Robert got a call from a lady who lost her ring snowball fighting at Santa’s Wonderland. He brought his ACE 300 and drove 2 hours to help her recover it. He writes, “About 30 minutes into searching for it, my machine went beep, beep, BAM! There it was, buried a foot deep in the snow. That smile made everything worthwhile. Huge thanks to Garrett Metal Detectors for helping turn stressful moments into happy endings.”

Opa found a once-in-a-lifetime find on his third day using the Vortex! On his first few swings, he was getting a VDI of 53 repeatedly, so he decided to dig one up. He thought it would be a pull tab, but it turned out to be a gold coin about 10 inches in the ground, which made his heart skip a beat in shock. He wrote, “ It turned out to be a rare 1555–1567 Saint Oswald Ducat, a Dutch gold guilder from Count William IV. The only other known example sits in a castle museum… and the second was found far from that castle, right in my hometown. A little dance, a lot of history, and a day I’ll never forget. Thank you, Garrett Metal Detectors, for building detectors that truly bring the past back to life.”

On a warm summer day in a Pennsylvania pasture, what started as a normal hunt with the AT PRO for Ryan quickly turned into history in his hands. He had visited this 1800s homestead before finding buttons, large cents, and early relics, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what happened next. He writes, “As I headed toward the creek to leave for the day, I got a screaming high tone. Honestly, I thought it was an aluminum can… until I opened the plug and saw a 1779 8 Reale staring back at me! I literally threw my shovel and ran in circles while my buddy yelled, “WHAT DID YOU FIND?!”

A weekend camping trip turned unforgettable! Just a couple of hours into the hunt with the Vortex VX9 in Beach Mode, a low tone caught Matthew C.’s ear. It sounded like trash, but he dug it anyway because low tones = GOLD potential. He writes, “As I pulled the clump from the water, I saw that it was a gold ring for sure, and I was so excited that this was my first gold ring using the Vortex. My wife witnessed me pulling it up and taking pictures for me. Got it back to camp, cleaned it up, and saw that it was a 14k diamond ring. Thank you, Garrett, for making such a quality machine.” Matthew C., Texas

Cregg and his wife went to Rockport, Texas to visit the beach. This beach is a popular attraction due to the calm water. Unfortunately, on this day, it was rainy, but that didn’t stop Cregg from using his VX9 on the beach. He started detecting and was greeted by a small jellyfish but was able to maneuver around it. After an hour, he finally got a good signal in the 60s. It took him several scoops to dig it out, but he found gold! It was a 1943 Rockport Texas ISD Class Ring! He writes, “There are initials stamped in the ring, so my mission began trying to identify the owner. The person would have to be around 100 years old, which could make this challenging. My theory is that this ring was on a chain and was lost during World War II. Maybe by a girlfriend. I contacted the local newspaper, the Rockport Pilot, to help with the mystery. The editor was very excited and wrote a story for the paper. This led me to find the owner and give it to him. He had a huge smile on his face! Thanks, Garrett.”

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jane O. from Texas! Jane got an invite to detect a historic 1800s property, and it did not disappoint! She was using her trusty and was locked in on two targets about 6 inches down at the beginning of her hunt. When she went to uncover the targets, she discovered two Republic of Texas cuff buttons from 1836-1846! One was a Texas Navy button (rare), and the other one was a Texas Marine Cops button, which is extremely rare. She writes, “The AT Pro delivers again and will always be my go-to machine. The buttons I found, which were only a few, were made in Texas history. This is awesome. Thank you, Garrett!” Jane O. WINS a Vortex VX5 metal detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Troy A. from Indiana! Troy A. has been detecting since returning from Iraq in 2009, wearing out his before upgrading to the AT Max—and it delivered with a deep signal in a natural, unseeded Missouri field. He found his first Civil War chest plate and he got to meet KG and Ringy. What a day! He writes, “As a detectorist from Indiana, Civil War finds like this are rare. The made it possible. I wouldn’t swing anything else.” Troy A. WINS an Vortex VX5 Metal Detector.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Drew L. from New York! That moment when a “maybe” signal turns into unreal treasure! While swinging the Garrett near a creek on a local college campus, Drew L. hit what seemed like a sketchy tone, but curiosity won. Out came a gold chain… and attached to it, an 1890 Morgan turned fraternity fob! He writes, “Buttons, coins, and now a legendary find. Dig those sketchy signals—you never know what stories lie beneath the surface.” Drew L. WINS a VORTEX VX5 metal detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Brian O. from Oregon! From Oregon’s forests to North Carolina’s fields, his Garrett just made history. On the very last day, in the very last field of a detecting event, Brian O. dug up what he thought was just another signal… until he got home and realized it was a Confederate belt buckle! His first-ever Civil War relic. He writes, “I’m still blown away. The VX9 didn’t just perform; it delivered. Thank you, Garrett, for making machines that turn moments into milestones.” Brian O. WINS ACE Apex metal detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Bob K. from New York! When Allisun lost her one-of-a-kind engagement ring in a 4-foot snowdrift, Bob knew his Garrett was up for the challenge. Less than 5 minutes and a few careful swings later, there it was, diamonds sparkling in the snow! He writes, “The look on their faces, the happy tears, the hugs are why I do what I do. Helping people recover precious memories is worth more than any treasure I’ve ever found. A new adventure awaits and metal detecting their historic 1850s farmhouse in the spring! Shoutout to Garrett for making high-quality gear that turns moments like this into reality.” Bob K. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Micheal D. from Ohio! After years of detecting, he never thought I’d top my $5 gold love token—until now. At what we believe was once an old general store in northeast Ohio, he uncovered my first untampered gold coin—a stunning 1910 $10 gold piece in amazing condition! This gold coin was minted in Philadelphia in 1910. It was part of a series where coins were minted from 1908 to 1933. The moment was surreal—shaking, stumbling, even dropping to my knees. My father thought something was wrong until I placed the coin in his hands, and his eyes lit up just like mine. A dream find, made possible by my Garrett . This is why I always dig those iffy signals—because treasure hides where you least expect it! Micheal D. WINS an Metal Detector.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Hal W. from Alabama! Hal and his fiancé both enjoy hunting with their ’s, and this fall Hal made an extremely rare Civil War-era recovery. He first dug the solid brass wreath portion of a 2-piece buckle and then returned to the Alabama site with his weeks later. Not far from the first half of the buckle, at about a six-inch depth, Hal dug the tongue portion. But the letters stamped on it were not ones he was familiar with: CHMA. Hal did some research and determined that it was most likely from Charlotte Hall Military Academy. This elite school, located in Charlotte Hall, Maryland, was established by Queen Charlotte in 1774. It is possible this cast brass belt plate was reserved for only teachers, a headmaster, or a high-ranking cadet. Several Civil War historians are currently researching this relic, as no other CHMA are known to have been dug. Hal W. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector and Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Sherwood L. from Iowa! Sherwood goes metal detecting with his friend Jeff who is in a wheelchair after a farm accident. This hobby is a great opportunity to spend quality time together finding old history. They returned to North Dakota to detect Sherwood’s cousin’s place with the and discovered something nice. Sherwood swung for about 30 minutes and got a nice target. He dug it up and gave the dirt chunk to Jeff to tear it apart and they discovered 1870-1880s Indian Scouts Saddle Blanket Insignia. Sherwood WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Ryan W. from Indiana! Ryan was researching this area with homes from the 1800s near his home and wanted to detect it with his . He got a consistent signal of 81 and found a weird triangular piece of copper but when he checked the hole again, he got a signal of 91 in the same hole. He discovered a 1897 Morgan dollar! He writes, “I love swinging the and always re-check your hole. Thank you, Garrett, for making a great product.” Ryan WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Steve S. from Texas! Steve went metal detecting in a town established in the late 1800s after discovering oil. They built a railroad that ran through the town, and he decided to take his out there to see what he could find. He dug up modern coins and trash but eventually got a clean signal. He dug it up and knew it was not a coin, but it looked like a crusty doorstop, so he threw it in his pouch and kept swinging. When he got home, he did some cleaning on the find and saw “Citizens Nation Bank” on it and realized he found a wax seal stamp! He writes, “ turns out after joint research with the Gladewater and Longview Historical Society, I belonged to EJ Everett, the owner of the first bank in Gladewater, Texas that later opened the Citizens National Bank in Longview, Texas. All this happened in the early 1900’s. The stamp was found a block away from the home of bank owner Everett who daily took the train to his bank that he opened in Longview. It’s believed this stamp was in his possession and lost at the railroad track at one point.” Steve WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Curtis M. from Massachusetts! Curtis went detecting with his buddy in the woods and got a high signal using his . He writes, “When I looked in the hole, I saw copper and thought it was a penny, but then I noticed it had a weird shape. I took it out of the hole and knew it was old.” He found a 1641 Maravedis Copper Cob in the ground! What a find! Curtis M. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jon H. from Virginia! Jon took advantage of going water hunting because where he lives in Virginia, they were experiencing record drought this summer. He took his with him to the deepest swimming holes at his local creek. This year, he has found 3 muskets and a 20lb Parrot shell. On this day, he got a screaming signal and had to dig it. He found a model 1842 Smoothbore Musket 69 caliber in great condition! He says, “This musket would have been lost in a hasty retreat in one of the Battles here in Northern Virginia, as a soldier forded the creek and dropped it. It is an incredible feeling to find any relic last touched by a Civil War soldier, but it is especially amazing when it is a fully in fact musket. I was using my trusty which is very durable, reliable in the rigors of water hunting, and has served me well for over 10 years. Thank you, Garrett.” Jon H. WINS an Metal Detector, , and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Michael C. from Virginia! Micheal was detecting a homesite that has given him some good luck before such as civil war bullets and buttons. He could not believe what he discovered today. He was using his and got a high tone with an iron grunt. He decided to dig it and found an oval-shaped buckle. He flipped it around and found a SNY belt buckle! He writes, “This is the rarest Civil War buckle I have ever found. Thanks, Garrett!” Michael C. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Ole A. from California! Ole went out with a few of his friends to a spot where they had been before to hunt for gold, but this time, it was infested with rattlesnakes. They decided to move spots further north from the original spot because the pi performance and Iron ID were good. He brought out the Garrett to test this area out and did not leave it disappointed. He found several chunky gold nuggets at good depth with the ! He writes, “Thank you, Garrett!” Ole A. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Travis P. from Missouri! Travis got a screamer of a signal on his and discovered a rare find. He was hunting in his favorite field and found a Wells Fargo wax stamp! Then, two feet away from him he found another one! He writes, “The stamps were used for when you wanted to ship silver coins that exceeded $25 to someone. It had to be privately sealed and stamped before shipping.” Travis P. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jay S. from Kansas! Jay was hunting in his buddy’s field with his , which had produced some pre-civil war relics. He was starting to get worn because after 2 hours he was not getting any good targets. He started walking and swinging towards his car. He writes, “ It was in the junk range but since I hadn’t dug anything for quite a while, I lifted a shovelful of dirt out and determined it was in the plug. As I was pulling the sticky clump apart, I saw a glint that I thought I’d never see. It was a gold coin! I was over the moon, and this was a find of a lifetime.” He found a 1851 2 ½ dollar gold coin! Jay S. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jay S. from Kansas! Jay was hunting in his buddy’s field with his , which had produced some pre-civil war relics. He was starting to get worn because after 2 hours he was not getting any good targets. He started walking and swinging towards his car. He writes, “ It was in the junk range but since I hadn’t dug anything for quite a while, I lifted a shovelful of dirt out and determined it was in the plug. As I was pulling the sticky clump apart, I saw a glint that I thought I’d never see. It was a gold coin! I was over the moon, and this was a find of a lifetime.” He found a 1851 2 ½ dollar gold coin! Jay S. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector, Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk, and 60th Anniversary Merchandise!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Elias K. from Wisconsin! Elias says, “I’ve put blood, sweat, and tears into this sport and can’t tell you how many times I have searched this property and come up with nails and junk.” He was determined to find something that day with his . On his last hole of the night, he dug up a 2nd Infantry Division US Army Ring! He writes, “ I was shocked! The 2nd Infantry Division deters aggression and maintains peace on the Korean Peninsula. It was the most unique find of mine.” Elias K. WINS an

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Shawn A. from Virginia! After a long day of work, Shawn A. went to hunt a farm field with his . While the sun was coming down, he popped out something that already made his year! He found a Virginia Buckle! He says, “ Later in the evening, the landowner brought out a newspaper article that mentioned a Confederate soldier named John Critcher. He owned this land during the Civil War. He later became a Virginia Senator.” Video: Shawn an

Congratulations to our U.S. Favorite Finds winner Blake J. from Georgia! Blake says, “When your intuition says “one last hole”…. dig it, you never know what it could be!” On this day, he was detecting an antebellum farmhouse with his . He decided to dig up the last target of the day when uncovered the 1914 United Confederate Veterans Reunion Medal! He searched on Google at the farmhouse for what he found and realized he only found one part of the medal. He writes, “Instead of packing up, I continued detecting. About 45 minutes later, that promising tone and signal rang up again, about 6-10 feet adjacent to the hole that produced the bottom part of the medal. It was the top part of the medal, with the small connecting loop still attached!” Blake J. an ACE Apex Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner David K. from Michigan! David and his son have been metal detecting together for years using Garrett equipment. On this day, they went to this old hotel location where people flocked to Michigan to cool off in the lake on a hot summer day. David found this location using a map from 1890! He was using his with the sniper coil because the water was knee-deep with a hard rock and clay bottom filled with trash that was hard to maneuver. He writes, “It was the best metal detecting day ever! The best find was a 1914 National Encampment Delegate medal, made of pewter or other corrosion-resistant metal. Other finds included a near-perfect key for a Model T automobile. It could have been from one of the Model T’s depicted in the old photo! In addition, we found a handful of turn-of-the-century coins, two old Cracker Jack toys, Buffalo Nickels, something called a collar button with the patent date of May 11, 1915, and a fancy engraved legging clip from an old bathing suit!” David K. an Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Kevin K. from New Jersey! Kevin received permission to hunt on a 1840s house in his hometown. On this day, he was using his when he discovered a rare coin. His first signal of the day was a 85 and the target was 3 inches down. He dug it up and found a 1916-D Mercury Dime! He writes, “I immediately stopped cleaning it and called my dad to tell him. Could not believe it!” Kevin K. an Metal Detector.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Dale C. from Minnesota! Dale C. decided to hunt an old park he likes to go to that is always hunted by others. He had a feeling that he will find “silver sweetness” at this park on this day. He was using his with the viper coil when suddenly after two hours of hunting, he got signal between 86-88. He dug a plug and recovered a 1875 Twenty Cent piece! Dale writes, “this is an incredible find for me and this is my first twenty cent piece I found. I love my !” Dale C. an Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Tony M. from Virginia! Tony M. was detecting at this house site he has been hunting for years filled with briars and pine tags with his trusty detector. He was 100 yards away when he swung over a target that was screaming 83 on his control box. He writes, “I dug a plug, searched the hole, and found nothing. But as I turned on my Garrett pinpointer and brushed it over the plug, it went off!” He found a 2-piece buckle with a C.S. emblem on it. Tony says, “This Garrett has never let me down in the last 8 years, and I know it never will.” Tony M. an Metal Detector!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jaki B. from Texas! Jaki B. was detecting in a city park when she got a solid signal in the 70s on her . She discovered her first ring, a 10K gold wedding band, 2 silver rings, a 14K gold crucifix pendant, and a stunning 26-inch silver 925 chain all in the same hole! She said, “What a day! Thanks to my trusty Garrett and a stroke of luck, this is a day I’ll cherish forever!” Jaki B. an ACE Apex Metal Detector!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Chris O. from Virginia! Chris made some outstanding coin finds with his in Virginia. In one hole, he pulled four early American coins that appear to have been punched through, possibly to wear on a necklace. He found two 3-cent trimes, one 1856 half dime, and one 1833 capped bust dime! Returning to the same Union Civil War campsite three weeks later, Chris then found a 1700s ¼ piece of cut silver Spanish real. Chris O. an Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Levi H. from Virginia! Levi was detecting a new section of field at a site he detects all the time. He wasn’t finding much of anything. After one more try before going home, he got a good signal on his . Levi found a rare 1860 Virginia militia belt plate. He said, “My heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw the word Virginia across it. This was a dream come true!” Levi H. WINS an Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Jemma W. from West Virginia! Jemma found a 12lb cannon ball detecting with her ! She was on this property with her dad in West Virginia that had numerous battles related to the Civil War. Jemma W. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector!!!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Will H. from New York! Will was detecting with his in a muddy corn field when he found his bucket list item, a US militia eagle belt plate! He shares, “What a thrill to see such an amazing piece of history in a chopped-up corn field.” Will H. WINS an Metal Detector!

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Edwards S. from Maryland! While searching with his on a permission with a friend, Edward found a 1887 Leopold II Koning, 1F, Belgen coin! He shares, “We did some investigating the next day and learned that his Great, Great, Great Grand mother was a relative to the property owner, and that they came over from Germany in the late 1800s. Our best guess is that one of them dropped it while farming.” Edwards WINS an Metal Detector!

Congratulations to our January Favorite Finds winner John W. from Oklahoma. John found an H-style Mills US belt buckle with his ! John said, “I did quite a bit of research to find an Army encampment during the Indian Wars here in Oklahoma near the Wichita Mountains. Using my , I started finding trapdoor rifle casings. I then got an 83-84 repeatable tone and began to dig. Out came an ‘H-style Mills US belt buckle’. Finding Civil War relics is one thing, but to find a piece of history on the frontier, is something I am drawn to. I ended up finding the encampment of about 25 Soldiers, and an abundance of Indian Wars relics.” JOHN W. WINS AN

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner, Brodyn J. from Vermont! Over the years, Brodyn searched a permission to an 1800s farm field. On a recent trip, he shares, “I got a signal that sounded different; it was a 65-77 signal on the so I decided to dig it. After digging down right around 5 inches, I flipped out a little silver star. When I got home I gently cleaned it up and I found out it was made from a silver quarter from 1856! Along with that, I was also able to see what it said, I read, ‘Geo Whitcher 2nd VT Bat’.” With this information, I found out that George Whitcher joined the Vermont 2nd Battalion in August of 1864 as an infantryman. Later in March of 1865, he made a transfer to heavy artillery, which explains the artillery buttons my dad and I found 3 and a half years earlier! A little over a month later, his old battalion was present at Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. I am honored to have been the finder of this incredible piece of history.” Brodyn J. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector.

Congratulations to our US Favorite Finds winner Chris F. from Georgia! A 10-year-old girl named Gabbie F. was on a camping trip with her family on Yonah Mountain when she noticed she lost both of her expensive cochlear implants. After searching desperately, they decided to post on the local metal detecting group page for help. With the help of Chris F. and his Garrett , he was able to locate the cochlear implants and return them to the child. Thank you for your kind act of service, Chris! Chris F. an Metal Detector

Congratulations to our September U.S. Favorite Finds winner Noah F. from Pennsylvania! Noah’s dad lost his wedding band 11 years ago in their backyard. He shared, “My dad and I visited that spot almost every year and tried to find the ring, but we never could. I had saved enough money to purchase a Garrett , and learned how to use it rather quickly and with ease. I changed the tone on the so we could only hear signals between 45 and 70. After around thirty minutes of pulling a few pop tabs and my dad reenacting what happened, we found the ring! “The gave us a good idea that the pop tabs were signals around 60 and we found the ring with a solid 51-52 signal. “When we found the ring, my dad screamed with joy and hugged me so tight that I could not breath! My mom is really happy too because my mom and dad had matching wedding rings.” Noah F. an Metal Detector!

Congratulations to our U.S. Favorite Finds winner John O. from Minnesota! When John was out Magnet fishing, he was approached by a couple who had lost their Rolex watch in the water a few years back. The watch was a wedding gift from 44 years ago! John grabbed his and started searching. After searching for an hour he found the watch! He said, “She immediately started shaking and crying. She had to sit down for a minute… It was one of those emotional moments that only happen once in a while.” Great work, John! John O. WINS an ACE Apex Metal Detector!!!

Congratulation to our July U.S. winner, Sally A. from Virginia. While searching the beach with her , she found a ring custom made out of an old 2 l/2 dollar 24K gold coin. She was able to find the owner and return the ring! He shared that his grandmother had given it to him and he would be passing it down to his son. Sally A. an ACE Apex Metal Detector!

Congratulations to Dave W. for being our June Favorite Find of the Month U.S. winner! Dave was recently gifted the to get started in the hobby and thought he would try his detector out on his family’s land. His dad said he lost his wedding ring somewhere on the two acres of property nearly 18 years ago! After 20 minutes of searching the property, he found the ring! Dave W. an Metal Detector!!

Congratulations to our U.S. Favorite Finds contest winner, Brian T. Brian was searching in Indiana with his and found this CS Belt Buckle! Success Story: “I had been detecting for a couple of hours and had already found an 1870s penny and what look to be a small gold pin. I decided to call it a day and was moving towards my vehicle at a fast pace when I got a strong hit. “After digging about 8 inches deep, I couldn’t believe that I had found a CS Belt Buckle in Indiana.” Brian T. an ACE Apex Metal Detector!!!

Vaughan Garrett’s Favorite Find of the Month is Thoren P. from Maine! Success Story: “It was a beautiful day on the historic oceanside in Maine, but what I unearthed may have even taken the cake on the prettiest thing I laid my eyes on! My friends and I ventured down to an old permission we rounded up last fall. We’ve found numerous coins and buttons there, so decided it’d be a good chance to break into 2022. “Early that morning we found a few cool finds, but then my and I took the lead and ended up stumbling onto a sweet 88-90 signal. I sunk my shovel into the soil and cut a nice deep plug. To my surprise, the pinpointer didn’t quite have it in range yet, so I cut another few inches down, and out popped this beautiful 62 regiment British belt plate! Awesome way to start off the year and a memory I will cherish forever!” Thoren P. an metal detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for March 2022 is the set of WWI Military Buttons, discovered by Shannon C. from Indiana with her . While detecting using my on a local farm permission I decided to check out a new area. After about an hour or so I uncovered my very first WWI military button! Soon after this one, I uncovered a second one… then a third. In the end I found 10 of these buttons! Eight of them still have the backs and shanks attached, while two have only the fronts left. I could not believe what I had uncovered. I shared my find with a good friend who went on to investigate their origin some more, and after some internet investigation she found the soldier we believe the buttons belonged to. I plan to keep this private out of respect for the farming family but do plan to share my information with them as it was one of their family members. Shannon C. an metal detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for February 2022 is the Decorative Cross, discovered by John P. from Florida with his . John’s success story: January 6, 2022. I decided to enjoy the day detecting the beach in Punta Gorda Florida. About 20 minutes into the hunt I found this beautiful cross. The cross has no markings on it and it’s heavy, very pretty, and I found it about 6” deep. John P. an Metal Detector.

My United States Favorite Find for January 2022 is the C.S.A. Confederate States of America Sword Belt Buckle, discovered by Eric F. from Georgia with his . Eric’s success story: Gained a permission to metal detect a pre-civil war homesite. On a beautiful Sunday I was finding a few targets but no civil war items. While I was in the front yard on the northside of the house I got a mid 80 signal. Proceeded to dig a deep plug, checked the hole with the Garrett and no target found. Checked the plug and got a signal, opened the plug with my 2 hands and out dropped the buckle face down in the hole. I saw the back side with the 3-prongs and my heart skipped and quickly picked up the buckle and put it in my left shirt pocket. My heart and mind was racing with excitement but I held my excitement until I got back to truck. Once at my truck I was able to see the C.S.A. I felt so humbled and honored to find this relic. Eric F. an Metal Detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for December 2021 is the 22k Gold Chain, discovered by Gary R. from California with his . Gary’s success story: The karma gods were shining on me this beach hunting evening. I hit a local favorite on the way home from work. With my tried and true Garrett I mostly stuck to the dry sands, as the tides were not in the wet sands favor. I was making my way back to where I was parked after two hours of detecting. A woman and her daughter approached me. I could instantly tell they were going to ask me to find something with that shy, disgruntled look on their faces. So I said “keys, cellphone or wedding ring?” They laughed and said keys. They then showed me where they were sitting and the direction they walked to a restaurant near the beach. I worked the area for about an hour, even at times digging hairpin sounds knowing that modern keys can sound the same. The sun was beginning to set, it was getting cold and I was all about ready to give up. I thought maybe they lost them in the restaurant. Then I recalled the daughter saying they walked down to feed the seagulls near the water. I ran down to the wet sand and got to work. I detected a few pennies and what I thought was a fake chain. I got down to knee deep water when I heard a faint sound. The key was about 4 inches down into the submerged sand. I returned the key to a very happy family that were 3 hours away from home. I returned home myself and looked closely at my finds. In the clarity of light I realized the chain I had found was not fake at all. It was actually stamped 916, which is 22k! The ability of the Apex to hit a high karat gold chain in black sand ocean water is very impressive. Gary R. an Metal Detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for November 2021 is the Fisher Body Service Charms 10k, discovered by Tim H. from Michigan with his . Tim’s success story: On November 7, the permission I was detecting was a stone built house, built by the grandfather of the lady living there. I’ve detected her yard 3-4 times finding mostly wheat cents and a lone lead soldier as the only real keepers. I had an hour to spare so I stopped by and continued swinging. About the time I’d normally put on a headlamp a better tone came thru the . A quick flip of the plug and a ball of rusted junk appeared. That didn’t make sense. Got out my light and a brush and found I had some charms on a rusted ID bracelet. A little more cleaning and the charms were getting sparkly. The ID bracelet was all rusted but attached were 3 Fisher Body carriage charms for 10, 15, and 20 years service. They are 10k and are set with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. The lady had no family she could link to Fisher Body or General Motors so with a little persuasion and my obvious excitement she was fine with allowing me to keep and add to my collection. Tim H. an Metal Detector.

My United States Favorite Find for October 2021 is the Gold Plated Russian Orthodox Cross, found by Bill W. from Washington with his . Bill’s success story: I’ve been metal detecting since early 2021. Covid-19 has made many of us feel isolated with the walls closing in. But just getting outside in the fresh air and seeing other people enjoying the outdoors has really helped. I’ve dug up over a thousand individual items since January but one of my favorites is this gold plated Russian Orthodox cross. The lettering Спаси means save, as well as Сохрани means save. Together this combination of words can mean bless and save (me). Every little child the the Orthodox religion receives such cross right after he or she is baptized with the same hope to be protected and saved by God. Ironically, this cross was dug up in a tiny city park only 200 feet from my back door! Bill W. an ACE Apex Metal Detector.

My United States Favorite Find for September 2021 is the WWII Soldier’s I.D. Plate, found by Jeffrey L. from Wisconsin with his . Jeffrey’s success story: It’s not just a name on a plate, it’s a wonderful story. On Tuesday September 20th I was detecting at a road tear-out just down the road from me. They had just removed a sidewalk and it was pitch black out, 11pm. I found a flat piece of metal, unable to see what it was in the dark. I brought it home and to my surprise it was a 1″ by 5″ plate that was impressed with the name of a soldier from World War II!! Pvt. Theodore Wietrzykowski. It had his unit, rank, and battalion, and 1945 on it. I knew I had to at least try to find out more about him and get this to his family. I reached out on a local Facebook city group and with some sleuths on there I was able to find and reach out to his nephew, Kenny. Turns out Theodore had died in 1999 and never married or had kids. His nephew and his sister who is 96 now are his only living close relatives. Kenny was very excited to get the plate and we planned to meet up. He had moved 2 hours away but luck would have it, he was gonna be in town that Wednesday to clean up Teddy’s grave and other family graves. We met at the bar and he bought me some drinks and we talked about Teddy, his time in the war, and what he did afterwards. We talked for 3 hours and it was wonderful, about growing up in my city during that time period, and hopefully showing it to his mother, Teddy’s sister. She would love to see it. Kenny has a cabinet with Teddy’s uniform and medals, and he put the plate on front of that cabinet. In the end he gave me permission to freely search an 80 acre field he owns in the area. I updated the Facebook group and everyone loved it. To me it was just a name, just a plate. To his nephew and sister, it was a brother, uncle, a friend. I’m so very happy I was able to do this!!! It’s what’s detecting is about. Inscription on the plate: Private Theodore Wietrzykowski Company B 370 Com Engineer Battalion APO 799 C/O PM New York 13 April 45 Jeffrey L. an Metal Detector!

My United States Favorite Find for August 2021 is the Love Story Diamond Wedding Set, found by Shawn J. from Nevada, with his . Shawn’s Success Story: I was meeting family for breakfast on my birthday and decided to arrive early so I could hunt a park next to the restaurant. I had never hunted this place before as it’s a newer park and I figured finds would be sparse. After 2 hours of digging the usual stuff, I was working on the last signal before leaving (family had arrived). At first glimpse, I thought it was just another pull ring. After further examination of the hole though, I realized it was a ring… but not just any ring. Pulling it out, I knew I had a monster in my hands! The wedding and engagement rings were melded together and covered in diamonds. It was stamped 14k with the name “Love Story”. I found the set online, its approx retail value was $3,300. Though I’d need to get it appraised to be certain, either way… some birthday luck was with me this year! Shawn J. an Metal Detector.

My United States Favorite Find for July 2021 is the Extremely Rare Connecticut Copper Miller 6.4-K, discovered by Wil C. from New York with his . Wil’s success story: It was a nice spring day and a good one for metal detecting. I took out my and went to see what I could find. Now I have never been a believer in the idea that trees are treasure troves, but I really had never searched around them. I poked around the base of an old tree and right by the roots I got a solid hit. About 8″ down I pulled out this beauty of a copper coin. As if the condition wasn’t enough, this variety is the Miller 6.4-K, which, according to PCGS, there are about 20 known to exist and there is a pretty good chance this is the only one that has ever been found metal detecting. So now every time I tell someone that there are only 20 known of my coin, their eyes bug out and they ask, “what metal detector did you find it with?”, I reply “with my trusty Garrett.” Wil C. an metal detector.

My United States Favorite Find is the Princess Cut Marquis Diamond Ring, found by Susan B. from Illinois with the . Susan’s success story: June 18, 2021. Good Morning! Attached is a pic of the ring I found last week! I found it in Lake Michigan/Chicago with my . It has 40 Princess cut inlay diamonds and the center is a Marquis. My only clue of its value so far is the jeweler said he couldn’t find any “inclusions” in the Marquis. The stone setter said “I’m not a gemologist or appraiser but I think it’s worth $15,000.00 – $20,000.00!!!!”. Can’t wait to see the appraisal! ? Beyond addicted to detecting!!!! Susan B. an Metal Detector. Update 7-22-21: Susan got the appraisal back on her ring. $12,500. Wow!

My US Favorite Find for May 2021 is the Engagement Ring Recovery, found by Burgess S. from South Carolina with the , 5×8 coil, and (Carrot). Burgess’s success story: Mr. Garrett, I wanted to share my find story, not to the fact that I found the ring but I got to give it back to someone who thought they would never see it again. I was contacted by a woman in her 60s who had lost her engagement ring EIGHT years ago. The woman explained to me how the ring was lost; her dog ate it…no joke. She said her dog loves to eat shiny objects and the ring was on the coffee table when she went to bed. The next morning she could not find her ring anywhere, throughly checking the house, only then did she suspect the dog might have eaten the ring. The woman and her husband have searched the backyard (for 8 years now), where the dog would have “processed the ring out”, even renting a detector, only to find frustration and disappointment. This story is more amazing to the fact that the woman and her husband will be moving soon due to selling their house. She said this hunt is her last try before giving up all hope to see the ring again. When I arrived I found her backyard to be approximately 400′ x 600′. I asked her the most probable locations the dogs usually go to the restroom and she pointed out about 8 large, different spots, but these were only guesses. I explained to her that I would give it my best shot. I started working, very diligently, still not knowing exactly where in the vast yard the ring could be. Slowly sweeping an inch above the grass, I walked my lines in overlapping patterns. In the first hour of hunting I dug about 30 holes. Two holes contained personalized pet dogs tags, those dogs long ago deceased. She had not seen those tags in years which brought back to her fond memories. About the two hour mark I heard a clear but jumpy medium/high tone to which I cut a 6″ deep plug and lifted it up, seeing nothing. I stuck my Garrett in the hole, and it alerted! I moved some dirt and found a piece of aluminum. I thought to myself, “well that must be it but I’ll re-check the hole/plug”. (Always recheck). The pin-pointer did not signal to anything else in the hole but when I checked the bottom of the plug the pointer alerted to metal. I scratched away the dirt and saw the edge of a white gold ring! How absolutely amazing! I found her ring! Walking across the yard, I told her that “miracles do happen and that the ring and her were destined to be together!” She was overjoyed, holding her ring after 8 years, something she thought she would never wear on her finger again! Her and her husband thanked me profusely! There is no doubt this is absolutely my best metal detecting find to date and possibly may be my best find ever! I just wanted to share my story, and to thank you Mr. Garrett for making such awesome detectors. Warm regards, Burgess Burgess S. an metal detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for April 2021 is the 999.9 24k Gold Ring from a Texas River, found by Zola T. from Texas with the . Zola’s success story: I found this ring in the Guadalupe River, in the Hill Country of Central Texas, on Easter Sunday 4/4/2021. I was using my that I very recently purchased, in preparation for summer water hunting season. I stopped at the particular location because it is the pick-up spot for a canoe/kayak rental company in the area, so high traffic area. I was just hoping to find a few coins and maybe some “generic” modern jewelry, or even nothing at all. I really was just hoping to learn the “new sounds” on the since I normally swing an , with very different sounds. I had no idea I would find something EPIC, on my 1st water hunt with this machine, on the very 1st signal!! I believe after some research, the ring has the “Elephant God” (Ganesh) carved in it, and it’s stamped “999.9” inside, which “normally” means 24K gold. However, I was very skeptical about it’s authenticity, mainly because it rang up a screaming solid 87 on the (also 87-88 on my in my yard), which is very unheard of for gold I thought. It’s also very rough around the bottom part of the ring, almost appearing plated in that area, even though there is no flaking of the gold at all. I was perplexed. The following day, I took the ring to a local jeweler who specializes in antique and estate jewelry, as well as coins. After testing with 3-4 different fancy machines, the jeweler confirmed that the ring is indeed 999.9 pure gold. She told me the bottom is rough because 24K is extremely soft and scratches very easily, and who knows how long it was rolling around in the river before I found it. The jeweler also said it’s most likely Indian in origin in her opinion, since India is well known for wearing only 24K gold up until “recently”, when they also started using 780 (18K). She wasn’t exactly sure of the age of the ring, but her guess was that is was probably more modern (although she didn’t give her definition of “modern”). She said that, in her experience, really old Indian jewelry is always stamped with an animal on the inside (i.e. a sheep, a rabbit, or some other animal). Since they only used 24K in India until recently, it really wasn’t necessary to specify the purity with a number. An animal stamp indicated the jeweler who made the piece (maker’s mark), and with an animal stamp, it was automatically assumed to be 24K or 999.9, since there was no other options. It wasn’t until “recent times” that they started using numbers, rather than animals. This find was not just unexpected and amazing, it is also a valuable educational experience, which I happily shared with the community in a post on the ‘Garrett Metal Detectors’ Facebook page. 1st Lesson: Since (I’ve been told) it’s super rare to ever dig jewelry marked 999.9, maybe we (the metal detecting community) just didn’t know that a fairly large chunk of pure gold WILL actually beep 87. I can confirm now that indeed it does. Now we know. 2nd Lesson: If any of us dig any really old gold jewelry in the future, with an animal stamped on it and no numbers, and it looks a little rough around the edges, we should not throw it out thinking it’s junk. Now we know. Thank you for considering my entry for the “Favorite Finds”. Even if I don’t win, this will still possibly be the find of MY lifetime, and I’m thrilled I got to share the experience and knowledge gained. Zola T. an Metal Detector.

My U.S. favorite find for March 2021 is the WWII Purple Heart Medal, found by Matt M. from Michigan with his . Matt’s success story: This has to be my favorite find to date! I found the Purple Heart medal at a home in Michigan. The home site has been in the same family since the early 1800’s and after taking a few photos I returned this honorable war metal back to the family who’s loved one honored and sacrificed for our amazing country. I’ve visited this site several times over the last two years and have recovered many great artifacts with my . On March 19th I had a repeatable tone that sounded larger than a coin. I dug a good size plug and popped it from the yard. As I flipped the plug over I noticed an object slide down and land on the grass. It was the Purple Heart which was at a depth of approximately 8 inches. Believed to be from WWII the family and I are still trying to locate the recipient of the medal after roughly 80 years. I’ve attached another image with the medal and the plug as it was before I touched it. If you look, you can actually see the heart impression on the top (bottom) of the plug. Thank you for your time and God bless. Matt M. an Metal Detector.

My United States Favorite Find for February 2021 is the 1924-1925 King County Special Deputy Sheriff Badge, found by Matthew B. from New Jersey with his . Garrett success story: While metal detecting today February 17, 2021 in Burlington County, New Jersey with the , I dug this badge. After getting home and revealing more details on the badge and doing research, it turns out the man who received the badge, Mr. Edward E Rutter, was the official photographer for Brooklyn and more specifically he captured a lot of photos of the construction of Coney Island Boardwalk. Editor’s note: This Special Deputy Sheriff’s badge is personalized. The recipient’s name, Edward E Rutter, is inscribed on the backside. Perhaps his standing as Special Deputy Sheriff allowed him to move freely to capture photography of the booming Brooklyn. Matthew B. an metal detector.

My U.S. Favorite Find for January 2021 is the USA North Carolina Volunteers Revolutionary War Button, found by Adam L. from North Carolina with his . Adam’s success story: I’ve used nothing but my Garrett for over 6 years now with great success…. Today I went out with a few fellow members of our group “The NC Dirt Detectives” and I found this amazingly historic button just 6 inches deep with my and Nel Superfly coil…. People always tell me to upgrade to a newer machine but they just don’t understand the power of the Adam L. an Metal Detector! !!!

My U.S. Favorite Find for December 2020 is the USN Chief Petty Officer Silver & Gold Ring, found by Robin M. from Oklahoma with his . Robin’s success story: I was happily detecting an empty lot on a hot summer afternoon using my . I’d already found my fair share of wonderful sounding bottle caps and pull tabs when I hit a nice high signal under a very large oak tree. I dug a nice plug, pulled out the Pro-Pointer, started poking around and… nothing. I backed up, swung the coil again and found my target had rolled a couple feet from the hole when I’d turned over the plug. As soon as I picked it up I noticed it was heavy. I pulled the target out of the clod it was hiding in and noticed it was a ring. My water bottle gave it a quick bath then I turned it over and over in my hand realizing I’d found a shiny piece of history. There weren’t any maker’s marks inside the ring for identification purposes but I carried it around with me for a few weeks. I was showing the ring to folks seeing if anyone could help me figure out the ring’s history. I eventually showed it to a fellow employee who was also retired from the Navy. He identified it right away that it was a Chief Petty officer’s ring due to the gold fouled anchor and chain on the face of the ring. He stated when an officer reaches the rank of Chief Petty, his men will make him a homemade ring to celebrate the event. Doing a bit of additional searching, the gold seahorses on both sides of the ring also mean he reached the rank of Master Diver. While not official, he figured it was WWI-WWII time period. Would be nice to know the complete history of the ring but to me it was a pretty special find on a very hot summer afternoon!!! Robin M. an metal detector. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

My United States Favorite Find for November 2020 is the 1856 Large Indian Head Gold Dollar (Slanted 5 Variety), discovered by Mike S. from Maryland with his . Mike’s story: I was detecting with my Garrett with a 5×8 coil and getting some Civil War items, bullets etc. I got a good reading and dug it. I found a iron nail but thought there had to be more to it. I ran the coil over it again and behold. Out popped a beautiful 1856 Large Indian Head Gold Dollar, Slanted 5 Variety. It was my very first Gold coin ever!! To say I was stoked is an understatement. At first I thought for sure a token of some kind but I lightly cleaned it and saw the date. That feeling was something I’ve never felt before detecting. Truly awesome machine! Mike S. an ACE Apex Metal Detector!!!

My U.S. Favorite Find for October 2020 is the President Harding Commemorative, found by Chip K. from Florida with his & 5×8 coil. Chip’s story: I always preach to carefully double check your finds before discarding them. I have had several great finds that only a second look has prevented them from being lost. This is one of them. I love hunting curb strips in older historic areas and I’m lucky to live within an hour’s drive from several historic neighborhoods and towns. I especially concentrate my efforts where the curbs are made of cut stone, usually marble or granite and where the sidewalks are paved with bricks or blocks. I was scanning one such spot and my gave me a solid high tone. Carefully I harvested what I hoped would be a silver coin but was surprised to see a thin folded strip of foil, which explains the high signal. It looked like the foil surrounding a stick of gum. I dropped it in my trash pouch. At home I emptied my pouch into a tray and began to sort my treasures by metal since I recycle everything and I have barrels for each metal. So the aluminum is grouped in one barrel, brass in another, etc. And before I drop anything into a barrel I give it a reexamination. When I checked out this thin strip again I was surprised to see there was an American flag imprinted on the edge. I then very carefully and slowly unfolded it and was shocked to see there was another flag on the opposite edge and in the middle was a portrait of a man with the legend PRESIDENT HARDING over him and a wreath encompassing him! I researched it but could not find anything about it so I sent pictures to The Harding Museum, asking for information about it. They replied they had never seen anything like this but that the wreath meant it was a commemorative honoring him after his death. I have offered to donate it to the museum and am awaiting information on how it would be displayed and used. Harding was our 29th President serving from 1921 until his death in 1923. Chip K. an Metal Detector!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

My US Favorite Find for September 2020 is the 14k Gold/Diamond Ring, discovered by Shawn J. from Nevada with his . Shawn’s success story: I decided to hit a local park before work. I’ve been itching to get out with my new , but the weather has been extremely hot here lately. With some cloud cover this morning, I figured I’d have at least an hour before temperatures rise. Within that time, I had dug up a number of clad coins and pull tabs. I was getting a signal around 55 on a target and figured it was just another pull tab. As I started digging, I saw the side of the ring… again it looked like a pull tab until more was exposed. The yellow gold color glistened in the sun and I knew I had something good! Upon pulling it out, I saw the face covered in diamonds. My heart was racing! Afraid it might be costume jewelry, I rushed home to clean it and test the gold/diamonds. It’s 14k yellow gold with 0.15 CTW diamonds. I’m impressed with the and look forward to making more finds like this one! Shawn J. an Metal Detector!!! Congratulations!

My United States Favorite Find for August 2020 is the set of 6 Civil War Wisconsin State Seal Buttons, found by Stefan W. from West Virginia with his . Stefan’s story: This was a great day! I was rather new to metal detecting about 6 months in. On my new permission, I was digging a lot of bullets in the front yard. There was a field that the landowner was renting out for livestock and didn’t want me to hunt in fear of the cattle breaking a leg. So I looked at this field every time I went digging and always said to myself, “Man I want to go over there so bad!” My intuition and persistence paid off, and finally I was able to get the chance. I had lots of signals in a 20′ x 20′ area. Altogether I dug a bunch of bullets there, then started pulling out general service buttons. Then one of these Wisconsin buttons came out, then another, then another totaling six of them! I was so excited. This really was a find of a lifetime for me. Big thanks to my friend that got me in this hobby. I remember telling him “I ain’t going to find anything man” and was really not expecting to find anything like this! Big thanks to the people that let me on their land to dig. You just never know what the day will bring. Stay positive, do some research, and get digging. Big thanks to Garrett as well for making great metal detectors. I’ve tried other machines but I always go back to this one!! Stefan W. an Metal Detector. Congratulations!!!!

My U.S. favorite find for July 2020 is the 1786 New Jersey Copper Maris 10 1/2-C, found by Chad D. From Massachusetts, with his . Chad’s story: I was walking with my brother back to my truck after a long day of metal detecting at a local park. We were both using Garrett ‘s. As luck would have it I got a penny signal (an 80 on my ). The coin was about 6 inches deep on a well traveled path/walking trail that has been detected for years. When I dug it I thought it was a large cent. My brother looked at it and said “Do you know what this is?” Of course I said “a large cent?” Then he told me it was a New Jersey copper. I had never heard of one before that day. It wasn’t til later after research done by my brother and a few others that we discovered it’s only the second known of this variety! It is a Rarity 8 and was just verified by PCGS. The Maris 10 1/2-C is a variety. The New Jersey coppers are known for their variations. This specific coin is a Maris 10 1/2-C fur head. This refers to the particular die that it was originally struck from. I believe its original value was a penny. Chad D. an ACE 300 Metal Detector!!! Congratulations!

My United States favorite find for June 2020 is the Personalized Gold Pocket Watch Gift, found by Tony W. from Ohio, with his . Tony’s story: Hello. My stepson gave me a used for Father’s Day. First hole dug in our yard was a 6 coin spill containing 3 Jefferson nickels, 1 Lincoln Memorial cent, 1 Wheat cent and 1 silver Roosevelt dime 1962. As I continued to learn this machine I was fortunate enough to detect a Standing Liberty quarter at 9 inch depth in my yard. So exciting! Fast forward to June 28. I gained permission to hunt an old abandoned farm. Wasn’t finding much; a dime, several Lincoln Memorial cents, and LOTS of toy cars. Was getting ready to leave and the detector went crazy hitting 99 at 6 inch depth. I told my daughter this has to be a silver dollar. Boy was I wrong. Pulled the plug out and staring back at me was a gold pocket watch!!! I have never found a piece of gold with a metal detector. I got the face opened to see the manufacturer, Hampden Watch Co. Description: Hampden Watch Company, gold pocket watch made in 1904, presented in 1915 to Louis Wolfram. We took it to a jeweler to have them open the back. Inside was the description “Louis Wolfram from Mother June 30, 1915“. Imagine our surprise to realize we were 1 day away from the presentation day 105 years ago! This find will be my most memorable of all time. I do not think anything could top this one. Thank you very much!!! Tony Tony W. a Garrett ACE® 300!

My United States favorite find for May 2020 is the Gold Ring with 70 Diamonds, found by Nicholas P. from New York with his . Nick’s story: It was a typical Saturday morning. I start with a cup of coffee and load up my car with my detector. As I’m loading, it starts raining and I’m contemplating about staying home but something told me to still go out. I make my way to the field and AS SOON as I walk back I’m 30 foot away from a coyote staring at me. Luckily after about a 5 second stare down that seemed like it last eternity the coyote ran off into the woods. Tempted to go home but that little voice in my head was telling me to stay. After about 10 minutes of swinging and on my SECOND hole of the day there it was. A gold diamond ring with 70 diamonds pops out of the plug and my jaw fell to the ground! I went straight home and fired up my diamond selector II and when the first diamond tested real, reality really started to sink in. I went through all 70 diamonds and they’re all real! Needless to say I’m glad I listened to those voices in my head that day! Nicholas P. an Metal Detector!

My U.S. favorite find for April 2020 is the Historical Personal Decorative Item, found by Curtis H. from Ohio with his . Curtis’s story: I haven’t been able to metal detect in a couple of years but with the social distancing going on for the Coronavirus I finally had some time and had definitely put in the hours of research. I fired up my and headed out to a field. It was 58 degrees and it felt great compared to the recent weather here in Ohio. The field site that I had chosen was occupied on an 1853 map but was gone by the 1872 map so I had high hopes for the location, but never could have imagined that I would dig something like this! I have showed it to several people and all have come to the consensus that it is either early settler or a Native American personal decorative item. It is by far the most significant item I have ever found! It was the best day ever until I realized that I had left my in the field and it was gone when I went back the next day. Curtis H. an ACE 300 metal detector!!!

My U.S. favorite find for March 2020 is the Sons of Liberty Cap Button, found by Michaela O. from New Hampshire with his . Michaela says: Hey everyone at Garrett! Recently I purchased another brand metal detector off Facebook. I hadn’t been metal detecting before this year. It was an okay metal detector but I wanted to experience more. So I decided to purchase one of your Garrett s. I have been able to find so many great treasures from my hometown. My favorite find was just in these last 2 weeks. It was a Liberty Cap button worn by a member of the Sons of Liberty. A secret organization. The Liberty Cap button is dated between 1775-1815. I found this button metal detecting an area I had already hit pretty hard. Finding all sorts of things from the 1700s. It came up at as a 58 on my and it was about 2-4 inches deep. At first I did not know what I had, so I had to do my research and I was beyond excited when I learned its origin. Thanks for allowing me to enter in your contest. Sincerely, Michaela Michaela O. an Metal Detector!

My U.S. favorite find for February 2020 is the 71st Regiment of Foot Button (from Fraser’s Highlanders), found by Craig T. from New Jersey with his . Craig’s success story: My friends and I were detecting private property with permission in South Carolina. It had been extremely hard to find anything on the 1000 plus acres of property. There hadn’t been any battles or encampments on the property. All we knew was it had been used during Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War. We were there for only a weekend so time was not on our side. Hardly anything was found on the first day, small things like a few flat buttons, a trigger guard, etc. The second day started just as the first day had, very few signals and very far between. Then late in the morning, my friend called me and said to come check out this area of the woods. He was finding flat buttons. I figured I wasn’t finding anything staying where I was so I went over to where he was. I was only there a few minutes when I got this great signal on my . I dug it up and saw this button but had no idea what it was. At first I thought I had a colonial button. I saw another of my friends and asked him to come over and look at it. He looked at it and knew what it was and said he’s never seen one come out of the ground in such great condition. It was a 71st Regiment of Foot Button (from Fraser’s Highlanders). There were 2 Battalions. Later I started showing it off and everyone said it was a bucket list item. I want to thank you Garrett for building such an awesome machine. My friends use another brand and are always telling me to get one. Now they know what I know, that my can run against any detector on the market. You just have to know your machine and trust it, which I do. Craig T. an Metal Detector!

My U.S. favorite find for January 2020 is the 1700’s Gold Wax Seal Signet Ring, found by Louis G. from Massachusetts with his . Louis’s success story: So to start detecting in January in Mass can be a cold one. However on this fine festive Saturday it was a crazy 65 degrees. A few other detectorists and myself went to a 1700’s permission I had gotten last summer. We had been there a handful of times and every time we left with many colonial items. We arrived nice and early as we knew it was gonna be such nice weather. Got out there and started swinging. I was using my all powerful and super star that I purchased last spring after 7 yrs or so of using an . Everyone was pulling colonial coppers, and relics out of the ground. After about six hours of swinging and the day winding down I was in an area we all definitely went through either that day or in the past. I got a nice 57 signal and said “c’mon gold” and dug up a pull tab. After you find gold every 50’s signal you will always say “c’mon gold”. LoL. About five feet away I got another 56/57 signal. Dug down 6 inches or so and low and behold what came out but the shine of GOLD!!!! I was so excited I called over a couple people. One thought I was playing a trick on him. They were both blown away as I was. After removing dirt what lay in my hand was a 1700’s Wax Seal Signet Ring. The other person that came over said he was just in that area not that long before I was and must have missed it. I was thrilled beyond belief as to what I had found later on that evening when I posted it on social media and some others chimed in with more information. To me, finding colonial gold itself is a find of a lifetime, but for it to be a lost personal item that has a story to be told, that makes it all the more incredible. Research on it will be ongoing until all possible avenues are looked into.

My U.S. favorite find for December 2019 is the Diamond Ring Return by Scott C. from New York with his . Scott’s story: Garrett Success Story. I was detecting in a local swimming area where a lot of boats anchor. As I was going along, a boat arrived and some kids jumped off into the water and were splashing around. A guy on the boat started teasing me about finding big treasure. I finally moved on and they left soon after. About 20 minutes later, they came back. I was getting ready to leave when the guy that had been teasing me earlier started yelling to me, calling me “metal man”. I came over to the boat and he asked if I could find a ring. I asked if he knew where he lost it and he said about where the boat currently was. I started looking around for it. He got in the water and kept following me around. After about 10 minutes, the other two guys on the boat started insisting that they had to go. I gave them my cell number and told them to send me a text and I’d get in touch if I found it. Just as he started to wade back to the boat, I got a screaming signal and was sure it had to be the ring. It took two scoops to get it up, but it was his ring. I’ve never seen a ring so large (other than the 1953 World Series ring I found for the widow of the owner about 10 years ago). It was huge, heavy and had all these diamonds on it. I handed it to him and I thought he was going to cry. He thanked me over and over and sent a long text about how much he appreciated my finding it for him. I’m sure he’ll never tease another person with a metal detector again!

My first U.S. favorite find for November is the Civil War era Cavalry Hat Pins (company B letter and crossed sabres), found by Tony F. from Colorado with his . Tony’s story: While searching a permission across the street from a confirmed civil war era Cavalry site, I was able to find a Company B letter and crossed sabres from a Cavalry issued hat. Both items were found in the same hole approximately 5 inches down. The Company B letter is in perfect condition and the sabres were slightly bent. For being in the Colorado ground for approximately 154 years, they are in beautiful condition. I found these two hat pins while using my Garrett machine and my Garrett .

My U.S. favorite find for October 2019 is the 100 year Celebration Pendant 1896, found by Doug W. from Ohio with his AT Max. Doug’s story: My friend Joel and I detect together and try to get out every week. I live out in the country and I am always looking for permissions. There is an old homesite within view from my home. I have always wanted to detect there, but never stopped to ask. Finally, one day I saw someone outside and decided to stop. The owner was very gracious and seemed almost as excited as I was to see what might be there. He did not know the actual age of the home, but we both knew that it was pre-1856. We planned a date for Joel and I to come and we couldn’t wait to get there. The day turned out to be more amazing then we could have ever imagined! We found a shield nickel, Barber quarter, Walking Liberty half dollar (I wish that was my find!), tokens, Indians, and I even found a Draped Bust large cent among other great things. Now this is where the story got exciting for me. I got a very good repeatable tone in the upper 70’s that I thought was a coin. When I pulled it from the ground, I could see that it was an odd shape, but it was covered in dirt. Just then the homeowner happened to walk out of the house to ask if we were having any luck. I quickly told him YES as I was just pulling this “thing” out of the ground, but had no idea what it was! I wiped and brushed it off to see it for the first time after all these years. I remember bursting out, “IT HAS WRITING ON IT!” Still not knowing what it was I cleaned it a little more and handed to the homeowner to read. We were both so excited as he read it! “100th Anniversary Wayne County Ohio 1796-1896, Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne Celebration, Wooster, Ohio Aug 11-16.” When I got home, we cleaned it up more and then started to research it. That is when we discovered that it was a 100th Anniversary Celebration of General “MAD” Anthony Wayne, the man that Wayne County was named after! He was born on Jan. 1st 1745, and passed away Dec. 15th 1796. The celebration was for 100 year after his passing. This pendant would have been worn by people who would have attended this celebration back in 1896! It was beautiful, and my favorite find of the day! There is so much amazing history about Gen. Anthony Wayne that I would encourage everyone to research him to see what he had accomplished. The other picture is a shot of the celebration on Friday Aug. 14th 1896. Every time I see this picture it makes me smile and look back, wishing I could have been there to be a part of it!

My U.S. favorite find for September 2019 is the 1899 US $10 Gold coin S mint, found by Keno R. from California with his AT Pro. Keno’s story: Well it was my first time meeting up detecting with a new friend. He was swinging a competitors machine, and me my trusty Garrett AT Pro. Both finding a lot of nails and remnants of an old fire. A few hours in was started to get dark. I decided to check the far corner of the property near the old sidewalk. Two cute eledery women come walking down the sidewalk and one playfully says “Find any gold?” I play along and say “no just these” and held up one of the many recent pull tabs. I start to walk away and have this funny feeling to go back to where I was with the lady and her gold comment. I get a choppy but decent repeating signal of 80 along with 30’s nail signals. My mind is blank as I start to dig, perhaps daydreaming of a screaming high silver signal, and out of the dirt 4 inches down blops a beautiful near perfect 1899 US $10 Gold coin S mint!! I call over my new buddy, he was like “I checked that spot 3 times before you got here!!!” I was beside myself! What a day!

My United States favorite find for August 2019 is the Boston Artillery Breast Plate, found by Thoren P. from Maine, with his . Thoren’s story: This is my first year metal detecting, and since I got the I have found things I couldn’t even imagine, along with this find. My friend Billy and I were planning to do some island hopping on old homesteads, when he decided that we should go down and check out a field before we left. Approximately 5 minutes into the field search, Billy struck across a 1843 large cent. 15 minutes after that is when I ran my Max across what I believe to be now, the best signal I’ll probably ever get in my lifetime, screaming an 84 at 4″ deep. I proceeded to cut my plug, and the pin-pointer could pick it up. I saw something oval, had some hook and stud looking things on the back, and rolled it over to read “Boston Artillery” after doing much research, and talking to some war historians, they believe it to be the only known surviving example of this style plate. Got offered a good amount of money, but the memories made on an day like that don’t have a price tag.

My favorite find for July 2019 is the CSA Button, found by Matthew C. from TX with his . Matthew’s story: A buddy of mine took me to a permission of his and we had started early to try and beat the heat. We hunted one spot for a while and had some good luck there. It started to get really hot and we decided to hop in the truck and catch some AC while we drove to another spot on the property before the heat became too much. I was about 20 minutes into this new site when I got a sweet sounding high tone on my . Now keep in mind the ground is hard as a rock and our shovels just weren’t doing the trick so we were having to dig with a pick ax. As I started to dig I started to find large chunks of old bone (probably deer) and I was still getting a great signal and was thinking it was probably going to be a bullet. I got down to the bottom and saw what looked like a button and then I saw it was a CSA button I was so excited because I had never found one before because we just don’t see stuff like that too often. We are confident with the other items we found that we might have found a confederate camp site. We both got a little over heated but we had a great time anyway. I can’t wait to head back to that location maybe when the ground softens up a bit. Matthew C. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

WINNER #1 My favorite U.S. find for June 2019 is the 1850’s Document Embossing Seal, found by Douglas G. from Maryland with his . Douglas’s story: I was out with my uncle working a large farm field with my while he was swinging his . A few buttons and bullets and such had been found by us both. A few swings later in what seemed like the middle of nowhere I picked up this super sweet deep signal. I dug pretty deep and found what looked like a small metal hockey puck. To my surprise it had an older style eagle on it and some lettering around the edge. It took me a few minutes to realize everything was reversed. After a fair bit of research it turns out that I found a US Consulate Office document seal embossing stamp. It would have been used to place seals on documents for a foreign consulate office. This one is dated from the 1850s or so for a US Consulate Office that once existed for a few years in Realejo, Nicaragua. I found an example of its use online from a different city office from the 1850s. It was a perfect match. I also reversed the image to give a better idea of what it would have looked like. This is probably the most unique and coolest thing I have ever found thanks to my .

My U.S. favorite find for May 2019 is the Civil War bullet spill, found by Scott M. from Alabama with his . Scott’s story: Last week, I went out searching for a new permission because I have been on a several month dry spell and had zero luck. I eventually gave up and decided to go to a permission I had detected a couple of years ago when I first started detecting. Luckily, the woman was home and gave me the green light. My first hole was a solid high 60s signal and to my delight it was my first minie ball in almost a year. I stuck my Pro-Pointer back in the hole to double-check it, and it was still going crazy. I stuck my shovel in and 2 more fell out. After 30 minutes of digging I ended up with 78 out of one hole! That is more Civil War bullets than I have found in the last 3 years! Scott M. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for April 2019 is the Collapsed Chimney Colonial Copper Spill! Found by Donnie B. from New York with his . Donnie’s story: Thank you Garrett for providing me with the tools to enjoy one of the most exciting days of metal detecting in my life. My buddy and I were hunting at a colonial cellar hole site in Connecticut that we have been to several times in the past. The site is very old and, unfortunately, very quiet. Still, we like to return to these sites at different times of the year due to changing vegetation and ground conditions. Since the site is very quiet after years and years of metal detecting I decided to scan the collapsed chimney inside the cellar hole. I did this immediately upon walking up to the site. To my utter amazement, I got a nice loud high tone in the pile of rocks that was once a chimney. I started pulling massive rocks out of the way and underneath was the most beautiful 1723 George I Hibernia Half Pence I have ever found! But wait, there’s more. Scanning again I got another lower tone in among the nails and pulled out a 1672 – 1679 Charles II Farthing! Wow! But wait, there’s more! Moving rocks and scanning I got another tone and, you guessed it, a coin! This one was a 1655 – 1658 Liard De France from the reign of Louis XIV! What an unbelievable find! Three coins in all came out of the chimney and two were from the 1600’s. One must wonder if the colonist who lived there had stuck them in the rocks of the chimney for a “rainy day” fund. Obviously, the coins were forgotten and as the house succumbed to the ravages of time and collapsed they were left in the pile of rocks at the bottom of the cellar. Waiting. Waiting on me and my Garrett . Donnie B. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. Favorite Find for March 2019 is the 14K Gold Ring with 4 Carat Blue Sapphire, found by Chip K. from Florida with his Chips’s story (edited): ONE FOR YOU. ONE FOR ME! It leads back to my many years in the Cub and Boy Scouts, but the idea of “Do a good deed daily” is an integral part of both my life and my metal detecting activities. My business cards proclaim FREE METAL DETECTING SERVICES. I have over 20 returns. Now the story I’m telling today was about a lost ring. Or two. I received a call asking me to search a yard for a lost ring. It was a 90 year old house and the bank was about to take it back and time was essential. Now when people ask me to find lost items I explain I do not charge for my services but do ask for permission to hunt the whole property with the understanding that I can keep whatever else I find. So far everybody has agreed it’s a fair exchange. Then I also insist on a complete description of what I’m looking for. If it’s a ring I want to know what metal it’s made of, color, stones, inscriptions or whatever will help me identify it and prove ownership. That proved to be invaluable this time. The ring I was looking for was a simple 14K gold wedding band. On the third trip I found the gold band. I called the owner and informed him I would be dropping his ring off shortly. He was ecstatic. I decided to quickly scan the rest of the yard and soon I picked up a mid tone that had to be aluminum foil. I was tired and wanted to leave but I turned around and proceeded to dig that wad of foil. But it wasn’t foil. It turned out to be a thin ring with a whopper of a stone mounted on it. Fake. Had to be. I have found a number of rings but never one with a gem anywhere close to this one. Plus the “fake diamonds” on one side were missing. I dropped it in my trash pouch. I headed to the owner’s House. He thanked me profusely and offered me money which I refused. I told him about some coins I had found and then I asked if they had lost another ring. They said no but the wife was curious about it so I produced it. I hadn’t even punched the dirt from inside the band. They did not recognize it and agreed it probably was fake but congratulated me in case it turned out to be real. I laughed and said goodbye. At home I informed my wife I had a present for her. She examined it and then punched the sand from the band. She rinsed it in the sink and examined it again. She then said it is stamped 14K and the stone is a blue sapphire!! It needed to be cleaned and sized so we headed to the jewelers. They oohed and ahhed over it proclaiming somebody was sad to have lost it. They said it is a 4 carat emerald cut blue sapphire and is probably at least 60 years old. They are sizing and cleaning it and replacing the diamonds on one side. My wife can’t wait to wear it. Happy Mother’s Day a bit early! So a good deed for someone else turned out to also be a good deed for me too. Chip K. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for February 2019 is the US Box Plate, found by Emily C. from Georgia with her . Story: Emily C., aka “Little Dirt Digger,” was detecting in the woods near Adairsville, Georgia when she found her first US Box Plate. The US Box Plate was approximately 9 inches deep. This is seven-year-old Emily’s first US Box Plate. Emily made the find on February 3rd 2019 while using her Garrett . Emily C. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My favorite U.S. favorite find for January 2019 is the 1880 5 Dollar Gold Piece, found by James W. from Oklahoma with his James’s story: After hours in the field uncovering old headstamps, .45/70 cartridges and different odds and ends, we were getting ready to call it a day as the sun was getting ready to set. I continued to search with what little time I had left. I came across a solid 65 thinking it was another headstamp. I rushed in to retrieve the target. To my disbelief it wasn’t a headstamp but something gold! An 1880 5 dollar gold piece! Huge thanks to the Garrett family for their outstanding customer service and outstanding machines! James W. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for December 2018 is the 64 Coins Cache, found by Terry C. from Indiana with his Terry’s story: I use the all the time and love it. I got the small coil and it’s amazing and much lighter to use. In a wooden area, moving up into a tree line behind a old house I got a hit in the 90’s. Coming out of one hole is photos of the coins! I was so excited, I only took one photo to send to my wife at the time of the find. I was lucky to even think to take that one. There were a total of 64 coins in that hole with the best a ten dollar gold Eagle. But I love those half-dollars. In the hole were 52 Morgan dollars, 10 half-dollars, an 8 Reale, and a ten dollar gold Eagle. I was shaking like a leaf for hours after recovering all the coins. I will never be able to top this! Finding just one of these coins is a great find but all these at once! Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be this much in one hole. It was an amazing cache! Terry C. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My favorite U.S. find for November 2018 is the Type 1 One Dollar Gold Coin (1849-1854), found by James O. from Pennsylvania with his . James’s story: This past month I was sitting at home after work. This time of the year it get so dark so early but it was too beautiful to sit around and do nothing. I decided to drive around and “door knock” to see if I could get onto a quick new permission. I got one “no” driving down a random road and started to drive off when I saw a stone house about 150 feet away. I pulled in and the man was very kind saying that it had been detected before by a local boy for the last 20 or so years. I decide to give it a try anyways. After putting my gear on and ground balanced my I started swinging in the front yard. I always dig my first few repeatable tones to get a feel for the territory and got a choppy 50s-70s signal that was repeating. I pinpointed it and dug the plug. I used my pinpointer in the hole and found a piece of a square nail and went back to the plug to see if something was in there. I broke half of the plug off and saw a small gold object. At first I thought it was a pendant because it was so small. With further inspection I saw a bust facing left. It was extremely worn down so I wasn’t sure if it was foreign or US but I did know it was a gold coin! With further inspection and some research I discovered it was a type 1 one dollar gold coin (1849-1854). This was the first one dollar gold coin the US ever minted as well as the smallest US coin ever minted. Unfortunately I am unable to get a date off of it but I am so happy in any condition. James O. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for October 2018 is the assortment of California Gold Nuggets, found by Joe H. with his and extra 8″ coil. Joe’s story: I’m somewhat of an addict when it comes to mining. I was in CA in a spot I always wanted to prospect. I prospect plenty in the rivers below but it wasn’t until a blazing fire ripped thru that I was able to access these mountains. Little did I know that the ground was very hot and mineralized and only a pulse induction machine could be successful in this ground. In no time at all there were some hot patches that were discovered and I was successful almost every time out. Some days it was just little pickers to bigger nugs but no matter what it was, I enjoyed every piece found and more importantly the time spent with friends and family. I will always be a Garrett customer. Thank you. Joe H. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for September 2018 is the Victorian Brooch, found by Doug G. from Maryland with his . Doug’s story: I got out with a buddy on a hot Saturday afternoon. We stopped at a site that has been detected pretty hard. It was pretty quiet for targets so I was going low and slow with my AT Max. I got a deep scratchy tone close to the woods. After digging almost two inches past pin pointer depth, I pulled out my first Victorian brooch. It was caked with dirt but a little cleaning at home and it turned out amazing. The Max gets it done! Thanks Garrett! Doug G. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for August 2018 is the Silver Drawstring Purse Charm, found by Kerry H. from Rhode Island with her . Kerry’s story: I have been detecting for three years, my husband Jason got me into the hobby. On Aug 9, 2018 we were hunting woods. I got a signal with my that sounded scratchy but heard an interesting chirp only three inches down. I was not expecting what I found: 2 seated half dimes, 3 trimes, and a silver drawstring purse charm fashioned in a chatelaine/fob also on the reverse side inscribed with children’s names (making them Love Tokens). With research we found that their lineage traces back to the earliest settlers of Rhode Island. This has been my most exciting find yet. Looking forward to my next find with my . Thanks for looking. Kerry H. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for July 2018 is the 47 Walking Liberty Coins Stash, found by Ian M. from Ohio with his . Ian’s story: This is and probably will be these best find for me ever! I wanted to search my buddies property that has been in his family since 1874. I wanted to find old coins and relics that tied into his family. I let my buddy use the until he was feeling comfortable with it. We were digging wheats up left and right. So then I let him use my and he started hitting silvers and more wheats deeper. So while he was digging a deep target, I took my and started swinging it. I came across an extremely high multiple target sound. I almost didn’t dig it because I was sure it was just a huge piece of iron. So I cut a plug and turned it over. I just sat there and stared at I don’t know how many Walkers! My buddy asked me what I found. I just said “Come over here”. We were very careful and picked out 47 Walking Liberties! It took us 2 hours just making sure we didn’t damage them. We’re only 10% done with his property. Coin count: 30 wheats, 3 barber dimes, 6 mercury dimes, 4 Roosevelt’s, 4 Washington’s, 2 Indian heads, 1 buffalo, and of course 47 walkers. Ian M. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My United States favorite find for June 2018 is the 80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers) buckle, found by Thomas R. from New York with his . Thomas’s story: I was detecting an old rock wall along the back of private property in Orange County N.Y. I was having no luck digging a lot of junk. Then I got a high pitch 83 to 85 on my . Started to dig, saw a rectangular piece of metal, thought it was more junk till I turned it over and saw the REV in script on the front. I was so excited I couldn’t speak! I wasn’t sure what it was exactly but with a couple of calls turned out to be the 80th Regiment of Foot (Royal Edinburgh Volunteers) buckle! I couldn’t believe what I have found and the rarity of it (2 or 3 known) and why I was digging it up in New York when they where captured in Yorktown, Virginia. Thomas R. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for May 2018 is the Pre Civil War Militia Plate 1830-40, found by Thomas E. from Massachusetts with his and carrot. Thomas’s story: I was out bottle digging a few weeks ago at a civil war era cellar hole. I rounded up my goods to head on out. As you know calling it quits (for the day) in this hobby is one of the hardest things to do, so I dropped my pack and put my coil to the ground. Having marginal success finding a few buttons and a large bell until this happened. My first belt plate! Amazing. Enjoy. Thomas E. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for April 2018 is the Gold Ring with Garnet Birth Stones, found by Bryan G. from Tennessee with his . Bryan’s story: The day started off with me racking my brain, trying to find a place to hunt for the day. I decided to use google maps to find a local creek to delve into. Lucky me, I found one just a few miles from my house I hadn’t noticed before. Packing up, I hoped for the best. With civil war activity in my area, I hoped for a lone three ringer at the least. A few feet into the water, I began to find the signs of my fellow country boys. Shot .22 bullets riddled the cracks and crevices, not excluding the lost rooster tail from a fisher man or two. A few yards up the creek I saw a small water fall ledge no taller than six inches at best. I checked it and got a solid “46” tone. (.22 caliber bullets ring up on my machine between 42-47 with some fluctuations.) But this was the solid steady and tight pattern that gets a metal detector’s heart racing. There was a small circular hole in the bed rock, about the size of a hockey puck, only 2 inches deep. I felt around and could barely feel the edge of something stuck in the circle, but under the tiny ledge rim that formed the circle. Curiosity peaked, I took out my hand trowel and chipped the ledge away just enough to allow my finger nail to hang the rim of the ring. With amazement, I just held it. Instantly started to snap pictures and sending my find to the people in my life. It was the very first ring I had ever found. My girlfriend staked claim to the little golden ring. Again to my amazement the ring held little red heart garnets, which happen to be her birthstones, set in 14k gold. The ring was a perfect fit as well. This was a Cinderella story to tell about. A year later I’m marrying that girl! I knew Garrett Metal detectors where the best detectors in the world, in my opinion, but I didn’t know they could find me a wife as well!! Bryan G. a Pro-Pointer AT Z-Lynk™ and Garrett® MS-3 Wireless Kit!

My U.S. favorite find for March 2018 is the 1970 University of Tennessee Gold Class Ring, found by Barbara B. with her Barbara’s story: I attended the recent Charles Garrett hunt in Jefferson, Texas and was inspired by Vaughan’s talk to submit a recent exciting find. I was detecting a subdivision that had been torn down. I came across a nice solid signal and was shocked to dig up a HUGE gold class of 1970 University of Tennessee class ring about 4-5 inches deep. As my husband was calculating the price of gold, I was already composing an email to the University of Tennessee Alumni Association to help me find the owner. After a few emails back and forth, the ring owner was identified as a local surgeon, Stephan S. Coincidentally, he had actually done surgery on my arm about 25 years earlier! I excitedly contacted him and made arrangements to re-unite him with his long lost ring. A reward was offered, and quickly turned down… returning the ring to its rightful owner was a far greater reward than any amount of money! Much to my surprise, my Facebook started blowing up a couple of weeks later, and I found that the story had been reported on multiple news stations and in newspapers as far away as Denmark and Brazil. I was quite speechless, and I won’t be forgetting the experience for a long while. Thank you, Barbara Barbara B. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for February 2018 is the Scottish Jacobite Disc, found by Chip K. from Florida with his . Chip’s story (edited): I was hunting with my ATP near the Georgia State Line and got a nice 88-89 signal but was surprised when I found what appeared to be a can lid. The thick dried muck slowly came away and I saw the line “I MAK SICKER (Siccar)” which is the original Kirkpatrick Family Motto which means “I Make Sure.” This belonged to one of my ancestors! How did it end up in NE Florida? In 1740, Oglethorpe was governor of the new colony of Georgia. He pulled many prisoners out of Scottish prisons and sent them to SE Georgia to block the Spanish in St Augustine from advancing on South Carolina. Many of these prisoners were Jacobites who had lost a short lived rebellion. It appears one of them lost this. The bail indicates this had a ribbon or leather strap. The disc inscriptions: (obverse) Touch and I Pierce, Aug 23, 1299, W.W., and (reverse) None shall Provoke me with impunity, I make sicker. It is a flat thin silver disc covered with Scottish iconic engravings. There is a lion, thistle, heather, hourglass, a heart pierced by an arrow (means a Jacobite) and a hand wielding a sword stabbing a rose (means Striking at England which is often represented by a rose. This item actually looks like a metal detector.) I recognized the slogan “I MAKE SICKER (Siccar)” means I MAKE SURE. In 1306 Robert the Bruce was chasing the Scottish crown but he had a strong opponent John “Red” Comyn who was the favorite of most of the nobility. Bruce suggested they have a meeting in the church in Dumfries. Churches were considered safe sanctuary but during the meeting, Bruce pulled his dagger and stabbed Cornyn and fled. Outside was his best friend and third cousin, Sir Roger (Roget) Kirkpatrick. When told what happened Kirkpatrick asked if Comyn was dead and Bruce admitted he did not know. Kirkpatrick pulled HIS dagger and said the now famous phrase and went inside and finished Comyn which allowed Bruce to take the throne. This is all well documented. There is also the line TOUCH AND I PEARCE. (Pierce ie stab). This was the original Kirkpatrick Family motto before the Comyn incident. Chip K. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for January 2018 is the 1845 $10 Liberty Gold Coin Pendant, found by Greg M. from Texas with his . Greg’s story: I got a call from a member of our metal detector club THAP, Treasure Hunters Association of Pasadena (TX), who said an asphalt worker named Rowdy from Beaumont lost his 1845 $10 Liberty gold coin pendant while paving a parking lot. I met Rowdy and his crew that next morning at a chemical plant where the parking lot was laid. He and crew had 3 gold rings between them, so we laid them on the asphalt to get a reading on my AT Gold. 76-77. The top layer of asphalt is 2 inches thick so every target I hit was marked with a quarter. On The 3rd target, we melted and scraped asphalt and found it between the 2 layers of asphalt. There was Rowdy, his 2 crew and myself there and high fives and fist bumps happened big time! His mother wore that pedant for years and gave it to him so there was sentimental value. I was really happy and proud to be a part of this. What a great experience! Greg M. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for December 2017 is the Alabama Confederate Sword Plate, found by Stone K. from Alabama with his . Stone’s story: While detecting a very small permission from a house built in the 1920s, I made an incredible recovery! After digging a few wheaties and whatever else I got a silver quarter type signal. After popping my plug I realized the target was deep and much larger than a quarter. It was an Alabama State Seal Sword Plate! A very rare Confederate plate that I never could have anticipated. Turns out the ground I was hunting has some history. The does it again! Woohooo! Stone K. a Garrett Z-Lynkâ„¢ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for November 2017 is the Confederate Buckle, found by Andy B. from Texas with his . Andy’s story: Hunting on private property near the Chickamauga battlefield, this Army of Tennessee Confederate buckle was dug in about 3 inches of dirt last week. This is my first ever Confederate buckle. When my 250 hit it, I knew right away it was something sweet. I didn’t know it would be my best find to date! The buckle was found in an area that was used as a staging area for Nathan Bedford Forrest and his men before the battle of Chickamauga and knowing that his men wore this style of buckle, there is a high probability it was from one of his men. All 3 prongs are intact and there is no apparent damage to the plate. Some of the black lacquer is still in place! The feeling of seeing the “reveal” when the plug was lifted was surreal to say the least. Best way I can describe the feeling when I first saw the buckle was a sense of being in a movie! Only a few feet away were bullets and a few other relics. The 250 is a simple to use and easy to learn machine. Thanks Garrett! Andy B. a Garrett Z-Lynkâ„¢ Wireless System!

My favorite U.S. find for October 2017 is the War of 1812 Artillery Belt Plate, found by Brian P. from New York with his . Brian’s story: While detecting a cellar hole in upstate NY I received a signal right in the foundation ruins. After moving a foundation stone and a little digging I was rewarded with this beauty! I’m so lucky to have found it and still in disbelief. Thanks Garrett for making a machine that really gets through the iron. Brian P. a Garrett Z-Lynkâ„¢ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find is the VMI Cadet Civil War Button, found by Jeffery P. from Virginia, with his . Jeffery’s story: I went with a friend to a very old church in my hometown to visit a grave of a friend of his. He told me that he had relic hunted the neighboring field next to the church in the early 90’s and found some 1800’s coins and flat buttons. I asked him if I could try my luck there and he said sure. So I started back in the wooded area of the field. I was going slow and had a great 55-61 signal on the and dug down 4 inches and saw a shank of a button showing. It turned out to be a Virginia Military Institute Cadet button. I have done the research and these buttons are pretty rare and in this type of shape is remarkable. Thank you for allowing me to share. Jeffery P. a !

My U.S. favorite find for August 2017 is the 1650s IHS Jesuit Trade Ring, found by Brandon M. from New York with his . Brandon’s story (edited): I’m still new to metal detecting. Just started this summer after buying a Garrett and am totally hooked. Yesterday I made my best find yet! After about an hour and a half of digging nothing but garbage I was getting pretty discouraged. I dug a semi sketchy signal mid 50s after finding tons of scrap copper reading in the same area. Dug the hole, pulled out my , pulled this out and was praying it wasn’t more garbage. When I saw the front I nearly had a heart attack. So here it is! My IHS Jesuit fur trade ring from the 1650s. Dug it in a field that had long houses and captured Christians during the 1650s. I still can’t believe it! Brandon M. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for July 2017 is the 14K Diamond & Ruby Ring, found by Brian L. from TX with his . Brian’s story: I woke up early Wednesday morning, brewed a pot of coffee and hit the local swim beach a little before sunrise. I started off shallow and noticed someone had already detected the waters the evening before so I decided to head a little deeper. I went to the end of the lake that usually gathers the most trash and pull tabs. I got a strong 42 signal and decided to go for it. I thought I was on the trail of another pull tab but when I pulled up the scoop and saw a shimering gold band staring at me through the sand and gravel all I could think was “hello beautiful!” The ring is hallmarked 14K and 585 inside the band. I tested all 16 diamonds and they tested real! Brian L. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find is the White Gold Ring with Diamonds, found by Paul M. from Louisiana with his . Paul’s story: I went out on a late after work hunt in the lake about a week ago. Started out chest deep, working along parallel to the beach. Started back waist deep now when I got a solid tone that was 45 no matter what direction you checked it. One scoop down and out it popped 6.3 grams of 14K white gold, 1 pear cut center diamond that is .4 cts, total of 59 diamond chips for a total weight of 1 ct. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Thanks for such a great product. Paul M. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for May 2017 is the Vellon Coin, minted in Saville Spain 1505, found by Raymond E. from Texas with his . Raymond’s story: It was not until my recent vacation in the Caribbean, that I felt my biggest thrill of my detecting career. I brought my to hunt beaches where I had found a couple nice rings and local coins. I found myself deep in the country with a friend. We were visiting his family that lived on a street that translated to “The Ruin”. I asked one of his relatives how the street got the name. It turned out we were less than four blocks from the site of an old Monastery built in the late 1400s. If that wasn’t cool enough, it adjoined a historical fort built by Columbus’ brother on the second expedition to the new world. I got right to work seeking out permissions. I could not hunt either site, but both were adjoined by acres of banana and plantain groves. I hired a guide that worked in the area as a tour guide to secure permissions and guide what was now a full fledged expedition. We hunted for hours in the on and off again rain. The mosquitoes were biting and we were all soaked and a bit tired. Most of the targets were trash related to generations of plantation workers. There were bottle caps everywhere. We worked our way over to what would have been the rear of the Monastery, maybe 50 yards from what was left of the Cathedral. It was now separated from the original property by a road. I literally had to clear areas with my foot before swinging my Pro. That’s when I came across a dry mountain stream bed. It was clear of any trash so I began hunting it. It was not five minutes before I got a clear high pitch tone that read a solid 81 on my display. My heart started beating fast as I began digging out the target aided by my Garrett Carrot pin pointer. When the copper coin popped out of the ground it took a few minutes to try to determine what I was holding. The guide said that’s one of the original coins used on the Island that the Spaniards brought. I was shaking from excitement. But the coin was still pretty dirty and difficult to make out. We could not find a date. After a few hours we had sufficiently cleaned the coin and did our research. Sure enough, it was a coin minted in Saville Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella to facilitate trade in the new world! The coin was 512 years old and a very rare find! We found articles written on its history but could not find its actual value. It’s called a Vellon and was the first coin introduced in the new world. I am very grateful to have such a great hobby and to have had such a great adventure finding this coin! Thank you Garrett for the great detecting products and great inspiration from your museum! Raymond E. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for April 2017 is the Diamond Wedding Ring, found by Michael D. from California with his . Michael’s story: Ever since I was kid, I have always been intrigued watching people use metal detectors, and would ask what treasures they were finding. Recently I had the opportunity to purchase a Garrett AT Pro for myself. The dealer, Jerry, is a member of our RV Club. Jerry took me to a park by his house to show me how the Garrett works, and give me some pointers. He went to the park before me and planted coins for me to find. I was having a great time finding the coins and hearing the different sounds and readings the Garrett made. At one point, the Garrett hit on a 56. Jerry claimed he did not plant anything there and suggested I dig it out to see what it was. To my surprise it was a diamond wedding ring. We were both flabbergasted. I had only been detecting for 20 minutes and had already found my first ring. I must admit I am hook. Even if I never find another ring, I enjoy being outside getting exercise. I must add, my wife is happy with the find also, she now wears the ring. Michael D. a Garrett Z-Lynk™ Wireless System!

My U.S. favorite find for March 2017 is the Cache of 48 World War One buttons and 11 Insignias, found by Stone K. from Alabama with his friend’s . “Hello. My name is Stone K. I’m a relic hunter with DownSouth Diggers and I’m out of Spanish Fort Alabama. Today I found an incredible cache of 48 World War One buttons and 11 insignias. We took a live dig video and we’ll be uploading it to YouTube as soon as it’s edited. I found the cache with my friend’s AT Pro and in the video I mention that it is my first time using the and and how impressed I am with its performance. I am being truthful in saying how impressed I am with your products.” Stone K. a Pro-Pointer AT!!!

My U.S. favorite find is the 1881 Ten dollar gold piece, found by John W. from Indiana with his . John’s story: I had purchased my a few years ago. After owning a Treasure for many years. I had found some nice things with my . But, needed to up grade. After I got my , I went back over places I had been with my Ace. And started to find more coins. One day I decided to hit a few old homesteads through permission. I got to my first place. It yielded a beat up Indiana head penny, then a super nice 1891 Seated Liberty half dime. So I left for my next spot. I dug up a well used Indian Head. Date was gone. Kept swinging. A two cent piece, my first ever, but couldn’t make out the date. Kept swinging. Then a signal that never wavered from 70. Went back over it, 70 70. Being new to the . I figured it was a penny. Dug a 6″ deep plug. Pulled out my pinpointer. Located it, moved the dirt around and saw a gold stripe with dirt on each side. I was thinking a token. But to my surprise. I was holding a gold coin in my hand. I knew exactly what I was holding the moment the dirt fell off. After a moment of hysteria and “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT” I was on the phone with my brothers and a buddy rubbing it in. John W. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for January 2017 is the 1857 $5 Gold Coin, found by Ryan W. from Oregon with his . Ryan’s story (edited): First of all I would like to say your is the best investment I have ever made. Since I first watched Diggers just over three years ago, I was hooked, and have dedicated my life to finding treasure. I have found numerous amounts of gold, silver, and rare relics. Last year while I was hunting I noticed the city was tearing up a main road in the next city down from me. I worked the ground there for a few weeks straight. Everyday I was finding rare old coins and relics dating back as far as the early 1800’s. Every person walking by asked me what I was doing and what I had found. I stared my stories with over 100 different people and everyone was very intrigued. Then about my second week working the street up came an 1857 $5 GOLD COIN! I immediately jumped up and yelled I DID IT!!! People around me were looking at me very strange. So a few weeks later one of my neighbors who works for the Signal in Seaside Oregon and also the Daily Astorian asked if he could interview me. I honestly didn’t think anything of it until about a week later I was going to get some coffee from the local store. To my surprise I was on the front cover of the Newspaper stand directly in front of my vehicle. I couldn’t believe it. Of course I bought 10 copies. Since then I have had numerous people come up to me and say, “ Hey aren’t you the guy that found that gold coin?” So to you guys at Garrett Metal Detectors I wanted to share this with you. I will always hunt with your products and have complete faith in your detectors! Ryan W. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for December 2016 is the 1916 14K Gold Greenville Woman’s College Ring, found by Chad G. from South Carolina with his . Chad’s story: My friend Carter received permission to detect at an old community in the upstate of South Carolina. The community has a small lake where people use to swim. The lake had been drained and there were tracks in the bottom of the lake, like they had moved some of the dirt around. I was detecting along side the long narrow dock when I got a real solid 58 signal in one of the tracks made by a tractor. The depth showed to be only 2 inches deep so I didn’t even use the shovel. I scooped a handful of mud out of the way and saw the edge of the ring, I dusted a little more mud off and took a picture before removing it from the hole, I pulled it and took a second picture then I went to the truck to wash it off and see what I had. The ring said Greenville Woman’s college 1854, it has 19 on one side and 16 on the other, it also has a name on the inside of the ring. We were able to track down the woman’s daughter that is now 79 year old and the woman grandson that is 67. We have already scheduled a time and place to return the ring. When I talked to the daughter she told me that her mom was 40 when she was born, she had been given the ring when she was 16 and lost it while at the community for the weekend. She was so grateful that I found the ring, and that I was going to return it, and she started to cry while she was thanking me. Chad G. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for November 2016 is the Gold Ring With 14 Diamonds, found by Terry S. from Illinois with the . Terry’s story: I was using my detecting a volley ball pit and had a solid signal of 51. I scooped into the sand 7 inches down and pulled up this beauty. A gold ring with 14 diamonds. I have found many rings in Lake Michigan and in parks in Chicago and these type of finds have me now in first place for treasure hunter of the year in our club, The Midwest Historical Research Society. Sadly there was no name in the ring and I was unable to locate the owner. Terry S. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find is the 1862 1 Dollar Indian Princess Gold Coin, found by Brandon C. from Virginia with his . Brandon says, “I am 28 and have been metal detecting only 1 year and found my first gold coin. I was hunting some woods behind a friend’s house in central Virginia. When I swung the detector I just had this weird feeling it was something good, and low and behold my first and only gold coin! I was stunned and thanks to garrett I’ve found loads of civil war relics this past year but this gold coin still holds a special spot in all my finds. It’s a 1862 gold 1 dollar Indian princess type 2 and it’s a war date coin.” Brandon C. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find is the Gold Pocket Watch, found by Clarence H. from South Dakota with his . Clarence’s story: “I spent quite a few hours at the local park looking for coins and jewelry. Having found lots of pennies and clad coins along the play ground and sidewalk. I thought why not go across the road where they parked the vehicles. I spent a short time looking and got a beep that sounded good and checked the depth and size. It showed bigger than a coin but I dug it anyway and when I took the plug out I could see the gold of the stem. I began to think whatever it was it was gold so removed it from the hole. I first noticed that the face had no numbers or cover. I cleaned some of the dirt off and seen that there was a cover on the back which I opened to find a serial number and 18K marking. I went home and did an internet search and found that the watch was made in 1866 making it my oldest and best find. Took awhile for it to sink in what I had was the best find of my 40 years of detecting.” Clarence H. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite U.S. favorite find for August 2016 is the Silver 1652 Pine Tree Schilling, found by Steve S. from Massachusetts with his and . Steve’s story (edited): “Most Saturday mornings I spend valuable bonding time metal detecting with my teen son Jonathan. He loves the hobby of finding and collecting old coins just as much as his dad. We belong to a club in central Massachusetts that meets once a month, 1 hour from our home. I had just purchased a new for my son’s 15th birthday, yet this story used my older with the standard Double-D. This past Saturday morning, my son and I headed out to a local farm dating back to the 1700’s. The area I was working was the location of a barn that was demolished back in the 1930’s. After a few hours of not finding much, I heard a faint tone in the 75-81 zone. The depth indicator was between 8 and 10, and at 8 inches we saw something silver with strange markings. My son looked at me, and I looked at him and couldn’t believe our eyes. I knew it was old but had no idea it was rare. My son and I dusted it off and fell back for a moment then high-fived each other. I will never forget that moment he and and I shared after finding this. After being sent to ANACS, it was authenticated and graded VF-35. It’s a 1652 NOE 18 Pine Tree Schilling, a find of a lifetime. Treasures like this still exist and are waiting to be found. My son told me this is what keeps him alive in the hobby. You just never know what you are going to dig up!” Steve V. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for July 2016 is the War of 1812 Light Artillery 1st Regiment Flat Button, found by Steve V. from Indiana, with his . Steve’s story: “Hello. After our May 2016 club hunt, I decided to try detecting a new to me spot in a public park that is next to a river. Several club members have told me that the location used to be a fur trader outpost. I was detecting for about a 1/2 hour trying to find a decent signal thru all the square nails that litter the site when I hit a small mid tone target that would bounce into the 70’s on the . I dug down 8-9 inches and out popped this beautiful Light Artillery 1 Regiment flat button. I did not know what I had at first, but a club member gave me an ID and a date used of 1808 to 1820. I am very excited to have found a relic from the War of 1812 and could have possibly been lost before Indiana was even a State. Thank you, Steve.” Steve V. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for June 2016 is the Civil War Sword, found by Sam M. from West Virginia, with his . Sam states, “I used my Garrett AT Pro and found this sword. From the area it was found, it’s likely Confederate. The Eagle head appears to be gold plated.” Sam M. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for May 2016 is the 1882 Double Eagle Gold Coin, found by Frank M. from California with his . Frank’s story: (edited) “I’ve been working this old mining camp in northern California for about a year now. I’ve found lanterns, harmonica reeds, clock parts, horseshoes,etc. I dug square nails all over. Something was there at some point! I’m ignoring the iron and going slow when beep! A high tone. Quarter I thought, right next to the growl of iron. So i dug. Boom! I saw the edge and it was bright yellow. I panicked a little and grabbed my phone to document it. My phone wouldn’t work. Duh! I still had my gloves on. My touchscreen phone doesn’t like gloves. I knew that, but my head was racing. Finally got a picture of a half dug gold coin. Then i dug it up. 20 dollar gold piece! My first gold coin and she is the biggest one! I didn’t dig anymore and left quickly to get home. I’m going back next week. It’s been five days and can barely sleep.” Frank M. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first U.S. favorite finds for April 2016 are the two gold pieces, a 1906 $5 Liberty and a 1910 $5 Half Eagle, found by Jamie L. from Oregon, with his . Jamie’s story: “I was out detecting an area I had gone over several times before when I got a real good mid range signal. After cutting the plug I scooped out a handful of dirt to reveal a 1910 Indian Head $5 gold Half Eagle staring back at me. I was so excited about the find that I wasn’t thinking straight, couldn’t focus on detecting any more and went home to inspect my newfound treasure. Laying in bed that night I realized I had made a critical mistake. I forgot to re-check the hole as I usually do. I wasn’t able to get back out for a whole week later, all the while kicking myself for my huge error. When I finally made it back I immediately went to the same exact spot, turned on the AT Gold, and gave it a swing. My heart stopped as I got another distinct mid-range signal. The same plug removed from the week before and my pin-pointer said there was something in it. I carefully tore it apart by hand to discover… a 1906 $5 LIBERTY! Talk about luck! Thank you Garrett, for giving me the ability to make such an awesome discovery. Tally another happy customer and another Garrett machine that has officially paid for itself.” Jamie L. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first favorite U.S. find is the War of 1812 Artillery Regiment button, found by Erin C. from New York with his . Erin’s story: “On a trip to a recent discovered cellar hole in the woods, The day wasn’t giving many signals but iron. I swung on and I am so glad that I did. I managed to lock on to a solid repeatable tone and was shocked when I pulled out this War of 1812 Artillery button! This button displays back marks of “WISHART”+“NEW YORK.” I now display this piece very proudly in my home.” Erin C. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My United States favorite find for February 2016 is the 1850 U.S. One Dollar Gold Coin, found by Tom M. from Texas, with his . Tom’s story: “Dear Garrett folks, Thought y’all might enjoy a testimonial in regards to your . I belong to 2 clubs who’s members have a variety top of the line machines. Your machine beat them all this past year in our competitions. We have several categories: jewelry, coin, relics, judges choice, and scavenger. We also had a challenge by the president of our club to try to beat him. Points are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place each month at our meeting. With your machine I won all but the jewelry category. Keep up the good work on your products.” Tom M.  a Pro-Pointer AT!

My United States favorite find is the Coin Cache of 4 Spanish Reales, an 1819 Capped Bust Quarter, and an 1812 Capped Bust 5 Dollar Gold Piece, found by William F. from Connecticut with his . Will’s story: “I was invited to a first of the year hunt by new frends. We hunted a 1770’s homestead that is now converted to a bed and breakfast type retreat. My two buddies, Kevin and Doug, receive 100% credit for my finds because without their generosity this would have never happened. Swinging my I hit an area near an old oak tree and got an iffy signal but on every other pass I would get a sweet high tone that was registering as high as 87 on the I.D., so I dug. 3 to 4 inches down I begin finding pottery and glass, then I hit an old iron nail which explains the messy tone. Further digging I see the rim of a silver coin…my excitement exploded. I called to Doug and he came running to video the dig. Upon pulling the coin and running water over it we discovered it is a Spanish Reale. We were both floored, and as any detectorist should do I rechecked my hole and bam ANOTHER Spanish Reale. Now I think this is not happening to me on new year’s day. At this point the homestead owners come out because of the excitement and I recheck the hole. BAM! Another target. I literally had to sit down…my legs were jelly…and you guessed it another Spanish Reale. Fast forward a few moments and more digging reveal 1 more Reale and an 1819 Capped Bust Quarter! So I figured what the heck let’s scan the hole again and you guessed it…another target only this time it wasn’t silver but a Capped Bust 5 Dollar Gold Piece from 1812!!!! At this point I’m ready to run down the street screaming because I’m not this lucky EVER!! And here I am, a year into metal detecting on January 1st digging what some people have tried to find for over 50 years. This is a day I will never ever forget. And a big thanks goes to Garrett for your top notch products. I thank you all for letting me share such a great experience, and have a happy new year!!!” William F. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My U.S. favorite find for December 2015 is the 1820-1840 Militia Belt buckle, found by Mike P. from New York with his . Mike’s story: “Got a permission at a private property with a circa 1820’s house I’d been waiting for a long time. The owner couldnt have been more pleasent, and said my favorite words, “have at it!” The first few signals weren’t anything special, a few wheaties and one Rosie. I took a step back and noticed two large oak trees in the center of the lawn. I could imagine the previous resident sitting under their shade, doing laundry, all sorts of things. I decided to circle the trees and work my way out. About halfway around, I got a deep 84-86 with a sweet tone. I worked my way into a root filled plug, and got my hand around the edge and worked it out of the hole and was shocked to find my first military belt plate!” Mike P. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My 1st U.S. favorite find is the 1853 2 1/2 Dollar Gold Coin, found by Glenn S. from New York with his . Glenn’s story: “I’ve been detecting for about 25 years and have had many great finds. On November 15th I was out with my MD partner / nephew Chris, got a solid # 53 VDI and dug only 4-6 inches and unearthed an 1853 2 1/2 Dollar gold coin with a broken bezel and necklace, I yelled CHRIS!!! He couldn’t believe his eyes and I couldn’t either. My luck this year is the best in all of my years of metal detecting. My advise to everyone always is swing “Low & Slow”, real slow and good things will be discovered. Thank you Garrett for producing one great machine-the .” Glenn S. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite find for October 2015 is the Confederate Belt Plate, found by Craig W. from Virginia with his . Craig’s story: “I live in a house built in 1838. I attended a civil war show this past July and purchased a Garrett Ace 350. Yesterday afternoon in my back yard just twenty feet from where I park the car, I dug this C.S. tongue of a two piece confederate interlocking sword belt plate. You can see in the photographs how the plate actually molded the clay to the shape and form of the buckle. The Pro-Pointer was a must in this recovery. This was truly a life thrilling, heart pounding find and I am proud to share it! Thank you Garrett for an easy to use great machine, the !” Craig W. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite U.S. Find for September 2015 is the Inscribed Zippo Lighter belonging to Jerry Lynn Dyer, U.S. Army, discovered by Brian W. from Ohio with his . Brian brings this unique find to light and returns it in a special way. (edited) “I obtained permission at a friend’s vacant lot on July 29, 2015, and near the brick sidewalk I got a solid mixed tone signal about 8 inches deep. Digging it up I realized it was a zippo lighter with handwritten inscriptions: Jerry Lynn Dryer, Aug 1942, 101st Airborne. I researched online with no luck, then used the phone book and found his brother. From him I learned that Jerry (Gerald) was born August 1942, served his country from July 13, 1960 to February 1967. He served in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne and received the National Defense Service medal as well as a sharpshooter medal. Since his return from active duty due to a brain injury, Jerry became estranged from family and old friends and became a loner.” Brian continues, “The locals remember seeing Jerry around town and gave him the nickname Sgt. Walker because he was always in his uniform walking around town. Jerry died in 2005 and was buried at Veterans Square of Greenlawn Cemetery. I went there to find Jerry’s grave and return his lighter, a lighter that must have meant so much for him to put all that information on it by hand. Sadly I was not able to locate and pay my formal respects to Jerry, as there are several gravesites that do not have stones, just flags and war era flag holders. I did return his lighter to the flagpole of the cemetery. I felt it was the right thing to do. Most people would have only found a lighter. But for me I found a story about a man’s life who was willing to give everything so I could live in this great country of ours, swing my coil over the soil and find his lighter. I love finding history one beep at a time. First Capital Digger out.” Brian W. a Pro-Pointer AT!

August 2015 WINNER! My U.S. Favorite Finds for August 2015 are the Three Small Gold Nuggets found by Wes and Nick S. with their and detectors. Wes and Nick’s father, Michael S., submitted the story. “On vacation last week in Colorado my boys struck gold. I recently bought your Garrett a couple of months ago for our trip. We were nugget shooting north of Jamestown, CO. Wes found 2 small gold nuggets using the weighing 1.9g total weight. That machine work awesome, love the iron audio and the ground balance display. Most of the time the ground balance read between 74-90. Nick found a nice 1.8g dime-sized flat gold nugget 4 inches in the ground using the . With the soil being as hot as it was, the ACE 250 worked great. I was not expecting that, it ran very quiet and did not false much at all. Even after I turned the sensitivity way up it hardly had any falsing. Thanks, MS.” Congrats to the whole family! Go back to your hot spot with your new . Wes and Nick a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first favorite U.S. find for July 2015 is the Returned Wedding Ring, found by Jason M. from Mississippi with his . Jason’s story (edited): “On July 5th I saw a Facebook post from a Louisiana Woman that had lost her wedding ring while watching fireworks in Biloxi, MS. I wanted to hunt the beach for the lost ring. When I arrived at the location described in the post I quickly became concerned I was too late. The beach sweeping tractors were in the process of collecting the 4th of July trash. I searched for an hour with no luck. Not wanting to give up I sent a friend request to the young woman. She accepted, and I was able to message her for more specific details to narrow down the search area, which rejuvenated my search effort. During my two and half hour hunt I got rained on 3 times. If it weren’t for my waterproof I would have been forced to pack up and head home. Persistence, great equipment, and a little luck allowed me to locate the missing ring! I sent a picture of the freshly recovered ring to its owner. She was ecstatic! I told her I would be near her home town on Monday at my metal detecting club meeting (Southern Historical Research and Recovery Association — S.H.R.R.A.) The local news channel WLOX caught wind of it and made arrangements to be at our club meeting to film the exchange and interview both of us. The exchange went great! My club members really enjoyed being part of the return. We received great publicity for the hobby, our club, and the city of Biloxi, Mississippi. To top it off the city of Biloxi honored me at their city council meeting the following day with a certificate of appreciation.” Jason M. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first U.S. favorite find for June 2015 is the collection of 20 Civil War Buttons, found by Logan R. from Tennessee with his . Logan relives the discovery, “Recently I upgraded to an , immediately the finds started coming. Within about 5 months I’ve dug around 70 silver coins and numerous other great finds! This picture right here is from a hunt a couple of days ago that will defiantly go down as one of my favorite hunts ever. I recently got a new permission at a mid 1800’s home in my town. The owner told me that the place had been pounded by detectorists already but I was more than welcome to look around. I was pretty confident that with the right set up, I could maybe pick out a few small relics that may have been missed, I had no idea what was coming to me. Digging nothing but junk, I was starting to lose hope, but I wasn’t gonna stop there. I came up on an odd squeaker tone and decided to dig it. I was very surprised when an eagle cuff button popped out! I excitedly ran to the truck and put it in a safe place and went back to digging. When I got back to the hole, I checked again with my Pro- Pointer and got a beep! Another cuff button! I did this for an entire hour, pulling buttons out left and right, some coat buttons and some cuffs. I wound up digging 20 eagle buttons out of this one spot! One of my best hunts and all because of my !” Logan R. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My United States Favorite Find for May 2015 is the Union Civil War Belt Plate, found by Seth E. from Pennsylvania with his . It’s so exciting to see a young man discover history with a Garrett! Seth shared his story with Garrett, and so here I share it with our readers. “I was metal detecting at a 1700’s Log Cabin Site that was used up until the late 1800’s and came across a solid 81 signal on the . It was about 8 inches deep and had to dig through a ton of roots to get it, but I finally pulled it out of the hole and saw it was my very first U.S. Belt Plate from the Civil War! All the hooks are attached and has all the lead back filling! I just started metal detecting about a year ago, I am 15 now and plan on detecting forever!” Great job Seth! May you be an inspiration to all treasure hunters. Seth E. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first favorite find is the Civil War ID Badge, discovered by Karen S. from Macon, GA with her . Here’s Karen’s story. “All I can say is WOW! The and and the pin pointer didn’t fail me with this great find. Searching in a local park in downtown Macon, GA. About an hour into the hunt, I got this great signal and about 6 inches down I got this Civil War ID Badge. It reads: A.S.L. Ent Co D 118th Regt P.V. J.N.K (small letters on bottom) With the help of some club members, I traced this to Algernon Sydney Logan Ent that was with the Pennsylvania Volunteers, “The Corn Exchange” Regiment, 1st Sergeant. Enlisted 8-15-1862. Mustered out with his company 6-1-1865. Thank you Garrett for helping me uncover this AMAZING piece of history!” Rare historical find in great condition! Maybe there are some ancestors who can be notified. I love it. Karen S. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My first favorite find is the 1861 War Eagle Dog Tag, found by Danny C. from Virginia with his . Here is Danny’s story submission from March 14, 2015. “Today I found a 1961 war eagle dog tag which belonged to John Vanderpool. Although injured on august 28th, 1862 from a gun shot wound, he lived to fight another day. You can find a deposition online of him explaining the death of his friend due to being shot in the groin and bleeding out. His brother Simon Vanderpool also inlisted with him but later deserted, eventually being caught and assigned to another regiment.” VANDERPOOL. JOHN.- Age, 28 years. Enlisted, September 30, 1861, at Cortland, to serve three years; Mustered in as private, Co. F, October 4. 1861; Wounded in action, August 28, 1862, at Gainesville, Va.; Transferred to Co. D, July 1, 1864; Discharged, October 24, 1864 near Petersburg, Va. After the war, Vanderpool gave a deposition on the death of Thomas Hoffman, his tent mate, in the Battle of Gainsville. John Vanderpool died April 1, 1897 and is buried at Green Hills Cemetery, Dryden, NY, in the “Civil War Veterans” section. Good find and research Danny! Perhaps someday it can be returned to his descendants if any. Thanks for sharing. Danny C. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite find for February 2015 is the Fort Wayne Thimble, discovered by Kevin L. from Ft. Wayne, Indiana with his . To protect Kevin’s hot spot, I edited some specific’s from his entry. Kevin shares his rare find. “I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, named for the trading fort that was built here around 1796. Fort Wayne was built near the confluence of three rivers that flow through here, and was a major trade route. One Sunday I headed down there with my one month old and made a few passes across the area. I had a nice sharp and small signal. I dug down almost 9 inches before finding a small cast bronze thimble with a uniform dot pattern and a plain band at the base. The crown, or what remains of it, has a waffle pattern on it, and was not completely flattened due to some tiny pebbles in it.” Kevin researches it. “I did some research and found some amazing things! It matches perfectly with what was called a “Lofting” type child’s thimble. Lofting was a Dutch artisan that came to England in the early 1700’s and made thimbles. He died in the 1770’s and his thimble design was continued by another company, yet their version had a smoother joint from the side to the crown. My thimble matches the original Lofting design! I feel fairly confident that my find is a relic from the original Fort Wayne, and have contacted the local historical society. This thimble remains my oldest find to date. I’ve since upgraded to an and am eagerly awaiting the thaw and warmer temps so I can get back to hunting. Kevin.” Sweet thimble Kevin. Keep up the good work and research. Enjoy your new , and search those three rivers too. Kevin L. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite United States find for January 2015 is the 1797 Large Cent Cache, discovered by Tom W. from North Carolina with his . Tom tells about it. “My name is Tom W. and I own a YouTube channel called NC Digger. We use Garrett products exclusively and are very successful with your machines and wanted to share some finds with you. We relic hunt on land as well as water. This is one of our best ever finds, a large cent cache (spill) I found in a creek bank in October 2014. The oldest cent is 1797. Watch it on my YouTube video titled “1797 Large Cent In A Cache With The “. I hope you enjoy, and thank you for making such awesome products.” Great job Tom and I enjoyed your video. The new underwater will enable swifter underwater recoveries. Best of luck to you. Tom W. a Pro-Pointer AT!

My favorite find for November 2014 is the Early 1800’s Officer’s Cap Plate, found by Mike M. from New Hampshire with his . Here is Mike’s submission: Detector: Story: My best find EVAHHH ! A nice day out hunting on a class 6 rd. in NH, one rare officer cap plate from 1814 to 1825. Look like someone nailed it to something at one point (you can see the holes from some square nails). The 2nd picture is how it use to look on a hat (cap). Congratulations Mike! This is a rare find indeed. Enjoy your new ! Mike M. a Garrett AT Gold! © SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM

My Favorite Find for September 2014 is the collection of Sixteen Alaskan Gold Nuggets, discovered by David F. from Kirkland, WA. using his detector. David tells about his good fortune in Alaska. “I recently returned from a 6 night stay in Alaska looking for gold nuggets with my new . Last year with another brand detector I found one nugget, but this year with the I found sixteen in the same area! I believe the made all the difference as I dug a lot of trash but also a lot of gold with the depth the reaches. From tiny nuggets 2 inches deep to 3/4 ounce nuggets 14 inches deep the did awesome! I also found a Silver 1902 Barber dime and a 1905 Indian Head penny at about six inches so the makes a fine GOLD and COIN machine! I can hardly wait to go back next summer and tear it up again with my .” David, keep up the good work. A “sweet 16” collection of nuggets! Enjoy your new , and those gold nuggets… David F. a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for October 2014 is the WWII US Navy Button along with the German WWII medal, found by Thomas H and his son C.J. from Cincinnati, OH. This entry exemplifies father and son teamwork, family heritage, and world history. I chose to simply present the letter “as is” for all to read, with the exception of the removal of the last name. Congratulations to Thomas and CJ! Thanks for the story. Enjoy your new and keep up the good work! Thomas and CJ a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for August 2014 is the group of 15 Civil War Cannonballs, discovered by Scott J. and his son, from Kennesaw, GA with their detectors. Scott shares their story of discovery. “My son and I where going hunting with a couple of friends in Kennesaw, GA. It was our fourth time out hunting with our new Garrett detectors and Pro-Pointers. We found a couple Minnie balls, then all of a sudden we got a good hit and dug down and found a 12 pound civil war cannonball! We decided to search the area more and when it was all done we found 15 cannonballs total! Here is a picture of the first seven of them before we dug the rest.” Love the cannonballs, but also love that you and your son found them together. Great job! Go back to the same site with your new . Scott a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for July 2014 is the Belt Buckle 1775 British 53rd Regiment of Foot discovered by Big Dave H. from New Hampshire with his . Big Dave shares his treasure story with Garrett. “I bought my first ever metal detector in February 2014. I went with the Ace 350 based on my friends recommendations and the ease of operation. I started using it as soon as the earth thawed out enough to dig, visiting areas of interest not too far from my house. I was digging on a property in Chichester, where I had knowledge of a home and barn once being there. I found this buckle in about six inches of dirt. I sought the help of my knowledgeable treasure buddy Scott B., and through the miracle of the internet we were able to determine the buckle is from the British 53rd Regiment of Foot from 1755! Not bad when you think I have been at this for about 30 days.” Way to go Big Dave! Now go back to that same area with your new ! Congratulations! Big Dave H. a Garrett AT Gold!

Vaughan Garrett’s United States Favorite Find for June 2014 is the 1600’s Spanish Silver Cob, discovered by Vince P. from Florida. Vince shares his treasure story. “I have owned several MD’s prior to getting my Garrett . I have been using it for 4 years. I take it everywhere I go as I travel a lot. I have found rings, coins, jewelry and a lot of junk which is even fun to find. It is a labor of love and I truly love the hobby. I do it for the pure enjoyment of it. I told my wife that someday I am going to find pirate gold and that’s a dream of mine.” “I happen to be over in Melbourne, FL. I stopped at an area I had never been and had a bit of time. It was near the water…I started to go at it. Found a quarter and some junk, I did not care, I was out and having a great time. Freedom (name of my Ace) and I were digging everything…and all of a sudden I got the hit…I ran the Ace over it again, I got several different readings and then it settled on a 50 cent notch. Curiosity got the best of me as that does not show up much. It was about 3 inches down. So I got my digger and started digging. And I checked the dirt…and there it was…something I NEVER thought I would ever find. A Spanish Cob 1600’s coin! I had it checked out and it is real. I am going to have it put into a necklace. My faith in Garrett products is forever. I will always buy them.” “I truly believe that I find what God wants me to find. And God was good to me that day. Thank you.” Great treasure, Vince! Go back to that same area with your new ! Vince a Garrett AT Gold!

My first favorite find for May 2014 is the 1838 Powder Flask, discovered by Jeremy P. from Babb, Montana, with his . This is a very beautiful and unique powder flask used with a musket rifle to pour in the powder and then the shot. Jeremy tells his great story of discovery. “I took my metal detector to work with me, expecting beautiful weather. I own a small hotel cleaning business and took an extended lunch break to dig a few holes. I dug this 1838 powder flask on the second hole at 4″. I thought it was interesting, but passed it off as an ornate canteen as my mind was focused on coins. I tossed it in my bag and kept searching, later finding a small 10K gold ring, two silver dimes (1954,1962) and a 1935 wheat cent. Those later finds made me so excited. When I emptied my bag at home that night and started washing dirt off, my wife got very insistent that the canteen looked very old. I posted it on a Facebook group of metal detectors who quickly helped me ID my find. The 26 stars, triangle rings and placard helped us identify it as the 1838 model. Suddenly the silver dimes and small gold ring drifted away in my memory as an appreciation of what we had truly discovered sunk in. This stands as the greatest treasure hunt of my life! Thank you Garrett!!!” Way to go Jeremy! Great find! Go swing your new AT Gold! Jeremy a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for April 2014 is the 1759 King George II Gold Coin, found by Kenneth C. from Shepherdsville, KY. Kenneth shares some good background. “We have a site on my grandparents acres that was a hot spot in colonial times for the salt production. My great grandfather always talked about how something stood there at one time, so I went and bought me an . After months of excitement the ground kept giving, which sparked an intrest of history in me. I’d take buttons and other period items into my history class for a presentation on what they wore at the time and local history.” Kenneth shares a great discovery. “After a long hunt thinking I had the site cleaned out I found this beautiful coin. A King George 2nd guinea from 1759, not thinking I’d ever get something so amazing and so beautiful, something so high on my wish list as colonial gold! I dropped to my knees there, even a tear came, running back to the house to show my grandfather who met me with a handshake, and a congratulations. It’s never made me more happy in my life and that’s why I’m happy to share it with you.” Kenneth C. is a high school and college history instructor. What a spectacular find Kenneth, and an equally exciting story! Go find some more with your new ! Kenneth a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for March 2014 is the Sacrifice Dagger, found by Angel M. from Connecticut. Angel states, “This sacrifice dagger was recently found in dirt digging 10” deep with my in one of the parks in Bridgeport, CT. I haven’t done any history research on the dagger. I did dust the dirt from it but that’s about it, but it’s made of brass, and it’s 5 1/4 inches long. I don’t see any type of marking on it. Thank you.” Thank you for submitting this amazing find. My research isn’t conclusive, but historically, sacrifice daggers were designed for ritual sacrifices of humans to their god or gods. Similar looking daggers appear in Tibet’s history, having a three sided blade like this one, a face or multiple faces, and ornate features. My guess is this particular dagger is 200-300 years old and migrated to the United States during early days of settlement. Let me know more about this piece as you learn about it. Great find, Angel! This mysterious sacrificial dagger fascinates me due to its intended purpose, excellent condition, migration, and the fact that it appears to be one of a kind. Angel M. a Garrett AT Gold!

My favorite find for February 2014 is the Flint Lock, discovered by Joseph M, from Kelso, WA. Joseph M. is nine years old, but hunts like a pro along with his dad with their . In his own words, Joseph tell us all about it. “Wow. What a new year! My dad and I left early on January 2, 2014 for a place on the Columbia River in Washington. My dad has an . I don’t have a detector so I borrowed the neighbors who doesn’t use his (some other brand). I got tired of using it because it was too heavy, so I switched to dad’s Ace.” Joseph shares the exciting moment of discovery. “After two hours into the hunt the tide had gone way out. We had just switched to the all-metal setting when I picked up what I thought was a piece of glass stuck in some metal. When I showed it to my dad he went crazy! As soon as he said flint lock I knew what it was and started shaking…a lot! I knew right away this could have been part of Lewis and Clark’s gun since history says they went through here.” Fantastic job Joseph! You’ve discovered American history right at your footsteps. Keep up the good work with your new Garrett ! Joseph a Garrett AT Gold!

Revolutionary War, Cast Iron Cannon Barrel. Discovered by Bradley D. from Mebane, NC. with his . Bradley D. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

Daniel C. from North Pole, Alaska, shares his discovery made with his . “October 19, 2013 found us on a frost laden hillside north of Fox, Alaska, trying to squeeze in one more hunt before the freeze-up. Our hunt took us into a new area we never noticed before, where I dug this military dog tag at about 8 inches, with the name Floyd Haddenham on it. With some help and some research we found the twin brother Lloyd Haddenham in Ohio who was able to confirm this was his brother’s only known dog tag from his second enlistment when he volunteered for the Korean War. And now, this lost family heirloom will be passed down through the generations along with the rest of his military medals and ribbons. In the photos you’ll see the dog tag in the hole and one is of Lloyd with his brother Floyd’s dog tag reunited with his service flag.” Daniel C. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My first favorite find goes to Morgan R. from Crandall, Georgia using his . In Morgan’s words, “I went detecting this morning at a local swimming hole and within 20 minutes I found a silver Mother’s Day ring that had her two son’s names on it. I continued on hunting and found the normal clad and lead sinkers, but my gut told me to go back and search the area where I had found the ring. Wouldn’t you know it I got another sweet sounding signal and upon retrieval it was a ladies class ring with a name engraved in it. Both rings were found around 6 inches deep. I decided after this to head home and do some research to find the owner of the class ring, but had no luck at all. I posted it on a local trader’s Facebook page and someone knew her on there, and come to find out she has two sons with the same names as the ones on the mother’s day ring. So both rings belong to the same lady! She was tickled to get them back and it was an awesome feeling to give them back to her.” Morgan R. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My first favorite find is the 1789 George Washington Inaugural Button, found by Jason R. from Blaine, MN. Jason shares his story of discovery. “I recently purchased a Garrett and . From the very first use, I have enjoyed these products in every aspect. They are easy to use and I have had great results. On a recent vacation to Massachusetts, I found what I consider to be my best find ever! I identified a site with historical significance and quickly confirmed this by finding coins including two US Draped Bust pennies, a British King George II half penny, a belt buckle, and ten buttons, all circa mid-1700’s to early 1800’s. But the prize was this George Washington Inaugural button from 1789. Research has indicated this button to be one of the more rare varieties of the 26 known varieties. So rare, only ten specimens are known to exist. Auctions have brought anywhere from $1,500-$5,000 for this variety! However for me, it’s priceless. Thank you Garrett for providing the means to find such an awesome piece of history!” Jason R. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for September 2013 is the Confederate Saber/Bayonet, discovered by Michael S. from Fredericksburg, VA. He purchased the Adventure Pack and headed into the woods which are on his property behind his home, and are in close proximity to a battlefield in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Michael shares his discovery. “After about an hour of detecting, I started making my way across a draw and up a small hill to where a trench line is. I checked in and around the trenches, finding some relics at about six inches down which my old detector missed. As I moved behind the trenches I got a hit at eight inches deep. I checked the area around the site using the tone to determine how long or wide it is, using the tone as a guide. I figured it measured about thirty inches long. Not knowing what it was I cleared the debris from the site and started to remove the dirt with a small shovel, a spoon, and my fingers. Within fifteen minutes I uncovered what I thought at first was a piece of band iron and as I removed more dirt, I realized I was looking at a saber/bayonet! I carefully removed it from the hole and cleaned the loose dirt from it.” Michael researches his discovery. “After returning home, I cleaned it some more in attempt to find some markings. My wife and I went online trying to find something resembling it. The saber/bayonet resembles an 1856 Enfield Bayonet made by Harris Holland & Company, London, England, and issued by the Confederacy.” Michael concludes. “I am extremely happy with the ’s performance. I am most definitely convinced that I made the right choice after finding as many things as I did. In the next week I plan on purchasing another Adventure Pack for my wife, and maybe she’ll leave mine alone.” Great job Michael. Love the story! Love the find! Michael S. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My first favorite find is the Masonic Knights Templar 26th Triennial Conclave Medal found by Michael K from Waltham, MA. In a large area of untouched woods and hills, Michael wrote, “In the thick overgrown woods I hit a nice signal. When I dug it I pulled out this black dirty item that I thought was a cheap badge not worth any trouble. When I got home I began to clean it and quickly realized that I had a historic treasure. What I had found was a badge from the 26th Triennial Conclave 1895 Knights Templar Boston Chapter. Words can’t describe what a wonderful piece this is!” Michael a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for July 2012 is the beautiful Gold Angel Locket. Curtis M. from Lexington, MA searched an old sledding hill that he enjoyed as a kid. With his Garrett in Pro mode, Curtis tells us about his discovery. “I was finding lots of coins and a couple of pull tabs when suddenly I got a strange number on my display of 57 and thought it was going to be another pull tab. Well I dug anyway and saw what was in the hole and couldn’t believe it. “It was a beautiful gold locket that I could see, and when I opened it there was a lovely angel looking back at me!” Curtis added, “The is deadly on gold and silver, and heaven help me when I finally take it in the water.” Great job Curtis on this inspiring discovery! Seems you have a guardian angel. Curtis M. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for July 2013 is the Purple Heart Medal, found by Mark L. from Ft. Worth, TX, with his . Mark shares his find and story. “I was detecting a lot when I came across the medal but it was so dirty I thought it was a large piece of jewelry. I then detected the area some more and found a small piece of metal that looked to be the bust of a person. Still, nothing clicked in my brain. A purple heart is the last thing I would expect to find. It wasn’t until I got home and was showing it to my wife that I flipped it over and we saw the purple part on the front. We both went, “It’s a purple heart!” Mark concludes, “The Commander at the VFW Post 8235 Hall where we have our Cowtown Treasure Hunters Club meeting is in the process of locating family of the name on the back. This was a fun find, and it will be great to get it back to where it belongs.” Great story and I’m proud that you have the heart to return it to its rightful family. Mark a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for June 2013 is the 1834 2 1/2 dollar gold piece. Michael G. from Ingleside, Texas wrote, “Thank you Garrett Metal Detectors. You changed my life! I love metal detecting with a passion.” Michael and his cousin spent time and footwork to get permission to hunt a mid 19th century home. On their third visit back Michael first finds an 1898 barber dime at 6”. Suddenly he and his AT Pro encounter greatness. “I get a faint signal not registering on my machine, with a flash of a number here and there. I’m so stoked about that silver I had found, I’m gonna dig everything I can, so I start digging deeper. I get down to about 12 inches, and OMG I see a magnificent color of golden yellow smothered in dirt. I reach down and grab the clump of wonderfulness and with the biggest smile on my face I call my cousin over. It is still clinched in my hand for both of us to see. I had not peeked yet, and he keeps saying, “What is It? What is it? You found more silver?” I was just trying to keep my cool and I couldn’t take it any longer. I opened my hand and there it is…Gold! My first ever gold anything! We both look at each other and with eyes bulging out of our heads, I cannot explain the feeling that came over me…it felt better than sex! It tingled from my head all the way to my toes…and I could not quit smiling!” Michael describes it. “It is an 1834 2 1/2 dollar gold piece, beautiful condition, looks as if it were dropped the day it came from the bank. I have had a few local coin dealers look at it and they all stated it is in amazing condition, at least extra fine. This is truly a once in a detectorist’s lifetime find…and I could have not done it without my ! Congratulations Michael. Way to Go! Thanks for choosing Garrett. Michael a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for May 2013 is the Civil War Era Lighting Rod Finial used atop a tavern flag pole, discovered by Wayne E. from Fredericksburg, Virginia with his . Wayne lives in an area rich in Colonial and Civil War history, and even dates back to the 1600’s and the founding of our country. He says these discoveries are meaningful because of their history and importance to the people they belonged to. Wayne tells us about the discovery of the civil war era finial. “The top was found about 8 inches down with some other items. It was behind a row of large stones which were the remains of an early 19th century tavern. I had seen some pictures of it and the description in a relic I.D. book and was thrilled to know it was rare and Confederate. It’s about 7 inches in length, made of bronze and was gold gilded. There is a very small amount of gold plating left. I’m not sure if the gold wore over time from being buried so long, or if it had seen some serious travel, battle, and usage.” Wayne talks about detectors. “I have had and used 2 other name brand metal detectors over the years. But I have found many more desirable artifacts quicker and easier working with the Ace 350. Less batteries, less weight. It has been a welcome change. Thanks Garrett very much for a great product and the support you give.” Wayne a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for April 2013 is the 45.8g Gold Nugget found by John and Reaghan O. from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. John and Reaghan had cabin fever, so they grabbed their and headed out to Portsmouth at low tide where there would be some ground. After an hour John finds a mercury dime, but they were getting cold and began working their way back to the car. John shares some history. “We came across a sign that told the history of where we were and it turns out it’s a colonial ferry landing where farmers and tradesmen waited for the ferry to Bristol, R.I. to trade their goods and barter for supplies, so we tried around for a while.” John shares their good fortune. “Then my wife took a turn and she gets a repeatable 81 (Target I.D.). She pushed the rocks aside to see a yellowish orange rock as she called it. Then when she handed it to me I noticed it was way too heavy for a rock that size. Then I started to polish it and it started to shine. We knew right then it could be gold! We jumped up and ran around. I did the Curly Three Stooges ground spin. We hugged and both had tears in our eyes! We had it tested and it was 93% gold and the rest was silver, platinum, and copper!” John concludes, “We just want to say thank you Garrett! Now my wife is getting her own . This sports/hobby really brings us close and erases all the problems of the day like a day spa massage.” Congrats John and Reaghan. It’s refreshing to see a couple enjoy this wonderful hobby and share the rewards that come with it. John and Reaghan O. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for March 2013 is the b class=”red”>Father’s 1962 Class Ring. Last spring Brian K. took the suggestion from his father and moved to the old home front which had their 100 year old farm house sitting on 65 acres in Jonesborough, TN. Looking for a new hobby, he watched the show “Diggers” and researched the best and affordable detectors, then picked up the . His father told Brian he had lost his 1962 class ring somewhere around a 2 acre radius and had searched for a long time with a 15 year old kids detector, but gave up. The day his father told him of the ring, the search was on. Brian tells it the best. “My father went to work. I searched for about 4 hours straight. Found some wheat pennies and newer coins and was about to give up for the day. I decided to check the mail and go around the pond and search that area on the way back to the house. Halfway down I got a good hit and started my dig. When I turned it over my dad was pulling in from work to see if I had done any good. As he got right over top of me I flipped over the dig and there it was…nice and shiny. He about flipped out, he kept saying “finally, finally” as he was picking me off the ground like I was a coach that just won the big title game! I never seen my dad so happy. He immediately called everyone he could think of to tell them the good news.” Brian tells more. “Sadly my dad passed away with stage 4 lung cancer 5 months later. But before he went he begged for me to keep his ring. I was crying with joy. I told him that I will always keep it and promised him I wouldn’t lose it.” Brian concludes, “Thank you Garrett for giving me that memory with my dad. I will keep on detecting and hopefully find the next best treasure.” Brian, I express my sympathy of your father’s passing. Thank you for sharing your touching story. Brian K. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite international find for February 2013 is the John Mecke Clock and Watch Maker Plate, discovered by Grant H. from Ridgefield, New Jersey. Grant and his detecting buddy returned to a productive property in Mount Holly, NJ. His Ace 350 was producing a solid hit in the quarter/dime range. After finding two nails in the same hole, Grant remembered to recheck the hole. Ding! He dug another 15-20 minutes and shares the discovery. “A little more digging and my Pro-Pointer finally started to signal. I was very careful digging all around the target, and then finally saw a piece of metal glaring back at me. I pulled it out with great relief, only tofind myself holding a rectangular, flat piece of metal. Then I flipped it over.The other side had a raised round area. I wiped some dirt away to see engraving. Woah! What is this?” Grant poured bottled water over the heavy piece which revealed backwards text surrounded by a decorative leaf pattern. It read, “John Mecke, Clock and Watch Maker & Jeweler, No 359 North 2nd St., Philad.” After two weeks of extensive research and assistance from helpful detecting forum members, he was able to identify the piece as a plate used to make watch papers, which are very rare. He reached out to the American Antiquarian Society, who wanted images of the piece in their national archives. Grant tells more. “A week or so after reaching out to them, I got a return call from the National Watch & Clock Museum in PA, who asked if I wouldn’t mind donating the plate to the museum to be part of their jewelry store display. My first museum piece! I was very excited and happy to donate it.” Grant concludes, “So the Garrett and helped me to unearth a wonderful piece of history that is now both part of a national antiquarian archive and a museum collection. This has been a thrilling experience for me! I unearthed something cool; something historical. Even better, thanks to my discovery, John Mecke, a watch and clock maker from the 1800’s, perhaps forgotten altogether, will now live on amongst his peers as a distinguished part of his craft’s history. Congratulations Grant! Historic find and a wonderful donation in kind. May your name be placed next to your discovery in the museum. Grant H. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for January 2013 is the 1792 Silver Spanish Real Coin. Christopher E. from Providence, Rhode Island was searching with his brother in New England where a colonial house once stood. Christopher had been told that the site had been previously hunted out, but that didn’t stop his desire to check it out with his new Garrett . Christopher elaborates, “When deciding what machine to buy for my first detector I tested many machines from various manufacturers. I can say in all honesty the Garrett is a very simple to use and is extremely effective.” Christopher shares his discovery. “I heard the slightest ping from the detector and swung over it again and got closer to the ground until I got a nice high ping. I started digging and popped the plug out and checked the hole with the detector. Nothing was ringing on the whatsoever. I turned to check the plug and saw a shining silver Spanish Real coin staring me in the face. I am perplexed at how such an old coin could be in such beautiful shape! I carefully pulled it out of the plug. My heart was racing and I was speechless. The date read 1792!” Christopher shares personal thoughts. “My brother asked what is it worth? To me, the value is in the finding of it, the story that I will tell the rest of my life. That coin physically represents history and that is as close as I will ever get to life in the 1700’s. Now that is what I call cool. Without the , I may have never found my greatest find, and for that I am truly grateful.” Thank you Christopher for sharing your wonderful experience with Garrett. Christopher E. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for December 2012 is 1964 WKU Class Ring belonging to Mr. Terry Jones. Avid Arkansas treasure hunter Bill F. was detecting with his AT Pro on a lake in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas and found a WKU (Western Kentucky University) class ring from 1964 in beautiful condition! With the initials TGJ engraved on the side and a B.S. logo, Bill F. contacted the WKU Alumni Association. The WKU Class Notes Newsletter states, “After an in-depth search by the WKU research team, we were able to find that the ring belonged to Terry Jones (’64) of Bowling Green, KY. After contacting Jones, we discovered that he had lost the ring while fishing at the same lake more than 44 years ago! Thanks to Mr. F.’s honesty and integrity, we were able to reunite the ring with its owner after four decades.” Commendable deed Bill for reuniting a class ring with its owner after 44 years. Bill F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My Favorite find for Nov 2012 is the 10k Gold Tri-Colored Diamond Masonic Ring. This stately ring was found by Charles G. from Woodland Park, Colorado near Cripple Creek. Charles shares his story of discovery. “On my second day there, our friends let us detect their empty city lots. After about an hour, my gives out a solid repeating signal that stayed right in between foil and nickel. Well I dug it and out comes this 10k tri-colored gold Masonic ring with a diamond! Needless to say my pacemaker was put to the test that day! I took it to a local jeweler and he said it dated to the early 1900’s, and appraised it at around $700 to $800 in its present dug condition, and with a little TLC from a jeweler the price would double.” Charles shares something more personal about the ring. “The ring has more worth to me than money. My grandfather, his father, and his father were all Masons. I offered it to my friends as it was found on their property, and they said NO it is yours, you found it. Now my new ring is with my grandfather’s Masonic ring that he always had on as long as I can remember. My grandmother gave it to me when he passed away. If he was still with us, I would have given it to him.” Charles has a closing comment. “I just love my . It has helped me find many treasures throughout the years. Always dig those low end signals. You never know when gold will come out!” Thank you for sharing your story Charles. My grandfather Smith was also a Mason. Charles G. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for October 2012 is the Battle of the Bulge Sharpshooter’s Medal. Michael F. from Madison, TN, was aware that a really old house was torn down just around the corner from him, and that the whole residential block had recently been sold. He got acquainted with a former lot owner, an elderly man, who lives two houses down from the demolished house, and has to move due to the sale of the block. Speaking with him, Michael learned of the possibility of treasure nearby. Taking his , Michael tells us, “I go back today for a short hunt. Just a few minutes in I get a really nice silver beep! I dug up this WWII Sharpshooters Medal! I took the medal down to the elderly man to look at. He says, “That’s my Uncle’s, he won it at the Battle of the Bulge! Can I take it in the house and clean it? His wife comes out and asked if her husband can have it. He follows with tears in his eyes saying that his mother was 99 years old and she did not have anything of her brothers. So being the big softy that I am, and trying to do the right thing, I gave him the medal, my name and address.” Congrats to Michael F. for sharing this exciting medal and story with Garrett and for your kind deed. Michael F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for October 2012 is the Battle of the Bulge Sharpshooter’s Medal. Michael F. from Madison, TN, was aware that a really old house was torn down just around the corner from him, and that the whole residential block had recently been sold. He got acquainted with a former lot owner, an elderly man, who lives two houses down from the demolished house, and has to move due to the sale of the block. Speaking with him, Michael learned of the possibility of treasure nearby. Taking his , Michael tells us, “I go back today for a short hunt. Just a few minutes in I get a really nice silver beep! I dug up this WWII Sharpshooters Medal! I took the medal down to the elderly man to look at. He says, “That’s my Uncle’s, he won it at the Battle of the Bulge! Can I take it in the house and clean it? His wife comes out and asked if her husband can have it. He follows with tears in his eyes saying that his mother was 99 years old and she did not have anything of her brothers. So being the big softy that I am, and trying to do the right thing, I gave him the medal, my name and address.” Congrats to Michael F. for sharing this exciting medal and story with Garrett and for your kind deed. Michael F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My Favorite find for April 2012 is the 1810-1812 U.S. Navy button. John V. from Island Park, New York, searched the grounds of an abandoned building using his new and found this gorgeous brass button at just three inches, still in very good condition. The Navy takes shore leave in New York, so it is possible this button was lost during leave. Congrats to John V. for discovering this 200 year old Navy button! John V. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for June 2012 is the Platinum Diamond Ring Set. John M. from Florida discovered this gorgeous Platinum and Diamond set on a popular S.W. Florida beach with his Garrett detector. John said the ring is appraised at $27,800! John expressed, “The ring set was found on 3-21-12 and my wife’s birthday was 3-22. Wouldn’t you know it! LOL” Congrats to John and his fortunate wife. Thanks for submitting your story and photo. John M. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for May 2012 is the 1906 Barber Half-Dollar discovered by Cody M. from Hunt, TX. Cody is a very young man with a new hobby… treasure hunting. His father, Chris, is involved in his son’s life and shares this story with Garrett. “My son Cody wanted to go metal detect at a friend’s ranch in Kerrville, TX. He was using his late grandfather’s Garrett Treasure Ace 300. We spent around 45 minutes looking around two very large oak trees that were next to an old homestead. My son got a strong signal. I came over with my shovel and with one dig a 1906 Barber Half-Dollar coin popped out! Needless to say everyone was very excited and the ranch owner couldn’t believe it. You now a have a little boy completely hooked on metal detecting!” Way to go Cody! I know your father is proud, and I’m sure your grandfather is rejoicing. Cody, you are the “Treasure Ace”. Cody M. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My Favorite find for April 2012 is the 1810-1812 U.S. Navy button. John V. from Island Park, New York, searched the grounds of an abandoned building using his new and found this gorgeous brass button at just three inches, still in very good condition. The Navy takes shore leave in New York, so it is possible this button was lost during leave. Congrats to John V. for discovering this 200 year old Navy button! John V. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for March 2012 is the CSA buckle found by Brandon H. from Dalton, GA. He was in northwestern Georgia hunting for relics with his on Feb 4th at a hot spot where he had previously recovered civil war buttons. Brandon tells us about the Confederate States of America buckle. “It is in awesome shape except the hooks on the back are gone, but hey it’s a CSA buckle! I couldn’t have done it without my Garrett AT Pro. It is the best detector I have ever had and will always be the best to me.” Great find Brandon! Thanks for sharing this historical CSA buckle with Garrett. Brandon a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My Favorite find for February 2012 is the collection of Nine Gold Nuggets found by Jeff F. from Nabb, IN. Jeff tells it best… “I recently received my and had to go try it out on my gold claim in northeast Georgia. After about three hours of searching using my sniper coil and Garrett Retriever, this is what I came up with! These are top of the line gold getting machines. Keep up the great work guys. I love that the entire machine can be submerged. Thanks again.” Congrats to Jeff F. for his gold discovery and for sharing that great photo with us. It’s time to go back to that gold claim! Jeff F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My Favorite find for January 2012 is the 1874 National Firemen’s Tournament Medal. Bobby B. from Henderson, TN, was searching an 1860’s era house with his . Bobby wrote, “It was down approximately 10 inches and surrounded by square nails, etc. I have relic and coin hunted for 35 years and this is the best machine I have ever used in junk that still retains depth.” Bobby recovered this handsome firemen’s tournament medal made of brass, 3 inches tall and 2 inches wide. It has Omaha 1874 stated on it along with an early horse drawn engine. These medals were awarded to firemen who competed in national fire department competitions. Bobby adds, “I can’t help but to think these are extremely rare as I have never seen another in 35 years of digging and collecting.” Congrats to Bobby B. for sharing this exciting U.S. find with Garrett! Bobby B. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

This 1782 Spanish Reale coin is a real beauty. Sean M. from Middletown, DE, searched the site of an old amusement park. His rang a solid 77-78 at 4 to 6 inches down and he thought it might be an Indian Head penny. Sean wrote, “When I got the coin out I didn’t know what is was. Further examination I saw it was a 1782 Spanish 1 Reale in excellent shape! Probably my find of a lifetime.” Sean M. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for October 2011 is the Sheriff’s badge, found by Matthew J. of Winterville, N.C. In a field he had searched for years, Matthew was hunting along a trashy ditch bank with his and came across a good deep signal. Matthew stated, “Since I decided to dig, out came a green badge. First thought it was a child’s play badge as I have found cap guns and toys in this field. So when I got home I cleaned it up and saw the name L.B. Williamson on the top and Caswell County on the bottom. ”Matthew posted a photo of it on Facebook to help determine its legacy. It belonged to Lynn Banks Williamson who served as Sheriff of Caswell County, N. C. from 1953-1958. Matthew made contact with the former Sheriff’s son and his reaction was simply, “Well I’ll be damned.” His son mentioned his father probably lost it quail hunting and that his mother had looked everywhere for it. Matthew returned the 50 + year old Sheriff’s badge to his grateful family. Good job Matthew J. for finding and returning this family treasure. Matthew J. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for September 2011 is the Revolutionary War Soldier’s Button. The PSR stands for Pennsylvania State Regiment (13th Regiment). An unknown foot soldier lost his button in one of the known battle areas of Pennsylvania 235 years ago and it never saw the light of day until recently. Brian H. of Phoenixville, PA was searching the foothills off Charlestown road with his Ace 350, and amongst quite a bit of trash and nails discovered this nice condition pewter button. Thanks to Brian H. for sharing with us this soldier’s button from the American Revolutionary War. Brian H. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for August 2011 is the WWI Victory Lapel Pin. All service men who returned home from WWI were given this bronze pin, and a silver one was given to those who returned wounded. This bronze pin was discovered by George Z. from Bristol, CT with his while hunting a local park. This pin serves as a reminder of the freedoms we have due to the valiant service men who served our country. Thanks to George Z. for sharing this treasured discovery with us. George Z. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

Summer is the best time to clean up a swimming area with an ! Bob F. of Colleyville, Texas received permission to hunt a roped off swimming area at a local marina after a weekend party. Bob noted, “I got a sweet sounding 48 on the I.D. I got a scoop of sand and placed it in my basket strainer and watched it melt away around the prettiest sight I’ve ever seen. It was a 14K ladies ring with 49 diamonds!” Congrats to Bob F. for sharing your sparkling discovery with Garrett. I know your wife is proud too! Bob F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

Any treasure hunter would be thrilled to find a gold coin, a gold nugget, or a gold ring. Well, how about a gold coin nugget ring? A very fortunate Curtis M. of Lexington, MA, discovered a gorgeous St. Gaudens Walking Liberty gold coin nugget ring in excellent condition. With his Garrett at a New Hampshire beach, Curtis found his first gold coin, and I hope he doesn’t mind that a gold nugget ring was attached to it. Great job, Curtis, for striking triple gold! Curtis M. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for May 2011 goes to Mr. Steven S. of Cave Springs, Arkansas for the discovery of the Boy Scout commemorative coin. This 100+ year old Boy Scout Good Luck Coin was struck to commemorate the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. Found about 4 inches deep with his , Steven celebrated his own good luck. He left us with a quote in his story that reads, “Good luck follows you when you use Garrett.” My father, Charles Garrett, was a Boy Scout, and continues to support the organization today. Being a Boy Scout taught my father much about land and survival and pride and laid the groundwork for a mind that helped shape Garrett Metal Detectors. Charles Garrett as a Boy Scout, 1940 Steven S. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for April 2011 goes to Ron W. of Annapolis, Missouri. Ron discovered this one-of-a-kind gold locket belonging to General David Grier who was living in St. Louis following the civil war. This personalized locket bears the inscription “Presented to Gen D.P. Grier by P.D.Y.E. May 1877.” Ron and the Ft. Davidson Historical Site Administrator both think that General Grier may have been touring the battlefield on some anniversary of the battle and lost the locket. Ron frequents the battlefield areas with his Garrett detectors and found this historic beauty at the base of an old oak tree at the summit overlooking the battle site. Congratulations to Ron W. for sharing this lovely locket story with us. Ron a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find this month is the three piece gold wedding band set. This 14k gold ring set is comprised of one yellow, one red, and one white gold ring, all three looped together. I consider this to be a very unique find and it goes to the man who discovered the glare of gold! Congrats to beach hunter James B. from Florida! James B. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

The brass plate discovery submitted by Bradley D. of Mebane, North Carolina wins my March 2011 Favorite Find. With his at 5 inches deep, Brad recovered this civil war era brass plate manufactured by the Farrel, Herring, & Co., a manufacturer of the best safes during this time. Although the safe was nowhere to be found, the plate itself is in very good condition, with interesting ornate designs. The plate is 6 inches wide, 5 inches tall, and weighs 5 pounds! How it was separated from the safe is a mystery. Congrats to Bradley D. for a great unique find. Bradley D. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find this month is the ancient Celtic cross. What I find fascinating is that it appears to be hand-made because of the variations in the details and symmetry. It is two inches long and one inch wide and is made of either gold or brass. Because of the smooth rounded look and color I think it is gold. The Celtic cross was found off a Florida beach by the son of Roger M. from St. Augustine, Florida with his at six inches. A St. Augustine archaeologist and historian thinks it is of Celtic origin and could date anywhere between 1500BC and 700AD. Congrats to Roger M’s son for finding this outstanding one of a kind jewel. Roger M.’s son a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

Wisconsin’s copper culture has been a hot topic for treasure hunters recently. Derived from copper mines, spears were created to hunt wildlife on land and in streams. Metal detectors are the perfect tool to find these spears and various other copper items from this ancient civilization dating back four to five thousand years old. My favorite find for January 2011 goes to Larry F. of Green Bay, Wisconsin. His wife bought him a for his birthday last November. As always, the best place to learn a new machine is on your own property. After half an hour of searching with his new Garrett detector in his own backyard, Larry discovered a nicely shaped copper spearhead! Congratulations Larry, keep searching! You may find more. As my father Charles Garrett has always said, “You can find treasure even in your own backyard.” Larry a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for December 2010 is the 14k gold and diamond ring. Jon B. of Huntsville, TX was detecting under a ski lift in Ohio. In the same hole he dug two quarters, a dime, and then the ring. It had a lot of dirt on it and he thought it was probably costume jewelry. After returning home he cleaned it up and saw 14k inside the band. The next day he took it to a jeweler who appraised it at over $1200. Jon stated that after he dug the two quarters and the dime that he thought he had come across a “Glory Hole”. Congratulations to Jon B. with his Ace 250 for sharing his discovery with Garrett. Jon B. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

A unique token was issued at the 1904 St. Louis Fair commemorating the centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803. Michael F. of Madison, Tennessee was searching with his in Nashville and discovered what he thought was a coin at 6 inches. What he actually discovered was a token larger than a quarter with Lewis and Clark on the front, and two Indians and a canoe on the back. Not only did Michael find a classic token, but also learned a great U.S. history lesson. Congratulations Michael! Your St. Louis Fair token is my favorite find for October 2010. Michael F. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find for September 2010 goes to Mr. Raymond B. of TN. The find is an 1898 Spanish-American War dog tag found at 10 inches with a . What makes this item my favorite is the research and action which followed the find. Since the dog tag’s ID number was legible, Raymond B contacted the Spanish-American War History Board who determined it belonged to PVT Frank Blakemore (later 2nd Lieutenant) and his great-grandson was notified. Raymond B. established contact with his great-grandson and returned the dog tag to where it belonged…with the family. Lieutenant Blakemore rests in the Arlington Cemetery. Congrats to Raymond B for discovering a soldier’s personal item and returning it to his descendant…a respectful deed in kind. Raymond B. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

My favorite find this month is the 1927 United Confederate Veterans reunion delegates medal. Treasure hunter Tony S. from Mebane, North Carolina purchased a farm which was owned by a well respected confederate veteran Capt. Sam H. Webb. Hoping one day to find an item owned by the veteran, Tony S. discovered this rare medal near a cedar tree on the farm. With the bars and stars still recognizable, this uniquely shaped find sees light for the first time since it was lost more than 80 years ago. Congrats to Tony S. for your successful treasure hunting.  Capt. Sam H. Webb, a confederate veteran from the 7th NC Reserves Tony S. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

The long lost bracelet story submitted by Joe K. from Iowa wins my July 2010 Favorite Find. With his , Joe recovered an engraved bracelet and sought out the owner. What is unique about this story is that the owner’s wife had her husband’s name engraved on it, but lost the bracelet and was never able to give this gift to him. Over 55 years later the bracelet was finally found and given to its rightful owner. Congrats to Joe K. for a great find, a great story, and a kind deed. Joe K. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

This month’s Favorite Find is the 1859-S Liberty Seated dime. Found in Holcomb Valley in Southern California, this silver dime has retained its luster and detail which reveal the unique strike weakness at the Liberty’s head. Expert analysis documents that 60,000 pieces were originally minted, yet only 41 examples of this coin are certified in population. Congratulations to Steve S. with his for discovering this rare American beauty in extremely fine condition. Steve S. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!

In 1775 war broke out between the British and American Colonists known as the American Revolutionary War, and by 1783, the British recognized America’s Independence. A 227 year old remnant of this war was discovered by Robert from New York in the form of an original American Revolutionary War buckle. Robert researched the encampment area and detected near an old tree now over 400 years old where the soldiers likely congregated. About five feet away from this tree his Ace 250 sung a new tune! Congratulations to Robert S. for discovering a great historical find. Robert S. a Garrett PRO-POINTER®!