gone from these parks I hunt.
Another thing that shocked me is the number of old injuns I pulled out this year. No way I'll ever dream of anything close to this again.
Last year I blew away my previous best year ever total of 37...by finding 40.
This year was incredible...and I was able to pop out 103 Injuns. In fact the last few hunts I had...I didn't even find any wheaties....or mercs...which again attest to the fact that all the coins from 4" to 7" were long gone from most of these parks.
Nearly half the injuns' and Barber dimes came the last 3 months of the year...after I committed to the 10 x 12 S.E.F. coil.
I ended the year with 206 Silver coins....103 Injuns...around 600 wheaties...a couple of gold rings...$238 in clad quarters and dimes...and some great new friends.
My most cherished find though wasn't the Morgan dollar hidin' in the iron... which 'bout caused a change of shorts
...the 1831 capped bust dime from the cabin site....or even finding 7 1800's injuns in one hunt. It was the 1941 Merc that I know in my heart... my mom dropped as a youngster at the house she was raised at. ....and that I found the afternoon she passed away...while trying to keep depression from tearing me apart. Thanks mom.
I did the best I could with the pics. I couldn't fit all of the coins in because you are only allotted a certain number of pics per post. The breakdown of coins is as follows:
Clad: $238
1 - Morgan Dollar
2 - Barber Halves
1 - Walking Liberty Half
8 - Washington Quarters
3 - Barber Quarters
4 - standing Liberty quarters
1 - seated Quarter
1 - English 3 Pence Silver
1 - Canadian Fish Scale
4 - Seated Dimes
1- Seated Half Dime
116 - Mercury Dimes
32 - Barber Dimes
31 - Roosevelt Dimes
103 - Indian Head Cents
600 - wheaties
I don't even know how to begin to describe the whirlwind 2008 I had. With the loss of my mom...it seemed as though the walls were closing in...and there was nothing I could do about it.
I do know one thing though...without the joys and thrills of metal detecting...along with the soothing calm it brings...I truthfully don't think I could have made it through with any sanity left. The good Lord was definately with me every step of the way.
I met a lot of "good" people in 2008 through responses to my posts...pm's...phone calls...actual hunts...etc.
I also had the honor of Andy Sabisch asking me to be a part of his Minelab Explorer and E-Trac book....annialated my previous year end totals for silver and injuns...and then suffered the loss my loving mom all in the same year. A complete rollercoaster ride of some of the happiest times of my life...along with the saddest moment of my life thus far.
From a detecting standpoint....I am amazed at the amount of silver and injuns I was able to pull from the exact same pounded parks I beat up last year....and the years before. There is no secret...honestly....I have found the slower I go...the more I find. This year I was able to reach the depths needed to hit a layer of "older" era of coins unlike any previous year.
Last year was a great one for silver...and I ended up with 102.
This year was absolutely insane...and I ended up with 206. I'll tell you what...you know you are getting older, "missed" coins when you find more Barber dimes than Roosevelt dimes in a year. I found 32 Barber dimes this year...but only 31 Roosevelts..which attests to the fact that most of the coins from 4" to 7" were gone from these parks I hunt.
Another thing that shocked me is the number of old injuns I pulled out this year. No way I'll ever dream of anything close to this again.
Last year I blew away my previous best year ever total of 37...by finding 40.
This year was incredible...and I was able to pop out 103 Injuns. In fact the last few hunts I had...I didn't even find any wheaties....or mercs...which again attest to the fact that all the coins from 4" to 7" were long gone from most of these parks.
Nearly half the injuns' and Barber dimes came the last 3 months of the year...after I committed to the 10 x 12 S.E.F. coil.
I ended the year with 206 Silver coins....103 Injuns...around 600 wheaties...a couple of gold rings...$238 in clad quarters and dimes...and some great new friends.
My most cherished find though wasn't the Morgan dollar hidin' in the iron... which 'bout caused a change of shorts
...the 1831 capped bust dime from the cabin site....or even finding 7 1800's injuns in one hunt. It was the 1941 Merc that I know in my heart... my mom dropped as a youngster at the house she was raised at. ....and that I found the afternoon she passed away...while trying to keep depression from tearing me apart. Thanks mom.I did the best I could with the pics. I couldn't fit all of the coins in because you are only allotted a certain number of pics per post. The breakdown of coins is as follows:
Clad: $238
1 - Morgan Dollar
2 - Barber Halves
1 - Walking Liberty Half
8 - Washington Quarters
3 - Barber Quarters
4 - standing Liberty quarters
1 - seated Quarter
1 - English 3 Pence Silver
1 - Canadian Fish Scale
4 - Seated Dimes
1- Seated Half Dime
116 - Mercury Dimes
32 - Barber Dimes
31 - Roosevelt Dimes
103 - Indian Head Cents
600 - wheaties
Bryce and all in one year is amazing! My posting of the clad coins is nothing compared to yours! A professionl you are and with the patience of JOB to detect no matter what, even in sadness! To be out detecting soothes the heart and soul, for I know what depression is and does to a person! Happy hunting this year and may you find just as many or even more! Go get 'em tiger! 
