I just purchased a second hand Minelab Quattro. After reading the instruction manual and testing the unit in the back yard, I ventured to Balmoral Beach in Sydney, Australia; where I started my first ever search.
I noted that the local council had used a beach cleaner recently as the tractor tracks were still visible. I thought, what did I come here for? No coins will be around. I then hear a ping, this was my first coin find. It was a 2 cent piece around 6 inches deep. With a coin this old being found, I gained a positive vibe from the area. I continued and found a few newer coins. After the first hour I had found a total of $3.24.
After a short break, I moved to another area on the beach. I detected for a further 3 hours (where did the time go?) and found a number of coins. I noted that the battery was getting low, when I heard a different tone. Looking at the display it was silver and deep. I dug down close to 15 inches, when I noted that the sound was no longer in the hole. The Quattro indicated that the sound is now in the mound of sand from the hole. I sifted the sand between my fingers and came across a 1943 Six Pence.
All up I found a total of $21.46 and the Six Pence. Many people might say that is not much, but given that this was my first ever attempt at detecting and the beach in this area is racked clean by the local council, I feel that this was a good start.
Please see my attached photo of my find.
I can only imagine what I might find and what a newer detector might be able to do. I am now caught by the detector bug!
Wayne – NSW, Australia