Dirt Fishing Triumphs: My 1919 Mercury Dime and Silver Trinket Adventure

My Recent Metal Detecting Expedition

Last week, I spent five amazing hours dirt fishing at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. A light drizzle fell for the first couple hours, but I didn’t mind—what really got me was forgetting my gloves! My hands were caked in mud by the end, a rookie mistake I won’t make again. But the hunt paid off: I scored a beautiful 1919 Mercury Dime, a neat silver pendant (my second in two weeks!), and 11 Wheat Cents. I also grabbed a damaged cent like I always do—it’s not an error coin, but I save these to show new collectors what regular damage looks like.

Preparing for the Next Big Hunt: Hunter Island

With July 4th free, I’m heading solo to Hunter Island—that peninsula north of Orchard Beach crawling with deer and, word is, some silver hotspots. Getting ready means packing frozen Gatorade to beat the heat, plus serious bug spray for ticks and mosquitoes. Since I burn like toast, I’ll slather on sunblock everywhere except my ears (thank goodness for headphones!). Long sleeves and pants aren’t optional here—learned that the hard way after years of dodging Lyme disease.

Metal Detector Insights and Coin Collecting Wisdom

Here’s something odd I’ve noticed: nickels hardly ever turn up for me—maybe one or two every few trips. Turns out they ping around 26-28 on machines like my NOKTA Legend, right where pull tabs ring. Most folks skip those signals, but I dig everything. Why? Because last year, a 28-30 signal turned out to be a gold ring, and another time, a shallow 1779 Half Reale! That’s why I never walk past shallow targets—you might miss history itself.

For fellow collectors, that 1919 Mercury Dime is special—90% silver means it’s got both collector charm and melt value. Handle it gently to keep those details crisp. The Wheat Cents are fun finds, but that damaged cent? It’s not worth much, but perfect for teaching newcomers how to spot real errors versus regular wear.

Essential Tips for Successful Metal Detecting

From muddy hands to surprise treasures, here’s what works for me:

• Gloves aren’t optional—save your hands and your finds
• Cover up: long sleeves, pants, and serious bug spray are musts
• Frozen Gatorade beats plain water when summer’s blazing
• Dig every beep—shallow signals can hide the best stuff
• Snap photos during hunts—makes the stories better later
• Keep damaged coins separate; they’re great teaching tools

This hobby’s all about adventure meeting history—every signal could be a story. Happy hunting, and may your next trip bring something shiny!