Coin, relic and treasure enthusiast Brandon Neice, commonly known as Dr. Tones to his 15,000 YouTube subscribers, hit the silver coin jackpot while metal detecting in a historic gold mining region located in southwest Idaho this past June. While using the Minelab CTX 3030, Neice uncovered a cache of Carson City mint silver coins made exclusively from 1870 to 1878. He also found a rare 1854 New Orleans mint quarter, making the total discovery valued at over $10,000 one of his most plentiful and unparalleled excavations yet.
Neice’s passion for prospecting and relic hunting began at a very early age. The Placer County, California native and his father would go on numerous adventures into the Sierra Nevada panning for gold. Neice was introduced to metal detectors years later after moving to Idaho where he discovered the metal detector’s capacity to uncover a greater variety of treasure and larger gold nuggets. He then expanded his interests to include coins and relics because of his inability to return to the California goldfields. Since then, he has traveled to the deserts of Nevada, the hillsides of England and other locations in pursuit of lost treasure.
“I began metal detecting around town for old coins and relics in hopes of satisfying my urges to get out to the gold fields,” said Brandon Neice. “Soon I began studying old maps, numismatics and researching locations to find old coins. I started to set goals, and at first they were modest - a silver coin, a silver quarter, reach the 1800’s and so on. My enthusiasm grew with each new benchmark, and I soon realized that I was addicted. My passion had grown from gold to nearly everything.”
When detecting for coins, relics and jewelry, Neice prefers the Minelab CTX 3030 because it has the depth, sensitivity and separation needed to weed out desirable targets amongst unwanted targets. When prospecting, Neice’s go-to devices are the Minelab GPZ 7000 and the Minelab SDC 2300.
“When I go prospecting, I go straight for the GPZ 7000,” Neice adds. “Its sensitivity to both large and small targets at depth coupled with its integrated GPS capabilities make the GPZ the world’s best prospecting machine. The SDC 2300 also comes with me on every prospecting trip. Its extreme sensitivity to small gold nuggets has kept me from getting skinned on multiple occasions. Add its portability and waterproof design, and you’ve got a super versatile machine.”
A few of Neice’s most notable discoveries to date include: a 1901 S Barber Quarter known as the rarest silver quarter minted in the 20th Century; a Celtic Gold Stater dated circa 50 B.C.; and a Norman Era ceremonial shield piece that is currently in Norfolk, Virginia where it is being considered for inclusion as a national treasure.
