“The Digger” Last Month

The March edition of “The Digger” did not go out due to an illness I had as well as computer issues.

However, now, all is well!

Cache Hunting Near Your Home

I know that feeling. Many years ago I was one of them. Finding silver coins and an occasional ring was no longer giving me satisfaction from the hobby. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always loved the thrill and the anticipation of finding an old coin or piece of jewelry. But, I wanted more. That’s when I made the decision to venture into the world of searching for buried treasures and caches that I had always read about and dreamed of finding. The following advice is based on my experience. It is experienced gained from over the past 40 plus years of metal detecting and treasure hunting.

Fact…buried caches exist not too far from where you live. I learned this cache hunting treasure secret years ago from an old-timer treasure hunter. He sold me my first metal detector. Old Man Dan we called him.

Old Man Dan told me that if I wanted to find buried treasure that I didn’t have to venture too far from where I lived. Of course, I thought Dan was full of it. He was a joker and a storyteller. I knew his adventures into the world of treasure hunting were true because his treasure hunting shop was filled with relics he had found from around the world. His photo albums showing Dan holding gold nuggets, silver reales from Spanish wrecks, silver and gold jewelry from the 15th and 16th century, were testaments to his stories. However, Old Man Dan also has a penchant for exaggerating. So when he told me not to venture too far away from where I lived to find buried treasures, well, I didn’t believe him.

The lost treasure stories I always read were located in other parts of America, or in another country. I never heard of anyone finding a treasure in the area where I lived. Nor could I even imagine one being anywhere near or in the town I called home. But that belief changed after I located my first mini-cache. That treasure was two mason jars filled with coins. The coins dated between 1856 and 1872. I found them not more than five miles from where I was living. If it had not been for Old Man Dan and his advice, and me following that advice, that cache and others would still be hidden.

It’s human nature for people to hide their possessions. There are many reasons why.

In America, during the Spanish Inquisition, millions of dollars of gold and silver were buried. The Spanish stole silver, gold, and precious jewels and then hid treasures for a variety of reasons.

When America was fighting during the French & Indian War, the colonists hid their personal items from the British and the French.

During the American Revolution, people buried their possessions from the British and the Tories. The Civil War caused many homeowners to bury their belongings from both the Union and Rebel soldiers.

Mobsters and today’s drug dealers have had a penchant for hiding their money.

Spouses hide money from their significant other.

Since the beginning of the banking system, people have distrusted banks. So hiding their money was an option.

The above situations lead the way for the opportunity to take cache hunting near where you live seriously.

With family situations, after the death of the person burying the cache, these opportunities exist because the buried possessions were never recovered. Many times the treasures were left behind because the survivors were never told that money or valuables were hidden. So what happens when everyone in the family dies or moves away? Obviously, the treasure stays behind.

Homeowners buying older homes doing remodeling have found valuables hidden in secluded areas of the house. Places like behind walls, ceilings, and under floorboards have produced hidden treasures of all sorts. Homeowners have found caches buried in what used to be gardens. Gardens used to be, and still, are a popular burying site for treasures. The two mason jars full of coins I found were most likely buried in what used to be the garden of the homestead.

Begin in your own area. The best way to locate buried caches is to visit the historical society of the area you live in. Most of them have old newspapers on file. By reading through the old news you may be able to pick out a brief story that relates to a possible buried cache. Often times old newspapers gave accounts of a person that died leaving behind money or valuables unaccounted for.

This information has worked for me. By reading old newspapers, many of the old newspapers are on microfilm. You may be able to learn about a hermit, a miser, or a loner who lived the life of a recluse. The characteristic of this type of individual has been known to hide their money. Their secluded lifestyle, living away from society, is a red flag. Chances are, they have hidden valuables. And, if there were no family members to claim or search for any of that cache, then it's an opportunity to search for the treasure.

Also, concentrate your cache hunting around older homes, or farms. Always ask for permission. Search the garden areas, and around any old trees, and be sure to search around any old, fence posts. Often times farmers would bury a small cache beneath a fence post. They would simply pull out the post, bury the valuable, and then replace the post. I have found a few of these post hole treasures. Outhouses were almost always a place where treasures were hidden. The caches near where you are living are there to be found.

You can locate these hidden treasures close to home. You just need to do the research.

Coins, Guns, and Toothpaste Tubes

“Looks like we’ve got a nickel signal here,” he said.

Kneeling down, he took out a serrated hand trowel and cut a plug of grass from Denny Park on the corner of Pine Street and Bloomingdale Avenue. He dug around for a second and pulled out two chunks of dirt-encrusted metal.” Adirondack Coins, Guns, and Toothpaste Tubes

Mike Gipson Shares Metal Detecting Expertise at The Gathering Place

Metal Detector Enthusiast Unearths Treasure Trove in Field

David Upton, 72, uncovered the small box, filled to the brim with gold and silver jewellery and a range of precious and semi-precious stones, whilst sweeping a field last week.” Metal Detector Enthusiast Unearths Treasure Trove in Field

AMAZING Find! 293AD Immaculate Gold Coin Worth 100k

It is emblazoned with the face of Emperor Allectu who is being touted as the first Brexiteer after he took Britain out of the Roman Empire during his reign around 293AD.

The 24 carat gold coin, known as an Aureus, is expected to sell for £100,000 ($130,000) when it goes to auction later this year.” Immaculate Gold Coin Worth 100k

We Want Your Stories and Pictures

Many have posted pictures and brief stories of their finds at my website. It’s easy to do. You basically create your own webpage with a picture or pictures, and a brief story of how you found the items. Once your page is posted, others will be able to view your page, and make comments. You will also have your own url link to the webpage you built. Use that link to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Pintrest and share with others.

So show your “stuff.” We want to see the goodies! Stories About Your Finds

Back Issues

And Now Tesoro Metal Detectors

I have slowly been adding the Tesoro detectors to my website. If you know of a Tesoro detector you'd like to buy, or have questions about it, and you do not see it listed at my website feel free to contact me at the email address below.

As a newsletter subscriber, if you’re going to buy a detector from me, be sure to contact me first, so I can work up a discount.

email me at: detector99@yahoo.com

Thank You

Frank

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