What is treasure hunting?
The first thing you need to learn to become a successful treasure hunter is that treasure is all around you. It is literally everywhere, but to find it, you must open your eyes and think outside the box a bit. In order to do that, we first need to define just what treasure is.
The definition of treasure
Oxford dictionary defines treasure as: “a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects.” In other words, anything valuable that you find is technically a treasure. It also includes things that only you may find valuable (hence the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”).
Its the jewelry buried at the beach, the coins underground at the park, that painting at the Goodwill that slipped by other collectors, or an old bottle found in a creek, that was left years ago. It can be something you found at an auction or garage sale, or some old letters left in an attic.
Follow your dreams
When we were kids a treasure was a bag of pennies, or a handful of marbles, a baseball card collection, or whatever you had that was valuable to you at that time. It really didn’t matter what the monetary value was, it was our treasure at that time. We dreamed of someday setting out on a grand adventure and digging up a pirate’s chest, or finding an old stagecoach strongbox filled with gold and silver. As we grew up, many of us set aside those dreams and settled into the 9 to 5 work rut, thinking that was all there is to life. Guess what? Those dreams are still alive inside you, just waiting to come back out. You don’t have to settle for an ordinary, mundane life, but you do have to allow yourself to start dreaming again. Remember, treasure is all around you.
How to begin treasure hunting
The easiest way to begin treasure hunting is with a metal detector. Remember that treasure is all around you. Maybe you have seen those old timers in the park swinging those big heavy boxes just to dig up a few coins. Only old people do that right? Wrong. Guess what? Metal detecting/treasure hunting is a growing hobby that more and more young people are enjoying. Metal detectors have come such a long way since those heavy blue boxes of the past. They are affordable, lightweight, and best of all, they are digital which gives you much more information about what is in the ground before you start digging.
You can search for valuable coins and jewelry that is literally right under your feet, at parks, old schools, yards, or the beach. It is so easy now to acquire a metal detector and begin finding treasure right away. If you want to try it but aren’t sure if you will like it, then buy a beginners metal detector for very little money and try it out a few times. We have excellent beginners detectors that will start you off, and as you progress, you can always upgrade.
What detector to start with?
We suggest starting out with a detector like the Nokta Simplex+. or the Minelab Xterra Pro, or Xterra Elite, or even the Garrett Ace 400. Any one of these detectors are great to begin with and easy on your wallet. Dollar for dollar, we think the Minelab XTerra Elite gives you the best bang for your buck, and it’s also waterproof, should you decide to drop it in the creek or old swimming hole (another excellent place to search for treasures). It is seriously a “turn on and go” machine that anyone can master in a couple hunts. If you want a more advanced detector, check out our store HERE.
Treasure isn’t just in the ground
Another way to find treasure is to search thrift stores and garage sales. Here is where you really have to know what to look for. I’ve personally found several paintings that I purchased for about $20 a piece, and they turned out to be really valuable. I had no idea at the time and just bought them because I really liked them, Talk about beginners luck.
I once found a very interesting pair of Klipsch Cornwall speakers for $32 a piece. They were unfinished plywood, which was a rather rare option back in the 1970s, and so the store thought they were junk speakers. I saw the Klipsch name tag, and when I checked behind the speaker grill, it was a definite a huge yes for me. I snagged those speakers so fast and stuffed them into the back seat of my car. Talk about a tight fit. I enjoyed them for about a year, and their sound was truly incredible, but eventually a guy offered me $1000 for them and they became his.
A treasure hunter can’t become too attached to everything you find, or you won’t be able to walk around in your house. You have to be able to let some of it go, especially if you are making a really nice profit. That sale gave me more cash to treasure hunt, and buy a much better metal detector (I wasn’t always a Metal Detector dealer).
I’ve seen people find gold and silver jewelry at Goodwill stores, silver service sets at garage sales, antique tools at flea markets and much more. There are people who sell thrift store clothes and books online for quite a tidy profit. Some guys make a great living dumpster diving and reselling the stuff they find on eBay or Craigslist. You just have to keep your eyes open, and think outside the box.
How to begin
You can take your metal detector right from the box and after a minimal bit of assembly, begin to hunt the schools and parks. You can also spend hours in libraries reading old newspapers, looking for old carnival sites and stage stops, and anywhere else that people used to congregate in the past. Ask around. Lots of old timers love to reminisce about the past, and would love for someone like you to just sit down and listen to their stories. Carry a small note book to write down any leads they may give you. I carry one with me always, and you can bet I write down every clue, and keep notes at home and then look at old maps online to find the places I’ve been told about. Speaking of old maps, there are cellphone apps now that will show you old maps and townships, and you can also go to Google Earth Pro and turn back the clock to see what was there in the past.
Check books and newspapers for clues
There are also plenty of treasure books out there with valuable clues to start your search. Here is one of a series by Thomas Penfield to start you out with. There are countless numbers of books on lost treasures that can start you off. The hard part will be doing the research after you find one you are interested in.
Also check old newspapers for stories of lost treasures. They will also have ads for carnivals and events back then.
Rules of the Game
One of the first lessons you will learn as a treasure hunter is the old saying “loose lips sink ships.” It was an old WW2 warning to never blab your secrets, This holds very true in treasure hunting, I can’t tell you how many times I have watched people do a little prospecting and then brag to their friends what they found and where they found it. Guess what happened next? You got it. The next time they returned to their “secret spot” it was all dug up and most of the gold was gone.
That also goes for partners. Be careful who you choose or you might just get ripped off. I’ve also seen people go up to pay for something at a thrift store and brag about it’s real value, and the thrift store tell them it isn’t for sale. The bottom line is to keep quiet about your finds.
The second lesson: Always get permission from the owner if the property is owned. Offer to cut them in on whatever you find. It is after all their property and they don’t have to let you dig. Some people just want to see what you found, and others want 50%. Negotiate but be fair. It’s all their stuff to begin with.
You might also offer to sign something saying they won’t be liable should you get injured while you are there. Nobody wants a lawsuit so a liability release might set their mind at ease.
Your gear
Take care of your gear and always have the right gear with you. This should also include a good first aid kit. You don’t want to be out on an adventure and become injured and not have a first aid kit. I never go out without a first aid kit, all my proper gear to treasure hunt, and plenty of water. Even if you aren’t out in the field, and you are just checking thrift stores or garage sales, you need to stay hydrated. I like the Camelbak slogan on all their packs, “hydrate or die.”
The end is really just the beginning</h3>
Remember that treasure is all around you, It is everywhere if you look hard enough. Most people never bother to look close enough to find it. You’ve come to the end of the blog, but your adventure is just beginning. You can go out and see the world in a different way, and find the treasure just waiting for you to find. Good luck out there.
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