Some suggestions and hints that help me.

[ERnurse]

When I started detecting, I just went to obvious sites like parks, and schools, etc. and was finding plenty of modern coins. But, as we all want, I wanted to find old coins and relics. There is nothing like pulling something out of the ground that been there for a hundred years or more. Just imagine the history behind and the hands that 100 year old or older coins has pasted through. So I started doing some research of my local area. The first place I went was the library, then the local museum, reading books on the local history. You get alot of great information this way.

But I found that the best information, and the most productive, in the way of good old finds, came from people. And there is no better library than an older person who has lived in your area all their life. They remember houses that are not there anymore. Old one room school houses that are long gone, and where they used to play for recess. They will tell you where the town pic-nic used to be held. They know where the old man used to live that didn't trust banks and buried most of his fortune. Now, you can go hunt old houses or buildings still standing, but what about the old houses and buildings that aren't there anymore. These places are less likely to have had alot of metal detecting pressure because there were not detectors when those houses stood and fell.

When you find out about these sites go to the site and do more research before turning on your detector. Look for depressions in the ground where there was a walkway or a driveway. try to imagine where the house stood and where the front and back doors were. Most old houses had porches, where coins could fall between the boards. Look for old sidewalks. Alot of the time the sidewalks were not where they are now, either closer or farther away from the street that the present one. Some are still there just under the dirt. If the old sidewalk was removed, then there is sometimes a long depression running where it used to be. This is a great place to look. Fences that are there now, may have been 10 feet from where they are now. The wagons and horses were tied up at the street right in front of the house. This is where people climbed on and off and dropped things from their pockets. Big old trees are a great place to look around. Remember, there was no airconditioning back then and people would stand, play, swing, take breaks, eat, whatever under those trees on a hot day. Look for big circle depressions where a big old tree used to be, but was cut down long ago. A great place to look for is where the cloths lines used to be. You know most of the time they would have been in the back yard, sometimes beside the house. And for sure, if you see work being done on these old sites, or a sidewalk being torn up, or parking lot scraped up, get permission and hunt that, before they cover it back up. Old finds are almost a sure thing at these places.

People have dropped coins ever since there were coins to be dropped. Anywhere there were people, there will be old coins. Some will be tuff to find due to dirt work or trash. But they are there. It just takes more than swinging a detector to find them. So next time you see that empty lot that has been empty ever since you can remember, ask someone what was there long ago. Old timers are your best resourse, I assure you that.

So in summery, do your research, then do some more. Plot out your day, and work in small square patterns, maybe 10 ft by 10 ft, or what ever you want. But go over that area length ways the long ways then cross ways, you get the picture before moving to the next 10 x 10 area. Clean out the trash and go over it again. The good old finds will come.

Happy Hunting,


Rob

[Buster]

Good post Rob..You said it all..Older people are history. everything they can tell us is worth it's weight in gold..The are a excellent source of good stories of yesterday..and should not be forgotten...Buster.....

[gordiesgirl]

Great post, You are sooo right, I am detecting an area where there was an old livery stable tomorrow, I found out about it from My 88 year old neighbor, Defanatly worth talking to the elderly in town to walk down memory lane with them. Thanks for such a helpful post.

[ERnurse]

Originally Posted by gordiesgirl

Great post, You are sooo right, I am detecting an area where there was an old livery stable tomorrow, I found out about it from My 88 year old neighbor, Defanatly worth talking to the elderly in town to walk down memory lane with them. Thanks for such a helpful post.

I found my first silver, a 1906 Barber dime, at an old livery stable. And the site was a small ghost town called Murriesville in the middle of the woods that and old area resident told me about. Nothing in the books about it.

Rob

[EPC Guy]

Great post - thanks for putting this out!

[rip]

Very good advise Rob.

[NCHL]

Super post, Rob.

That's how I found the ghost town near where I live. The place is just sitting there in the woods.

Good info-- Thanks.

[JCWhite]

Great information. Thanks for posting this

[IndianaSmith]

Agreed, great post!

Something else I've mentined before is, if you have a "greasy spoon" type diner in your area (or small town you're eyeballing to hunt), spend a few weekday mornings now & then looking for older "regulars" who eat there often (or ask a waitress).

There may be an elderly gentleman (or lady) who eats there on a regular basis because they live locally. Offer to buy them breakfast & share a converation. Most likely they'd enjoy the company, appriciate the free breakfast.....and might be a wealth of information at the same time.

Worst case scenario.......you brightened someones day

Smitty