| Coin Hunting or 'Coin Shooting' as it's often called, | | | | many of the modern ones are like schools, they |
| is not only very fun to do, but it can easily be | | | | are built on the grounds where old ones stood. |
| very profitable. Finding just one gold piece or any | | | | Churches were often the first buildings built in |
| rare coin can easily pay for the cost of the metal | | | | many towns. Right here where I live are |
| detector. When it comes to Coin Hunting or 'Coin | | | | numerous churches, and one was built in the early |
| Shooting', there are some places that I call 'hot | | | | 1700's. Church buildings not only housed people on |
| spots', or the best places. | | | | sundays but, most were wedding sites, reception |
| Riverbanks - Ponds - Lakes - Swimming Holes: | | | | halls, dance halls, dinner sites, ice cream social |
| These locations are true treasure hunting top | | | | locations, group meeting spots and much more. |
| spots. The Riverbank is a huge area that can | | | | Woods - The woods can be awesome for metal |
| provide a lifetime of detecting. River banks were | | | | detecting if one knows what to look for. Look for |
| used as ferry crossings, and some had covered | | | | old paths, those are great places to detect along. |
| bridges with toll stations. The local old timers may | | | | Old paths in the woods served as shortcuts to |
| be able to tell you where the local fishing and old | | | | open fields for farmers to get their equipment |
| swimming spots were. Remember many of the | | | | through, or for cattle to follow and more. In a |
| old fishing spots were also drinking and partying | | | | wooded area not far from where I grew up as a |
| spots, and at the swimming holes a lot of people | | | | child I know where there is an old path, now |
| took off their outer clothes, losing change as they | | | | grown up with trees and bushes, most folks |
| did. And going back even earlier in the years, folks | | | | would overlook it or not know it's history. My |
| would take their clothes to the riverbanks to | | | | grandfather and dad built the road by blasting |
| wash them in the water. The same goes for old | | | | stumps with dynamite and by hand cutting trees. |
| farm ponds, many were used as a favorite | | | | They used the path to quickly get tractors, and |
| summer time swimming spot or picnic area. The | | | | other farm machinery to another open field below |
| banks and shores of rivers, ponds, streams, lakes | | | | the woods. Just imagine the number of times my |
| etc, are great locations for coins, jewelry, trinkets | | | | own dad and grandfather probably sat along that |
| and more. | | | | old road, eating their lunch or sipping some cool |
| Schools - Churches: These are also 'HOT' areas | | | | lemonaid underneath the shade of a large tree. |
| for metal detecting, most towns or even rural | | | | Any time someone sat along a road eating lunch, |
| areas have a school, some have multiple ones. | | | | they would often pull an old cloth hanky from |
| Schools that are currently open during school | | | | their pocket to blow their nose or even wipe their |
| season are a great place to find modern coins and | | | | mouth, often losing some pocket change at the |
| even a few clad coins, also numerous trinkets, | | | | same time. |
| diecast cars, and cheaper jewelry items can easily | | | | Another rare but great metal detecting site that |
| be found on modern school grounds. | | | | can often be found in the woods is old stone |
| If you are as lucky as I am, then you live in a | | | | foundations and old stone chimneys, each has the |
| rural or country area that keeps a lot of their old | | | | potential for a rare gold coin or a jar of old silver |
| buildings. I know where there are two old buildings | | | | dollars. Remember at one time this old stone |
| that served as one room school houses, these | | | | foundation or fireplace was part of a familys |
| places were open in the late 1800's to the early | | | | home, with kids playing, parties and numerous |
| 1940's. Just imagine the wonderful finds these old | | | | outdoor activites. |
| grounds may be hiding. The old one room school | | | | Some other great Metal Detecting sites are - |
| houses also served as churches, social halls, farm | | | | Parks, Beaches, Old Ball Fields, Playgrounds, |
| grange buildings, and as meeting places for scouts, | | | | Fairgrounds, Camping Sites, Camps, Ghost Towns, |
| ladies aid societys and more. | | | | Battlefields, Old Picnic Spots. Make sure that you |
| Many old Churches and one room school houses | | | | have permission to search and dig in any location |
| had there own treasure chests, that's right. When | | | | you are going to do your detecting at. |
| these buildings were constructed, the local kids | | | | There is Computer Software that is made just |
| and adults would bury a chest on the grounds or | | | | for the hobby of Metal Detecting. The software is |
| under a corner stone of the building. The chest | | | | called: 'Metal Detector - Treasure Hunter |
| was a sort of time capsule containing coins, | | | | Professional', and may be seen at this website |
| newspapers and other unique items from the | | | | address: |
| time when the building was erected. Many of | | | | By Robert W. Benjamin |
| these old buildings rotted away over time, and | | | | Copyright © 2006 |
| folks forgot about the buried time capsule located | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, |
| near the corner stone. | | | | newsletter on your web site as long as it is |
| Searching the land a church is on is like searching | | | | reprinted in its entirety and without modification |
| for a pirates loot, you never know what you may | | | | except for formatting needs or grammar |
| find. And a lot of churches are very old, even | | | | corrections. |