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I was out and about with my F75 LTD Sunday morning and found this ring. I thought at first it was junk but closer inspection revealed that it is marked " Sterling Shank" with a jeweler's mark. I had never found a ring mark Sterling Shank before so I had to research it. The band is silver and the stone mounting is silver plated. Its not a continuous band either. Its cut out at the top and the stone mounting is dropped in the notch and soldered in place. That would explain the zinc VDI reading it gave me. Researching the jeweler's mark, This ring has the ,the 1947 Vargas mark on it. Somebody lost one of grandma's rings. Link to a site where you can research jeweler marks. http://illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksv.html I'm calling it treasure. HH Mike

Quality metal detectors have been around long enough that it isn't easy to find virgin ground, no matter what the target goal (coins, relics, nuggets, even jewelry). As previously mentioned, I got hooked on coin collecting when I was in 1st grade thanks to the influence of my mom and two of her brothers. I found my first coin with a metal detector the summer before my senior year in high school (1970). After school and three years in a good job, in 1979 I sprung for a Garrett Groundhog, thinking I would use it to make a nice profit hunting coins and nuggets the way Charles Garrett and Roy Lagal described it in their books.... Then life (many other interests) got in the way. Fast forward 36 (now 38) years when I was again bitten with the MD bug. A lot happened in the treasure hunting world in those 36 years. Detectors got a lot better, and the hobby (or even 'profession' for some) had blossomed. The low hanging fruit had been picked. There is still plenty of treasure in the ground, but most is not very close to the surface and/or severely masked by junk metal, meaning it's going to take new equipment and techniques and/or a disproportionate amount of digging to find the good stuff. But as always, there are exceptions. I mentioned in a recent thread last week that I had stumbled upon a lot where an old home had recently been razed, and it appears that the city now owns it with the intent of appending the land to an adjacent park. It's like stepping back in time -- a time when the detectors were few and primitive. And on my journey on this time machine I was allowed to bring along a Fisher F75! I felt like Cinderella at the ball. My previous post reported that in 3 1/2 hours on Independence Day I found two silver coins along with five Wheat cents, using three detectors to sample the ground. This past Saturday I stayed the entire time with the 5 inch DD on the F75, FA (fast) process, gain of 70, zero discrimination, 4H tones. I had twice as much time to hunt and I only stopped to get water and food which I brought along in the car. I again dug two silver coins (dimes -- see photo below) but this time 34 coppers, NO zinc, and only two clad (dimes). Earlier my Wheat to copper ratio was 50%. If that held up I'd have 17 Wheaties. I could only hope. Arriving home and soaking them, I was amazed to see 27 reverses with Wheat stalks. You'd have thought I spent the day on a combine in Kansas. Four Wheats per hour. Will I ever again experience such a high recovery rate? To emphasize, I hunted two rectangles in those seven hours, one along the city sidewalk, about 6 ft X 60 ft. The other was of similar area along one side of the now missing house. I wasn't finding 'spills'. One hole had three coppers and another had two nearly touching Memorials, but all others were single finds. The most enlightening thing to me is the depth of the coins. All but one (in that group of three coppers) were 4 inches or less. The Barber dime was in the 3 1/2 --> 4 inch depth range. The Merc was 1 inch deep! I don't think the ground where I found the Merc had been distrurbed or reworked recently. The sod looked typical of the area. Is this what it was like back in the late 80's and 90's? Many of you should remember. I returned the next day for another 5 hours but the glass slipper had fallen off and the coach had reverted to a pumpkin. I'll give a followup post on that hunt plus next weekend's planned return hunts. There has to be more there, but now I've harvested the low hanging fruit and what's left appears to be seriously masked with iron nails from the missing house.

What Happened to the Gold Price in 1980? "In January 1980 gold hit a record 850 US dollars an ounce. After reaching those dizzy heights it then plummeted down and remained steady in the 300-400 dollar range for some years before starting to climb again to new levels. Now gold has broken through the 900 dollars an ounce gold barrier and some investors and analysts are wondering, is this going to be a repeat of the 1980 gold spike? In fact, there are many differences between the 1980 spike in the gold price and the current rise in gold value, not the least of which is the longer term trend currently occurring. In 1980 gold basically shot up like a bullet out of a gun and then, like a bullet, slowed down and returned to earth." Read the rest of the article at gold price.org

Never try to break up a fight between two brothers...just saying and best to stay out of husband/wife disputes Strick

Finally tripped over a few in Georgetown, Qld.

There doesn't seem to be much discussion about all these new coil models being released right on the tails of the GPZ release - Elite, Evolution, Detech... I know a lot of people here are using GPZ's and sold their GPX's, but really no one is saying much in the US on any of the forums at all. And the Elite has been out for enough time now that some people must have quite a bit of experience with them, yet all we hear is "they are great", nothing quantitative though. So I'm just going to pose some questions here that are driving me a bit crazy: What exactly is it that makes these coils so much better? And are they really so much better? The very few testing results I've seen have been almost entirely qualitative and that doesn't say very much. I mean...the GPX still works the same and thus the coil is still just a coil. How much better can it actually get after how ever many generations of previous coils we've already seen? Why were they coincidentally released right after the GPZ? If it was just 1 company I could buy into a simple coincidence...3 companies now...Are they all using different technology to make suddenly superior coils? How is that even possible given the simple makeup of a coil? If every manufacturer out there already knew how to make much better coils then why didn't we see them before the GPZ came out? What purpose would it serve for all of them to just hold back producing these together when they are in direct competition? Conversely, if they only discovered how to make much better coils after the GPZ came out then that means it only took them a short time to figure out how to make these, so why didn't at least one of them figure it out in the years leading up to the GPZ release if it was such a quick fix? I'm not saying they aren't better and great. I'm just saying we're being sold things that are saying they are better and great with no real evidence, no real explanation about why they are even different. We know they are heavier and slightly odd sizes...what else? I mean, I don't know a lot about coils but it's not like you can just add a ton of extra windings in and expect greater results - the machine itself is tuned to use coils with specific inductive properties right? Is anyone brave enough to tear one apart and see whats inside? I'm going to be buying a NF Evolution because the only way I'll get real testing results done is to do it myself but I don't have money for the other 2. If anyone else has a Coiltek Elite and someone else gets the Detech then I'd like to meet up so we can test all 3 against a normal NF/Coiltek/Detech coil on the same machine. Then also against the GPZ just for general interest purposes. I'll be posting it to my youtube channel if I can make this happen so everyone can see if I'm able to get these rounded up into one place. I'll be in Arizona this winter, let me know if anyone is interested.

I'd much rather detect at the beach or the Beautiful high Sierras but sometimes it pays off the hunt near home. For the last few months they have been tearing out the Main Street near where I live so I finally decided to check it out. There is a train Depot there. Fun and something to do. Got a 1870 Spanish coin and other goodies... I enclosed a pic of what the coin would have looked like in its prime.

Oh, I would not say 5" air test on a penny sounds good! I just was pointing out that out of all the coils made for the DEUS so far I would expect this one to get the least absolute depth on high conductive coins no matter the frequency. How much less remains to be seen. I think people do have reason to be concerned and perhaps hold back. This coil was delayed a couple extra months and never a word of explanation. Some kind of issue to be overcome? I don't know, but the old wisdom about not being the first kid on your block to get new detecting toys still holds true. This is not just a coil but is actually a $425 metal detector and so a lot more is going on here than just wire in a housing. The DEUS HF elliptical was designed for and is marketed as a gold prospecting coil, so how it fares in highly mineralized ground on small gold nuggets versus my GM1000, Gold Racer and Gold Bug 2 are questions at the top of my list. The 3.5" air test on a half gram nugget does not sound good either, but as always it's real world results that matter.

Money is different to younger generations...most people born after 1963 have no clue coinage was silver...and don't care. Similarly, they feel the same about gold...they think it is just for jewelry. some definitions for the word money... 1. any circulating medium of exchange, including coins, paper money, and demand deposits. 2. paper money. 3. gold, silver, or other metal in pieces of convenient form stamped by public authority and issued as a medium of exchange and measure of value. 4. any article or substance used as a medium of exchange, means of payment, or measure of wealth. 5. a particular form or denomination of currency.

JD; The above links are all cherry picked examples. I doubt that there is anyone in my circle of associations or even the vast majority of members of this forum that wouldn't give me a tank full of gas for my Jeep in trade for a 1dwt nugget. Gold is not "money" nor has it ever been. It has always been, and will be, (among other uses) a medium of exchange. the same goes for ones labor or or valuable expertise. Now you owe me three grains of gold for the above bit of wizdumb.

Why gold isn't as good as some people think it is for trade..... Now brace yourselves because the next videos are truly disturbing. This is why the gold as money is doomed and why people will accept a single world currency ........ Man Offers Random People A Free One Ounce Gold Coin Free Gold Coin or a Candy Bar? Selling 1 Oz Gold Coin for $25 (when it's worth over $1,500) Selling a 100 oz Silver Bar for $25 Dollars (When It's Worth $1500) Almost 7 POUNDS of Bullion

I pack..... Nuff said.

I'm going to check all my headphones from DetectorPro...I've always had good success with them... I did have an adapter pigtail where the plastics rotted off, not sure what I will do with them. I have not checked to see if they work, it's been a while since I've been detecting, and was checking my huge inventory of detecting stuff I've bought over time... Amazed at how much $$$$$ I've thrown at this hobby... ~LARGO~

Ray, You may have already tried this but the Widows have that " by pass" switch that when in the "by pass" mode will let the external detector speaker work as well. Check the switch position. Dean

After I read that I tried to cancel my order and wait on some other reviews, but it had shipped already. I should have it by Wednesday so I guess I will see.

Excellent finds! I have found only one silver dollar. It was one of my first finds with my first detector back in 1980. The coin was in a small patch of grass in front of an old hotel. A dollar was a days hard wages back then so you can bet they were searched for if the loser realized it was gone... fred

Getting to be lots of crazy in the world! This story makes me so angry. I'm teaching my boys to do the right thing and act to defend victims of bullies...so they need the tools, which is why they must go to jiu jitsu classes. I've explained to them they better enjoy it (they do) because there is no choice for them. I'm not sending snowflakes forth into the world... hopefully they'll pass along to their children. Stand up for the rights of the minority, protect the weak, young and old, do what is good and right within your understanding - Be men! While detecting, I never allow strangers to enter my 5 foot personal space. They advance, I circle for an angle while back-stepping. I've even ordered a guy who was a bit strange acting, "Take your hands out of your pockets when you talk to me!" That pretty much ended our conversation within seconds. I'll close the distance if/and when I feel comfortable enough. When they're intruding on my life and time... only within my comfort level and at my discretion. Thankfully our state recently passed a stand your ground law. I'm no longer obligated to retreat anymore. Punks beware!

GPZ 7000 Firmware Installation Procedure (PC or Mac) 1. Download the desired firmware version from the GPZ 7000 Downloads Page. You can update your GPZ to the latest version or roll back to any prior version using this method. IMPORTANT: Ensure your battery is fully charged before updating. Do not turn the detector off at any point during the update process, or the update will not be applied. 2. Connect GPZ 7000 to the computer via the USB cable. A drive called ‘Minelab’ will appear. 3. Transfer the software update file. Open the ‘Minelab’ drive, then copy the software update file into it. The update files end with the extension ".ml3" - anything else is the wrong file. Wait for the file to completely transfer. 4. Disconnect the GPZ 7000 from the computer by ejecting the drive and then unplugging the USB cable. The ‘USB Disconnected’ dialog will be displayed on the GPZ 7000 screen. This can take up to 2 minutes to complete. 5. Upgrade the GPZ 7000 firmware. At this point if the update file was properly transferred to the GPZ, the following dialog is displayed: 6. Select Upgrade to begin the firmware update. A progress bar will be displayed. If you select Cancel, the software update file you downloaded will be automatically deleted. You will need to download the update again (from step 1) to complete the process. If the Low Battery dialog is displayed, charge your battery and start the update process again. 7. Upgrade complete. When the upgrade is complete, GPZ 7000 will automatically turn off. When you power on again, the detector will start with the new firmware. 8. Upgrade failure. If you experience any trouble applying the update, try following the update steps again from start to finish. If this does not work, contact your dealer or a Minelab Service Center. 9. You can also check your detector’s software information at any time via the Version Information function on the Reset page. GPZ 7000 Firmware June 2017 (Second Update GPZ 7000 Firmware June 2017 (20170630).ml3 - Version Information will display 1.10.8-2052) (11.26 MB) GPZ 7000 Firmware October 2015 (First Update GPZ_7000_UPDATE_IMAGE_20151009.ml3 - Version Information will display 1.2.8-98) (9.69 MB) GPZ 7000 Firmware January 2015 (Original Release GPZ_7000_UPDATE_IMAGE_20150130.ml3 - Version Information will display 1.0.8-57) (10.63 MB)

Well, despite my timid computer ways...I DID IT! Steve,Thanks again for your always timely information. And thanks to those that encouraged me to dive in...I stayed afloat. fred

I use wooden meat skewers, tooth picks and large pink erasers to clean my copper coins.. I use the eraser first and get more aggressive as needed. Sometimes I will use hot peroxide for a quick dip but this will darken the coin the longer you soak. Don't use any of these methods on silver coins. Bryan

I never got a mono.. For down here beachin' I didn't see the necessity.. There have been times I wish I had one, but truth be told that's mostly only after the power coil starts getting heavy.. If living in a different part of the country though... Swamp

VERY interesting, Jenifer... When I was a drywall hanger in Portola, California I hung a house down in Quincy. The man of the house had a very progressive bride. She ran the store, took care of the house, fed the oldest dog I ever seen and...When I asked him about a diamond splitting wedge he said " I don't know. You have to ask the wife, I ain't into splitting wood." All he did was hunt gold! fred

Thanks Strick, I feel for the guy. I avoid everyone I can when I'm on the beach. You never know and if they are close then it may be too late. Unfortunately there is another part of the story that is also alarming. I'm almost elderly! I'm walking the line now based upon the way the story has been reported. Mitchel

Thanks Strick! Wow! That guy was lucky to get out of that situation alive, especially if he was being beaten with his own beach scoop. That particular jetty at Carlsbad Ca., shown in the video, is the place we used to fish all night at, catching lots of fairly large fish that liked the warm water coming out the electric plant nearby. We never had any issues from anyone there, having a bonfire, etc. going most all night. That was long before metal detectors, I bet there could have been some nice finds there. ~LARGO~

Very nice! I like finding 18k White Gold. We need a green emoticon to show some envy. HH Mike

Awesome silver dollar, Strick! What's the pocket watch made of? Did you get it open yet?

While elliptical coils seem all the rage and certainly do have their place it is hard to beat the old concentric design overall....JMHO