How much depth is really needed for coins and rings?

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	How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « on: April 29, 2013, 05:50:19 pm »

I'm getting back into detecting and was wondering about the depths that most coins and rings are found at. I realize that sandy beaches can vary greatly but most of my detecting will be land based. Just was wondering what depths everyone is finding stuff at. And therefore if I need to upgrade to something newer than my old Garrett vlf/tr Coinhunter. Thanks and I'm really enjoying looking around the forum.

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #1 on: April 29, 2013, 06:12:55 pm »

Fletcher, I don't know how old you are or what you do for a living, but I'd seriously consider upgrading to something newer just because the newer machines are lighter and have better battery life. Even with the sweet spot depth being roughly the same, you can swing a newer detector for a lot longer.

BA

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #2 on: April 29, 2013, 06:16:10 pm »

Most coins I ever find are in the surface to oh say 7" range at most.

As you stated Beaches can be another animal.

Cool

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #3 on: April 29, 2013, 06:20:27 pm »

fletcher, BA is right mate I have dug coins 1" to 18" it just depends on the ground, the machine, electronic interfearance, moisture in the ground, the skill of the user etc etc, tell us your plan and we will do our best to help.

AU

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #4 on: April 29, 2013, 06:24:48 pm »

Thats a hard question to answer as depth will very from area to area for many reasons. If your in a park that has good top soil is watered and mowed weekly you may dig coins lost last year at 3 or 4 inches while across the street a lot that is never mowed or watered the same coin maybe only half that. or less. A few years back we were hunting a old town site in west Texas and dug many 100 YO silver coins at half an inch ground was like rock and low yearly rain fall.

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #5 on: April 29, 2013, 08:54:00 pm »

Hi Fletcher! Welcome from northeastern Oregon! Welcome

I have found that the average coin depths where I find coins is about 4" to 6" here in the highly mineralized ground in my area. Extremes vary from surface to 12" or so.

Good luck getting back into the hobby and have fun! Detecting

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fletcher Topic starter

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #6 on: April 29, 2013, 10:42:55 pm »

Thanks for all the input. BA you hit it pretty close on age as I'm not a young man in years, though mentally I've been accused of only acting half my age Grin

. The weight factor is something to consider and I've been looking at the Tesoro line as well as Garretts. My six 9volt batteries alone probably weigh close to a new detector Wink

. My first detector was a BFO machine(now that's aging myself) and I found many coins at surface to 3 inches or so. But not much competition back then. Then I got an AH Pro BackPacker TR machine which worked pretty well and added a few inches, but the Garrett TR/VLF Coinhunter really increased my depth. So I'll probably start out with my Garrett and save some bucks for a newer lighter weight detector.
Most of my hunting will be in Pa. at old home/farm sites and a few parks thrown in from time to time. I'm not really sure how important discrimination will be as I'm use to running in VLF mode and just digging every thing. Will a newer machine still maintain good depth or does it lose depth as when I switch to the TR mode to discriminate?

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #7 on: April 30, 2013, 12:02:54 am »

Fletcher,
I'm guessing we are pretty close in age. I too started with a BFO. This was in the early 1970's. I upgraded over the years until I bought a Garrett Grand Master Hunter and kept that one until recently. I kept the discrimination set low and dug every target. Over the years my knees and back decided they didn't like all the up and down stuff and I found myself hunting less. Then a friend talked me into jumping head-first into the 21st Century in terms of detector technology. I want to share some observations. I now own a White's DFX and a Minelab E-trac. My wife has claimed the DFX as her own but I don't mind because the E-trac has been an eye-opening experience. I guess the best way I can sum it up is that I now have options I didn't have with the Garrett GMH. Even when I'm feeling good and the site looks promising I still don't dig everything. From a single old churchyard I've recovered 4 jewelry rings at depths down to 7" and a nice pile of coins along with a pocket knife and a wrist watch. I found my share of nickles there too. The surprising thing is how few pull tabs I dig. They're down there but I've come to trust that the E-trac can tell me what they are. Every now and then I'll dig one just to be sure. Yep, pull tab. The same thing goes for those zinc corroders that pass for pennies today. If the E-trac gives me a 12-37+/- I have the option to dig or not because it's probably a zinc penny. If I see 12-44 it's a copper penny. A 12-15 to 12-17 is most likely a nickle. A 12-27+/- is probably a pull tab. Of course, the E-trac still gets fooled occasionally by wads of aluminum foil and can slaw but no machine is perfect. The end result is that I can hunt longer and come home with a much higher ratio of good finds to trash.

I'm not pushing the E-trac or any other machine. I used the E-trac as an example because it is what I have experience with. I just think you might want to consider getting a more modern detector. It can be frustrating at first to learn a new machine but I think you will find it worth it.

Storm

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #8 on: April 30, 2013, 02:23:07 am »

Fletcher welcome to the forum. from Melbourne Australia
Hi Stormrider1951
If you had to choose between the DFX and the E-track which way would you go?
Did you ever try YOURFELF both machines over the same ground? Did they perform difently? Would you have found those coins and jewelry with your DFX?
I have been a Whites man since day Dot, I been thinking of a minelab, but I have to be convinced that it’s worth it.
Sorry fletcher I didn’t mean to hijack your topic. But I can only get the right answer of someone that use both machines
moderators If I am out of order please remove my post

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	Re: How much depth is really needed for coins and rings? « Reply #9 on: April 30, 2013, 08:01:28 am »

Weight is the key issue. Electronically, you cannot find a better machine that what you have. Believe it. After 40 years, it's still sought after by the pros. You have a real treasure in your hands.

I keep a small dumbell by my easy chair (no, not the wife) so I can keep my forearms able to endure long sessions with my Groundhog but the lighter machines are just so tempting and almost as good. When I have a serious hunt, out comes my Groundhog. Every time.

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