I have been metal detecting since 1974, so I guess you could say I have acquired "some experience" in the hobby. It is the dreams of every detecting enthusiast to one day uncover a gold coin. That dream recently came true for me, after 37+ years of searching.

I received permission from the construction crew supervisor to search along a stretch of a new road going through an old property. After several days of this, I met the owner of the property where the road was going through and he gave me permission to also search on his property.

I had found several old items already and my hopes were really high for making some good finds. Since I had already found an old piece of cut Spanish silver, I thought I might find the elusive "bust coin". Something that has eluded me all these years, even though I have recovered coins older than that but never did I expect to make an even better find, one that had also eluded me all those years. Pull tabs had been plentiful in this area and I got a signal that I figured was "just another tab". Imagine my extreme surprise and elation when I looked down and saw a little round gold disc in the dark soil! All I can tell you is that the thrill of finding a gold coin is everything you expect it would be and more! Upon a quick examination, I realized that not only had I found a gold coin, but a rather uncommon gold coin. It turned out to be an 1840-C (Charlotte NC mint) quarter eagle (2 1/2 dollar gold coin). Not only was the coin rare and low mintage but it was also in near mint condition.

I own both a regular T² and a T² LTD. Both have been excellent machines and I have made many fantastic recoveries with them going back over sites that I have hunted for years and thought there was nothing left. I keep the T² set up with the small 5-inch coil for working in and around iron infested areas and the T² LTD with the regular coil and the boost mode for finding those previously "too deep to get a signal" targets. The Teknetics machines continue to amaze me with the consistent finds I make with them.

Duane Caldwell (known online as "Buzzardjaws")