Easter hunts
Zot
Posts: 825 ✭✭✭
Long time no post!
I've had a MD-less month, traveling around Europe and working ridiculously long hours, but am now back in Finland for Easter with time for some hunting
Here's the (long) story...
Spring is far less advanced here than in central Europe, and I was shocked to still see plenty of snow around when I arrived. It has been melting rapidly though, with temperatures several degrees above the freezing point, and some rain to boot.
I started out by hunting some beaches, hoping that some jewelry signals would show up after the sand had been shuffled around during the autumn and winter months.
I had no luck though. I got these three items on the same hunt, but all three are junk. What is it with these people?? Can't afford a few bucks for a silver ring at least??
My only "nice" find from the beach hunts was the addition of a new country to my "dug world coins" collection: Iceland.
Iceland 50 krónur 1987
The obverse represents the four guardian spirits of Iceland (bird, dragon, bull, giant). The reverse displays a shore crab.
I like finding coins like this... while it's not old or valuable, it probably is the only example of this type that I'll ever find.
The obverse is wild!
Following my lousy results, I think I'll stay away from beaches for a while...
Fast forward a few days to today, Monday. Last day of the Easter holidays...
I made my way out in the early afternoon, determined to find something older this time. When getting to the front door, I noticed it was raining, heavily. Hrmph... back inside, change to waterproof clothing and off we go!
I had my camera with me, primarily to get some pictures of the pheasants that are all over the place this time of year. The "guys" strut around, flap their wings and make cacophonic noises to attract the ladies. The ladies keep a low profile, mainly hiding in the undergrowth..
My goal was a foresty area where some old footpaths suggested people may have walked through it on their way to (at the time) the centre of a small village.
On my way there, I noticed some landscaping work had been done around an alley lined with trees on both sides. It looked very promising for detecting, and I probably wouldn't have the nerve to detect here once the grass had grown back again. I decided to give it a try, only to spend the next 1.5 hours digging nothing but trash. Not one coin.
I wanted to take a picture before I left, so I pulled out my camera and switched it on.... and saw the abundantly clear message on the screen: "No memory card."
Argh!! Why don't these things come with small, built-in memory good for a few snaps to avoid situations like this....
Oh well, I hadn't seen any pheasants so far anyway.
I made my way to the "target area".
There were plenty of targets, and I dug most of them, maintaining a solid 100% trash ratio.
But then...!
A massive bang in my headphones, the MXT showing >+80 VDI less only one inch deep. I expected a large trash target and cut a small plug, only to see the edge of a large coin in the middle of the hole.
I immediately knew that the coin was quite old as no post-1917 coinage looked like this. My favorite detecting moment: Knowing that you've probably found something nice, but not yet seen what it is...
I picked it up, could immediately see what it was, and started my victory dance
Now then, the missing memory card became an issue as I like having pictures of sites where I've found something nice. I wasn't too far away from home, so I pedaled back to get the damn card..
On my way back to the site I saw a pheasant. It wasn't being very cooperative and insisted on going into places with poor light, so this is the shot I came up with. Raindrops on the lens as a free bonus...
Now back at the site. This is what it looked like. The rainy weather creates something of a dreamlike effect...
The gear.
This is the tiny hole the old coin came out of. I've now found several good coins in a row at less than 2" depth.
Zot himself
, miraculously almost in focus using the self-timer function on the camera. 
So what's the fuss all about? Here it is:
Russian 2 Kopek, 1859. This is from the time when Finland was part of Russia, and just before we got our own coinage (the Finnish Markka in 1864, while still being a Grand Duchy of Russia until 1917).
This coin will now spend quite some time in olive oil... the details look nice for a dug mid-1800's copper!
Happy hunting!
-Z
Minelab: GPX 5000, Excalibur II, Explorer SE. White's: MXT, PI Pro
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Comments
Thanks, I enjoyed the post.
Nice Russian copper!
I'm amazed at how much the woods there look like most of the spots I've been hunting. The animals here are not as friendly though. I've spooked pheasant before and they take off screaming
I too have been trying to locate older locations, but they are often overgrown and difficult to detect. As it gets warmer in my area, snakes and other nasty critters come out. Oddly, detecting is best done in the winter months I think.
--Keith
<< <i>I'm amazed at how much the woods there look like most of the spots I've been hunting. The animals here are not as friendly though. I've spooked pheasant before and they take off screaming >>
I'm glad the woods look similar - now if I only could get to your level in terms of finds as well!!!
I guess these birds are very used to people... the part of town I live in has plenty of parks, and pheasants are everywhere. You can sometimes get within 10 feet of them before they start walking away
<< <i>...metal detecting in drizzle seems to enhance the adventure. I've tried on two separate occasions to purchase a rain hood for my detector, but both websites that took my order were actually out of business.
I too have been trying to locate older locations, but they are often overgrown and difficult to detect. As it gets warmer in my area, snakes and other nasty critters come out. Oddly, detecting is best done in the winter months I think. >>
Agree, detecting in drizzle is fun! Also, there are fewer people outside if one wants to detect more popular sites, leaving more time for actual detecting than chatting with people..
There are rain covers for my detector as well, but I've sort of of gotten used to the plastic bags I'm using
I know what you mean about sites being overgrown.. This time of year is a great time here, as the grass hasn't started growing yet
I'm envious of your climate, detecting in the winter months would be mission impossible over here! We're more fortunate in the snakes department though: There's only one venomous snake in the country, the adder. They aren't aggressive unless you surprise them and a bite wouldn't be the end of the world either. No bites so far (knocking wood).
The only other significant dangers in the woods are overeager hunters and bears, but I believe bears have only killed one person in the last 100 years in Finland, and danger situations usually only arise if you happen to get between the mom and her cubs.. The most annoying thing during summer are mosquitos, which can drive you nuts!
<< <i>Zot what coin would you most like to dig? I know that a Barber Half Dollar would absolutely make my day! >>
Hmm... any old large silver would do! Going back in time into the 1700's, Finland was part of Sweden, so let's say a Swedish Riksdaler from the 1700's. That's a nice slab of silver, about the size of a US silver dollar.. Or any gold coin of course! (insert wishful thinking icon here)
Edit: spelling
Awesome coin, and truly amazing shot of that pheasant! Bravo!
Keep up the good work!
Speaking of work, I work so much now I am practically never online... or digging... or messing with coins anymore. *groan*
I though your post deserved my first appearance in almost a month.
That was the outing where Steve got his large cent. I started a Digger's Diary writeup for it but got sidetracked and never finished the story. I will have to do that and post it (very belatedly). Alas, it looks like I will continue to be absent for some periods in the near future.
You might just have inspired me to head out for that site today, though. I am awake and it is nice and cool and overcast- perfect detecting weather, considering how it's already gotten pretty darn hot here lately. I don't have to work until 11 PM (graveyard shift tonight). Hm.
I feel very honored having gotten the first post from his Yeti Holeyness!
I noticed your long absence and was about to post pictures of vehicles of questionable size to probe for a retaliatory response at least...
Sorry to hear about your memory card mishap
Hope you manage to find time for some detecting! I've heard a rumor that there's an 8 Reale piece buried not far away from where Steve found his large cent
-Z
There have been some 8R coins dug 'round here, but not by me. A 2-reales is the biggest Spanish Colonial I've dug.
Steve has some 8's. What a