Penny Mystery!

[johnj45586]

I returned to Laguna Beach today to continue the hunt I started last Friday (this is Monday). Just for grins I decided to check out the parking meters in dirt by Diver's Cove first. I was pretty sure that I had cleaned the area, but wanted to see if anything was accumulating yet.
I got quite a surprise. I thought I had checked out the last meter in the row (going downhill) by itself back when I was heading to Newport Beach for meter hunting. I also thought I had used the sniper coil.
Today I did use the sniper coil on the line of meters with just a few pennies before the last meter going downhill.
It sounded like there was metal structure underground. The sound was too large of an area, but I was able to do some successful pinpointing with the sniper coil. This was followed up by a check with the Bullseye II.
I ended up finding quite a few quarters under the meter. All were corroded mightily, so they were there the last time I looked at the spot. I must have figured they were part of the meter mounting and/or underground wiring. Given the very sparse number of pennies and dimes and no nickels I suspect this is a spill from the person that dumps the meters. This was a spill you dream of!
I went down to the sand at Diver's Cove where I searched and found a quarter and a dime. A woman approached me and said she had lost her keys there yesterday. I looked around, but it was very likely she lost them while playing in the surf. The place she had been setup yesterday was wet sand today. The keys were probably washed out to sea.
I then went to Main Beach and checked the dry sand. It was later in the day so there were a lot of people set up on the dry sand. I searched along the boardwalk and found a child's ring. I searched around the dry sand and found a couple of coins, but nothing much.
Then I went back to the grassy area by the beach. I concentrated on the shade tree by the lifeguard offices. I very often see people on blankets here in the shade. I have been working this area for a while. I was trying to get the surface pennies out of it and hoping deeper pennies would sink much deeper. They aren't. So I have decided to work on this area everytime I go to Laguna to try to clean out the pennies before summer.
I found many pennies, but also quarters, dimes and nickels. That was a little suprising. I also found a key. I can't really tell how long some of the coins have been in the ground - they look good. But many of the zinc pennies are in pieces.
I kept a watch on the dry sand. About 5 pm the dry sand north of the storm drain emptied out. I went out there and started gridding. I didn't find much. But I did find a flat penny (the 4th I think, all different) and a Canadian penny. The plan was to cover the beach north of the storm drain today and get to the beach at oh-dark-thirty in the morning to search the beach south of the storm drain. Hopefully I can get that accomplished in less than 3 hours (2 would be better). Most of the beach has been eroded away, so I may be able to make it. I sure would like to find a good ring.
The Canadian penny was a mystery. I didn't expect to see a picture of the Queen without a crown. I may have others since 2000, but just didn't notice it. But there is something else. I have checked all sources and all pennies since 2000 are like mine, except the symbol under the Queen's image doesn't show up anywhere.
Can someone from Canada (or otherwise in the know) give me an explanation of the extra symbol?
So here comes the count for the day!!!
38 quarters, 18 dimes, 12 nickels, 85 pennies, 1 flat penny, 1 Canadian penny, 1 child's ring and 1 key.
Looks like the 4-leaf clover the Wife found at the park is working really well for us! I still can't get over her spotting it from a standing position, while I was on a knee digging a coin right beside it - and didn't see it!
And maybe the pennies are helping too - it is supposed to be lucky to find a penny - I have found hundreds in the past few weeks!
Really a good day for clad, but I am spoiled. I gotta have a good ring soon! I have only found 2 silver rings this year - and junk rings. Where is my hunk of GOLD?
Happy hunting!

[bigfrank]

Wow, you had quite a hunt today! Congrats! Keep at it, you'll get that gold. Man, I need to get a trip planned to the coast...

Frank

[MinelabMan]

That's a great day John, especially the parking meter spill!

I also found your penny John, that's the Royal Canadian Mint logo below the queen, a little more info on the link.

[EBCIII]

Hey John that is a fantastic amount of clad! I do understand how the gold could spoil you, I would like to have that problem. Keep up the good hunting, Beale.

[Kentfb]

Nice finds and great story as always.

[anne]

Good Hunt

[Lt1stone]

WTG John!

['E']

Very impressive day out John, I'm starting to sound like a broken record with you, me & Buster are hoping for the gold here this summer too, good job!!

[Black Jack]

John Aren't you glad that you went back on Monday?! This is a great find and I know you wanted to yell out loud.

[Buster]

John, nice job finding all that clad...Your clad count has to be getting way up there...The rings will come at a later date for sure...Probably next time out...I stand corrected..That 4 leaf clover was really lucky. Also your backs got to be hurting with all that diggin.....Happy Hunting...Buster...