Gerry in Idaho

I'm not opening my foot and inserting mouth. I'm a viewer this round.

Congratulations on the Flowing Hair LG Cent. I've only found one (1798 Cracked Die Reverse) in my 40+ yrs of detecting. It was found over 20 yrs ago in NC. Now that you have that one checked off the list, what is your next target coin? Great dig.

I have one of the blue SD-2200V2's and a hardly used smooth running GP-3000 that I am in no hurry to sell. Yes I have the 2300, 5000 and 7000. I do feel the newer flat winding coils are better. One of my all time favorites was the orange CT 14" round MONO, then another gold getter for me was the NF 16" round SL MONO. Yes I still use a DD coil in some of Idaho and Oregon as the iron trash just wears this old man out and DD is a must. Another one of my favorite coils on the Minelabs is the Commander Semi Ellip 15" MONO. Talk about a solid built coil that just performs. As for the boosters...I pretty much stick with factory. Mods to a detector. If you are happy with the mods and feel it is working for you, then I'm happy for you. I don't get any of my machines modded, but I am also still selling Minelabs, so it might not be wise for me to sell a Minelab and then tell the customer to get it modded.

We were expanding from the gold camp and he just happened to go down hill and I went up. Yes, anything is possible.

Michel, Those ones fool the best of us (right Lunk) and our heads are still scratching, as we try to figure out how it got down that deep. Same thing happened to Lunk and I in MX a few weeks ago. He was so far off the beaten path and was evening finding gold. Then that unusual soft reverse signal. He hikes over to me so I can video tape it as he was already over a feet deep. We hike back and he's telling me how he found some nuggets on the backside of a ridge. I get there and boy does this place look exciting. I listen to the signal while viewing the natural undisturbed ground and whooper is going through my mind. My video camera is on and rolling as we're about to get this clunker on video. Lunk is carefully digging, using more of the scoop than the pick so he does not damage the sold yellow metal. 5 minutes later and another 6" deeper... he checks it out and this thing is screaming bloody all the way down to Aussie land. It is totally reversed and we're like kids seeing a playboy magazine for the 1st time...just eyes wide open waiting for the centerfold. Then it happens and he has it out of the scoop. A tilt of the coil for some pinpointing and it is such an overload, I am expecting to see it with me bare eyes. Boy would I like to feel it... I can't wait any longer, so almost I jump in to help speed up the recover. Just as I start to get in the hole, for some reason he gets it in the scoop. We're both ready for a gold dance as he is separating the material and then...there it is.., the most disgusting brass bullet casing we've ever video taped. Holy crap, why is it there and how? We both scratched our heads as we filled the hole and I heard him mumble something to the effect...about "next time I'll get you". Sorry your nugget was not so golden, but that is what keeps us going.

You are correct for most hunting. He started out with the stock 11" and found a few coins in the area a couple days before. Nothing was over 3 to 4" deep, so when we went back I realized a slower sweep in the area with a small coin might pull something else. Well these 3 coins were not in the exact same spot, but still very close. Also, the small coil gets in the bushes easier too.

Most of you do not know the history of metal detecting and my family. We go back to the early 1970's, my dad, uncle, 1 cousin and I all were pretty avid TH'ers back then. In the 80's and 90's we took it to a new level and started concentrating more on older sites and doing research. Our old coin finds were better with a few Barbers and Seated Liberty silvers. The gold coin had still eluded us for all those yrs. We knew it was just a matter of time. Anyway about 20 yrs ago, my little brother started getting serious with detectors and making some nice finds. It was about 20 years ago when the McMullen clan broke the gold coin barrier (it was me) with an 1852 $2.50 piece found in OR. Then about 10 years ago on 4th of July I was greedy and hit another (my 2nd) GC of the clan. My relatives and family started getting a little jealous and well deserving. Especially my little brother who happened to be on that trip with me when I hit #2, It was a 1902 $5 found here in Idaho. Well last week I was with my brother in OR and his Equinox put a smile on his face in more ways than 1. Not only did he find a gold coin, but also a Barber and Seated Liberty Half. Me, I managed to find a clad dime, which is the 1st modern coin that I know of to come from this site. He does not do much with forums, but did say I could mention them and share the pics. I wanted to let him have his glory and then after a few days I'd share. Here is his 1839 $5, 1907 Barber Half and 1877 Seated Half. And you know what? I honestly was a little jealous for about a minute and then I realize his tears were real. I then became the proud big brother of another gold coin find for the McMullen clan. I'm so proud of this guy for continuing to go and just keeps on swinging. Now that I think back, it was meant to be and I was able to be there and share the precious moment with him.

Brian, Sorry I am late to the show, but was in MX digging gold nuggets. Then when I returned, I had to get caught up with customers orders and get their detectors shipped out. My hats off to you as one of the few folks who takes a detector and becomes one with it, as one of your arms. Those finds are hearth throbs even without the low mintage. But to dig like that for a day and then get done and open up the coin value guide and see $$$$ is even more incredible, but well deserved. I'll say this for sure. The Equinox has produced more gold coin finds than any other detector I have sold in such a short amount of time. I probably have 15 gold coins found by my own customers using the NOX. In fact I have not posted yet, but another was recently found. I'll get to it later, but your video, finds and story are certainly EPIC.

Nice token finds. I like saving a token more than a barber dime or Indian Head cent.

Chris, Your such a calm, cool and collect kind of guy.....2019 I went past the post a couple times and then notices a little traffic, so thought I'd check it out. My my you certainly hit a heck of a pocket and as a long time nugget hunter, I know it is extremely rare. Not only did you find really good gold, but was able to capture it on camera and story with it. So glad your year ended GOLDEN and hopefully 2020 is just as good. Most importantly, thanks for sharing.

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I also enjoy getting recommendations form a few of you as Lunk and I will try our luck in Aussie Land. I've had success in the Kalgoorlie/Leonora areas years back, but it was still hard hunting. Has the beaches (gold jewelry) been exposed or do you folks even try for such finds? Either way, Thanks again. PS. The photo of some of my gold from last OZ trip

Lunk will be with me for part of the trip as well, so those who invite us, will certainly have some tall tales to listen over. Was it not Paul's magic that had some ups/downs during the trip? Sometimes those minor issues just make us a better person. In reality, being across the US, I'm most certain their will be issues. Thanks for the recommendation,,, and is his magic charm juice very expensive?

To me it is all about Adventure to new sites. It's much more rewarding and educational for me to see how people live in the area, what terrain and landscape is all about. I enjoy seeing with my own eyes what makes up a site and why people would go visit or even live there. Finding the gold is just an added bonus. My list of "Just go do it" places is longer than most, but at the same time I feel I have been able to do more than the average Joe. Maybe it is because I never had kids, maybe the wife enjoys me being away for a while, maybe just how I am wired, but I like to travel, absorb new things and dream. Having the detector in hand also allows for a great many business write offs. I have pretty good gold areas in ID, MT, OR, NV. that will always give a little. Heck, If I spent the same amount of time at one of these sites, as I did in MX, I most certainly would have recovered more gold, but those sites I know well and in the back of my mind, new fresh ground in another region could be golden? We've learned most of the time, those dreams really don't have loads more of gold, but just seeing new country is rewarding. Now I do plan on heading back to Australia this fall and hopefully someone will invite me along for a couple or few days swinging. I'd like to do a little nugget hunting as well as dip into the water for some beach/water detecting with an Equinox (one of my other passions - water hunting). I figure someone over there might want to get some free tips/tricks and detector knowledge. Heck, I might even sell my detectors after the trip to them for a really good price. I've spent time around the Leonora/Kalgoorlie area with some GP's years back, so somewhere new would be most ideal. Thanks for the comments.

Chuck, You are correct as I never go on a trip with one detector. Yes I did take the Equinox with me as I was not totally sure what we would be encountering, plus if a machine goes down, I have the NOX. As for the ground soil conditions. Most of the gold came in really red soil layers (like those who hunt Sawtooth) or have in some areas of Australia. I could have easily found gold with the NOX on that trip as 2 of my bigger pieces were only a couple " deep. Some of the small ones were also near the surface and in fact I spotted 2 nuggets on the surface. I did like having the extra depth of the GPZ as it was very beneficial when hunting the old patches. I dug some really deep gold on the trip, but nothing of larger size. I don't know what kind of depths other folks get with their 7000's on 2 and 3 gram nuggets, but I can hear them 16 - 18". My all time favorite was with Lunk in NV last year and it was a 1.9 gram at 18". Both of us thought there had to be more in the hole, but not the case.

Your abilities with the 7000 and X coil are very good my friend. Thanks for sharing the story and pics.

Rusty, You are 100% correct. We had to eat out of cans and eat stuff raw (uncooked). The other party with us did cook a really nice meal 1 time, but nothing like Chef Rusty can do. It was so rough Rusty, we both lost weight. When we hunt with you, it is such a pleasure. I actually enjoy using up a whole roll of TP paper and gaining weight when hunting gold with you. I still think you do this to us so you can try and take advantage....🤣

We were invited down on private ground. I detected 10 days, so averaged 4 grams a day.

That is up to him, but I would think he'll share a pic or two. Thanks, Gerry

I think I've dug up a couple pieces in my years that might be worthy of Heritage. Has anyone on DP ever used them and what was your thoughts of the end result? Here is one of my favorites from Oregon.

Gary, I did not know you were with Steve when he found his. How funny is that? You were with me when I dug mine almost 20 yrs ago and then you were there at the same location last week with Steve and watched him dig his 1st gold coin. Wow, I think I'll start hanging around you more often. We have had some great hunts, stories and memories together. Thanks for being a friend.

I've seen it probably 20+ times. When we do our Training in Sumpter, OR (30 miles away), I email all the clients important info before the training and one of the To Do items is to stop in Baker City at the bank. It is one of the nicer displays of gold I have seen in the US. Reason I like to stop in and see it more than once? Many of the nuggets are in different types of matrix and some of them have notes of their recovered locations. Plus there is an audio recording telling the story of the gold. You get to pick up a couple post cards (see photo) of the nugget as well. While there in Baker City (literally right off Interstate 84), also go see the gem and mineral collection. It is not at the bank, but the largest I have ever seen. As for where the Armstrong nugget was found. Years ago I was swinging a GB-2 and found its little brother at the same location. Now there is a plaque on display where the nugget was found. Great read and thanks for sharing.

Back from our Mexico gold hunt and wanted to share a few photos and my story. Every day I swung my 7000 I found gold nuggets. 60+ pieces weighing over 41 grams. (picture of gold and shovel is to show size comparison as some pics make the gold look bigger) So there is good gold to be found, but you don’t fill your pockets as we all dream. The locals who hunt there all use 7000’s and they are really good. They only miss the faintest of signals or the occasional boomer off the beaten path. Me being a 6’ 2” 230 lb guy is hard to get into the cactus bushes to find virgin ground. In fact I only found 1 small patch of undetected ground that held gold and over 9 grams came from that patch. The local Mexican folks have no issues getting into the thickets and I could see their dig holes in them. I give them credit for their desire and determination. Cactus, the guardian angels of the MX gold is everywhere. With over 600+ species alone in Mexico, I was amazed to see and able to get pricked by (it seemed all 600+ kinds) many. Some of them are masters at growing in the funniest of shapes and statues. I was amazed and giggled many times while trying to find a landmark for return. Best to use your GPS on the 7000 (thanks Luck for showing me) as it is really pretty easy. I learned quickly, most of my clothing including the Merrell Hikers were no match for the variety of pokers. I took 3 different pairs of boots and the all leather, heavy duty uncomfortable ones were the least effected from the pricks. I took a pair of shorts and T-shirts for hotter days but could not wear them. Long sleeve shirt and thick pants were a must. Found out on my 1st day there getting on my knees or anywhere on the ground was dangerous and I ended up buying a thick pair of knee pads. I managed 3 small pickers in one spot at the bottom of this wash. This looks like a cactus nugget right? I think I'll polish it and give it to my wife. Lunk was all eagle eyes and found some rare pottery shards probably from a water transport jug. There are desert tortoise to be found (more rare than gold) We were even rewarded seeing the ancient grinding pads, two of them, called an arrastra and were used to grind ore. Their desert is more beautiful than I expected and also has a much greater degree of mountains to climb that what I imagined. Another interesting part of the trip seeing the antique ways of prospects (100 to 200+ yr old dry wash piles) and their claim corner markers. Lunk always looks so serious. Notice he wore snake guards. I asked him about them and he said the snakes were not bad this time of year. He did not tell me to bring some for the attacking cacti and all their brothers. My coolest find of the trip was actually not gold at all but a copper type coin that looks to be hammered, made (very thin and off center struck) and has some words and symbols. I’ve been updated with identification as an early MX ¼ reale coin from 1830’s. The 2 nuggets and coin were all in one small area together. I also spotted (on the run) a small buck deer. A few days before, I found a big daddy antler. The last day in MX was me on the beach enjoying the Gulf of California (on the MX side). The very next day was me in snow as I was heading back to Idaho. So the total driven miles on my truck for the trip was over 2800. I lived in the back of the truck with the camper shell and the 40 degree nights was no issues for cold. Used my small compact Jetboil burner to heat water for cooking/bathing. The warm upper 70’s and lower 80 degree temps in days allowed for my canned and or packaged meals to be heated by placing them on my dash in the truck. Plenty of gold is still in MX., but the reality of it is, the gravy is gone. You’ll work you butt off finding it and most pieces you find are sub ½ grammers. It reminds me somewhat of Rye Patch, NV in a way as most folks won’t find any and those who do usually only find a few each day. The really big ones for the most part have already been found, but popping an occasional 1/4 oz’er+ is still possible. My own biggest piece of gold for the trip was only 4.9 grams, but I did see one find that was a multi ouncer 3 to 4 oz. Was the trip worth it and did my gold finds pay expenses? I’m all about adventure and as long as my body holds up I’ll go most anywhere with a metal detector at least once. Checking spot gold today shows $1580 oz. so that equates to just over $50 a gram. Take $50 a gram X 41 grams of nuggets = $2000. My cost for the trip with insurance, fees, all food and drinks was $1800. But with me, just like my travels to Australia, it is more about the “just go do it” adventure, than it is the finds or value of. Hopefully everyone enjoys the pics and story.

Interesting matrix in the rocks you have. Helpful hint #1. Pull a rare earth super magnet (not a cheap cow magnet) on the rock and see if there is any pull. If a light pull, then I am sure the rock has a light amount of iron mineral in it. A rock with light pull usually has a softer signal response to detector. If a hard strong pull to the magnet from rock, it means a really hot rock and quite a bit more iron in the stone. These usually give a stronger response to the detector. The rare earth super magnet is a small tool almost all good nugget hunters carry and most of us have them attached to our picks. They are not 100% foolproof, but at least will give you a start. If there is no pull whatsoever to the rock/magnet, then you possibly have something worth holding on to. Yes, stop in my shop and I'll show you a variety of local gold and what they look like. Be sure to set an appointment as the older I get the more I want to be in the field hunting Au. And yes I have some of those magnets in my shop, as well as Apex picks.

Ray, The Idaho Gold Prospectors Association has good gold claims in Southern Idaho and I think their even have a couple around the Silver City area. As for someone to go with? Share some of the photos of gold nuggets you've found, I'm willing to bet a person or two will be happy to take you up on the offer and go with you. The problem for most folks is not knowing good gold nugget bearing ground. Those who have spent the time to research and then humped the hills til their feet quit, just to find a few nuggies...well those folks are pretty tight lipped and very well deserving. With the price of gold just under $1600 an ounce and the good sites getting cleaned out more and more each weekend, I totally see why the few who know, have decided to keep quiet. I have a customer in Oregon who works his arse off researching good gold ground, then takes the time to find the claim/property owners and works a deal with them. When he finds gold (and he has done well), he enjoys sharing the finds. So many people just assume he will take them out. He now says, "hand me the money in your wallet" because that is what you're asking him. As Fred mentioned, clubs are the best way to go for most newer prospectors and if you hang around the successful ones in the club, offer to buy their breakfast and pay for gas, they just might invite you along. Good luck.

Klunker, You had me sucked in. I'm in awe of your above average arithmetic. Then I realized you made 1 mistake. In 1857, the branch of the tree (the one holding the rifle) would have been 6.3" lower than it now sits today. I was about to call "BS" on your find. Being that I did not want to spoil your story, I decided to sit and wait 24 hours before blasting it up. It was then.. the old dimmer of light in me grape flickered a bit. I reached for the bottle one more time and dusted off the last of the juice. That is when it hit me, as if when it will hit Sourdough as he pulls the trigger of that Elephant gun. By golly, F me, I was dead wrong in my initial decipher of the events and so now I want to apologize. My mistake of the branch being 6.3" lower in 1857, is in fact correct, but what I did not realize.... the average height of an adult male 160+ yrs ago was exactly 6.3" shorter than present. Hell of two finds my friend and even better story. I'll forever absorb every word you post on DP as FACT. PS. Did you try to locate the casing? Maybe another adventure awaits and I can't wait to hear about it. After all, you have photos as proof and a witness.