GB_Amateur

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Iron is smarter than everyone. Sure, more experienced detectorists will sort out some iffy targets, but the right collection of iron will conspire to make a signal good enough to dig. There is no shame in digging an iffy target and finding iron. Contrast that with skipping an iffy target that turns out to be a keeper. Only one of these gives you the true answer. When in doubt, dig it out.

Agree that the point is the key to unravelling this mystery. The point has to have a significant purpose.

Welcome, Toecutter! Yes, lots of info on the Minelab Equinox here, but that is just scratching the surface of the volumes of valuable posts on this site. Seems you Michigan detectorists are waking up from a long (cold) winter's nap. I'm sure you'll be making up for lost time. Please keep us in the loop with your finds.

Welcome, Paul! Sorry to hear about your family's misfortunes; hope your sister is able to beat hers. I'm sure you'll stick with the Eqx. It takes a long time (forever?) to learn every trick of it's gazillion combinations of modes and settings, but it produces right out of the box so things can only improve from there. Sounds like you're already liking yours. I can't comment much about your move from desert to rainforest, other than I'm sure there are good detecting locations at both ends. Please share pictures and stories of your finds when you get a chance to do more hunting.

Were those tests in-ground or in-air? I'm figuring your ground is much more mineralized than mine. Seems like there are a lot of different results with/without GB on the TDI/SL. In my case I was trying to find a buried shotgun for a friend. He had a heavy gun barrel which I used as a test piece. I actually laid it on the ground (so not a pure air test) and raised the coil. With GB on I could only get a couple feet or so above the barrel. With GB off it was well above my waist -- maybe 4 feet -- and I was still getting a signal. Again, I was using the White's 12" mono coil. I don't remember if I was running 12 V (more likely) or 16 V. I suppose it's possible that the circuitry varies among SLs, but that would seem odd for factory units (i.e. without Reg's garage mods). Although mine is not an SL but actually an SPP, supposedely the difference is simply a delay time locked at 10 microseconds and the conductivity switch locked in 'all'.

One thing I've noticed (but it seems to be controversial here) is that when I ran my 12" mono on the TDI SPP (nominally an SL) without ground balance it detected considerably deeper (in an air test) than with GB on. Here is a very good in-ground study done a couple years ago in Australia (probably mineralized ground): https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?id=21209 Don't miss the second page which has tests with the larger coils.

Also called RF detectors and depth multipliers. Invented in the 1930's by Gerhard Fisher (founder of Fisher Research Labs, now part of the First Texas conglomerate), this type of detector seems to not have changed much in operating characteristics in 80+ years. From what I've found there are still three competing models in production: Fisher's current Gemini-3 model (now 30 years old) https://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detector-database/fisher-gemini-3-r27/, Garrett's Treasure Hound Eagle Eye Depth Multiplier (quite a mouthful) which is an add-on to their aging GTI 2500 standard style metal detector https://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detector-database/garrett-gti-2500-r44/ and White's TM808 https://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detector-database/whites-tm-808-r38/ , a spinoff of a collaboration between White's and Discovery, another Sweet Home, OR company that appears to now be defunct. The Fisher unit, operating at 82 kHz, seems to be the most closely aligned survivor of the early design. Garrett's 'latest' depth multiplier (easily the most expensive at $1300 retail when combined with the GTI 2500) with its 7.2 kHz operating frequency advertises its advantage of being in the VLF range, ignoring ground minerals. White's unit (operating frequency = ?) has ground cancelling controls. Unlike today's deep PI's and ZVT which can also go deep, these 2 box transmit/receive (T/R) detectors ignore small objects -- an advantage when the sought after target is large and in a trashy area. That's a brief overview of the current commercial climate, but what I'd like to know is how much different these three units are when it comes to operating characteristics. Specifically do the differences in operating frequency and/or ground adjustments translate into better performance under certain conditions?

Welcome, msuwhat! I think your nick already alienated half the members of your state (non-US readers, Michigan State University and University of Michigan are bitter rivals) but you knew that when you chose the nick. ? By 'northern' do you mean Upper Peninsula? Gotta love that native copper. Make the most of your short summer and post your finds here for all of us to admire.

Probably obvious, but did you recheck the TID after you got it out of the ground/sand? Assuming 'yes', my theory is that it is really platinum but the owner had it stamped '925' so the Ring Finder wouldn't be tempted to keep it. ?

Welcome, Bingo! Don't feel bad about not seeing the LED. I don't have a GM1000 but have trouble seeing blue LED's in particular, myself. The tiny LED's on the WM80 headphones of the Minelab Equinox give me fits even when red. I guess the manufacturer didn't realize we'd often be out in the bright sun??

Those silver coins cleaned up nicely. What did you do to accomplish that? 40 Wheaties is quite a week by itself. Thanks for all your posts and of course we'd like to continue to see your finds.

Just keep an open mind and don't expect too much, especially early. You likely already know there are no magic detectors, just incremental improvements. Enjoy the ride!

Poor you. ?

Another Steve H. quote to frame and hang on my wall. Now please excuse me while I fight and claw my way out from among the masses. Think I'll head out this afternoon and work on it. Thanks, Steve!

Did you consider getting the WM-08 receiver module? https://www.minelab.com/usa/accessories-1/by-detector/equinox-series#sec321942 (I know, they aren't cheap, but you can find 'used' ones on Ebay occasionally.) That's what I use almost exclusively with my 800, summertime with wired earbuds (that plug into the WM-08) and in cool/cold weather with standard over-ear headphones. The WM-08 goes in my shirt or jacket breast pocket.

Great story! How deep was the pipe and what was its orientation?

That's too bad. The condition of the silver coins reminds me of the saltwater finds that have been posted on this site. It just kills me to see such degradation. In my area the US nickels and bronze pennies suffer, but it varies according to soil conditions. Anyway, I'll be interested in how these look cleaned up.

Right place at the right time, and you acted upon the opportunity. Justly rewarded! Looking forward to seeing these coins cleaned up as well as viewing what you find on your second sweep of that location.

Great finds! I'm particularly impressed with the conditions of those two early one cent pieces (1914 and 1931). I found a 1917 Canadian Large Cent last year but it is badly corroded. I do understand your thrill with the silver coins. Regardless of date (+mm) and condition, there is something particularly satisfying with finding silver. Keep up the good work!

The Minuteman, Liberator, and Patriot were all introduced under the Teknetics brand name in time for Fathers Day 2017. Except for cosmetic differences I'm pretty sure all three are repackaged First Texas models. The Patriot is the same as the Fisher F70. What are the equivalent FT models of the Minuteman and Liberator?

That would easily be an unprecedented full year for me, and you're only 3 months in, including a lot of crappy weather! Can't wait to see what you get as the season progresses. Any dates and mintmarks worth highlighting? (What are they for the Standing Liberty Quarter?)

Nice finds, Mitchell! The dagger handle might be celluloid, which would mean it's pretty old (likely before WWII). There are non-destructive tests (see internet). Don't use a hot needle! There are better ways. I'm curious about some of the items in the picture. It looks like you found a silver dime, but I thought those always got crudded up from steeping in salt water. What is the horn on the right edge of photo? Is that scary looking sawtooth plate some kind of fish cleaner?

Welcome, RobNC! Thanks for reporting your background. Sounds like you are a seasoned coin and relic hunter. Yes, some of us have to work extra hard to regain trust after selfish, irresponsible detectorists precede us. Regarding EMI, I suspect the manufacturers are trying, but it's a moving target as you point out. Also, as you likely know, the more sensitive the detector the more likely to pick up EMI on its higher gain settings. I have quite a bit of EMI problems but most of the time I've been able to hunt by turning down the gain. Also, selectable frequency detectors give us options to find a quiet frequency and that has worked well for me with my Minelab Equinox on occasions I've not been satisfied with turning down the gain. I look forward to your future posts.

The way the sun's rays alternate between straight and wiggly reminds me of Inti, the Incan Sun God; here's an example: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/inca-sun-god-inti-may-uruguayan-1010293492 It appears there has been a lot of artistic license taken in reproducing this image. Maybe your find is one of them. Also the face reminds me of man-in-the-moon images: https://www.pinterest.com/llchell/images-man-in-the-moon/ Maybe what you found is someone's depiction of a solar eclipse.