Rocky Mountain Prospectors & Treasure Hunters Newsletter

The News
v. 15, n. 6 June, 2011 Going for the Gold Visit RMPTH On The Internet At http://rmpth.com

Contents
1 2 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 12 14 14 15 16 17 Holed Coins About The News Book Review A Brief History Of Barbed Wire Gold Detectors Nugget Shooting Clinic Horace Austin Warner Tabor Cleaning Coins Calendar of Events Calendars Where To Locate Stream Gold

Holed Coins
by Rick Mattingly

ou just dug a beautiful seated quarter, only to discover that it has a hole drilled through it -Arghhh! What was it with those people of yore? Why are so many detected coins holed? There are several answers to this quandary. Many holed coins are simply the result of idle hands, especially idle child hands. Some are the result of target practice. But, this doesn't really explain the large number of carefully holed coins.

Historic Nail Dating Trading Post Wyoming Treasures Waiting To Be Found 18 2011 Schedule of Events 19 Contact List

Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing Lucite Hills, Wyoming Gem Outing

One Hole at Edge Coins which have been holed once near the rim are most often the result of an attempt to not lose the coin. In such case, the holed coins were strung onto a thong which was often worn necklace style. Why would anyone go to this trouble? Because, trouser pockets are actually a fairly recent invention historically. Before the 1920's trousers very often did not have pockets at all and, if they did, they were simple slash, stationary pockets which made it easy to dump the contents (much to the delight of the modern day detectorist!). For this same reason it was also very common for men to carry a change purse. These change purses were usually leather or metal chain mail construction. In the days when a penny would actually buy something much more care was taken to keep coins in a safe place. Over the years I have personally detected many single holed coins. Some would have been quite valuable were it not for the hole damage. Recently, at an old gold mine site in Wyoming I detected two beautiful silver U.S. Trade Dollars in the same hole, an 1877 and an 1878-S. Strung through the holes of both coins was the remains of a rotted leather thong. Some
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"In history, nothing happens by accident. If it happened, you can bet someone planned it." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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. About RMPTH 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. Persons wishing to receive the newsletter in hardcopy, mailed format are required to provide the amount of $24 per year required to print and mail. Otherwise, no annual dues are charged as the social club functions strictly by donation.

he News is the official newsletter of the Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club (RMPTH): our mailing address is P.O. Box 271863, Fort Collins, CO. 80527-1863. 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. 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. 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.

Book Review
by Paul Lange Ranch Histories of Livermore and Vicinity 1884-1956 by the Livermore Womans Club, a reprinting of the Larimer County Stockgrowers Association, 132 pages, c. 1993. Lithographed by DON-ART Printers, Ft. Collins, CO.

ith gas prices being near an all time high, you may want to stay close to home for a while. This little loose bound brand book as it is often called may give you some ideas for local outings. It claims to be the only source of historical materials for many ranches and their families in Larimer County. This is a reprint of the original in its entirety exactly as the original. The first printing was in 1956. The errata and additions combined with an index that includes spelling corrections of names and places should help to clarify historical data and aid in tracing family lines. 82 places are marked on the map provided. A number of brands, old ads and pictures are included. The contents cover the following areas: The Livermore Valley, The Cherokee Trail, Cherokee Park, Virginia Dale, Laramie River Cattle Ranches, Elkhorn Upper Poudre Westlake (Red Feather Lakes), and Thompson Canyon Buckhorn. May your research take you to new interesting and rewarding places.
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A Brief History Of Barbed Wire

The Development of Barbed Wire

During this time, Isaac Ellwood, a hardware merchant, had been unsuccessful in perfecting his own version of barbed wire. When Joseph Glidden was awarded a patent on November 24, 1874 for his creation known as "The Winner," he and Ellwood formed a partnership to establish The Barb Fence Company. Jacob Haish also had patented his own wire by this time but had not made a serious attempt to promote and sell it. Haish, wanting the credit for barbed wire himself, didn't like the idea of Glidden and Ellwood forming a partnership and strived to bring them down. When Haish learned that Glidden had applied for a patent in late 1873, but was denied, Haish filed a patent for his creation, the "S-Barb" in July of 1874. A few days later he filed interference papers against Glidden and an intense legal dispute ensued. Even though Haish was awarded a patent first, Glidden won the dispute because he had filed his patent before Haish. Unwilling to admit defeat, Haish claimed the title of "the inventor of barbed wire." Nevertheless, it was Joseph Glidden who became known as the "Father of Barbed Wire." Kansas Fence Laws With miles of fences being constructed daily, there arose a need to define a lawful fence. In Kansas, lawmakers debated the issue and wrote legally binding definitions of proper fencing. When cropland adjoined land used for grazing, the statute of Kansas placed the burden on the landowner to fence out cattle lawfully at large. This determination was based on free range grazing laws which permitted cattle to graze unrestrained. Although the farmer was responsible for constructing the fence, he was afforded many advantages provided the fence met established criteria. If an animal breached a fence, and trespassed upon cultivated or other fenced land, the animal's owner was deemed responsible for the damage. The law further granted possession of the animal to the landowner until such time as he was properly compensated. Railroads and Barbed Wire Railroads were required to construct a legally defined fence along the right-of-way wherever tracks crossed lawfully fenced private land. Railroads did not receive the same benefits granted to landowners, however. They were exempted from rights of recourse (as given to landowners) when livestock trespassed upon their right-ofway.
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rior to 1863, several individuals created forms of fencing that could be considered as barbed wire. None of these creations ever reached the mass market. In 1863 by Michael Kelly developed a type of fence with points affixed to twisted strands of wire. Had his invention been properly promoted, he could have gained distinction as the Father of Barbed Wire. It wasn't until ten years later that another inventor filed a patent that would spark the development of the barbed wire industry. At the county fair in DeKalb, Illinois in 1873, Henry M. Rose had on exhibit a new idea in fencing. It was a wooden rail with a series of sharp spikes protruding from the sides of the rail. The fence rail, patented earlier that year on May 13, was designed to be attached to an existing fence to "prick" an animal when it came into contact with the rail and keep livestock from breaking through. This fence attracted the attention of each of the three men, Joseph Glidden, Jacob Haish, and Isaac Ellwood. Each man had the idea to improve upon Rose's fence by attaching the spikes (barbs) directly to a piece of wire. Each went their separate ways to work on an invention that would soon bring them together. Legend states that Glidden's wife Lucinda encouraged him with his idea to enclose her garden. Glidden experimented by bending a short wire around a long strand of straight wire, by modifying a coffee mill. Two pins on one side of the mill, one centered and the other just enough off center to allow a wire to fit in between. When the crank was turned, the pins twisted the wire to form a loop. The wire was then clipped off approximately one inch on each end at an angle to form a sharp point. Barbs were placed on one of two parallel strands of wire. The two strands of wire were attached to a hook on the side of an old grinding wheel. As the barbs were positioned, the wheel was turned twisting the two strands of wire and locking the barbs in place.

The News, June 2011

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Gold Detectors

hat is the deference between low and high frequency in Gold detectors?

Gold nugget detectors usually operate in between 18 Khz to 71 Khz range. Many people think that the higher frequency is better to have. But it all depends on the soil conditions. Fist of all, we can change a frequency of a gold detector from (for example) 18 Khz to 90 Khz by changing a Crystal or a Capacitor or an inductor. This can cost less than $1 worth of components. I personally like 20 Khz range detectors for Gold nuggets. Because, If we go higher than that machine would be so sensitive that will die in black sand. Dealers, usually like to sell 40- 50 Khz detectors because they show a very good air test. On my opinion, Air tests are the worst way of showing the performance of a detector especially if the detector is a gold detector, because a good gold detector is for black sand conditions (not air) to operate. If detector is in 50 or higher frequency range, Signal will bounce easily by black sand, because sensitivity is high and machine thinks of black sand as small nuggets.

because of minerals in the soil (signal will be reflected) therefore we will miss big nuggets but in exchange we will get small nuggets just on the surface. If you are moneywise, then, you like the big nuggets, not the tiny ones. With high freq. you will loose depth in mineralized soil, and you will sweep over many nuggets without detecting them. Think of high and low freq. as 'light' and 'radio'. light is high freq. Radio waves are low freq. ( with respect to light). Light cannot pass though most objects and reach the target, but you can still listen to radio in a submarine. That is the difference.

California Nugget

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.
Whites GMT

I WILL leave gates as found. Here is the catch, It is easy to build a detector in any frequency we wish, but it is very hard to control the effect of minerals in higher range, unless our design has some filters or circuits that can eliminate black sand and mineral response. So far there is only one high frequency (71 Khz detector) which has met the standards and that machine is the 'gold bug II'. Gold Bug 2 can eliminate the effect of black sand to a degree, that is the best you can get among high frequency detectors. If you cannot afford it, then the 20Khz gold detectors are perfect. Lower freq. can detect bigger objects deeper. High freq. cannot go deep
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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.

The News, June 2011

Nugget Shooting Clinic

We will hold a Nugget Shooting Clinic at Lions Park in Laporte on Saturday, June 4th from 9:00 am till Noon. Nugget Shooting detector models and tools will be displayed and described. Successfully gold detecting techniques will be demonstrated. Real gold will be on hand to demonstrate signals to expect in the field. Bring your own detector to try on gold targets. See you at Lions Park on June 4th!

Gold Glossary
Bucket Line Dredge - Unlike the modern, small scale dredges; a bucket line dredge was very large. Instead of sucking up water and gravel through the use of water pressure, the bucket line dredges would scoop it up and run it through a long sluice box. Only 10 cents of gold was needed for each square yard of material to make a profit back when these dredges were common in the 1890s and on into the early 1900s.

12 Ounce Nugget

Refreshment Volunteers
June - Rick Mattingly & Mike Noll July - Bryan & Lucy Morgan August - Gary Anderson September - Barbara Schuldt October - Johnny Berndsen November - Dave Montoya

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 Paul Lange or Rick Mattingly to plan a club field outing event.

The News, June 2011

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(Continued from page 3)

Another problem was that neighboring farmers and ranchers started to "borrow" wire from railroad fences for their own use. With the enormous number of barbed wire fences being legitimately sold, it was almost impossible to find the thief and recover the stolen wire. To combat the problem, unique variations of "The Winner" were created exclusively for railroad use. The design consisted of one or more square strands of wire woven among one or more traditional round lines. For many years, railroad companies were principal customers of The Barb Fence Company. Once again barbed wire had struck a victory in the quest to settle the untamed West. Recommended Readings The Wire That Fenced the West, by Henry D. and Frances McCallum, University of Oklahoma Press, 1985 (out of print). The Bobbed Wire Bible IX, by Jack Glover, Cow Puddle Press, 1996. Barbed Wire Identification Encyclopedia - Third Ed.,by Harold Hagemeier, DRM Publishing Co., 2002 Barriers - An Encyclopedia of United States Barbed Fence Patents,by Campbell and Allison, 1986 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------Collecting Barbed Wire How do I start a collection? It is not difficult or expensive to start a basic barbed wire collection. It is possible to spend as much or as little money as you wish, depending upon how serious of a collector that you wish to become. The beginner can expect to pay from a few cents to a few dollars for a sample. Many collectors offer starter sets that can be purchased for under $25.00. Until you become a serious wire collector, you may want to shy away from the more expensive wires. One way to build a collection, is to search in the country for wires to either add to your collection or to trade for other wires. Visit with farmers and ranchers in your area to obtain permission to hunt for wire on their land. Often, land owners will be able to direct you to an old dump or abandoned fence row that may hold some very unusual wire. Sometimes, valuable or unusual wires can be found coiled up in the corner of a pasture. Never cut wire from a fence. However, if you ask permission, the land owner may permit to splice out the wire you want if you replace it with new or good quality wire.
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There are certain things to look for when deciding whether to include a wire sample in your collection. Make sure that the wire is at least eighteen inches long. It doesn't hurt to cut a wire a fraction of an inch longer, but a wire that is less than eighteen inches in length can be worthless. Barbs should be evenly spaced from each end, and there should be no missing or broken barbs. If you are purchasing wire from another collector, make sure the sample is identified correctly. In many instances the difference in appearance between two wires is barely discernable, but the difference in value may be considerable. Your collection may include more than just wire samples. There are hundreds of patented tools for working with barbed wire. Or, you may choose to include in your collection fence posts, ornamental post tops, liniments, or barbed wire advertising memorabilia. How do I identify my collection? There were more than 530 patents for barbed wires. Including variations of these patents, bootlegged (unlawfully produced), and homemade wires, there are over 2000 types of barbed wire. There are several books that can help you identify and catalog your collection. One of the best books is the Barbed Wire Identification Encyclopedia,by Harold Hagemeier. This book separates by category nearly every recognized variation of barbed wire. Detailed illustrations help you be sure that you have the right match. Another book that may help you get started is "Barbs, Prongs, Points, Prickers, and Stickers," by Robert T. Clifton. This 418 page book is an excellent tool for the beginner. The "Bobbed Wire Bible IX" by Jack Glover has been the main reference book for many years. Though not as detailed, this book is a great starter handbook. There are several numbering systems to classify and catalog individual wires. One of the most widely used was the Glover number system used in the "Bobbed Wire Bible" series. Glover numbers have been used since the 1960's as the official identification system for buying, trading, and collecting barbed wire. Today, the Glover numbering system is being replaced by a new system from the Barbed Wire Identification Encyclopedia written by Harold Hagemeier. Use of either numbering system is acceptable, however, the Hagemeier numbering system is utilized in the official value guide produced annually by The Symposium. Where can I buy, trade or sell wires? Once a year, on the first weekend in May, collectors from across the country gather in LaCrosse, Kansas to buy, sell, and trade artifacts from our nations past; barbed wire. The Barbed Wire Swap and Sell is one of many conventions held across the United States for barbed wire collectors. The main focus of the convention is the
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Horace Austin Warner Tabor

by Jim Long

orace Tabor played a very diverse role in the gold and silver booms of early Colorado. There exist many autobiographies of the man and his many financial interests, his divorce and subsequent relationship with the famous Baby Doe, but I wont get into all of that in this short piece. We will just take a brief look at the mans roots and how he got where he did. Horace Tabor was originally from Vermont where he grew up and then traveled to Maine where he became a stonecutter for a time. He was a dirt farmer in Kansas for 3 years when he decided to pull up stakes and head to Colorado and the Gold Fields in the spring of 1859. With his young wife Augusta and his sixteen month old son, he arrived at Clear Creek and prospected in Central City and Idaho Springs. His wife sold milk and cream and did laundry, sewed, and cooked for the men to make ends meet while Tabor dug for gold. Winter drove them to Denver but returned to Idaho Springs in the spring, he found his claims had been jumped. So he pulled stakes and headed to Oro City taking 2 long months to get there.

there were still diehards that needed access to supplies and such and he opened a store which Augusta ran while he mined. Sure enough, the gold rush was pretty much over in 3 short years, so Tabor moved to Fairplay and reopened his store, doing fairly well until returning to Oro City in 1868, believing in a new boom as a result of hard rock mining, but alas, his prospects did not work out. By now, his resources amounted to about $35,000.00. In 1878, Tabor, the Leadville storekeeper, grubstaked 2 prospectors for $17 worth of supplies. The prospectors staked the Little Pittsburg Mine and began hardrocking. After a total of $64 investment and 25 feet down, they struck paydirt resulting in ore that contained 50% lead and 300 ounces of silver per ton. Tabor netted 2000 ounces of silver a day. The new era of Silver Mining had arrived and Tabor was on his way to wealth. Tabor then bought a salted nearby mine for $10,000 and hired a crew to dig deeper. After a mere 10 feet, they struck lead silver ore that resulted in another $1.5 million in profit for Tabor over the next year.

A short 2 years later, in 1880, Tabor bought his first solely owned mine, the Matchless. When he brought it into production, the Matchless provided Tabor with $2,000 a day and its best ore assayed to 10,000 ounces of silver per ton. As a result, Tabor became synonymous with silver and Leadville. He became a millionaire several times over and built the current Tabor Hotel and Tabor Opera House which can still be seen today in Leadville. Following a national scandal over the divorce of Horace Austin Warner Tabor He found a spot at the upper end his wife Augusta and marriage to of California Gulch that was open and staked his Baby Doe, Tabor went on to become Colorados Lieuclaim. Since Augusta was the only respectable woman tenant Governor and a US Senator. around and Tabor had slaughtered his oxen upon arrival and sold the meat to the grateful miners, the However, the resulting silver panic of 1893 resulting men built Tabor a fairly comfortable cabin for his in Tabor losing much of his fortune and he eventually family. Tabor hired 6 men to help him with his claim, died in poverty in Denver in 1899. But Leadville lived paying them a dollar a day in gold dust. Their daily on, somewhat worse for the wear, but surviving until efforts of sluicing netted him 4 spoonfuls of gold dust being reborn with the Molybdenum boom, but, that is daily which was about 4 ounces or about $50 a day. another story. Minus expenses and wages, he netted about $42 a day plus whatever Augusta managed to earn. By SeptemThe Gold Nugget newsletter ber, Tabor had washed about $5,000 in gold. Not Gold Prospectors of the Rockies bad, but a lot of hard work for what he got at the March, 2010 price of $12.50 to $20 and ounce. Tabor realized that when the gold boom dimmed,
The News, June 2011

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Cleaning Coins
By Jim McCulloch Building Your Own Electrolysis Machine

removed firmly affix (crimp into place) an alligator clip. Be sure that there is a good electrical contact between the bare wire and the alligator clip. Now, repeat that procedure to the other strand of wire. You will now have two single-wire sections, each with its own alligator clip. Now, make up an ample supply of electrolyte solution, at the ratio of 1/2 teaspoon of common table salt for every 8 ounces of water. Pour some of this electrolyte solution into the cup, nearly filling it. Place both alligator clips into the solution, being careful not to let them touch one another. Remember, once we plug the adaptor into the wall socket, electrical current will be flowing to the alligator clips, and if they touch one another, the adaptor will short out, and be ruined. After you've made sure that the alligator clips are not in contact with each other, plug the adaptor into the wall socket, and watch to see which of the two alligator clips begins to produce bubbles. The one that begins to bubble is the cathode, or negative pole of the AC adaptor. The side that does not bubble is the anode, or positive electrode. Unplug the adaptor, remove the alligator clips from the solution, and in some way mark the polarity of the wires. Bend the stainless steel spoon into a sharp "U" shape so that, when hung over the lip of the cup, the "bowl" of the spoon can reach about half way deep into the cup. Hook the cathode ("bubble side") alligator clip to the portion of the spoon which is outside the cup. Hook the anode to the object to be cleaned, and suspend it into the solution, over the edge of the cup opposite the spoon, and use one of your spare alligator clips (or a clothes pin, etc.) to secure that artifact-holding wire in place. You want to be sure that the object to be cleaned is fully immersed in the solution, and suspended more or less at the same level in the cup as the bowl of the spoon. Once that is done, you are now ready to begin the electrolysis cleaning of your artifact. Making sure that the two electrodes are not touching, plug the adaptor into the wall socket. Within moments, the object to be cleaned should start producing bubbles. If not, unplug the adaptor, and reposition the alligator clip on the artifact, preferably at a point where metal is showing. Then plug the adaptor back into the wall socket. Once the coin or artifact is merrily bubbling away, then everything has been done right. So what is taking place? During electrolysis, ions (atoms which either have an excess or deficiency of electrons, and thus are electrically charged) are liberated from the poles, and these migrate through the electrolyte solution to the oppositely charged pole. The cathode, to which the artifact is attached, is the point of entry of anions (negatively charged atoms with a surplus of electrons) into the electrolyte solution. The liberation of anions, from the chemical compounds
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s all detectorists are aware, long-term burial in corrosive soil, or immersion in salt water, doesn't do the appearance of most metallic objects any favors. Regrettably, tarnish, rust, and corrosion are the natural consequences of chemical interaction with most metals. Many methods have been devised to remove the various forms of oxides, sulfides, carbonates, chlorides and assorted types of verdigris from metallic objects. The method employed most often by professional conservators of recovered metallic objects is electrolysis, a process wherein the object to be cleaned is submerged in a special, electrically-charged chemical solution which causes to corrosion to disintegrate. The purpose of this article is to inform Treasure Quest readers how they can build an inexpensive electrolysis machine which will do a splendid job of cleaning coins or other small metal artifacts. The first thing you will need to obtain, if you don't already have one, is a 9 to 12 volt AC adaptor, often called an AC/DC convertor, or battery eliminator. This is the same electrical device which plugs into an electrical wall outlet and lets you operate portable radios, cassette players, and so forth, without the use of batteries. When choosing the AC adaptor for your mini electrolysis machine, take note of its rated output. This will be printed somewhere on the adaptor, and will usually be listed in milliamps (1/1000th of an ampere) which is designated by the symbol "mA," as in "350 mA." The higher the output, the faster the cleaning effect; I recommend the selection of an adaptor of at least 300 milliamp output. You will also need several small electrical "alligator clips," a stainless steel spoon, a non-metallic cup or small bowl, water, and some common table salt. To convert your AC adaptor into an electrolysis machine, first cut off the little plug device from the end of the wire. (The "plug" referred to here is the one that connects to the radio, cassette, etc., NOT the one that connects to the wall socket) Once you've removed that little plug, you will note that the wire to that little plug is a double-strand wire; beginning at the cut off tip, very carefully separate (pull apart) those two individual strands of insulated wire for a distance of about 6 inches, leaving the insulation intact on each of the wires. Next, strip away about a quarter to a half inch of insulation from the tip of one of those loose wires, and where the insulation has been
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(Continued from page 8)

which constitute the corrosion on our artifact, triggers chemical changes within those compounds, causing them to disintegrate into less complex chemical substances. Proof of these chemical changes are seen not only in the artifact becoming progressively more clean, but also in the discoloration of the electrolyte solution as dirt and various chemicals are released into it. How long does it take for an object to become clean? That depends on how badly it is corroded. After a few minutes, unplug the adaptor, remove the coin or artifact from the solution, and gently rub it with your fingers or a soft toothbrush to remove loosened corrosion, then rinse it thoroughly in clean water. If it is acceptably clean, then there is no further need for electrolysis. If it still needs further cleaning, return it to the solution, and resume electrolysis. This process may have to be repeated several times for badly corroded or heavily concreted objects. During this process, should the electrolyte solution become notably discolored, replace it with fresh solution. Several things should be kept in mind regarding electrolysis. First, it should be remembered that corrosion progressively affects the metal of the object, and in advanced stages of corrosion little or none of the original metal may be left; in other words, all that may be left is a lump of corrosion more or less resembling the original object. This is especially true if the object was made of thin metal to begin with, or if the metal was one that corrodes especially easily, such as tin, aluminum, etc. Sometimes, severely corroded objects will crumble away to nothing when submitted to electrolysis. Thus, you will have to make the decision whether submitting a particular object to electrolysis will likely be worthwhile. Also, don't be in too big a hurry to clean every object you recover. Keep in mind that cleaning off the layer of corrosion will merely reveal "what's left" of the object, and in some cases, that is not very impressive. If the object has reasonably good patina and is aesthetically pleasing, leave it "as is." A word of caution: from time to time, feel the AC adaptor to determine if it is getting too hot. If so, disconnect it, to let it cool off. Such overheating will occur as the artifact becomes progressively cleaner. This, in turn, allows for a greater flow of electrical current to pass through the adaptor, increasing its temperature. Thus, never leave your electrolysis machine on and unattended for any length of time. Careful use of your mini electrolysis machine will help transform many of those ugly blobs of corrosion into beautiful coins and relics. With permission of Treasure Quest Magazine

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

The News, June 2011 Page 9

Calendar of Events
June Meeting Wednesday, June 1. We will meet at the Pulliam Building in downtown Loveland at 7:00PM. Refer to the adjoining map for directions. Meeting Agenda 6:00 - 7:00 Planning & Social Hour 7:00 - 7:30 Business, Announcements & Find of the Month Program 7:30 - 7:45 Break 7:45 - 9:00 "Nugget Shooting For Gold With Detector" by Rick Mattingly

RMPTH DUES
RMPTH is an unincorporated Social Club with no income generated. All expenses are covered by donation. Members are requested to consider donating a minimum of $1.00 at each monthly meeting to cover club expenses.

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!).
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June 2011
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1
RMPTH Planning Session 6:00P RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

2 9
Lucite Hills Wyoming Gem Outing

3 10
Lucite Hills Wyoming Gem Outing

4
Nugget Shooting Clinic at Lions Park

5 12
Lucite Hills Wyoming Gem Outing

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

8 15 22 29

11
Lucite Hills Wyoming Gem Outing

16 23 30

17 24

18
Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing

19
Fathers Day

25

26

July 2011
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 3 10 17 24 31
The News, June 2011

2 9
Manhattan Ghost Town Detector Outing

4
Independence Day

5 12 19 26

6
RMPTH Planning Session 6:00P RMPTH Meeting 7:00P

7 14 21 28

8 15 22 29

11 18 25

13 20 27

16 23
Gold Nugget Shooting Outing

30

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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.

Where To Locate Stream Gold

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The News, June 2011

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sale and trade of barbed wire samples, however, other items may also be showcased including carved limestone yard posts, railroad memorabilia, antiques, and craft items. Exhibitors are also invited to bring their mounted collections for public display. This provides collectors an opportunity to "show off" their collections and submit them for judging in a variety of categories. Ribbons and awards are presented at the end of the show during the annual banquet. The swap and sell provides collectors with an opportunity to expand or enrich their collections. Individuals as well as dealers of barbed wire and related items showcase their inventory and are prepared to buy, sell, and trade. This provides new collectors with almost limitless opportunities to obtain samples for their collections that may be otherwise difficult to obtain. Collectors may also purchase wire bundles or complete collections from the barbed wire public auction held on the last day of the show. A highlight of the Kansas Barbed Wire Swap and Sell is the World Champion Barbed Wire Splicing Contest. Contestants demonstrate their strength and speed in splicing a simulated barbed wire fence with only leather gloves as their tools. Beauty doesn't matter in this contest, because it does not matter how the splice looks, as long as it will support a 75 pound weight suspended from its center. If you are unable to make it to the show in LaCrosse, there are other shows held during the spring, summer, and fall throughout the midwest. Consult the museum or a collectors association for time and dates. How do I become part of a wire collectors organization? There are numerous Barbed Wire Collectors' Associations located in the United States. The Kansas Barbed Wire Collectors Association is the parent corporation to the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum and has its home offices in LaCrosse, Kansas. Other collectors associations, based in several midwestern states, are eager to help new collectors. Many associations provide their members with newsletters to keep members informed of current activities. Members of The Antique Barbed Wire Society receive a subscription to The Barbed Wire Collector the official publication of the hobby. Contact the museum for more information on how to become involved in a barbed wire association. Kansas Barbed Wire Collectors Association, P.O. Box 578, LaCrosse, KS 67548 Phone 785-222-9900. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------The contents of these pages are copyright of the Kansas
The News, June 2011

Barbed Wire Museum, LaCrosse, Kansas and are intended for educational use only. Educators are free to print and distribute this material for use in the classroom. Individuals may print the material for school and research projects. If you use this information, we only ask that you give proper credit where credit is due. Thank you for visiting! Ruch County, Kansas Barbed Wire Museum http://www.rushcounty.org/BarbedWireMuseum/ index.html

Old Time News Dahlonega Mint Gold Coins From the Washington Star Five rare coins were received at the Treasury Department Saturday in payment of a small allotment of the recently issued 4 percent bonds. They are five-dollar gold pieces, dated from 1842 to 1847, and are stamped with a 'D,' the mark of the old Dahlonega Mint in Georgia. This mint was seized by the Confederates at the outbreak of the war in 1861, and gold coin to the amount of $27,000 was confiscated. The five pieces were bright and new and of full standard weight, showing no sign of wear or abrasion. They probably never have been in general circulation. It Is possible they formed part of the gold confiscated by the Confederates in 1861. Although the Dahlonega Mint was in operation from 1838 to 1861, and had a total output of $6,000,000 in gold, very few of its coins are in circulation, and the present installment is the first that has reached the Treasury Department for many year.

The New York Times Published: February 23, 1896

1838-D Gold 5 Dollar Coin

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miner had lost a hard days wages! In this case, the coins would have been quite valuable, as they were in very good condition, but for the holes. Still, an unique and thrilling find for me. I have also detected the remains of several old chain mail coin purses. Usually, these coin purses do not stand up well to time and are simply a hole full of small rusty metal links. When this happens you want to be sure to check the surrounding area very carefully. The coin purse may have been simply discarded or it could have been lost with coins in it. In one such instance I did find several period coins with the purse remains. My best coin purse recovery however, came when I was detecting the site of a homestead dating back to the late 1700's. In the rocks of what had been the cellar I dug a solid target which quickly turned up lots of small rusted metal links. Digging deeper resulted in eighteen beautiful coins dating from the mid 1700's to early 1800's. Besides old U.S. coins, this cache also included a number of silver Spanish Reales, common colonial-era coins. In this case, it is my belief that the change purse was not lost but rather cached and never recovered for some reason. By the way, no holed coins in this cache -- thanks for coin purses! Two Holes at Center Occasionally, a coin is found which sports two small holes near the center. This is most often the result of the need for an expedient button. Two or Four Holes Offset From Center Numerous old coins have been found which have two or four holes drilled through them toward the edges. This was usually the result of creating a favored child's toy called a "whizzer." A string was strung through the holes and tied into a loop. Pulling each end of the loop resulted in the coin spinning first one direction and, as the loop wound tight, the opposite direction. As the coin spun faster and faster it would make a "whizzing" sound -- hence, a whizzer! Finding holed coins may be something of a disappointment but I still love to dig them all the same. Each one represents a special connection to long ago history for me. A Repeat from The News ArchivesEditor

Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing

n Saturday, June 6th Robert Crain will lead this years detector outing to the Eldora Ski Resort. Its time once again to remove all that jewelry, money, watches, sunglasses and assorted apparel from the slopes. In fact, you really do not even need a metal detector to participate. Just bring your eyeballs. Robert will provide directions and details at the June 1st Club Meeting. See Robert to join the fun.

Lucite Hills, Wyoming Gem Outing

aul Lange originally scheduled this outing earlier this month but it got weathered out. Paul has rescheduled the event for June 9 thru 12.

Paul will provide directions and details of this adventure at the June 1st meeting. See Paul to join the fun!

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The News, June 2011

Historic Nail Dating

Gold Glossary
Alluvial Or Bench Deposits - An alluvial deposit is an ancient river-washed rock and gravel bar that may be thousands of feet from the nearest stream, creek, or river. Alluvial (or bench) deposits contain untapped potential for finding gold because such areas have never been worked before.

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

The University of Utah Intermountain Antiquities Computer System (IMACS) Guide

Bear Warning! "A bear warning has again been issued in the National Forests for this summer. All forest users are being urged to protect themselves by carrying pepper spray and wearing little bells. Campers should be alert for signs of fresh bear activity and should be able to tell the difference between Black Bear and Grizzly Bear dung. Black Bear dung is rather small and round. Sometimes you can see fruit seeds and/or squirrel fur in it. Grizzly Bear dung, on the other hand, is larger, smells like pepper spray and has little bells in it."
The News, June 2011

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT COULD BE HERE! Call Rick Mattingly at 970-613-8968 or rickmatt@q.com

Page 15

Trading Post
FOR SALE: Keene High Banker, includes stand, hose and 5 HP Briggs and Stratton pump. Great condition, $900.00 or Best Offer. Contact Cindy Bone at (970) 669-8247. FOR SALE: Prospecting equipment: 4" Dredge and more plus Whites VSAT Gold Detector. Contact Homer at (970) 224-4244 FOR SALE: Two CoilTec coils for MineLab GP or SD Series: 14" Round Mono, $150.00. 5" x 10" Joey Mono, $75.00. Like New. Plus Shipping. Call (307) 886-3937 or Cell (307) 654-1432. WANTED: Federal or state duck stamps; mint or used. Contact John Hart at (307) 778-3993. FOR SALE: Garret Treasure Ace 300 Detector.- $225 OBO. Contact Roger at (970) 622-0821.
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

NOTE: Purchase arrangements are between the buyer and seller only and involves no financial benefit to RMPTH.

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.

All mistakes and misspellings were intentionally made so that you could have the pleasure of finding them.
Ahhh, Colorado Seasons: Fall Winter Spring Construction
Page 16 The News, June 2011

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

Wyoming Treasures Waiting To Be Found

Here are some Wyoming leads. Now do your own research!

andits' loot hidden near old Fort Laramie has never been found.

The Jack Slade gang hid treasure in Slade Canyon near Sunrise, Platte County. $37,000 in stagecoach holdup loot was hidden in 1878 near Newcastle, Weston County, and remains missing. The coins of an Army paymaster were buried at Smoot, Lincoln County, to avoid capture by Indians. "Teton" Jackson buried his loot at Cache Creek near Jackson Hole, possibly the same treasure as given in a report of $150,000 in stolen gold hidden in the area. In the vicinity of Baggs, Carbon County, outlaw treasure is hidden. Gold coins were found at Rock River, Albany County, in 1916, but are believed to be just a small part of a treasure that is still unlocated. Train holdup booty secreted near Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, remains untraced. Stagecoach treasure near Newcastle, Weston County, has been lost for decades.

http://www.coinworld.com/newcollector/ statetreasures4.asp

Offer Your Assistance To Any Of Our Program Coordinators

The News, June 2011 Page 17

Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club 2011 Schedule of Events
Month
January

Meeting Program
Club Business and Open Forum
Love Token Coin Presentation By Rick Mattingly

Trip/Activity
No Trip/Activity Scheduled

February

No Trip/Activity Scheduled

March

Update on Mining Laws, Permits and Land Access for the 2011 Prospecting Season, What the Future Looks Like. By Ben Higley, President, Gold Prospectors of Colorado Gold and Platinum in Wyoming By Wayne Sutherland, WGS

GPS, Compass & Map Clinic

April

Clear Creek Gold Panning

May

Detecting Presentation By Tom Warne

Lets Go Gold Panning On The Arkansas Event Prospecting, Detecting & More Clinic at Lions Park Advertised and Open to the Public Nugget Shooting Clinic at Lions Park Eldora Ski Resort Detector Outing

June

Gold Nugget Shooting Presentation By Rick Mattingly

July

Gold Refining Presentation By David Emslie

Manhattan Ghost Town Detector Outing Gold Nugget Shooting Outing

August

Crack & Crevasse Prospecting By Bryan Morgan

Ames Monument, Vedauwoo & Wyoming State Museum Tour

September

Meteorite Presentation By Dr. Robert Brownlee

Annual Coin & Prize Hunt Colorado Mineral & Fossil ShowDenver Lucite Hills Wyoming Gem Outing

October

Bottle Hunting Presentation By Rick Mattingly

Off-Road Detector & Cache Hunt

November

Annual Show & Tell & Silent Auction Annual Find of the Year Awards & Christmas Party

Local Detector Outing

December

Flatirons Mineral Club & Model Train Show

Good Hunting in 2011!

Page 18 The News, June 2011

Rocky Mountain Prospectors & Treasure Hunters Contact List

RMPTH Coordinators Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Coordinator Paul Lange Robert Crain Bryan Morgan Rick Mattingly Home 1-970-663-5776 1-970-484-6488 1-970-416-0608 1-970-613-8968 E-Mail plange50@msn.com brymorg@frii.com rickmatt@q.com

The News Staff Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Rick Mattingly Dick French 1-970-613-8968 1-970-482-2110

rickmatt@q.com
dickyf99@comcast.net

Internet Web Site Web Master Volunteers/Coordinators Find of the Month Joe Johnston Betsy Emond Paul Mayhak Paul Lange Johnny Berndsen Peggy Stumpf Joe Johnston Bryan Morgan Darrell Koleber Volunteer Needed! Tom Warne Jacob Wootton Johnny Berndsen 1-303-696-6950 1-970-218-0290 1-970-482-7846 1-970-663-5776 1-970-667-1006 1-307-632-9945 1-303-696-6950 1-970-416-0608 1-970-669-2599 1-970-635-0773 1-970-980-6016 1-970-667-1006 cjoej1@peoplepc.com pjmcolo@q.com plange50@msn.com johnnyberndsen.com circlestar@yahoo.com cjoej1@peoplepc.com brymorg@frii.com gutshot1016@yahoo.com goldigger48@msn.com jacob-wootton@yahoo.com Rick Mattingly 1-970-613-8968

rickmatt@q.com

Presentations Club Historian Club Librarian Panning Demos Setup & Refreshments Door Prize

General Information Contact: Paul Lange at 1-970-663-5776

Visit RMPTH on the Internet at: http://rmpth.com

Lets Go For The Gold !

The News, June 2011 Page 19

The News
Rocky Mountain Prospectors & Treasure Hunters Club P.O. Box 271863 Fort Collins, CO. 80527-1863

JUNE, 2011 ISSUE