Phenix City AL/ Columbus, GA finds???

Hello from central Alabama. Has anyone ever found coins in the Chattahoochie River? We lived in Phenix City, AL when I was in the 1st grade in 1984. My dad collected old bottles and such and worked with a guy who would sift the sand on the banks of the river for old coins. I remember going with dad and sifting sometimes. We found a 1877 seated Liberty quarter and many "V" nickels, steel pennies and other various coins. Also in this river are old military metals(from Ft Benning I assume) and bullets. We found an old tobacco cutter once but it was extremely rusted. From what I have heard there was alot of illegal gambling going on in this area in the 1940's and the governer of Alabama came in and pushed all the slot machines into the river!

Also, I have recently become addicted to the show Gold Rush and I am interested in meeting folks from my area with panning knowledge and experience. I have a trip to the Alabama Gold Camp planned but honestly I'd rather be in Alaska mining ancient river beds....maybe one day!

Thanks and I really enjoy reading about everyone's adventures!

-Dusty

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Welcomer from the Phoenix, Arizona area.   I just happened to know where the Phenix, Alabama area is from my days spent in Alabama.

Looking forward to reading your posts

BA

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Greetings and welcome Dusty, from the wet and soggy Pacific NW in Washington State.
I would bet that almost anyplace people congregate will produce coins, just gotta find them.
Reading about activities in the area, such as the dumping of slot machines will definitely help
you to find those hidden coins.  I"m still looking for that elusive lost wishing well around here somewhere.
HH Robroy59

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digsafe, Basic training is always rough but I guess Ft. Benning wasn't as bad as Camp LeJune or that place down on the mexican border so we should be thankful.

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Originally Posted by Westernlegend1 
Chattahoochee County

Fort Bennings River Bank Caches


This army base has its tales of treasure within its boundaries. Back in 1901, while working the Chattahoochee River, a dredge spewed out a large number of silver dollars. These are believed to have once been on a riverboat that had sunk many years ago. In 1962, a jug of old coins was discovered on the banks of the same river. And once more in 1970, a group of soldiers while training found yet another jug of old coins near the river bank. What else lies buried along the old river in Georgia?

Hi, I live within miles of Ft. Benning and there have been many stories about finding coins on the river bank. I'm not sure of your time frame but when Pheniix city Alabama which is right next to Columbus Ga and Ft. Benning was know as SIN CITY back in the 1940 and 50's, there were gambling and murders everyhere and then there was the battle to clean up the city. When the city was cleaned up they threw alot of the slot machines still filled with coins in the river. When the river was dredged off of victory drive quite a few years back, people were finding old slot machines and old coins in the soil that was piled up on the banks. If you have not heard of the Phenix city story you may find it intresting to look it up and read about it. It was very bad and all about money and mafia style gangters. See ya, Dwayne

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