| So you just purchased your first metal detector | | | | at the new spots that will be added to your list. |
| and looking to find coins and other treasures. You | | | | Where should I get started with my metal |
| came to the right place! Here are some basic | | | | detecting for coins? This is a good question and |
| steps that will increase your coin finds and build | | | | your locality is a key. If you live near a beach that |
| your coin collection. | | | | is good place to start. However, more good |
| Information is a big key in getting started and one | | | | keeper coins are found by starting in your own |
| of the best ways to gain information is to join a | | | | backyard or friend or family members lot. Most |
| metal detector or treasure hunting club. A wealth | | | | metal detectors sold today have discrimination |
| of information comes with attending meetings and | | | | features that help you bypass junk like nails, tin |
| learning from members who are delighted to have | | | | foil, bottlecaps and pulltabs. But the more you |
| you on board. Making friends, getting support and | | | | discriminate, the less depth you are going to have. |
| sharing finds are direct benefits of membership. | | | | Use less discrimination and dig up more items and |
| Subscribe to good treasure hunting publications like | | | | you will learn to distinguish different types of |
| Lost Treasure and Western And Eastern | | | | signals. Discriminating out pulltabs will cause you to |
| Treasure. | | | | miss the nickels and small gold coins and rings. I |
| They provide great stories of treasure finds, field | | | | dug up over 40 buffalo nickels and 11 V nickels on |
| reports on new equipment and detectors, metal | | | | one trashy lot that other hunters had no patience |
| detecting tips and techniques/ technical reports | | | | to turn down their discriminators. Start out in a |
| that assist all levels of detectorists. It is also very | | | | yard, field or beach until you can learn to tell the |
| important to study your manual received with | | | | signals apart, then move up to more trashy areas |
| your detector. Knowing your detector is essential. | | | | where most detector user will not go. Remember, |
| We all want to have the best metal detector. The | | | | you will find trash as well as treasure. I have been |
| one with all the bells and whistles that will go | | | | very thorough in research and only one out of |
| deeper than the rest. Depth is important but is | | | | three coins have been keepers. The others have |
| not that important. Since 1900 over a 100 million | | | | paid for my gas, food, batteries, etc. |
| coins have been lost just in America. Even the | | | | To close this introduction to getting started with |
| best detectors only find coins in the 10-12 inch | | | | metal detecting for coin collecting I want to give |
| range. By having a treasure finding mindset and | | | | you my personal code of ethics. Here's to finding |
| doing good research you will find spots that | | | | many coins - Larry |
| others have not hunted and many targets will | | | | Treasure Finders Code of Ethics |
| only be a few inches deep (90 percent of my | | | | 1. Respect the rights and property of others. |
| most valued coin finds have been less than 5-7 | | | | 2. Observe all laws, whether national, state or |
| inches deep). | | | | local. Aid law- enforcement officers whenever |
| The best research is to get to know your local | | | | possible. |
| history. I call this the home town advantage. | | | | 3. Never destroy priceless historical or |
| 35,000 of my 50,000 keeper coins came from | | | | archaeological treasures. |
| my home town in central Florida. Research is the | | | | 4. Leave land and vegetation as it was. Fill all holes. |
| most important aspect of your information quest. | | | | 5. Remove trash and litter when you leave. |
| Libraries have local history books. Study old maps | | | | 6. All treasure finders may be judged by the |
| of your community, and above all get to know | | | | example you set.Always conduct yourself with |
| the older citizens. Most of them will love to share | | | | courtesy and consideration. |
| (from the good old days) what it used to be like. | | | | 7. Sharing is caring! Keep our treasure finding |
| The Internet is also a great tool for research. Go | | | | heritage strong by assisting newbies in getting |
| to a search engine and type " history of ..." (your | | | | started. |
| community, town, city, etc.) You will be amazed | | | | |