I have learned that once you get to know your Minelab product, if the coin you desire is there, the detector will find it. Last year was a great year and I was able to scratch off many once in a lifetime coins from my list.
I knew this year would be harder as all the pounded out parks were then re-pounded by me and my E-TRAC picking out the one or two silvers that others missed by either an inferior detector or lack of knowledge.
One of the coins that has eluded me is the Standing Liberty quarter. Ironically, I have found two Barber quarters which were made before the SLQ. For reasons still unknown, I decided to go to the 2nd oldest park in my area that has been hit by every detector club on Earth and maybe some from outer space. Needless to say, I have never pulled a silver from there but am always able to score a few wheats.
The day started off with the finds coming left and right, wheats, a silver ring and some other great finds. I was heading to the back of the park and decided to detect my way back instead of just walking back there which turned out to be the best idea ever.
About half way through the park along a creek bank I got a perfect quarter signal 11-47 on the E-TRAC and blew my earphones clean off my head. It was coming in at 7" deep but in Florida even modern coins sink fast in the loose sandy soil.
Once my pinpointer said I had located the target, I was slowly working the soil away when out popped a shinny quarter. I immediately saw the eagle and for some reason thought it was another Barber. When I turned it over and saw the Standing Liberty I was shaking so bad I almost passed out.
Minelab has a reputation as one of the best detectors made in the world and in my book, there is just no equal. Is this a success story? It may not be a chest of gold or a cache of silvers, but to this veteran treasure hunter, a dream was fulfilled and to me that spells success.
TreasureJack - FL, USA