Second Ring - after storm

[johnj45586]

This morning I got a surprise when I got up. The power was off all over my neighborhood. Luckily my wife gets up to make coffee and put it in thermos' for the day very early. So I had coffee while figuring out what to do. Since I couldn't do anything around the house that required power and I didn't know when power would return, the only thing to do was go treasure hunting. I pulled the release latch on my garage door and escaped to the beach.
Next on the list was San Clemente to check on beach erosion and sand movement after the storm this last weekend.
Before I left the parking lot (or even turned on the ACE) I found my first pop tab. I picked it up and put it in my treasure pouch. I decided to make a point of finding as many as I could today. My wife just shook her head.
I started off north of the pier. There was a little below the erosion cliffs and more along the various debris lines. Along one of the debris lines I found a size 8 silver ring (plain band, 3 mm wide). It was in pristine condition - it must have been dropped in the last couple of days. My wife has a size 8 finger - so she claimed the ring and is still wearing it.
I moved to the south side of the pier and searched along the erosion cliff on the water side, working parallel to the water line. I used the storm drain (wooden bridge) to define the southern end of my search. After several passes I had lots of pennies, a few nickels and dimes and almost no quarters.
I moved south of the storm drain and worked south to the second restroom. After a few passes I finally found the "sweet spot". There was a band of sand about 20 feet wide parallel to the water line that was rich in clad. I found an unusually high ratio of nickels.
I wonder if others with the ACE 250 (and other detectors?) have the same problem with nickels. Detecting and pinpointing doesn't work like other coins. A nickel outside the coil sounds the same as a nickel inside. Digging in dry sand normally makes this a non-problem. But digging in wet sand, especially with high pebble or rock content, can be frustrating.
I met and talked with several people interested in what I was up to. All could see the logic that regardless of what is found, all hunts are good at the beach. Detecting is a great excuse for spending the day at the beach.
I sure would like to find a gold ring, though. I can hardly wait to get the first gold in 2008! Hopefully one of the winter storms will move a ring in front of my coil.
I found 20 quarters, 10 dimes, 16 nickels, 48 pennies, 12 pop-tabs, 1 small silver ring and two plastic soldiers (never leave a troop behind!).
While searching and pulling clad out of the wet sand I got to thinking. I found $380 in clad during the last 6 1/2 months of 2007. That is worth considerably more than all the silver rings, bracelets, pendants and dimes I found. Silver is only around $14 an ounce. The silver I found is around 3 ounces total, or $42. Love that clad!
One of the pennies I found was only a couple of mil thick and was worn around the edges. I decided to make an image without using my camera. At the last place I worked we made RF filters. The components of the circuits would only work to specification if they were placed precisely the same every time. I would take a working prototype and scan it with a normal document scanner at 1000 dots per inch. Then I could give the image to a draftsperson who could take accurate measurements from the image.
Today I scanned the worn penny and a new penny at 1000 dpi. Then I copied and pasted the worn penny as a new layer over the good penny. I then merged the images, resized and compressed for posting. Note that on the good penny the VDB beneath Lincoln's bust is clearly resolved.
Because the scanner uses a colimated beam of light that is scanned over the image (or object), there is a surprising depth of field. There are several kinds of objects that can be scanned - coins are the best.
I'm not sure if I will be able to hunt on Wednesday. There has been a prediction of rain. And the power will probably be on. I may have to do my chores! But if I can, I will try to pick a beach where sand movement may provide a gold ring. At least I can dream...
Happy hunting to all

[JCWhite]

You make a good point about the silver to Clad ration but I still loves me some silver... JC

[IndianaSmith]

It won't be long before that 1st gold ring of the year is found John, and congrats on the finds

Smitty

[Buster]

Still found allot of clad for the year. 2008 should be a good year also for you John..Happy Hunting..Buster...

[RingDancer]

Nice finds on the silver and clad!!! I am pulling for ya on that first gold for the year!!! Can't wait to see what ya turn up!!!

HH
RingDancer

[Gregory]

Really enjoy the posts of your outings John. 2008 is your year

[Captain]

I can smell the air and water; I hear the waves. How Super nice it is, to live close to the Ocean.
You- beach goers have it made. I am an 2 hrs from the nearest Ocean. I havent been to the beach in 15yrs. =-( awww I know its a sad story. =-p
Cancers luvs water.


anyways Cheers to John and Family

[FL_Treasure]

Good find on the silver and I agree on the Clad. Got a question I have and Ace 250 also are you using the stock coil when on the beach or the 9x12? Always love your posts, still looking for my first ring of the year, it will be here soon.. HH

[EBCIII]

Great hunting and story John!! Congrats on the rings, and the clad is always sweet! Keep looking for that gold, Beale.

[gordiesgirl]

Wtg go on the great hunt and finds, Good read thanks for sharing your beach stories.