You've done your research, planned your recovery, and one fine morning you find a stash worth millions!  Easy Street forever, right?

Probably not. 

This show reveals what has happened to people who have become suddenly rich, and it ain't pretty.

So listen to this program, and you may decide that coinshooting is great, but treasure hunting is maybe just a little bit scary.

Or would YOU be able to handle that much money with no problems? 

Sure you would.

For more treasure tips, visit http://treasuremanual.com.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I turned 63 on Tuesday (August 17), and this show is two years old today.

Listen and learn which shows over the last two years have been the most popular, and a few inside comments on the structure and the maturation of the program.  (Wow!  That sounds boring!  It's not - honest!)

For more treasure tips, see my website http://treasuremanual.com.

Many treasure hunters are pretty close-mouthed when it comes to their favorite hunting spots, and for good reason.

But if you're a coinshooter looking for those older coins, it really pays to talk, talk, talk. The more people who know about your hobby, the more places you are going to be able to detect.

This program discusses how YOU should discuss your hobby with friends, relatives, and all sorts of strangers. 

By following the simple instructions in this show, you will learn about hidden prime coinshooting areas right in your own backyard (or your Uncle Leonard's back yard).

If you enjoy these podcasts, please visit my website http://treasuremanual.com for more articles about metal detecting, and a sales pitch for my book, The Metal Detecting Manual.

What's a 1926-S penny worth? 

Could be three hundred dollars, could be six bucks.  It all depends on the condition of the coin.

This program explains why the coins you find with your metal detector may not be worth as much as the books say, and it also tells you which coins don't lose value while in the ground.

For more articles on metal detecting, visit http://treasuremanual.com.

In program #008, we discussed the three keys to selecting homes with yards that are likely to hold the most coins, and the oldest coins. Now we talk about how to hunt a private yard, and where the older coins are likely to be found.

For more articles on metal detecting, visit http://treasuremanual.com and click the Articles link at the top of the page.

In program number 006, we discussed the most likely places to find coins and rings in parks. 

In this program, we go a step farther and talk about how to find the older (and hopefully, more valuable) coins in parks. 

Where exactly to hunt, how to find the hotspots for older coins, and how to find fewer coins on purpose - because you're concentrating on coins that were dropped decades ago, not yesterday.

I've just revamped my website, making it easier to read and to navigate.  Check it out at http://treasuremanual.com.  And click on the Articles link for more treasure hunting secrets.

In Depth Secrets 1 (podcast 004), we looked at four simple ways to get better depth from your metal detector.  Now in part 2, we examine another four ways to increase your depth.

For more tips and tricks of metal detecting and treasure hunting, see my website: http://treasuremanual.com.

There are three main ways to ask permission to hunt private property.  Two of them you should never use.

In this show you'll learn the best way to get the okay to dig in private yards, with a suggested "script" to use when you are seeking permission.

For more metal detecting tips, see my web page:  http://treasuremanual.com

How you can use golf tees to your advantage in treasure hunting,and a story that might help you find a LOT of dimes.  This episode is a bit more light-hearted than most.

For more tips and tricks, see my web page http://treasuremanual.com.

If some of this week's program topics sound familiar, it's because I am plagiarizing myself.  Several of the tips here appeared in earlier programs.  No, I'm not recycling old shows out of laziness.  My earliest shows are a bit overlong, and I'm in the process of recording new versions of them. 

I'm dropping all those music intros and outros from those early shows, and limiting each program to just one topic.  That means I'll be removing all the tips and tricks from those shows. 

And rather than just discarding them, I'm recycling them in this show.  Today's tip topics include ideas about shoes, toothpaste, bars of soap, and nail apron fashion.

For more tips, see my web site http://treasuremanual.com.

What exactly is treasure trove, and who owns it?  You'll be surprised!

This program looks at some of the laws concerning the finding and legal ownership of treasure trove.

For more articles on treasure hunting, see my website:  http://treasuremanual.com.

Split-the-loot contracts between treasure hunters and property owners are a popular topic with treasure hunters.  Here's why you should never (well, hardly ever) use such a contract.  And if you decide to use one anyway, please be aware of the one clause you should NEVER, EVER put into a contract.

For more articles on treasure hunting, see my website, http://treasuremanual.com

Some basic tips and warnings for the newcomer to the treasure hunting hobby.  Old-timers may want to review, too.  My coin-digging video mentioned in the show is at http://tinyurl.com/yhumr7u.

For more tips on using metal detectors, see my web page at http://treasuremanual.com

Nobody knows quite what it is, but most every treasure hunter has experienced it at one time or another. I'm talking about what is called, for want of a better term, the Halo Effect. In a nutshell:  You get a good beep, you dig, but nothing is there.  You swing your loop over the hole, and the beep is gone.  But if you dig a bit deeper, you find a coin. What happened?   This program discusses the controversial "Halo Effect".  For a more detailed discussion of the science behind this phenomenon, read this discussion thread: http://tinyurl.com/ykdwn95

For more articles on treasure hunting and metal detecting, visit my web site http://treasuremanual.com.

A listener to the last show wants to know more about how to find out what his local park regulations are, and how to keep from being told he can't hunt by officials who don't know the law.  I offer several suggestions as to how to get your ducks in a row before you take your metal detector into a park.  And the listener himself comes up with a wonderful way to work for change from the inside rather than the outside.

For more articles on metal detecting, see my homepage at http://treasuremanual.com

You're digging a beep in the park when a policeman approaches you. What should you do? Former police chief (and current field editor for Lost Treasure magazine) Anthony Belli offers tips on how to handle yourself in an encounter with the law.

Tony goes on to outline the investigative techniques he learned as a police officer, and how you can apply them to metal detecting.

Enjoy the program, then read more of my articles on treasure hunting at my web site, http://treasuremanual.com.

City Directories are a treasure trove of information about your town as it used to be.  By going through old city directories in chronological order, you can learn when particular houses were built, all the people who owned or lived in them over the years, the occupations of the tenants, whether the houses were ever used as businesses, and a lot of other fascinating facts that can help you judge whether or not a particular property might be worth detecting. I did a study of my own house from old city directories, and in this podcast I take you through the history of my home and its residents over the years.

For more articles about treasure hunting, see the bottom of my web page http://treasuremanual.com.

When people want to hide valuables nowadays, they seldom dig a hole in the backyard.  Instead, they find a hiding place inside their house.   This programs lists and discusses some of the more common indoor hiding places. The two books mentioned in the show are SEARCH! by James Warnke, and THE STASH BOOK by Peter Hjersman. And speaking of books, please check mine out at http://treasuremanual.com

By the way, for those of you who are technically inclined, this is my first show with my brand-new microphone (a Christmas present to myself).  It's a Heil PR-30, and I love this mike!

When it comes to treasure hunting, are you a loner?  In this show, we take a brief look at treasure clubs and offer five reasons you should consider joining - or starting - a club.

Read some of my articles about metal detecting, at the bottom of my web site:  http://treasuremanual.com And if you enjoy reading treasure magazines, I'm selling a ton of them here: http://treasure-magazines-for-sale.htm

Relic hunters are a different breed. Unlike coinshooters and beach hunters, they are seeking history rather than money.  True, many relics - especially Civil War items - are worth big bucks, but many relic hunters are more interested in finding clues as to what happened when. And they hunt in more isolated places than those of us who frequent the parks and schoolyards.  They even face dangers that we coinshooters cannot imagine. In this podcast, I offer some tips - and some warnings - to the beginning relic hunter.

If you enjoy the program, check out the articles at the bottom of my web site:  http://treasuremanual.com

Most caches are found by people who are hunting for something else, usually coins or relics. This podcast offers some tips on where you are likely to find caches.

For more articles on treasure hunting, see the bottom of my web page http://treasuremanual.com.

I'm going through my old magazines, hundreds of them dating back to 1969, noting what stories are in what issues because I plan on selling them.   Old treasure magazine ads are fascinating, and they let you trace the history of the metal detector, from BFOs to TRs to TR-Discriminators to VLF to TR/VLF - each in turn being touted as the greatest detectors ever! And the stories!  Lost mines, sunken ships, buried robbery loot, ghost towns, and lots of people dying (naturally, or by the rope) before revealing where they hid their treasures.... Who needs modern-day thriller novels when we have these (perhaps) true stories to enjoy? Check out my stash at http://treasuremagazines.info.  

For more of my articles, see the bottom of my book page:  http://treasuremanual.com.

Sure, it's fun to find coins - free money and all that - but most treasure hunters dream of finding a cache.  A jar of silver coins, an old tobacco tin stuffed with  five-dollar gold pieces, or a metal box full of diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Cache hunting is unlike any other form of metal detecting, and this program has some tips to get you started in the right direction.

For more tips on cache hunting, see my book, The Metal Detecting Manual

I have just heard from another disappointed treasure hunter who finally got a chance to search an old country homesite that you'd think would be teeming with choice finds. But aside from a couple of zinc pennies and a clad dime, he was pretty much skunked. Sadly, this is the rule rather than the exception for old homesteads. Why?  This podcast covers some of the basic reasons old coins are hard to come by at rural homesites. But we all like happy endings, so this show ends with a tip about hunting one particular area of the old homestead where you might actually find several coins bunched together.

And don't forget to check out my book, at http://treasuremanual.com

So you've got a few hours free, and you want to go metal detecting.  Is it really worthwhile to hit that nearby park or schoolyard that is already pretty much hunted out? This podcast discusses the secrets of hunting those "hunted-out" areas.  How to find coins that others have missed.

Visit my website for free treasure hunting articles: http://treasuremanual.com

They say experience is the best teacher, but they are wrong.  Why should you make the same mistakes others have made before you?  Philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Similarly, when it comes to treasure hunting, those who have gone before you have made the mistakes, so you don't have to.  Just listen to what they have to say! In this program, I make some book recommendations.  Books that will help you find more coins faster, books that will give you new ideas on likely hunting places, and books that will tell you what you've found and what it's worth.

I was tempted to do a review of my own book in this show, but I decided that wouldn't be fair.  So instead, I'll let you choose whether or not to click here.

On the first anniversary of In the Treasure Corner, I look back at what I did right, what I did wrong, which topics were the most popular, why my book doesn't sell as well as it could, why that's fine with me, and how I was able to combine my treasure hunting hobby with my other favorite sport, slowpitch softball.

My Birthday Quiz and In the Collector's Corner articles mentioned in this podcast appear every month in The Active Seniors and Boomers newspaper.  You can read them online at http://theactiveseniors.com.

For some free articles based on chapters in my book, go to the bottom of this page:  The Metal Detecting Manual

Twelve years ago, I came very close to getting a class ring back to its owner.  A month ago, I began anew to try to find the girl who lost it 23 years ago. I struck out with Classmates, and now I've stepped up my quest with five new attacks.  Enjoy the latest episode of "How Hard Can It Be To Get Rid of a Gold Ring?"

And if you enjoy the podcasts, read my book, The Metal Detecting Manual

There was a discussion in one of the treasure forums recently about the feasibility of making a living with your metal detector by becoming a full time treasure hunter.  Think of it!  No alarm clocks, no early-morning commutes to the office, no suits and ties, no office politics, no boss! Can it really be done? In this program I examine the possibilities.

I've written a book on treasure hunting called The Metal Detecting Manual.  It's for sale here

After polling several metal detecting and treasure hunting forums about whether or not I should continue trying to return a class ring, I've reached a decision.  Did those who responded to my question think I should keep the ring, or try again to return it?  Hear the results here, and see if you agree with my decision.

And check out my book, The Metal Detecting Manual

The Clue in the Old Book!  Sounds like a Nancy Drew title, doesn't it? Old books and newspapers can be wonderful sources of clues to treasure.  Just this week, this notice appeared in my local paper:  --------------------------------  

Area history
   In 1909, during the hot summer months, camping on the Sangamon River in Mahomet seems to be all the rage.  Last summer, nearly 300 families camped around here, and from present indications there will be twice as many this year. -------------------------------- Mahomet is a small town ten miles west of here, and there is still a county park along the Sangamon River.  I've detected that park several times, but only in the play areas, never by the river.  You can bet where I'll be hunting next time I'm there! This podcast discusses reading old books and other publications with the mindset of a treasure hunter.

As always, there's a lot more information in my book.

How far should a treasure hunter go to return lost property?   Listen to my story of how I found a class ring and located the now-distant owner.  And then, because the owner never got back with me to make arrangements to receive the ring, I lost the owner.  The ball is in her court now, right?  Or not? What, if anything, should I do now?  Please hit the COMMENTS link and post your thoughts here.  Your advice will help me decide.

And, as always, I invite you to read about my book, and, if you are sufficiently intrigued, to purchase a copy.

Have you found your first gold ring yet?  No? What?  You don't dig pulltabs?  That's why you're leaving those rings for me.  Pulltabs are the ringfinder's best friend!  Here's why.. A discussion of how to find gold rings by digging pulltabs, without losing your sanity. Also - Have you found more dimes, or nickels?  You don't know?  Tips on keeping a coin logbook.

I sell a book I've written called The Metal Detecting Manual.  Available nowhere else but here:  http://treasuremanual.com

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A few odds and ends on research and finding older coins, including a story on how yours truly missed a fantastic opportunity for old coins right in front of my own house.

Here's my book, The Metal Detector Manual.  Buy a copy so I can feed my dog Max.

Many treasure hunters read the treasure magazines cover-to-cover, but they don't use a much more profitable - and free - resource:  their local library. This show gives you some valuable tips about what you can find in your local library.

Much more in my book, The Metal Detecting Manual, available only from this site

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Finding fifty coins in an afternoon is great, but disappointment can set in when their total value is a dollar, and none of them are old. This show offers tips on finding the older coins, with a story of how one treasure hunter zeroed in on a locale that offered up coins dated 1850 and earlier.

Order the book here

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Some people swear by alkaline batteries for their metal detectors, others use rechargeables.  What does the manufacturer recommend?  Hear the answers in this podcast.

Check out my book:  The Metal Detecting Manual

Is coinshooting really worth the trouble, when your finds seldom come anywhere near to earning you minimum wage?  How to answer your skeptical friends.

More about my book here:  http://treasuremanual.com.

How your club (or you as an individual) can offer treasure hunting seminars to the general public.  Make friends (and money) as you spread the word about metal detecting in your community.

And be sure to check out my Metal Detecting Manual

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Tips on getting started correctly, gridding an area, two five-dollar gold pieces beneath a pulltab.

See more metal detecting articles at the bottom of my webpage, http://treasuremanual.com

The most popular type of treasure hunting is coinshooting, or using a metal detector to find coins in the ground. In this first show of a series on coinshooting, we outline the steps a beginner should take to learn to coinshoot like a pro.

First I talk about the factors that determine how deep a metal detector can go, then I discuss those mysterious "long-distance locators" ("find gold 70 feet deep!").

Check out my book:  http://treasuremanual.com

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Secrets of pulling good finds from well-hunted school playgrounds and ball fields.  How to recover what others have missed.

There are times for treasure hunters to talk, and times for them to keep quiet.

In this show, we talk about when you should clam up, and what might happen if you don't.

(For the times you should talk, listen to program #051).

More articles on metal detecting and treasure hunting at http://treasuremanual.com.

The mania for collecting things seems to have evolved from a lifelong hobby (stamp collecting) to a short-lived fad (Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies).

But thanks to metal detecting, coin collecting is stronger than ever. 

This program is a light-hearted look at some of the collecting phases your podcasting guide (that's me) went through as a child.

For more articles on treasure hunting, see my website http://treasuremanual.com.

How to determine which houses have yards that will give you the highest odds of finding old coins.  Three keys to look for.

After you've listened to this show, skip to #049 for tips on hunting these older yards.

If you enjoy these podcasts, check out my book, The Metal Detecting Manual

Do you post a lot of notes on your favorite internet treasure boards?  Why not get paid for those words, and see your name in print at the same time?

I've written for several of the treasure magazines, and in this show I reveal the "secrets" of getting published.  And it's a lot easier than you think!

For more articles on treasure hunting and metal detecting, visit my page http://treasuremanual.com .

Parks can be pretty big places.  This program examines where to start when you're looking for coins and rings in public parks. 

After you've listened to this show, check out the "advanced" program on park hunting show #048.

Lots more in my book, at http://treasuremanual.com.

Here's a list of accessories you might consider for your treasure hunting trips, and why you need them. 

URLs mentioned in this show:

Digging a coin video:  http://tinyurl.com/yhumr7u

Harbor Freight $17 pinpointer:  http://tinyurl.com/cdemkl

AudioPhone II headphones:  http://tinyurl.com/yjtn88z

For more articles on metal detecting and details about my book, visit my web site.

Four secrets of getting better depth from your detector, no matter what brand or model you are using.

More depth secrets are included in my book The Metal Detecting Manual.

A discussion about how to handle onlookers when you're trying to detect.

For more articles on metal detecting and details about my book, visit my web site.

Here's a program on what is often the most important, and the most difficult, single thing to do in metal detecting.

And that is....getting permission to hunt.  Without permission, you could be arrested.  Or maybe even shot.

Listen to this short (under four minutes) show for tips on getting permission.

For more articles on metal detecting and details about my book, visit my web site.

An interview with Vlad and Carol Kononov, founders of the Friendly Metal Detecting Forum, http://metaldetectingforum.com.

For more articles on metal detecting and details about my book, visit my web site.