April Fools Pirates

"Two pirate ships were spotted dropping anchor near the Valley Prince boat in Old Sacramento Friday morning.

Dan Auldman called the Sacramento Police Department while on his morning metal detecting walk after he saw the Jolly Roger approaching.

'My trusty detector had just led me to a Seated Liberty silver dollar,' Auldman said. 'I looked up at the sky feeling good about my find, and that’s when I saw the skull.'"

Read more HERE.

Pennsylvania UXO Search

"For about 20 years, Marty Holmes has meticulously walked over thousands of acres of woods and fields armed with nothing but a fancy metal detector.

It's not for fun, like a beachcomber looking for buried treasure. It's a chance for him to possibly save lives.

Holmes is an 'unexploded ordnance specialist,' part of a team from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that scours land that could contain old ammunition buried deep underground after decades of neglect. The team will find, flag and safely remove unexploded ordnance."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Keith R. Stevenson / Pocono Record

King Richard's Knight

"...

The silver boar badge was dropped in the mud more than 500 years ago by a knight who fought alongside King Richard III, historians believe.

The white boar was the king's personal emblem and silver gilt boars were made for his knights and nobles.

The emblem will be independently valued by a committee of experts."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: BBC

1400's Gold/Diamond Ring

This item was found a few years back, but finally going up for auction. It's one of the most breath-taking finds I've ever seen and I'm more than happy to share it with you all. Put in a bid for me... :)

"A rare 15th Century diamond ring discovered by a Leicestershire metal detectorist could fetch £20,000 when it goes to auction.

John Stevens found the gold ring in the Fleckney area in July 2008.

He said it had been 'quite a shock' to come across the treasure just inches below the surface of a ploughed field."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Bonhams

TX High School Champtionship Ring Found

Not sure why this news story came up, as it's actually from 2010... maybe because finally some closure with it? Either way, it's a great story to read, so give it a look.

"It's a mystery that begins in one of the prettiest places in all of Texas, along the Blanco River in Wimberley.

That's where Brad Bieler of Forney was last August, killing time with his kids and his metal detector.

'This gives me something to do while I'm watching them,' he explained."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: WFAA

30yr Old MD Find Gets Returned

"A piece of Mason City history has been returned after being found more than 30 years ago in southern Iowa.

R.J. Piatt of Glenwood, Mo., found a police commissioner lapel pin belonging to a Mason City man named S.A. Koch while prospecting with a metal detector at a home in Ottumwa sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

Historical documents list Koch as a Mason City councilman in 1919-21."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Jeff Heinz / The Globe Gazette

Fort Lincoln - Larkspur, CO

From the Denver Daily

"Recently the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Larkspur uncovered a historic fort on its ground, Fort Lincoln, also known as the People's Fort. Fort Lincoln was built in response to the Sand Creek Massacre on Nov. 29, 1864. Jellystone Park owner Ian Steyn along with a team of archaeologists, surveryors, metal detector professionals, members of the Colorado Historical Society and the community will come together at 9:30 a.m. April 2, 2011 at the campground to continue their work in uncovering the fort and formally reporting the findings. Steyn plans to rebuild and recreate the fort to provide the community with an important part of Colorado's history."

"Daniel C. Oakes builds Fort Lincoln (People’s Fort) for the protection of settlers from Indian uprisings. 30 families lived there 6 months."

Image above actually of Fort Collins.

Towton Dig to Put Off UK Hobbyists

"...

The first stage of the dig has secured funding and can now go ahead since the archaeologists made an agreement with the landowners and local authority over protection for the site.

For the first time, the agreement makes it illegal for unauthorised treasure hunters to go on the battlefield site with a metal detector because of the problems of them removing artefacts without recording the findings. It includes incentives for landowners to deter poachers and flytippers."

Read more HERE.

Scottish Treasure Stays Put

"The man who unearthed a hoard of Roman coins said the 'Gods will be pleased' after it was announced they will stay in the county where they were found.

The Frome hoard – the largest collection of Roman coins ever unearthed in a single container – will go to the Museum of Somer­set thanks to a grant of almost £300,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

The silver and bronze coins were found in Somerset last year by metal detector enthusiast Dave Crisp, from Wiltshire."

Read more HERE.
Another article HERE.

Image Credits: Ben Birchall / PA Wire

Treasure Tension

"It was the find of a lifetime and made them both millionaires.

But when jobless Terry Herbert discovered the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure in history in farmer Fred Johnson’s muddy field, it also sparked extraordinary tensions between the two men.

Now, despite each receiving an equal share of the money from the £3,3-million treasure, their relationship has soured so badly that Mr Johnson, 67, has banned Mr Herbert, 56, from his farm.

Both men have also spoken of their regrets at making the find."

Read more HERE.

More Afghan IED Searches

"...

As I slowly back away from the action, I weigh the possibilities. Either the route-clearers are so dedicated to their jobs — and to sparing their fellow NATO soldiers from IEDS — that they eagerly embrace the deadly risk that comes from poking at explosives with knives.

Or, they’re simply deranged.

I haven’t yet made up my mind when there’s a disappointed groan. With a final scrape of a bayonet, Pittman and the other NCO have unearthed the metal object that set off the soldier’s detector. It’s not a bomb. It’s a piece of trash long interred in the middle of the dirt path.

The route patrol marches on, confident that actual IEDs await, not far down the road."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: David Axe / Wired

Military Medals Returned

"Telve years ago, medals bestowed on a war hero and distinguished police commander were stolen from his family’s Oxfordshire cottage.

But this weekend they were returned to their rightful home after being discovered in a farmer’s field just 20 yards from the house they were taken from.

The honours, eight in total including the OBE, the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal and the World War I British War medal, were unearthed by two metal detector enthusiasts on a bleak Sunday afternoon in January."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Oxford Mail

Great Spring Break Pic

"'I don't know what it is, but there's something right under here that's driving my gauges crazy.'

No, not really. It's just part of some innocent Spring Break hijinks on the beach in Fort Lauderdale.

It actually sounds too good to be true.

Jerry Calabrese was making his regular sandy rounds with a trusty metal detector the other day, looking for misplace coins or whatever. Then 21-year-old Nicole Ruggiero of New Jersey asked him to pose for a goofy photo of him scanning her sunbathing body.

It worked."

Commentary from the LA Times.

Got Some Malaysian Coins

Always nice working with and having friends from all over the world. I can always put the word out that to my foreign friends to bring back some pocket change to the boat so I can get my hands on it.

This time wasn't any different. My buddy Sharir Shaid brought me back the coins you see pictured above/

2008 10 Sen 19mm, depicting a Congkak on the reverse.
2010 20 Sen 23mm, depitcing a Sirih and kapur container on the reverse.
2010 50 Sen 28mm, depicting a Wau Bulan on the reverse.

And to finish it off, here's a nice photo from the other day of me enjoying the nice calm sea, warm sun, and an O'Douls near-beer.

SANBORN FREE until March 27!!!

Another freebie for all you folks who missed out on the one that ended Mar 17th... this one is active until March 27th!!!

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Click HERE to have full access until 3/27/2011.

UK Rally Strikes Gold

"Treasure hunting enthusiasts struck gold at a rally near Wootton Bassett at the weekend.

More than 260 metal detector operators, from all over the country, took to fields in Hook for the rally on Saturday organised by Clive Leavy of Wootton Bassett and District Rotary Club.

The event raised £3,640 towards Rotarian charities and the treasure hunters found a solid gold stater coin dating back to about 100 years BC."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Victoria Ashford / This Is Wiltshire

Police MD Near OSU

"Corvallis police are continuing to investigate the firing of five or six gunshots near the intersection of Northwest 27th Street and Northwest Polk Avenue at 6 a.m. Wednesday in a residential area a few blocks from Oregon State University.

No injuries were reported.

Corvallis police canvassed the area for several hours Wednesday. A witness reported hearing the gunshots and then seeing two males running away. The two males were described as wearing hooded sweatshirts — one brown and one red."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Emily Gillespie/Gazette-Times

Britanicus Treasure Shop

"A treasure hunter opened his Aladdin’s cave of historical finds in Eastbourne last week.

Simon Wicks has been legally plundering historical sites for the past 40 years unearthing everything from trivial Victorian coins to a golden garnet cross belonging to Anne Boleyn.

His shop Britanicus in Terminus Road holds everything from £5 medieval buckles to £15,000 gold snuff boxes."

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Eastbourne Herald

Who Knew Penguins Were Fellow Hobbyists

Came across this online strip today...

Check out more from Alex Hallatt and his "Artic Circle" strip HERE.

Ft. Lee Cannonball

From Associated Press

"PETERSBURG, Va. -- A cannonball that could be from the Civil War era has been found at Fort Lee in Virginia and explosives experts have been called in to detonate it.

Spokesman Stephen J. Baker said the unexploded ordnance was uncovered around 11 a.m. Friday during a metal detector survey of an area on the 5,900-acre base south of Richmond.

Baker said an explosives ordnance team from Fort Belvoir (BELL'-vwar) is en route from northern Virginia.

The cannonball was buried about 6 inches deep. An area around it has been cordoned off."

Legend of the Buried GT-40

"...

'About 20 to 25 years ago, there was a guy who arrived early to get in line, and every morning he would go out into Green Park with a metal detector and walk around,' Breslauer continued. 'Without fail, he would be up early and always in roughly same spot in Green Park. We finally asked him what he was looking for, and he said he was looking for the remains of the Bob McLean Ford GT40 that crashed and burned at that spot back in 1966 (McLean died in that accident).

'He swore that the car was eventually buried at that spot and he was trying to find pieces of it...'"

Read more HERE.
Fore more on the legend, click HERE.

Iron Age Gold Coins Found

"Gold coins believed to be more than 2,000 years old have been discovered on farmland in Leicestershire.

Amateur treasure hunter Steve Bestwick unearthed the 10 coins, which date back to the Iron Age, after using his metal detector in a field in the south of the county.

The Gallo-Belgic Stater coins originated from an area of northern France, which is now Belgium, and pre-date the Roman invasion of Britain."

Read more HERE.

NC Club Moves On It

"You keep getting asked not to mention this place — to anyone.

Now that we’re here, we’re wondering why all the secrecy. The only things we see are a NO TRESPASSING sign, a beer can and a lot of nothing.

'This is a perfect site,' Jim Spivey declares with a drawl.

And he would know. After all, he picked it.

'I don’t know what’s in there, but it’s ideal for digging,' continues Spivey, adding that he 'pleaded' with the owner for permission to enter the property. 'We’ve gotta move on it.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Jerry Wolford / News & Record

UK Senior Hits Gold

"Former soldier Jim Belk has described the moment he found part of a gold Anglo Saxon sword while out hunting with his metal detector.

Mr Belk, 76, of Esmead, Chippenham, said: 'I was in total disbelief.

'I was just so shocked. It is absolutely the most significant thing I have uncovered.'"

Read more HERE.

Image Credits: Wiltshire Gazette & Herald

Stone Age Tools With an MD?

"Tools used by some of the earliest farmers in Bristol more than 4,000 years ago have been found by a metal detecting enthusiast from Filton.

David Upton, 67, found the three small pieces from the Stone Age, which include an arrowhead, a stone axe head and a flint scraper, in a field in Frenchay.

Mr Upton, who has previously found precious coins and Roman artefacts, made this find without using his detector, but by simply using his eyes."

Read more HERE.

Leeds Bleeding Heart Seal

"Was this precious golden love token lost by a forlorn Leeds lass when Shakespeare was still alive and kicking?

Or perhaps the ‘bleeding heart’ slipped out of a lovesick English Civil War soldier’s pocket and dropped in the mud, where it lay undisturbed for generations.

More than 300 years later, the perfectly preserved 17th century romantic keepsake set a rookie treasure hunter’s heart fluttering after his metal detector beeped as he swept pastureland in Allerton Bywater."

Read more HERE.

68 Yrs and States Away, Ring Returned

"School workers in Campbell County have worked together to help return a lost class ring from 1943.

The Altavista High School ring was found by a man doing metal detecting in a lake near Cleveland, Ohio.

The school system's records clerk and the Altavista guidance office helped connect the initials J.A.P, to Jeannette Pickrel Sullivan, who now lives in Wilmington, North Carolina."

Read more and watch the video HERE.

3rd Annual Diggin' It With Friends

The 3rd annual FMDF Diggin' It With Friends Treasure Hunt is being held at Huntress Park in Clay Center, Kansas. Saturday, April 9th. We are meeting when the park opens at 7:00 a.m. We'll start hunting when everyone is ready to get after it... rain or shine.

We never charge an entry fee or sell tickets to raffle off any prizes and this will not be a seeded event. However we will be giving away a few prizes after the hunt and having a bbq/picnic. Bring your spouses, your children or your best hunting bud, everyone is welcome to attend our event! If you are interested in meeting and socializing and having a great time. Make your plans now to attend. It is going to be a diggin' good time and we're looking forward to seeing you there.


Now a little about the park we plan to hunt.

Mr. and Mrs. Orville Huntress came to Clay County in 1861 and bought a farm on what is now called Huntress Creek. Since the Huntress home was on a road traveled by soldiers going from Fort Riley to Indian outposts such as Scandia and White Rock, these men often stopped at the Huntress well for water. The first post office in Clay County was in the Huntress Home. Early settlers from England began homesteading in Clay County in 1862 in the area now, Clay Center. Clay County was named for Henry Clay, the famous U.S. Statesman. In 1886 Mrs. Huntress sold the Huntress farm, but reserved eight acres which she gave to Clay Center for a park. A Chautauqua was held in the park in 1904 and has been the site for thousands of picnics and family reunions over the years.

The original homestead of Orville Huntress is now a portion of the city of Clay Center and is built over, with the exception of eight acres, which was given to the city for park purposes and is named "Huntress Park." The old Huntress home, built in 1861, is located in this park and is preserved by the city in its original condition, as a monument of her first pioneer. It was not only the Huntress residence, but Clay Center's first post office and hotel. The widow of Orville Huntress, born in Canton Me., Aug. 21, 1821, married for her second husband, C. M. Anthony, a distinguished member of the Kansas bar and a resident of Clay Center. She passed away Dec. 6, 1894.

The closest accomodations to the park is the Cedar Court Motel located about 1/5th mile East of the park at 905 Crawford St. Be sure to mention to them, that you are there for the Diggin' It With Friends Treasure Hunt.

The number to call for reservations is 1-800-999-5774.

The economy: 1 queen bed 52.00 per night, 2 queen beds 57.00 per night.
The middle: 1 or 2 queen beds 62.00 per night
The new section: 1 king or 2 queen beds, recliner, whirlpool tub, 70.00 per night.
All of the rooms have a refrigerator, coffee pot, ironing board and iron.
Continental breakfast included.

There is a Mexican restaurant located next to the motel.

Leave a comment for answers to questions and/or concerns.

K & M Discovery Team

I'd like to welcome all the fine members of the K&M Discovery Team here to Jimmy's MD Blog.

"The origin of the K & M Discovery Team actually began Labor day weekend 2009 when a few guys from the friendly metal detecting forum made some plans to hunt together. This group of guys lived in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri and they all met in Clinton, Missouri that year for a hunt. In 2010 some of the same guys made plans to have yet another group hunt, this time in Sedalia, Missouri. These guys involved more friendly metal detecting forum members from the Missouri Hunters social group and the Kansas Hunters social group. A decision was made that year for our second annual hunt to hold a t-shirt design contest on the forum and call our event the Mo-Kan Hot Treasure Hunt. We later found out, the name was "taken" only after our event and contest was over and done with.

We came up with an idea to bring all of our treasure hunting friends together to create the K & M Discovery Team. With that idea in mind, we took the K and the O and then the M from Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and developed those letters into our logo and team name. We have since become known as a specialized group of your average everyday treasure hunters. A team made up of guys and gals, husbands and wives, friends and family members. We have also chosen not to charge anyone a membership fee to join the team.

That is how we became known as the "K & M Discovery Team." We do our best to, not only get together for our annual hunts, but to meet up with members for other hunts throughout the detecting season. As a team we will be detecting sites that have taken a lot of research and special permission just to get onto. These sites usually require walking long distances to and from and for the most part, they don't have facilities to accommodate you when nature calls.

The K & M Discovery Team holds their annual Diggin' It With Friends treasure hunt for all members of the forum in our area. We try our best to find a location that is central to as many of the forum and team members as possible and with all the creature comforts of home. Our annual event is the time when we can all get together for a day of hunting and socializing and have the chance to put a face with a name. This is a great time to strengthen friendships and make new ones. We give away prizes and hold a picnic of some kind at our events. We would like all team members to contribute whatever you can with making this annual event happen. Help us make this (always free) event grow!"

I'm more than happy to have you guys on the site, and just as happy to be a member... see you all at this year's hunt!

Those of you interested in becoming a member of the K&M Discovery Team, give a look over at their social group on FMDF: HERE.

As a side note, here are my entries for their 2011 T-Shirt contest... if you're interested in voting please click HERE.

Mass. Hobbyist Finds What's Lost

"One woman put her rings in a towel when she went swimming in the ocean, picked up the towel when she returned, shivering and wet, and the rings went flying. Where? Who knew? She combed her fingers through the sand with that heavy, sinking feeling of hopelessness that attends a needle-in-a-haystack hunts.

Another woman was shoveling her driveway when her rings slipped into a snow bank. Put major emphasis on “bank,” because it was like saying sayonara to thousands upon thousands of dollars, not to mention the sentimental... "

Read mroe HERE.

Image Credits: Emily Clark / Wicked Local

Grey Area Graphics - Bill Grey

Just wanted to extend a warm welcome to Bill Grey, owner of Grey Area Graphics and purveyor of fine metal detecting related graphic design as well as tshirt and vinyl decal printing.

I first met Bill as floridaBill on FMDF. I noticed for quite some time the decals he was printing and selling. While working offshore and responding during the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, my captain asked me to design and get some shirts made up for the crew to show our participating in the event. Bill was my guy. Great service, great product, great price... quick shipping as well!

Bill has recently redesigned the FMDF forum tshirts and has a whole line of hobby related vinyl decals you can place on your vehicle windows to proudly display your participation in the best hobby in the world.

So please, if you're looking for a custom made hobby related tshirt, decal, or anything else printed on something... give Bill your business, and you won't regret it.

There are a few outlets to view and purchase items from Bill. The first is his website for Grey Area Graphics. You can view all sorts of items and pricing there.

Another, is his eBay listing as seller ID mr300s: HERE.

And lastly, be sure to check out the FMDF Classifieds for all sorts of new designs.

SANBORN Next Two Weeks FREE

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA (and where my cousin is currently enrolled) is offering a trial subsription to their students, why not jump on the bandwagon and get those maps you really need!!!

!!! EXPIRED !!!

Click HERE to have full access until 3/17/2011.