Question for experienced detectorists about silver coin depths.

[IDXMonster]

The vast majority of the silver I have dug was in the 5-7" range. There have of course been outliers - a 10.5" Quarter, a 9" merc, a 1/2 inch seated.

Silver is generally found deeper is because back in the 80's the parks were depleted of all of their shallow seated and barber coins. The technology didn't exist back then to find the deeper coins in the trashier areas.

Even still, with the newer technology, those deeper coins are still going to be hard to find. You need a seriously sensitive receive coil and killer processing to find them. The deeper a coin is, the more it will sounds like iron (What your detector reports is the sum of the ground signal and the target signal. Once the strength of the ground signal approaches the strength of the target signal - it will sound like iron.

I have an old farm right across from my work that this exact thing has happened...the coin(wheat cent) sounding like iron AND displaying iron on my IDX. Lots of iron flake in the ground from who knows what...a smaller coil actually helped this but it does happen. I wouldn't have believed it if it didn't happen to me. I was just digging to dig and found it by chance.

 

[NectarDetector]

Even still, with the newer technology, those deeper coins are still going to be hard to find. You need a seriously sensitive receive coil and killer processing to find them.

And that is where the CTX 3030 really shines!

 

[BottleCapKing]

And that is where the CTX 3030 really shines!

As impressive a machine as the 3030 is, it is still subject to the same mathematical limitations as other machines. Really deep coins will still seem like iron as target strength approaches ground strength. Also, no matter what you are using for a machine, as the angle of the coin in the ground increases past 45 degrees, the smaller the chance of it ever being seen. (The depth at which this happens is deeper for the CTX than it is most other machines)

I don't know what the transmit amplitude is on the CTX, but, I figure it is like most machines - 10V. Even at 30V, those deep, angled coins never have to fear ever seeing the light of day. Though, there is an exception if there is a nearby secondary target that will produce a stronger signal. I once dug a 8.5" Merc on edge. It wasn't really the merc I detected, but a rusted bolt near it. The signal was so odd, I just had to dig it.

 

[NectarDetector]

As impressive a machine as the 3030 is, it is still subject to the same mathematical limitations as other machines. Really deep coins will still seem like iron as target strength approaches ground strength. Also, no matter what you are using for a machine, as the angle of the coin in the ground increases past 45 degrees, the smaller the chance of it ever being seen. (The depth at which this happens is deeper for the CTX than it is most other machines)

I don't know what the transmit amplitude is on the CTX, but, I figure it is like most machines - 10V. Even at 30V, those deep, angled coins never have to fear ever seeing the light of day. Though, there is an exception if there is a nearby secondary target that will produce a stronger signal. I once dug a 8.5" Merc on edge. It wasn't really the merc I detected, but a rusted bolt near it. The signal was so odd, I just had to dig it.

The 3030 can see more than one target at a time with target trace, it is not limited in areas other machines are, it is not functioning the same as a vlf machine with averaging etc

read how it works and how it is different https://www.minelab.com/treasure-ta...tfind-2-visually-identifying-multiple-targets

 

[Barracuda]

I and the rest of this forum are wanting a definition of DIG IT ALL. EVERY signal?

I highly doubt the rest of the forum is wondering. Alot of people dig every signal to unmask a good target.

Detect how you feel to detect.

If im in a hot spot for old items i dig the crappiest signals

sure if im low on time i cherry pick


My 5 gal bucket. Been out a hand full of times on this bucket

 

[IDXMonster]

I highly doubt the rest of the forum is wondering. Alot of people dig every signal to unmask a good target.

Detect how you feel to detect.

If im in a hot spot for old items i dig the crappiest signals

sure if im low on time i cherry pick


My 5 gal bucket. Been out a hand full of times on this bucket

Well,they're wondering something,the thread has over 6,000 views! It's agreed digging more eventually gets more good targets,period. That's a very slim percentage of hunters,hence the forever question...."what's the best detector for finding deep old coins?" It is probably the most highly repeated question in the history of detecting. Although we all know that digging everything nets everything not many want to do it,it more has to do with time constraints,physical limitations,not feeling good enough to dig it all and not booger up the property,etc. And,it has to do with targeting old coins. When you dig everything it's not nearly as big a challenge as it is to be able to know you have a 9" deep dime,because of a great machine and experience with it. That's what everyone really wants,in a perfect world. If a guy has the time,a good site and the patience,pulling out everything would surely net some surprises.

 

[BottleCapKing]

The 3030 can see more than one target at a time with target trace, it is not limited in areas other machines are, it is not functioning the same as a vlf machine with averaging etc

read how it works and how it is different https://www.minelab.com/treasure-ta...tfind-2-visually-identifying-multiple-targets

Alas, that didn't really tell me how it works. I will have to check the Minelab papers to see if they have something more ... technical. They usually have some nice papers written from a not-revealing-proprietary-information in regards to the science. Since I don't use a 3030, I am not interested so much in what it does from user perspective. I am more interested in HOW it does it.

I can see multiple targets with my V3i, though, I must say the PP aspect of the 3030 is pretty damn nifty. I wish my V had that! Being able to see multiple targets isn't quite the same as being able to PP those same targets all at once. I am kinda jealous.

 

[Martin_V3i]

I highly doubt the rest of the forum is wondering. Alot of people dig every signal to unmask a good target.

Detect how you feel to detect.

If im in a hot spot for old items i dig the crappiest signals

sure if im low on time i cherry pick


My 5 gal bucket. Been out a hand full of times on this bucket

If im in a hot spot for old items i dig the crappiest signals

I tried that when only using hand diggers, but recently bought me a 31" shovel,,,yes a shovel. I've since dug many deep rusty nail signals giving decent VDI yet indicated iron dominance. Some success but mainly rusty targets.

No way would I ever be able to explore those iffy signals with just a Lesche.

My point is, you have to dig iffy signals to get to the unfound treasure, in places that's been worked hard. If you're strong, dig.

 

[Barracuda]

Well,they're wondering something,the thread has over 6,000 views! It's agreed digging more eventually gets more good targets,period. That's a very slim percentage of hunters,hence the forever question...."what's the best detector for finding deep old coins?" It is probably the most highly repeated question in the history of detecting. Although we all know that digging everything nets everything not many want to do it,it more has to do with time constraints,physical limitations,not feeling good enough to dig it all and not booger up the property,etc. And,it has to do with targeting old coins. When you dig everything it's not nearly as big a challenge as it is to be able to know you have a 9" deep dime,because of a great machine and experience with it. That's what everyone really wants,in a perfect world. If a guy has the time,a good site and the patience,pulling out everything would surely net some surprises.

Every detector on the market will be fooled.
As I said if you're low on time cherry pick as I said before detect how you feel to detect.

To answer your million dollar question that apparently everybody wants to see a deep silver coin will read iron no matter how expensive the machine is.

Oh and don't forget iron can read like a coin.

Therefore you dig it all for deep silver coins

Typically older guys don't mess around with anything in the iron foil nickel range. They probably would not like the sport if they can't walk afterwords do what you are capable of doing and just try to enjoy the hobby.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NectarDetector]

It's like this... you do you, Imma do me

To each his own, that's what makes our hobby so unique, there is no right or wrong way... whatever YOU want to hunt for that day, go for it.

If a dood wants to spend 5 hours in a 30 ft area...fine... I am willing to bet at the end of the day I will have more good targets in my pouch than him...why? Because I didn't spend 3.5hrs of my time digging foil and iron, where he did...

But, again, to each his own

Every site, day, condition, and your equipment will dictate how you hunt THAT day at THAT spot!

I want to hit some properties with great potential and detect with nothing but dig it all guys.... that way they stay put and I cover all of the area and cherry pick... can always come back for the gum wrappers and nails!

 

[calabash digger]

heres my 2 cents you got to see before you can dig it.I have my deus set up where it will hit 12 inch silvers and 10 inch merc no problem. Heres the thing when you put iron or trash in the mix some machines are BETTER than others . I hear all this about expereince and its true to some extent BUT a good machine plays a very big part too. Im profiecent with the AT PRO and XP DEUS and have found many great finds with both machines but there not the same by any means.I know you coinshooters like minelabs for silver but I dont have a problem tagging it with my deus found a spanish cob at 8 or 9 inchs and thats deep for such a small piece of silver. Tagged a 1859 indian yesterday at around 8 inchs, but knowing you can hit a 12 inch coin gives me a little more confidence when hunting. As far as how coins sink I have no idea but I know its weird sometimes to find clad at 8inchs and silver at 2 inchs. heres a videos of a mid range detector and a high end detector there is a big difference!. I started with a ace 150 ,250, at pro, then the deus a low in detector will not see the 2 inch coin masked by iron like the deus will how do I know this well I have a test garden and can put the theory to the test.EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN THEORYS MY ADVICE IS DO YOUR ON TESTING because much of what I read early on was flatout FALSE! I dont know how deep a coin has to be for the deus to read it as iron but it will hit silver up to 14 and call it what it is, I know from experience at about 10 inchs the at pro will start calling some good targets iron. all detectorsn are not equal and experience can only carry you so far . BTW the merc dime is at 4 inchs and has 3 square nails around it.

 

[NectarDetector]

heres my 2 cents you got to see before you can dig it.I have my deus set up where it will hit 12 inch silvers and 10 inch merc no problem. Heres the thing when you put iron or trash in the mix some machines are BETTER than others . I hear all this about expereince and its true to some extent BUT a good machine plays a very big part too. Im profiecent with the AT PRO and XP DEUS and have found many great finds with both machines but there not the same by any means.I know you coinshooters like minelabs for silver but I dont have a problem tagging it with my deus found a spanish cob at 8 or 9 inchs and thats deep for such a small piece of silver. Tagged a 1859 indian yesterday at around 8 inchs, but knowing you can hit a 12 inch coin gives me a little more confidence when hunting. As far as how coins sink I have no idea but I know its weird sometimes to find clad at 8inchs and silver at 2 inchs. heres a videos of a mid range detector and a high end detector there is a big difference!. I started with a ace 150 ,250, at pro, then the deus a low in detector will not see the 2 inch coin masked by iron like the deus will how do I know this well I have a test garden and can put the theory to the test.EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN THEORYS MY ADVICE IS DO YOUR ON TESTING because much of what I read early on was flatout FALSE! I dont know how deep a coin has to be for the deus to read it as iron but it will hit silver up to 14 or 15 inchs and call it what it is, I know from experience at about 10 inchs the at pro will start calling some good targets iron. all detectorsn are not equal and experience can only carry you so far .

15 inch silver coins huh... man now THERE is a video we want to see! lol quit messing around and show us that in the real world!

 

[calabash digger]

Ok heres the machine with a 9 inch coil blasting a 12 inch silver quarter and silver half could get another inch or 2 with the nine so for aruguments sake lets say the 11 inch coil is a little deeper. In real world hunting I would have no problem in my AREA hitting 12 inch coins. Notice its a 9 inch coil what will it do with the 11 and even the 13? I give you this real world hunting 12 inchs is pretty easy as you can see from the video.

 

[NectarDetector]

Ok heres the machine with a 9 inch coil blasting a 12 inch silver quarter and silver half could get another inch or 2 with the nine so for aruguments sake lets say the 11 inch coil is a little deeper. In real world hunting I would have no problem in my AREA hitting 12 inch coins. Notice its a 9 inch coil what will it do with the 11 and even the 13?

You specifically said 14 or 15 inch coins... not 12... I've seen that video... put one 15 inches down and prove your statement, or its just embellishing is my point.


"up to 14 or 15 inchs and call it what it is," Put one 15 inches down and show us it calling it what it is...that's the video we want to see based on what you said.

I quoted you saying 15 inches in my initial response, why did you remove it after i called you on it?

 

[calabash digger]

I will ,I made that statement off of my friends testing in his garden in florida so give me a day or so and I will post my finds on a 14 to 15 inch silver half dollar. Honestly I didnt remove because you called me on it after I posted it I thought well that sounds a little extreme and I was going off his testing but I knew from my on that im confident it will hit it at 14 inchs,so I took it off then I saw what you said going to dig a hole now will be back will you.

 

[NectarDetector]

Why a silver dollar? How many of us actually hunt and find those consistently... why not a quarter or dime which is what we find most often?

Just sayin, let's keep it grounded and real, no offense, but I couldn't resist challenging that statement as I hunt with guys with a deus and stock set ups, they aren't hitting 14-15 inch coins... now slap a 17 inch coil on there then you have a chance at coins of that depth, but consistently with great target ID like you said, not so much. lol

 

[calabash digger]

the silver half is what he tested so thats what my statement was based on.

 

[NectarDetector]

the silver half is what he tested so thats what my statement was based on.

Oh, he said... right on... thought based on how you said it calls it what it is, that you actually had experience digging 14-15 inch coin in the wild with it....sorry for my misunderstanding then!!!

 

[IDXMonster]

To quickly veer off course slightly...what I needed to find out for myself was the fact that while a good running machine can see the good target and its deep(7-9") AND its by itself,even then it doesn't usually sound like that 4-5" coin. The biggest clue I normally have is that it repeats and repeats close to the same way at 90 degrees. If it's near stuff or there's potentially more things in the ground with it and it will only repeat from one axis THEN I will take the chance on it,if other things are nearby. Expecting a good and exact response from a deep coin,unless it's huge,is over-expecting...in my own experience.

 

[NectarDetector]

To quickly veer off course slightly...what I needed to find out for myself was the fact that while a good running machine can see the good target and its deep(7-9") AND its by itself,even then it doesn't usually sound like that 4-5" coin. The biggest clue I normally have is that it repeats and repeats close to the same way at 90 degrees. If it's near stuff or there's potentially more things in the ground with it and it will only repeat from one axis THEN I will take the chance on it,if other things are nearby. Expecting a good and exact response from a deep coin,unless it's huge,is over-expecting...in my own experience.

There are no absolutes in metal detecting ...basically as you allude to, too many variables.

I have dug a silver dime that sounded like a tab and I have dug a huge silver bracelet that came in nickel. Had I not dug that I wouldn't have ever thought a huge piece of silver would come in lower than a quarter high tone on my at pro I found it with. THAT day I realized that cherry picking for text book silver tones was a bad habit.

Like you said IDX, our experiences and actual dug targets & tones teach us more than any list on a forum or air test results.

Kind of reminds me of driving a car... you can read the manual and do research, but until you put on that seat belt and drive that car, you'll never learn it. Detecting is the same way, planted coins, air tests etc do not teach us much more than an "idea" of what the machine can do in a perfect scenario, but start adding junk targets to said desirable targets, and there are no absolutes.