The News: Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

Rocky Mountain Prospectors &
Treasure Hunters Newsletter
The News
v. 19, n. 3 March 2015
Going for the Gold
Visit RMPTH On The Internet At http://rmpth.com
Contents
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2
4
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6
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9
10
11
12
15
16
18
19
Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

About The News
Find Of The Month Program
This Is Victor
Man Dies In Sewer Treasure
Hunt
A Very Good Deed Done
Meteorite Hunting Tips
Colorado Treasure Tale
Calendar of Events
Calendars
How To Be A Successful Relic
Hunter
A Simple Pineapple
Trading Post
2015 Schedule of Events
Contact List
Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

Largest trove of gold coins in Israel
unearthed from ancient Harbor
Published February 17, 2015 | FoxNews.com
group of divers in Israel has stumbled upon

the largest hoard of gold coins ever discovered
in the country. The divers reported the find to
the Israel Antiquities Authority, and nearly 2,000
coins dating back to the Fatimid period, or the eleventh century, were salvaged by the authoritys Marine
Archaeology Unit. The find was unearthed from the
seabed of the ancient harbor in Caesarea National
Park, according to a press release from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The discovery of such a large hoard of coins that had
such tremendous economic power in antiquity raises
several possibilities regarding its presence on the seabed, said Kobi Sharvit, director of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority,
in the release. There is probably a shipwreck there of
an official treasury boat which was on its way to the
central government in Egypt with taxes that had been
collected.
Sharvit suggested that the treasure trove of coins
might have been intended to pay the members of the
Fatimid military garrison stationed at Caesarea, Israel. There are also other theories as the origins of
the coins. Sharvit said that the coins could have
belonged to a sunken merchant ship.
"Banking establishments are more dangerous

than standing armies."
- Thomas Jefferson
The coins are in excellent state of preservation, and

despite the fact they were at the bottom of the sea for
about a thousand years, they did not require any
cleaning or conservation intervention, said Robert
Cole, an expert numismaticist someone who studies
currency with the antiquities authority. The five divers have been called model citizens by the antiquities organization. Had the divers removed the objects
from their location or tried to sell them, they could
(Continued on page 3)
About The News
Advertising
Classified advertising for topic related items is free

for non-business ads. See the Trading Post section
for donation pricing of camera-ready display ads. Donations for ad makeup from sketches, etc., are available on request.
Opinions expressed in The News are those of the

authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the
club or its members. Publication of information in
The News constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use
of any information found in this publication is at the
sole risk of the user. Neither RMPTH, nor its coordinators, nor The News, nor its editors or contributors
assume any liability for damages resulting from use
of information in this publication.
About RMPTH
he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky

Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters
Club (RMPTH): our mailing address is 278
Sierra Vista Drive, Fort Collins, CO. 80524.
Submissions
Articles, letters and short items of interest on prospecting, detecting and treasure hunting topics are
welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for
publication are subject to editing. Submittals for publication may be made in writing or, preferably, in ASCII text format on IBM-compatible disk. If you have
questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.
RMPTH is an independent nonprofit hobbyist social

club, open to anyone interested in prospecting, detecting or treasure hunting. Its purpose is to provide an
educational and social forum of mutual benefit for
members. RMPTH holds a monthly meeting and conducts various field outings, as well as offers special
presentations and seminars. Active participants have
voting privileges. The monthly newsletter, The News,
is readily available on the Internet. Annual dues are
$25 payable in June. Applicants joining in any month
other than June pay partial dues of $2 per month for
months remaining prior to following June plus $1.
Copyright
Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit groups
may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in
The News without prior permission, provided that
proper author and publication credits are given and
that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to RMPTH at the above mailing address. Clubs wishing to exchange newsletters
with RMPTH are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.
CLUB MEMBERS TAKE NOTE

Club Hats, Shirts, Jackets, & Patches are again available.
Ask for info at the club meetings to purchase your club items!
We will be running a 50/50 Drawing at each club meeting. At the end of each
meeting Tom will split the pot 50/50 and a lucky member will go home with more
money than they came with.!
The remaining 50% goes to the club treasury.
Page 2
The News, March 2015
(Continued from page 1)
have faced a sentence of up to five years in prison.

The oldest of the coins is a quarter dinar that was
minted in Palermo, Sicily during the second half of
the ninth century. The majority of the coins can be
traced back to the Faimid caliphs, Al-kim and his
son Al-hir who were alive in during the eleventh
century.
sive treasure highlights the uniqueness of Caesarea as

an ancient port city with rich history and cultural
heritage, stated the Caesarea Development Company
and Nature and Parks Authority in the release.
After 2,000 years it is still capable of captivating its
many visitors when other parts of its mysterious
past are revealed in the ground and in the sea.
These coins were minted in Egypt and North Africa.

There is no doubt that the discovery of the impres-
Ancient gold coins on the harbor floor
$6 Goodwill Watch Turns Out To Be A Major Treasure

Posted 8:44 pm, February 6, 2015, by Paul Choate
PHOENIX A man got the deal of a lifetime when he saw a watch at Goodwill and purchased it for $6.
According to KSAZ, Zach Norris found out the watch was worth a lot more than $6 after doing some research.
Norris ended up selling the watch for a whopping $35,000.
A watch specialist confirmed to Norris the piece was a Jaeger-LeCoultre Deep Sea Alarm.
The specialist agreed to purchase the watch from Norris and even threw in an Omega Speedster Professional
watch as part of the deal.
Page 3
Find of the Month

Winners
February, 2015
Most Valuable Coin:

Bud Yoder - 1950-S Silver Quarter
Oldest Coin:
Joe Johnston - 1913 Dime
Largest Raw Gold:
No Entry
Most Raw Gold:

Bud Yoder - Clear Creek Placer
Gold
Best Bottle:
Mike Mehaffey - Antique Olive
Bottle
Best Jewelry:
Tom Marschall - Silver Bracelet
Most Unique Find (Excavated):
Tom Marschall French Horn
Mouth Piece
Most Unique Find (Non-Excavated):
Tom Warne - Antique 50-70 Bullet Casing
Rock, Gem, Mineral & Fossil:
Bud Yoder - Garnet & Epodite
Vein Specimen
Today's Short Reading from the Bible...

From Genesis:
"And God promised men that good and
obedient wives would be found in all
corners of the earth."
Then He made the earth round...and He
laughed and laughed and laughed!
Gold Glossary
Drywasher - A common desert mining tool. The drywasher is like a highbanker but lacks the need for
water. A drywasher operates by the use of wind. The
light junk material is blown off the top of the sluice
in the drywasher and the gold stays on the bottom.
The sluice riffles in a drywasher are backwards for
better recovery.
TREASURE HUNTERS
CODE OF ETHICS
I WILL respect private property and do no treasure

hunting without the owner's permission.
I WILL fill all excavations.
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, and private property.
I WILL use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy
at all times.
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only.
Still Frozen .. But We Have Gold!
I WILL leave gates as found.

I WILL remove and properly dispose of any trash that I
find.
I WILL NOT litter.
I WILL NOT destroy property, buildings, or what is left
of ghost towns and deserted structures.
I WILL NOT tamper with signs, structural facilities, or
equipment.
Page 4
This is Victor
Mineral Specimen Identification
The biggest payroll mines were near Victor and in

the early days when they all got paid in gold, there
would be a queue of miners three or four blocks long
on paydays marching four abreast past the bank to
receive their pay. And the golden eagles were piled so
high on the paymasters tables that the tables had to
be reinforced with steel to stand the weight., noted
one story under the title This is Victor.
he city of Victor, according to the paper, was

founded in 1893 by the Woods Brothers and
named for Victor Adams who fathered the
town of Lawrence, southwest of Victor on Wilson
Creek in 1892. The Woods Brothers made their original fortune with the Gold Coin Mine in Victor, which
they discovered while digging a basement for a hotel.
With some of their fortune they built mansions in
Colorado Springs on Wood Avenue and other Cripple
Creek district miners followed suit to create a
Millionaires Row that is still partially intact today.
The only hard money seen in the District now is silver, and silver dollars are still popular with the natives to the delight of tourist, notes the 1961 edition.
Gold coin went out in 1933, during the Roosevelts
bank holiday, a fact much bemoaned by the miners.
As part of their community outreach, Metropolitan State

College of Denver, Dep. of Earth & Atmospheric
Science, Professional Services Division offers FREE
MINERAL SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION. Participants
will aid in the education of future Geoscientists!
Details and specimen submittal forms with instructions
can be downloaded
from:
SPECIAL OFFER FREE MINERAL SPECIMEN
http://college.earthscienceeducation.net/MINPET/
MINID.pdf
Gold Rush Days in 2008, sponsored by the City of

Victor, still featured a parade, family events, and traditional mining games presented by the Cripple Creek
& Victor Gold Mining Company that include loading a
one-ton ore cart by hand, jack leg drilling, hand drilling and mucking. Also the historic home and building
tours are conducted this weekend as well.
Refreshment Volunteers
MarchGary Dahlgren
AprilBetsy Emond & Mike Noll
MayEd & Mai Edwards
JuneFred Sugden
JulyDick & Sharon French
AugustRay & Loralee Hettinger
SeptemberBard Schuldt
OctoberRay McGehee & Ann Nichols
NovemberGeorge & Peggy Stumpf
Property Wanted
For Detector Hunt
RMPTH is looking for private property on which to hold
an organized club detector hunt. Obviously, it would be
most ideal if this property is known to have seen some
past historical activity. If you have such property or
know of someone who does, please contact Rick
Mattingly to plan a club field outing event.
Page 5
Man Dies In Sewer

Treasure Hunt
2014-11-15 10:28 news24.com
Amanda Khoza, The Witness
was unauthorized to speak to the media.

They tie a rope or a string to their necks, with a little
plastic bottle on the other end where they store their
treasure. Sometimes they drown and their bodies get
pushed down the pipes, and then they block the pipes
and that is usually how we find them, said the officer.
Durban, South Africa
television documentary probably piqued a

mans interest to go on a treasure hunt in a
sewerage pipe - a dangerous and sometimes
deadly exercise.
Unfortunately, the 45-year-old man never lived to tell
the tale of his unusual expedition because he was
found dead, twisted and stuck between shaft screws
inside the machines at the Southern Waste Treatment
Works last Friday.
The unidentified man has put a face to an increasing
problem facing the eThekwini Municipality.
Treasure hunting syndicates often include men going
down sewage pipes to search for jewelry and any valuables that have accidentally been flushed down toilets,
showers or kitchen sink drains.
3 deaths this year
This year alone, three men have died while performing the daring illegal activity and three have been rescued, according to the police.
In July last year, the body of Bhayo Mnqayi was
pulled out of a drain by eThekwini municipal workers. The man and three others were in a sewerage
pipe in the Merebank canal using torches to find gold
and diamonds when they slipped and landed in the
fast flowing effluent.
In a separate incident, it was reported in April that a
man was found trapped in a Newlands West sewerage
pipe while searching for gold.
Search for gold
A police source investigating the treasure hunters told
Weekend Witness: Many of them first saw this on a
documentary called Cutting Edge, which showed a
man going down the sewerage pipes with a head torch
to search for gold.
Another police officer said treasure hunters are usually members of a neighboring community.
They climb down the manhole and into the drains,
then walk along the drains underground. Then they
will crawl into the sewer pipes and sometimes the
sewer levels increase because as people flush their
toilets, it increases the pressure levels, said a police
officer, who also asked not to be named because he
Page 6
We will be calling on club members to volunteer for

this new treasure hunting technique. Ed
Victor has been through the years, and still is, Cripple Creeks chief rival in top honors in the District,
notes the 1961 newspaper. The other thriving towns
have gone with the wind. There are a few residents left
in Goldfield, two in Independence, a very few in Elkton and Lawrence and none at all in Cameron, Midway, Anaconda, Altman, Love and Gillette.
Of the paper itself. Were not
the nations authority on mining, but were not
dead yet, notes
a subscription
advertisement.
True, we have
Victor Mine
what we call our
selective readers who buy the paper just for the
weather column, those who read only Them Was The
Days, or The Evesdropper, and then wrap up the
garbage with the rest of our wasted efforts. We have a
man in Oklahoma who subscribes because he got cut
off from Sears and Roebucks mailing list. A few
friends subscribe because they dont dare not to.
And other content comes into question. We almost
forgot about the editorials. Theyre not always good
and you wont agree with us all the time, but a least
you dont have to read them over two or three times to
find out what we think. We call a square point a
square point. Thats a shovel, in case you dont dig
mining jargon.
Thanks to Paul Mayhak
A Very Good Deed Done

By Rick Mattingly
n October I received a frantic email to the club from a Fort Collins man who had the terrible misfortune of
losing his platinum wedding ring somewhere in a large soccer field. They had looked and looked but no ring.
He had apparently searched the internet in the hope of finding a detector club nearby and found us. I immediately sent out a broadcast email to all RMPTH members requesting detector help to assist with a hopeful recovery. Within hours, RMPTH member Tom Warne beat out other members and was on the scene. In the perfect
ending Tom ended up recovering the lost ring!
The family was so grateful that they emailed again wanting to let the club know how much they appreciated the
club coming their rescue.
Great PR for the club. Thank you Tom for pulling this off. I am sure that this was one happy husband . and
family!
Tom Warne (center) with the happy family
Page 7
Meteorite Hunting Tips
now Your Rocks
When meteorite hunting it is good practice to

obtain knowledge of the different rocks on
earth and in your area. This will help narrow your
search and save time when looking for meteorites.
Odd Looking Items
Meteorites And Magnets

Not all, but a lot of meteorites are composed of iron
which is magnetic. A strong magnet attached to a
shaft can be used to help scan the surface.
Website For Identifying Meteorites
www.identifying-meteorites.com
Talk And Learn With Other Meteorite Enthusiasts
When meteorite hunting keep your eyes open for

things that are out of the ordinary for that area
Look For Craters
One of the most obvious things to look for is craters
in the earths crust. Impressions left by a meteor can
be hard to notice depending on their age. They can
range in any size.
Topographical Charts
Navigate through US geological surveys website to acquire topographical charts.
There are quite a few Facebook groups with plenty of

other meteorite enthusiasts. It's a great way to learn,
ask questions and view pictures of meteorites found
from around the world. Just type in a search for meteorite groups.
Thanks to:
http://www.mytreasurejournal.com/tips/results/
meteorite_hunting
Google Earth
On your down time Google
earth can be a fun and very
handy tool to locate possible future hunts.
Never Dismiss An Item
Meteorites can come in
many sizes, shapes, and
physical features. Never dismiss an item till you have
had it properly evaluated.
Stick Magnet
When metal detecting for
meteorites. It can come in
handy to carry a strong
magnet or even a magnet
attached to a shaft. If there
are any meteor fragments
on the surface they should
stick to your magnet.
Before You Buy That Metal Detector Handbook Check:

http://www.mdhtalk.org/articles/before-you-buy-hb/before-you-buy-handbook.pdf
Page 8
Colorado Treasure Tale

Dead Man's Cave
n the winter of 1880 three prospectors E.J.

Oliver, S.J. Harkman and H.A. Melton were prospecting two miles north of what would later become
known as Dead Man Camp. As they were working, the
sky threatened an oncoming blizzard and they quickly
looked about for shelter.
Spying a small opening in a shear rock wall across the
canyon, they made their way through the opening,
lighting several crude torches. Though the passageway
was narrow and less than four feet high, it opened up
into a large 20-foot long room.
Wet Mountain Shining their torches around, Oliver
found the first of five skeletons scattered around the
dusty, dark cavern. While exploring the cavern, they
found several tight passageways extending into the
gloom of the mountain. Choosing one, they followed
the tunnel deeper into the mountain until it too,
opened up into a large vault-like chamber. Shining
their torches around, Melton noticed shelves on the
western wall that had been carved into the stone.
Bringing his torch closer, he saw several odd-looking
stones stacked on one of the shelves and picking one
up, he was surprised at its heavy weight. When he and
his partners scrutinized it more carefully, they were
astounded to discover that the stone was actually a
crude bar of gold!
GOLD COIN DRAWING RESULTS

The drawing for the gold coin raffle took
place at the November Club Meeting.
Ticket holders did not need to be at
the meeting. Also, Coordinator Paul
Mayhak sweetened the pot by donating
a silver coin to this drawing as well ..
Thanks Paul!
Winner of the Gold Coin: Joe Johnston
Winner of the Silver Coin: John Masslich
Congrats to the Winners!
After the threat of snow had passed, the three excited

men gathered up five of the bars and headed over the
pass to Silvercliff, in the Wet Mountain Valley. Immediately, they had the bars assayed, which proved to be
worth $900 apiece. Becoming instant celebrities in Silver Cliff, the men were questioned by all whom they
encountered about the source of the gold bars, but all
three men steadfastly refused to divulge the location,
making plans to return to Dead Man's Cave in the
spring.
In the early spring, they made their way back to Dead
Man Cave. They thought the cave would be easy to find
again but when they returned, there were many places
that looked like the area in which the cave had been
found. Over the years, they frequently returned to the
area but they never again found the cave.
The story of these three prospectors was reported in
both The Fairplay Flume and The Denver Post in 1880.
To this day, the gold has never been found.
Page 9
Calendar of Events
March Meeting
Wednesday, March 4. We will meet at the Pulliam
Building in downtown Loveland at 6:00PM. Refer to
the adjoining map for directions.
Meeting Agenda
6:00 - 7:00 Social Hour & Finds Program
7:00 - 7:30 Business, Announcements & Find of
the Month Program
7:30 - 7:45 Break
7:45 - 9:00 "Setting Up A Gold Sluice Box By
RMPTH members Bud Yoder and Rick Mattingly.
Visit RMPTH On The Internet At

http://rmpth.com
RMPTH DUES
RMPTH is an unincorporated Social Club with
no income generated. All
expenses are covered by
$25 annual dues. Members are requested to
consider minor donations
at each monthly meeting
to cover refreshments.
MAP TO THE MEETING PLACE

Pulliam Community Building
545 Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, Colorado
Directions:
The Pulliam Community Building is situated on the west side of Cleveland Avenue in Loveland,
Colorado. Park at the rear of the building (west side). Entry to the meeting room is from
the doorway on the south side of the building (not the main entrance on Cleveland Avenue!).
Page 10
March 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
12
13
14
20
21
RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P
10
11
Daylight Savings
Begins
15
RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P
16
17
18
19
St. Patricks Day
22
23
24
29
30
31
Spring Begins
25
26
27
28
Palm Sunday
April 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
10
11
RMPTH Finds Program

& Social 6:00P
RMPTH Meeting 7:00P
Easter Sunday
12
RMPTH Board Meeting

6:00P
13
14
15
16
17
18
Local Detector Hunt
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Map, Compass & GPS
Clinic
26
27
28
29
30
Page 11
How To Be A Successful
Relic Hunter
By Andy Sabisch
arry is a successful relic hunter who through careful research has pinpointed the location of a longforgotten Civil War cavalry camp a short drive
from his home. Obtaining permission to search the site
from the current property owner, he used his handheld
GPS unit to navigate through the woods to reach the site
of the camp. As he scouted out the area the results
proved that his research had been "spot on" as several
nice period relics were soon recovered. As the sun began
to set over the nearby ridge hours later, Barry started to
hike back to the truck with a pouch filled with relics.
Each of his finds that included bullets, buttons, coins
and bridle pieces had a story to tell and their recovery
allowed history to be preserved. A week later Barry
brought his finds to the monthly meeting of the metal
detecting club he belonged to and the reaction from fellow club members was almost predictable.
Many of the members searched for Civil War relics in the
local area; however, with the exception of an isolated
bullet or two, it seemed that Barry was the only one that
was able to find decent artifacts with any regularity. If
this sounds familiar, then this guide is for you.
So what exactly is relic hunting? It is actually the most
diverse form of treasure hunting in terms of the types of
RMPTH Field Outing Statement

NOTE: The Coordinators and participants stay in touch
and continue to review and plan upcoming presentations
and outings for the year on a monthly basis. Our editor
Rick Mattingly needs timely event information for each
issue of The News. Please get information about any particular event to him by the 15th of the month to meet the
printing deadline for the next issue.
Planned trips, outings, activities, and meeting programs
are in the newsletter and on line at the clubs website.
Planning is a work in progress and additional outings and
activities are added and sometimes deleted on an ongoing basis. Events planned in the upcoming month are
emphasized to the attendees at the monthly meetings.
Contact the Presentations Coordinators or Editor if you
have any suggestions or ideas throughout the year for
fieldtrips, outings, and programs.
The best made plans may change at the last minute due
to the illness of the Trail Boss, weather, land access, vehicles breaking down, wrong meeting sites, etc. Please
be understanding of extenuating circumstances and contact the coordinator or Trail Boss of a specific event if
there is any question of an event being cancelled or
changed at the last minute.
targets that hobbyists seek and unearth. You don't have

to live in an area containing Old West ghost towns or
historic military battlefields to be a relic hunter as relics
can include virtually anything ranging from everyday
household items to mining equipment, military gear,
wagon parts, trade beads, horse shoes, early American
settler artifacts...simply add any item you can imagine to
the list and there will probably be someone out there
looking for and finding it with one of today fs metal detectors. Anywhere - and that means anywhere - people
have been, lost relics are just waiting for detectorists to
find, recover and preserve their story.
Relic hunting was the first "recreational" uses of metal
detectors. Many of the 'ole timers used surplus World
War II mine detectors beginning in the late 1940's to locate artifacts from Civil War sites, pioneer trails, mining
camps and the like. Despite the limitations of this early
equipment, countless relics were in fact recovered and
found their way into museums and other collections for
others to enjoy. When the first detectors with ground
balance circuitry were released in the 1970 fs, many
sites that were previously un-huntable due to high mineralization were searched effectively. Some relic hunters
reported that the problem back then was not finding a
site to hunt but rather being able to carry all of their
finds back out at the end of the day.
I'm sure we all wish we had problems like that today!
Many of the well-known sites have been hunted for more
than 40 years and, while no site is ever completely
hunted out, finds have become few and far between. Before you get discouraged and give up relic hunting without even getting started, take heart, as there are hundreds of sites remaining that have never been searched
with a metal detector. Selecting the right equipment,
conducting the proper research to lead you to these locations and then using the right search techniques will allow you to find what others have missed. Let fs take a
look at what you need to be successful in the field regardless of the type of relics you might be seeking.
EQUIPMENT:
None of the manufacturers today make a bad detector
but certain brands and more specifically, certain models
stand out from the crowd when it comes to specific applications. The key factor for most relic hunters will be
the overall detection depth afforded by a particular
model and the one that goes the deepest will often be the
one that finds the most at the end of the day, especially
at sites that have been hunted for decades. Since relic
hunting tends to be an all-day activity, finding a detector
that you can hunt with for extended periods of time without discomfort should also be a prime factor to consider.
I know several veteran relic hunters who purchased detectors that were ideally suited for the conditions in their
areas; however, they had to switch to a different model
due to being unable to hunt with it for any length of time.
Weight and ergonomics should be high on your list of
factors to consider if you intend on spending a good part
of the day in the field. Another factor to consider is the
overall design of the detector. If you have to hipmount
the control housing to be able to use it for extended
periods of time or it requires that the battery pack be
attached to your belt, is this really going to work when
you fre slogging through thick underbrush a mile or two
Page 12
from where you had to park your vehicle? Several detectors now offer wireless capabilities which make it easier
to hunt overgrown areas.
Interchangeable coils are a must when selecting a detector for relic hunting and you should see what the largest
coil is that can be used on the detector you are considering. Larger coils allow you to cover more ground with
each sweep and are invaluable when trying to find a possible site among acres of fields or woods plus they detect
targets deeper than stock coils. On the other hand, once
you find a site, a smaller coil may enable you to find relics in between trash or amongst rocks or fallen trees that
a larger coil might otherwise miss. See if there are aftermarket coils available as the additional choices will
greatly expand the versatility of any model you might be
looking at. Kellyco carries optional coils from both the
metal detector manufacturers as well as third party suppliers for many of the brands and models they stock.
FINDING SITES TO SEARCH:
Once you have the right equipment, you need to have
sites to search that hold the relics you are hoping to find.
A good way to start is to pick up some of the books covering the period you are interested in which can provide
leads to sites that may be near your home. Remember
that if they are described in widely-distributed, popular
books, the sites will probably have been searched by others before you but with the right equipment and techniques, you can find what others have missed. Kellyco
carries several books and maps that will help you locate
sites in your area to get started with. Local research is
what will put you onto sites that few if any detectorists
have searched before which are what we are all hoping to
find. Libraries, historical societies and regional museums are all sources of research material that can help
you zero in on potentially productive sites. You will find
that with a few targeted questions, the librarian or historian is often more than willing to talk about the area and
you may find several sites being offered with little effort
on your part other than listening to the conversation.
Don ft forget about long-time residents as they can tell
you where buildings once stood, what changed when
highways were built and even stories they heard from
their parents or grandparents as they were growing up.
In several instances I was told about a Civil War campsite, old mine or hermit fs shack from an older resident
that turned out to be very productive yet was not documented in any book.
A few proven tips to put into practice when you are looking for sites include the following: People and livestock
required water so camps, settlements and even isolated
homes would typically be situated near a source of water. When you are looking over a map, pay particular
attention to areas near streams, lakes or rivers that
would have provided a source of water. If settlers or
troops had a choice, they would try to set up home or
camp as close to water as possible.
Military commanders tried to setup vantage points on
high ground. If you are searching for a camp or battle
site, see if there is high ground in the area. Even if most
of the activity occurred in the lower areas, troops would
have been stationed on the higher ground as lookouts or
to direct the course of the battle and often these sites
have not been hunted to any degree.

Relic hunters often focus on specific sites like battlefields, settlements or ghost towns. Keep in mind that the
people or troops had to move from point 'A' to point 'B',
and unless there were railroads available, they walked. If
you can pinpoint two locations on a map, try to determine the most likely path that they would have taken
between them. Does the route pass along a stream or
river? If so, they may have stopped for a rest and to collect water. A number of outstanding finds have been
made by relic hunters searching sites that by all accounts should not have had anything since there were no
camps or battles in the area; however, those passing
through lost artifacts that were waiting to be found.
With the increased competition among relic hunters today, research is the key if you want to be successful.
With a little effort you will be able to locate sites that
have not been heavily hunted and you may in fact be the
first relic hunter to visit the site.
OK, IT'S SEARCH TIME:
Your research should have helped you identify several
potential sites to search. There are a number of tips and
techniques that can help you find more in less time,
which should be your overall goal. It's surprising how
often relic hunters who have taken the time to conduct
research and locate sites do not have a formal plan or
method to actually search the site once they
arrive. As they say "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut
once in a while" but hoping for the best will rarely ensure
you will be successful on a regular basis. The following
tips have been honed over time and will help you find
more in less time when you are out relic hunting.
Use the least amount of discrimination possible. As the
discrimination level is increased, the potential for a rejected target; i.e. one below the setpoint of the selected
discrimination, to override the signal from a good target
also increases. If the signal from the rejected target is
stronger either because it is shallower or larger than the
good target, you may not receive a signal from the target
you are hoping to find. This is why many heavily hunted
sites are still producing valuable relics for hunters who
are willing to dig a little more trash in order to be sure
they do not inadvertently miss a "keeper".
The actual discrimination level you use in the field
should be selected based on the amount of trash present
and how much "patience" you have at the time which can
and will change from day-to-day or site-to-site.
Try using different search coils to hunt the sites you
know have produced in the past. As discussed earlier,
each coil has its advantage. At times, simply changing
coils can uncover artifacts that were undetectable with
the coil that came with your detector. Successful relic
hunters often bring two or three different coils with them
so that they have the flexibility the different sizes provide.
If you gain access to a field that is still being farmed on a
regular basis, plan to revisit the site after it has been
tilled. Artifacts that may have been beyond the detection
Page 13
depth of your detector or situated at an angle that prevented it from being detected may now be easily located.
Productive fields can be hunted year after year with a
continual harvest of relics being recovered. If you hear
about a field that produced relics years ago and is now
thought of as being "hunted out", get permission and
head over there at the first opportunity to see what is
still waiting to be discovered.
Keep an audible threshold on your detector. If your detector has a search mode with an audible threshold, try
using it when relic hunting. Unless you are hunting in all
-metal, when you pass over objects that fall within the
area(s) you have opted to reject, you will hear the threshold disappear or null out. Often if you are looking for a
camp site, home place or skirmish area, the first indication that you are in the right location will be ferrous
items such as nails, tacks or small pieces of rusted iron.
When you come across signals that null out, slow down,
tighten up your search pattern and see
what turns up.
Most pre-1900 sites contain a great deal
of ferrous targets such as nails, boot
tacks, horseshoes, tool parts, iron pins,
etc. Even if you are not interested in digging up all of these targets, the fact that
they are present can help you find the
right location to tighten up your search
pattern and start recovering the relics
you are hoping to find. Let's assume that
your research has identified the existence of a small campsite or long-lost
settler's cabin. You have determined the
approximate area where it was located;
however, it would take a considerable amount of time to
thoroughly cover the entire 10 to 20 acre area.
In this case the best way to try to pinpoint the campsite
is to set your discrimination as close to '0' as possible
and simply walk back and forth across the area. Once
you start to find a concentration of targets, slow down
and start working a more formal pattern to ensure you
don't miss anything.
Remember the previous tip of using minimal discrimination as you search to ensure a rejected target won ft
keep you from detecting a good target located nearby.
Fire pits are another area worth trying to find when
searching campsites or even settler's cabins. Camp fire
pits were not only used for cooking. Trash was often
tossed into the fire at the end of the day. Much of what is
recovered from fire pits shows signs of being in the fire;
however, a number of first-rate finds have come out of
them. This is another reason why you want to search
camps with very little discrimination. A fire pit will usually contain ferrous trash and non-ferrous trash so even
the slightest amount of discrimination will cause you to
miss a potentially productive area.
Once you've located a camp or cabin site and searched it,
don't be too quick to head on to the next one. If it was
occupied for more any length of time, they would have
found an area a short distance away to get rid of the
trash. It is human nature is to carry the trash to a spot
Page 14
downhill. After all, if you had the choice of carrying trash

uphill or downhill what direction would you choose? You
can either walk the area yourself or spend a few minutes
looking over a topographical map and using one of the
aerial map websites on the Internet to identify potential
dumpsites. A few fellow relic hunters I know actually use
their Smartphone to look at maps real-time in the field
to figure out where to search next - leverage today's technology! Remember that yesterday fs trash is today fs
treasure. Items such as belt buckles with broken pins,
threadbare clothes and other items that could not be
salvaged were typically discarded with the daily trash any of which would make a welcome addition to your
collection.
RECOVERY TOOLS:
Unless you are searching for shallow relics in a grassy
area, you will need a tool that can reach down to where
the relics will be found and do so without bending after a
few holes have been dug.
Many times the soil will be rock-hard
which will truly put any digging tool to
the acid test. Saving a few dollars in buying a lesser-quality tool will quickly turn
into an expensive mistake when you find
yourself a long way from your vehicle
with the digger you just bought bent or
broken in half...and I've seen it happen
more times than I care to remember to
fellow relic hunters. You know it will
usually take place when you are in a
great site and have been given permission to hunt it one time
only. Most relic hunters use a shovel or
spade designed to provide years of service in all types of soil conditions.
Typically constructed entirely of metal, the only real
maintenance that might be required is to occasionally
sharpen the edge so you can cut through roots or vines
often found in wooded sites. Other options you might
want to investigate include folding military shovels (just
make sure you get a true surplus shovel and not an imported look-alike that rarely holds up), a hand-help pick
(again, get one that is solidly built) or an all-metal gardening tool that works in your ground conditions. A
handheld digger is also a necessity as a shovel will not
be able to extricate finds from under large rocks or
thick roots. An electronic pinpointer is another handy
item as it can keep you from damaging a relic that may
be wedged into a tight area or in a hole with multiple
targets. These pinpointers also reduce the time it takes
to find a small item in loose dirt and at the end of the
day, the quicker you find each target the more you will
have in terms of finds.
SUMMARY:
Take a minute and look around your own area, delve
into the local history and see just how many different
types of relics are waiting to be found within a short distance of your house.
Thanks to Kellyco and Andy Sabich
A Simple Pineapple
Gold Glossary
he pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare

that bromeliads produce edible fruit.
The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.
It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual floweret's that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No special way of storing them will help ripen them further.
Color is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness. Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit.
The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste.
After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet
potato will.
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits
to our health. Pineapple is a remarkable fruit.
We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may
also be one of the most healthful foods available today. If we take a more
Flour Gold/Gold Dust - Gold

that is so fine that it looks and
feels like flour or dust. "The
bread and butter of prospecting." Nuggets are just a bonus.
Gold Facts
Symbol: AU
Atomic Number: 79
Atomic Weight: 196.967
Melting Point: 1063 (1945 F)
Specific Gravity: 19.2
MOHs Scale of Hardness:
2.5 - 3
Karat
24K = 100% Pure Gold
18K = 75% Pure Gold
14K = 58% Pure Gold
10K = 42% Pure Gold
Troy Weights
1 grain = 0.0648 grams
24 grains = 1 penny
weight (DWT) = 1.552 grams
20 DWT = 1 ounce =
480 grains = 31.10 grams
YOUR
ADVERTISEMENT
COULD BE HERE!
Call Rick Mattingly
at 970-613-8968
or rickmatt@q.com
Page 15
Trading Post
WANTED: By NRA Card Holding Law Abiding Private
Citizen. Colt S&W Ruger Taurus .357 Wheel Gun/
Revolver for Home/Personal Defense. If you have a
Collectors Item, Please keep it. Im looking for a gun
to shoot/Not display. LMK what ya got. Thanks.
970.222.2323
FOR SALE: Jewelers propane/oxygen torch, many cabochons, beads and tools. Contact Ann at
(970) 6667-3705.
FOR SALE: A "MUST HAVE" T-Shirt for every Prospector
and Treasure Hunter. Quality 100% cotton tees. See and
order from:
http://BestBlackandGold.com.
FOR SALE: Minelab SD2200 Gold Nugget Metal Detector:
10-1/2" Mono Super Coil, 10-1/2" SD Series Super Coil, two
batteries w/wall & car charger, headphones, backpack,
waist battery pack, signal enhancer, extra lower stem, instruction booklet & video, carry case. Ready to go for the
gold. New Price: $1625. Contact Paul at (970) 482-7846.
FOR SALE: 5HP pump motor, Gold King 3" Hi-banker with
dredge attachment w/adjustable stand, Gold Grabber Hibanker, 125 feet hose, Rock net and steel cable, misc. fittings and valves & large metal bucket. Prefer to sell all together for $1,350 but negotiable. Call Eric Stickland at
(303) 833-6848 or
estick@live.com.
About Trading Post

The News runs classified ads in Trading Post
for three consecutive issues. Trading Post ads
for topic related items up to 10 lines (or 70
words) long are free. To place an ad in Trading
Post contact Rick Mattingly at (970) 613-8968
evenings
or e-mail at: rickmatt@q.com
Commercial Advertising
Specifications
(Monthly Donation Rate)
Full Page (8 1/2" X 7")
Half Page (3 1/4" X 7")
One Third Page (3" X 4")
Business Card (2 3/4" X 1 1/2")
$30
$20
$15
$ 5
Ads must be received by the 15th of the

preceding month. Contact Rick Mattingly for information on this service at
(970) 613-6968 evenings or e-mail at:
rickmatt@q.com.
WANTED: Used lapidary equipment. Call Kathie 970-2211623

WANTED: Federal or state duck stamps; mint or used. Contact John Hart at (307) 778-3993.
NOTE:
Purchase arrangements are between the buyer and
seller only and involves no financial benefit to RMPTH.
All mistakes and

misspellings were
intentionally made so
that you could have the
pleasure of finding them.
Colorado School of Mines

Geology Museum
Golden, Colorado
Contact us: 303-273-3815 or
geomuseum@mines.edu
Identification of specimens is performed
between 10 a.m. and noon, Tuesdays and
Thursdays.
Page 16
WEEKEND & SMALL-SCALE

MINERS CODE OF ETHICS
I WILL respect other prospectors claims and not work
those claims without the owners permission
I WILL have on-site all necessary permits and licenses
I WILL build fires in designated or safe places only, and
in accordance with current State and Federal guidelines
I WILL be careful with fuels and motor oils and be cognizant of their potential destructive effect on the environment
I WILL remove and properly dispose of all trash and
debris that I find - I will not litter
I WILL be thoughtful, considerate and courteous to
those around me at all time
I WILL appreciate and protect our heritage of natural
resources, wildlife, fisheries and private property, and
respect all laws or ordinances governing prospecting
and mining
I WILL NOT remove stream bank material, destroy
natural vegetation or woody debris dams, nor discharge
excess silt into the waterways
I WILL NOT refuel motorized equipment in the stream
I WILL NOT allow oil from motorized
equipment to drip onto the ground or into the water
I WILL NOT prospect in areas closed to prospecting
and mining
detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for

easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis.
The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.
Let's look at how pineapple affects other conditions.
Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to
development of strong bones and connective tissue. A cup of
fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount.
It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend
to become brittle with age.
Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple's
value. Proteolytic means "breaks down protein", which is
why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the
body digest proteins
more efficiently.
Bromelain is also
considered an effective antiinflammatory.
Regular ingestion of
at least one half cup
of fresh pineapple
daily is purported to
relieve painful joints
common to osteoarthritis. It also produces mild pain relief.
In Germany , bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thought to reduce inflammation and
swelling.
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a
cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not
only high in this vitamin, but because of the Bromelain, it
has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat. If you have a
cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet. It
is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations.
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report
fewer sinus problems related to allergies. In and of itself,
pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple
juice. It really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing
in the morning often make a difference.
It's also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.
Offer Your Assistance To Any

Of Our Program Coordinators
Page 17
Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club

2015 Schedule of Events
Month
Meeting Program
Trip/Activity
January
Cheyenne War: Indian Raids on the

Roads to Denver, 1864-1869
By Jeff Broome
No Trip/Activity Scheduled
February
Cache Hunting
By Rick Mattingly
March
Setting Up A Gold Sluice Box

By RMPTH Members
April
Metal Detecting
By Tom Warne & Rick Mattingly
Local Detector Hunt

Map, Compass & GPS Clinic
May
Gold Nugget Shooting With Detector

By Rick Mattingly
Prospecting & Detecting Clinic at Lions Park

Denver GPAA Show
Lets Go Gold Panning On The Arkansas Event GPOC
June
Gold Dredging
By RMPTH Members
Clear Creek Gold Outing

State Annual Gold Panning Championships
July
Map Reading for Prospectors

by Wayne Sutherland WSGS
Clear Creek Gold Outing

Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing - Robert Crain
August
Surface Finds
by Tom Warne
Vics Gold PanningBlackhawk
September
Map & Internet Research

By Bud Yoder & Rick Mattingly
Local Detector Hunt
October
Gold, Silver & Gem Recovery

by David Emslie
Local Detector Hunt
November
Annual Show & Tell &

Silent Auction
December
Annual Find of the Year Awards &

Christmas Party
Flatirons Mineral Club & Model Train Show
Good Hunting in 2015!

Page 18
Rocky Mountain
Prospectors & Treasure Hunters
Contact List
RMPTH Coordinators
Home
E-Mail
President
Bud Yoder
Interim Vice President
Shane Manenti
1-970-590-9183
manentiwe2@msn.com
Treasurer
Dick & Sharon French
1-970-482-2110
dickyf99@centurylink.net
Secretary
Rick Mattingly
1-970-613-8968
rickmatt@q.com
Rick Mattingly
1-970-613-8968
rickmatt@q.com
Rick Mattingly
1-970-613-8968
rickmatt@q.com
Finds Program
Dave Landes
Betsy Emond
Joe Johnston
1-720-985-4186
1-970-218-0290
1-303-696-6950
midnightoil45@aol.com
bemond@fcgov.com
cjoej1@peoplepc.com
Presentations
Rick Mattingly
1-970-613-8968
rickmatt@q.com
Club Historian
Volunteer Needed
Club Meeting Greeter
Barbara Schuldt
1-970-407-1336
Club Librarian
Joe Johnston
1-303-696-6950
Club Photo Librarian
Volunteer Needed
Meeting Setup
Jim Friedricks
1-970-590-9183
Door Prize
Shane Manenti
1-970-590-9183
manentiwe2@msn.com
Zinc Penny Project
Tom Marschall
1-970-396-0133
tmarschall47@gmail.com
50/50 Drawing
Woody Hogdon
1-970-667-5010
ftcolwoody@juno.com
Coin Raffle
Woody Hogdon
1-970-667-5010
ftcolwoody@juno.com
bydu812@yahoo.com
The News Staff

Editor-in-Chief
Internet Web Site
Web Master
Volunteers/Coordinators
cjoej1@peoplepc.com
General Information Contact: Rick Mattingly at 1-970-613-8968
Visit RMPTH on the Internet at: http://rmpth.com
Lets Go For The Gold !

Page 19
The News
Rocky Mountain Prospectors &
Treasure Hunters Club
278 Sierra Vista Drive
Fort Collins, CO. 80524
MARCH, 2015 ISSUE

The News: Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

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The News: Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

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Rocky Mountain Prospectors &

Treasure Hunters Newsletter

Going for the Gold

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At http://rmpth.com

Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

Israeli Gold Coin Hoard

group of divers in Israel has stumbled upon

"Banking establishments are more dangerous

The coins are in excellent state of preservation, and

About The News

Classified advertising for topic related items is free

Opinions expressed in The News are those of the

he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky

RMPTH is an independent nonprofit hobbyist social

CLUB MEMBERS TAKE NOTE

The News, March 2015

(Continued from page 1)

have faced a sentence of up to five years in prison.

sive treasure highlights the uniqueness of Caesarea as

These coins were minted in Egypt and North Africa.

Ancient gold coins on the harbor floor

$6 Goodwill Watch Turns Out To Be A Major Treasure

The News, March 2015

Find of the Month

Most Valuable Coin:

Most Raw Gold:

Today's Short Reading from the Bible...

I WILL respect private property and do no treasure

Still Frozen .. But We Have Gold!

I WILL leave gates as found.

The News, March 2015

Mineral Specimen Identification

The biggest payroll mines were near Victor and in

he city of Victor, according to the paper, was

As part of their community outreach, Metropolitan State

Gold Rush Days in 2008, sponsored by the City of

The News, March 2015

Man Dies In Sewer

was unauthorized to speak to the media.

Durban, South Africa

television documentary probably piqued a

We will be calling on club members to volunteer for

(Continued from page 5)

The News, March 2015

A Very Good Deed Done

Tom Warne (center) with the happy family

The News, March 2015

Meteorite Hunting Tips

now Your Rocks

When meteorite hunting it is good practice to

Odd Looking Items

Meteorites And Magnets

When meteorite hunting keep your eyes open for

There are quite a few Facebook groups with plenty of

Before You Buy That Metal Detector Handbook Check:

The News, March 2015

Colorado Treasure Tale

n the winter of 1880 three prospectors E.J.

GOLD COIN DRAWING RESULTS

After the threat of snow had passed, the three excited

The News, March 2015

Visit RMPTH On The Internet At

MAP TO THE MEETING PLACE