Options
What are we all looking for anyway?
lava
Posts: 3,286 ✭✭✭
I've been lurking and checking out detector finds here, and a lot of it looks junky. The coins are in poor condition and often corroded, cans rusted, bottles weathered, etc.
Given the time invested in the search, wouldn't it be a lot faster to just buy those treasures on ebay?
Of course, I love to look for stuff, and as a kid found many beer cans and bottles and fossils, but the best stuff I find anymore are probably recyclable bottles and cans (5 cents each) or new money dropped by someone. I found a quarter last week -- worth as much as a lot of the stuff I see pictured. In a typical year I might find anywhere from a few dollars to thirty dollars. This year I'm happy to report I've found about $200 total.
So, what is it we are looking for anyway?
Given the time invested in the search, wouldn't it be a lot faster to just buy those treasures on ebay?
Of course, I love to look for stuff, and as a kid found many beer cans and bottles and fossils, but the best stuff I find anymore are probably recyclable bottles and cans (5 cents each) or new money dropped by someone. I found a quarter last week -- worth as much as a lot of the stuff I see pictured. In a typical year I might find anywhere from a few dollars to thirty dollars. This year I'm happy to report I've found about $200 total.
So, what is it we are looking for anyway?
I brake for ear bars.
0
Comments
But metal detecting (for me) has always been about a lot more than just my tally at the end of the day-- it's the hunt that's the fun. Researching sites and the history that goes along with them; digging in soft, moist soil at night while dodging sprinklers-- the solitude, the ability to tune out everything that happened that day and just focus on tones. To dig or not to dig? The rush you get when you realize whatever the target you've been digging for the last 5 minutes, past roots and rocks, is now in your hand and it's *some* kind of coin. The possibilities. The maybes, the unknowns. Sharing successes (and failures) with other enthusiasts. That's what I'm after.
Some of my finds that were "free"
The same could be said to the person that goes FISHING - HUNTING ! ! !
Last year my clad finds were over $400.00 Dollars! That's two or three hours every Sat. & Sun.
The WIFE likes the other GOOD stuff ;-)
PLATINUM WITH 8 DIAMONDS
LOL...E-BAY
This "HOBBY" pays for itself ! !
14K White Gold with 21 DIAMONDS !
Jerry
And swinging the coil builds muscle.
Lafayette Grading Set
Say what ya like, yeah u can buy most of the stuff on ebay, or whatever..but pulling it out yourself is something entirely different..You contemplate how did this come to be here? what circumstances lead to this civil war belt plate lying here?...And in some cases you can build a marvelous story with research, and a little luck...Just ask LM...and his chinese doothingy..or the guy over on the treasure net forum that fouond a 216 yr old pocket book with hand written lyrics to a song...the possibilities are endless..if you choose to chase them...
Eric
<< <i>I've been lurking and checking out detector finds here, and a lot of it looks junky. The coins are in poor condition and often corroded, cans rusted, bottles weathered, etc.
Given the time invested in the search, wouldn't it be a lot faster to just buy those treasures on ebay? >>
Yes it would.
It's like this metaphor.
You could go to a restaurant and order a fish and have it brought to the table, all nicely prepared.
Or you could get up at the crack of dawn, go down to the river, slip on some slimy rocks, put a worm on a hook, throw it in the water, wait, wait, wait, slap some mosquitoes, get a bite, catch the fish, clean it, cook it over a campfire and eat it with just the tiniest bit of dirt and grass on it.
The true fisherman says the second fish is just as flavorful or even tastier than the first, for all the trouble. Anybody who ain't into the quest for its own sake might as well buy his treasures off ebay or his fish in a restaurant.
(I personally like my fish in an aquarium and not on my plate, but you get the idea.)
try finding a rare militia belt plate anywhere.
Now correct me if I'm wrong because I'm pretty much just repeating what I read in a coin collecting forum I frequent, but I believe our own lordmarcovan sold a holed bust half on eBay (which I believe he dug?) which turned out to be a unique/rare variety.
Estimates place its current value to collectors somewhere between $20,000 to $30,000...
While a find like that has enormous finacial and historical value, I'll also point out ANOTHER of lordmarcovan's finds which was a Chinese token that may or may not prove Chinese traders visited North America long before Columbus.
Priceless!
(Sorry to get all hero worshippy, lordmarco... lol)