Found Detecting Pensacola Treasure with Whites Metal Detector

My dear husband is one of those guys that always needs to be starting a new project or finding a new hobby to learn and stay motivated with life in general. A few months ago after watching a show on Mels Fisher Treasure Museum he decides he wants to be a treasure hunter. We tour the Museum in Key West and he sells me on the idea by reminding me how much I like the beach and suggesting this is a hobby we can both do together. His last hobby, texas hold’em poker was kind of gnawing on me plus getting way too expensive. Being the understanding wife that I am, I say “whatever babe, do what you like“, I figure it may be fun, we can try this. This gives him the thumbs up to purchase the metal detector he needs to pursue this new found passion.

Man that he is, he starts off like a real professional. He does his research and purchases the best metal detector he can afford. Accessories are an important part of the hobby. You have to look good , according to him. A box arrives with the whites label metal detector and 7 other boxes along with it. One has a hard carrying case, the other a metal scoop with a long handle, another has multiple hats with lights on top like he’s going mining ...sigh, another box contains books on where to find these treasures and only god knows what else is in the other boxes, I stopped looking.

I’m sure he doesn’t need half of this but he insists he does. He says looking the part is half the battle and I’ve been married long enough to know that in his case he really believes this is true. He is now the proud owner of a Whites Beach Hunter 300 capable of underwater detecting. It can target metal buried up to three feet under.

I tell my sister about this new hobby and she laughs like she’s done every year since my husband and I have been married . She laughs because she thinks we are ridiculously immature. She laughs because she has been on vacation with us and knows we subscribe to Murphys Law (whatever can go wrong, will ) sort of like the Chevy Chase vacations. She asks how I feel about this new hobby and I tell her the truth . As long as he keeps taking me to the beach, I’m in, and if he doesn’t find anything and looks discouraged I’ll be the first one out there scattering quarters to keep him busy and interested.

Right before we left to Pensacola Beach for our second metal detecting trip I read a hub by Treasured Pasts and commented on how my husband and I were just getting into the metal detecting fever but so far had only used the metal detector a handful of times and had managed to find a measly .26 cents. Treasured Pasts encouraged us to keep at it and that we did. Shortly after that I heard of newly discovered Anglo Saxon gold and silver treasure in England.

While on vacation in Pensacola Beach , naturally the first and foremost scheduled activity was to metal detect the coast and then a park. We had done a bit of research as to what locations would be best within proximity. I normally like to stroll a few steps behind the hubby carrying a second shovel in case of a big find. Mostly though I get distracted by every pretty shell, little crab and cute kid I come across. I only speed up when I see him flagging me over with a hint of excitement in his face.

We had been on the beach about 45 minutes and dug up multiple soda pop tabs, metal beer caps and a few pennies and quarters. Upon this one dig the metal detector went wildly crazy flashing lights and marking large ring. Once dug up about 6 inches in the sand we came up with a ring. It was gold in color with orange stones but it didn’t seem like gold to me, it looked more like a tarnished metal sort of like bronze with green salt deposits. Regardless of what it was it was very exciting, it was our first treasure found. We also managed to find that day a Browning knife, an AA hope coin and an ankle bracelet with a peace sign charm attached.

We talked about our good luck for the rest of the day and vowed to swing by a jewelry shop on the suggestion of an older gentleman from the area whom we met on the beach. He happened to be metal detecting with a 79 year old friend and offered some tips and places for us to try our luck. Belonging to a metal detecting club he was an 18 year plus experienced detector. He happened to have a magnifying glass on him and upon viewing our new found ring he was excited for us.

The lady at the jewelry shop pulled out her gold test kit and commenced to do the test, she shattered our dream when she said it was not gold. We continued on our drive home determined not to give up . If it wasn’t gold, what metal was it ? The question haunted us and once back in our hometown we took it to a friend of ours which owns a jewelry store. Again, he tested the ring. Sure enough, it again tested not gold. He pulls out his silver tester and Bingo, the ring happened to be silver. He told us that old silver exposed to the elements and salt for a very long time ends to turn a brackish gold color. The gemstones are real, either citrine or orange sapphires. Only sapphires I knew of are blue, but he says that although rare there are all color sapphires. The ring has been shipped out to a gemologist that more accurately determines through a spectrometer the actual gemstone and quality. We are anxiously awaiting word of the value, if any. We were advised not to clean it because it would take any historical value it may hold away . Who knows, maybe its not worth much but it will sure keep us motivated for some time to come.

Since then I have purchased my own whites metal detector to cover twice as much ground while out there detecting. After having a general idea of the different metal detectors and their capabilities I entered a dive shop and settled on a White’s Prizm 6T, the latest models of the Prizms. I love because it is a bit more lightweight than my husbands. It has a panel that upon sweeping over metal gives you an idea as to what is underneath. It has nine discriminating settings as well in the event you only want to dig up certain targeted metals such as ones marked as coins or relics. I’m getting familiar with the panel as it has multi tones and flashing lights. I’m currently learning how to discern the different type of metal noises as well.

My initial intentions was searching for sunken pirate booty that may have found its way onto the beach. I’ve also entertained the possibility of finding lost jewelry. Others use it to search old abandoned buildings and groves hoping to find old historical coins, possible gold caches, and historic relics from past eras. The best and most successful metal detecting enthusiasts actually do quite a bit of research to increase the chance of finding something of value. They might spend quite some time at the local public library researching dated magazines for past gathering areas of folks before us. I have to say its not as easy as it looks, but it certainly is an interesting pastime, fun, plus a great way to keep in shape.

• Ruins

• Amusement Parks

• Derelict Property

• Old Homesites

• Ghost Towns

• Old Farms

• City Parks

• School Yards