Next to fishing (I mean catching), no other hobby can offer more excitement than treasure finding with a metal detector. Treasure finding, not treasure hunting, parallels the hobby of catching, not fishing. This sounds kind of crazy but I am totally honest about this hobby parallel. I have been catching fish for 60 years and finding treasure for about the same time period.

My dad started taking me on great adventures involving using different kinds of rods and reels to catch fish, when I was only five years of age. We didn’t go fishing we went catching! I never have lost the thrill of catching all kinds and sizes of fish. We never went on a trip together that we did not catch fish. My spiritual friend, Jack Dolittle, added something really exciting about this hobby. He believed that God gave man authority over all the animals of land and sea. He would determine how many fish he was going to catch before he went, and would go out and catch that number and then quit regardless of how well others were doing that went catching with him. It seemed uncanny that Jack would say I am going to catch 18 large mouth bass today, and he would! I feel the same way about treasure finding. There is a spiritual element for me to finding treasure and I will explain later.

Here are just a few of the hobby parallels. There is such a variety of instruments and tools for this hobby just as for catching fish. In 41 years of “TFing”, I have never gone out day or night, without making good finds. 155,000 coins and thousands of unusual relics and gold and silver jewelry finds, attest to my excitement in this hobby. Just digging up a wheat penny or a silver coin is as elating, just as it was on Christmas day of 1969, when I started finding treasure with a BFO detector made by a science teacher in Florida. My first find was a 1957 wheat penny in my father-in laws yard. That was like my first fishing rod at age five. It was a basic Zebco without any real exciting features, but that Metaford (metal detector by Jim Ford), got me seriously into this fantastic hobby just as that Zebco impacted me. My first fish catch wasn’t big but I was hooked. I now spend more time in the water metal detecting than on land. I find great gold and silver treasures in my Florida Gulf fishing waters.

From ages 3-5, I spent 2 years in a TB hospital (1950-52), when Tuberculosis was the world’s biggest killer. Confinement did something special to me. I was so excited about the world around me and all of its treasures, that I was constantly searching for and finding treasure. Both hobbies can be done anytime of the day, night and  all year around. Getting that first metal detector at age 22, a Christmas gift from my wife, made me much richer. Remember, this is the only serious hobby that pays you to participate. I am both a teacher (now retired) and a minister. I started teaching public high school, the same year I got my first metal detector, and became a minister two years later. I had, in essence, two full time jobs and a family too. Metal detecting time was not easy to work into my schedule. Working an average of 82 hours a week, I had to make every free minute count back then. Many of my best finds during the first 20 years in the hobby, came after working/ministering almost all day and having only about an hour to detect.  I believe with my whole heart, that God gave me great favor as a treasure finder. I built a coin collection worth over $100,000.00 in these 41 years of treasure finding and made many major purchases too, like a sports car, a fur coat and paid for many vacations also. It is now time to reap my rewards from treasure finding.

It took 41 years of accumulating to build that collection and now I have a five year plan to reap the rewards of my hobby. I never expected this hobby to be a boost to retirement but it is exciting to see it materialize. I will not share the complete plan but year one netted $21,000.00 from just selling loose unconnected silver coin extras. My treasure finding days, while not over, are similar to the path my father took in teaching his boys to catch fish. I am now assisting the children and youth of my church and community to get into this grand hobby. I believe that many of them will do better than I have. Now, I have some time to catch fish, enjoy teaching others how to find treasure and relish the riches of my hobby in so many ways too. Keep on catching and finding! You too are a treasure!

I have been a avid metal detector enthusiast and used and owned most brands of detectors made in America and a few European, Asian and Australian models as well. I personally prefer American made detectors and Fisher, Garrett, White’s and Tesoro have been my favorites over the years. The technology of the 80′s and 90′s appeal to me and I believe to most of my age group. Lighter weight, very sensitive metal detectors that do not take months of heavy use to really master the operation, are still preferred by most of us. These detectors, like the Fisher 1200 series, the Garrett Master Hunters, the White’s 5900 & 6000 models, and most models of  Tesoro are still preferred. For most treasure finding situations they perform nearly as well and often better than the highly technical super models offered today. The used instruments of the older analog type, can be found on ebay and other locations for very reasonable prices. I got a brand new condition Fisher 1220x recently for $120.00, including shipping and in its original box. It was taken out of its box by the original owner and never used.

The younger generation of children and adults prefer, for the most part, the glitter of the high technology models offered by White’s, Garrett, Minelab and others. I gave a teenager A Fisher 1260 and he has had some very good success. However, I took him to Kellyco in Florida to show him what is available to serious hobbyists. He loved the Garrett start-up 150 & 250 models because the meter displays, as well as all the technical and more expensive models offered by White’s and Minelab. The high-tech driven younger generation, wants the visually glamorous machines that have bells and whistles that may take inordinate time to fully master. Here is a  potential major drawback to the hobby. Pay the big bucks and get the super-machine, and watch how quickly interest in the hobby is lost, as most will get discouraged trying to learn how to use it.

I, as a retired old-timer, have had many years of fun and excitement in this the only hobby that pays big-time to participate.  As a minister to children, I love to help the younger generation get started in the hobby by giving them quality metal detectors like the start-up Garrett and Fisher units, or an older analog detector that will turn them into treasure finders.  This is truly a hobby for all generations and generational biases and preferences are to be appreciated.  I will keep using my analog detectors of the 80′s and 90′s and challenge them to keep pace with me.

Historical signs give good info on areas that used to be and the likely hood of finding old things from the past are highly increased. Historical markers in New England have given me information that produced Revolutionary and Colonial era finds. Southern markers have produced numerous Civil War era and plantation/slavery valuables.

Most of the historical markers still require some research, or at least inquiry to be successful, but the potential rewards are there and you just never know that a historical marker could lead to some of your greatest finds. I personally would never know about the Trail of Pines in central Florida, if I had not read a historical marker in Brooksville, FL only 60 miles from home. That marker led me to research about the travel of stagecoaches, Seminole (and others) Indians and military movements during the three Seminole Wars. Some of my oldest and best  coins and military relics came as the result of reading, and I mean really reading a historical marker in 1971 when I was just a “newbie” or young pup to this wonderful metal detecting hobby.

Forty years later and I am still reading about old parks, campmeeting grounds, water holes and other stopping points for travelers from 100 years or more ago.  I could easily find places to stop and find clad coins that would help pay for batteries, fuel and food, but those historical markers are just too good to pass up.

Step #1: Always adhere to the metal detecting code of ethics. When we honor these principles, we protect ourselves as well as help to prevent the over-regulation of the hobby by local, county and state governments.

Step#2: Use your local library and and the Internet to do some serious research. I still have nearly a dozen sites that look very productive in my home town area, that are the result of late 1800 map research.

Step#3: Offer assistance to local law enforcement agents and historical or archeological groups. The dividends of helping these groups will lead to great finds and again, aid the image of our hobby.

Step#4: Take time to become friends of elderly residents who are lifetimers to your community. This is the greatest research technique I have achieved in 40 years in the hobby. These wonderful people have enriched my life and given me unbelievable information that would take countless time to research.

Step#5: Assist the yonger generation in getting started in the hobby. The time spent in helping others, is rewarding in more ways than I could write. This is in some respects, a spiritual adventure. The law of sowing and reaping is universal, transcending all cultures and dogmas. As a Christian children’s pastor of more than 40 years, I have trully found some of my very best finds as a result of sowing time in helping children get started in the hobby.

Step# 6: Do not go treasure hunting anymore! Become a treasure finder! Having a treasure finding attitude is a significant spiritual transformation. I will never, ever, say I am going metal detecting or treasure hunting. I am a treasure finder and I always find goodies.

Step 7: Set big goals for 2011.  I expect to find a 20 cent piece this year. This is the only US fractional coin. that I have not recovered in my 40 years as a detectorist. I also believe I will dig a 1921 D Mercury dime, the only coin in that collection, that I have not recovered in my metal finding adventures.

I have just recently started selling my best quality metal detector coin finds. This 1861 Seated Liberty Half Dollar, listed on ebay for 7 days, sold for $153.00 to a rarities collector from California. This beauty is nearly flawless. If uncirculated, it is worth at least $400.00. In better economic times it may have obtained a higher price, however I am pleased. I also sold an 1883 Liberty Seated Dime that was also nearly flawless and my oldest US dime find, a 1833 Bust Dime that was just a strong good to very good coin. Each sold in the $20.00 range. A  high quality 1925 Mercury Dime obtained $4.25 and a very fine 1883 V Nickel realized a little more than $4.00. I will be listing close to 100 coins in October with many more great metal detector finds. The Florida weather is slowly becoming cool enough to make coinshooting more enjoyable again. I can hardly wait and yes, the water is great for coin and gold finding too.

Gold recently hit an all time high of over $1300.00 a troy ounce and .925 sterling silver has hovered around $16-18.00 an ounce with US 90% silver coins selling between 11-13 times face value. These are good return figures for scrap and coin finds and seem to be somewhat stable now. Take advantage of unloading lower quality silver coins and silver/gold scrap finds. It seems like everyone is buying gold and siIver these days. Check out their ”real” offers, by asking what they are paying for US 90% silver coins before 1965 and scrap 10K/14K gold. I believe you will be surprised at the return and blessings that can be yours in selling metal detecting finds in this continuing economic solwdown.