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Don't Ignore All Loud Shallow Signals!

28 Nov 2011

Another great day out with the E-TRAC! The highlighted finds shown came from one previously hunted cellar hole site that was inhabited from ca. 1830's to the 1920's. From left to right I found: A "Defiance" CWC Pocket Watch with last patent date June 4 '07; 1889 Liberty Seated dime; 1889 Indian Head cent; 1919 "Mercury" dime; 1905 Indian Head cent; ca. 1830's Heraldic Eagle Militia belt plate; brass entry door key; brass shoe heel protector; and oval Rosette plate. Of special interest is the militia belt plate. Its signal was a loud, repeatable "11-44" reading about only 1" deep which we E-TRAC users know most likely as a clad dime. Generally as I swing the search coil over targets, I like to raise up the 11" coil slowly and note the distance from the ground the signal fails to respond to get an idea of how large the target is. This target signalled up to about 18" which is no little dime. The second identification technique I like to employ is noting the width of response in the "sizing pinpoint" mode. I move the coil from the right towards the target location, I then mark the ground with my eye at the point the edge of the coil produces a signal. As I continue over the target area, I note whether the signal stops or continues as the opposite edge of the search coil passes the eyed spot of ground. If the signals stops, it is normally a non-ferrous target. If the signal continues, the target is most likely going to be ferrous in content. This target was located next to a pile of modern junk and debris someone tossed over the stone wall surrounding the property. Given its shallow depth and perceived size, I wasn't expecting too much, possibly an aluminum can top.... I'd even thought of passing it by. Carefully digging around center, I removed a shallow rectangle of brass thinking another piece of brass for the trash pouch. But on closer inspection, only in a dream would I expect to find a fairly rare complete NYS Militia stamped eagle belt plate. A first in my 43 years metal detecting! Robert H. Sickler - New York, USA

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