WW2 Finds in Abisko, Sweden

I flew into Stockholm on June 11, 2016 with one backpack. Granted it is a large backpack, 70 liters to be precise. Within are the possessions I have on this journey that may take a year or more. Of course I brought a metal detector. [update October 11, 2023 -- I was in Europe, away from the United States until October 25, 2019. Arrived back just before COVID hit the world hard, Trump was President and I had to come back home.]

Even though it has now been 40 full days since I left the US I have not done as much metal detecting as I would like. There is a lot to see in all these new places I've visited and usually treasure hunting is not the priority. I know, crazy right? Well the good news is I have had opportunities to detect in some virgin locations and I have made uncovered several decent finds

This blurb in particular is about WW2 era finds I recovered. Notably are the two bronze coins from post WW1, pre WW2 full scale escalation, which were found where there was a WW2 camp at Abisko, Sweden. In the end I donated all war-related and historical finds to the wartime museum located at Abisko Turistation.

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Caribbean Sea of Weeeee

Some finds from a trip during May 2016. Happy hunting!

Metal Detecting 2014 Finds Video

Eroded Beach Silvers

There were some higher than usual tides this past week and I felt it would be an opportune time to scout out my local beach. Didn't take long to find a section where bucket-sized rocks were made visible after sand movement. That particular section of beach had eroded in the recent past, about a year ago, and I found several gold and silver jewelry pieces then. This time around it produced again, yet all the good finds turned out to be silver coins. I'm not complaining! Two silver Washingtons, three silver Rosies, and a Walking Liberty Half were the take after two consecutive early morning hunts. On the third morning (Friday) I returned and the area had been sanded in.

Morning 1: 2 Washingtons, 2 Rosies, Walking Liberty Half, Two Wheat Cents

Morning 1: Close Up, Walking Liberty Half Still Coated

Morning 2: Rosie, Stainless Pendant, Wheat Cent

Recent Ag and Au Finds

I've been busy with "real life." I'm sure we all know how that goes. Here are noteworthy finds from three separate hunts since June 7th. Happy hunting!

Pair of .925 Silver Earrings

Two Hunts' Total at the Beach. Woman's 14K White Gold Wedding Band

Kennedy and a Ring

Made it to the beach yesterday morning and found a bit of a sweet spot. I dug a fair share of green clad, which indicates it has settles in the salty sand for a little while. My guess is six months to a year. No gold, or silver, yet I did come home with a pouch full of coins including a 1993 Kennedy half dollar and a man's titanium wedding band. Hope everyone has a pleasant weekend.

May 22, 2015 early AM

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I did it. I finally offloaded some of my finds. Up until this point I had only let go of a handful of items in the past to recoup initial costs of the hobby.

While on vacation recently, when I brought my waterproof Minelab Excalibur II, I met a Scottish woman with whom I chatted at length about my collection of finds. She and her husband had seen me snorkeling in the water with my detector and they were genuinely curious about the hobby. She was adamant I should sell my finds because they weren't doing me any good sitting in a safe.

I've been holding onto 99.5% of located items looking at them as a long-term investment. Plus, I'll admit, they're fun to show off. Throughout my time in the hobby, however, I've gone through my extensive five years' worth of finds and have felt... cluttered.

I am interested in hearing what your thoughts are on selling our finds.

Offloaded 10K jewelry. No gemstones.

Offloaded 14K jewelry. No gemstones.

Curb Strip Silver

This past Thursday evening I detected a local curb strip I'd been eyeing for a week. The grass had been removed and only loose dirt remained. I scanned the 40' length of it for about an hour before some rain forced me away.

1942 S Merc, 1944 plain and 1945 S Wheat Cents - Obverse

1942 S Merc, 1944 plain and 1945 S Wheat Cents - Reverse

Everything Counts

I haven't had much free time to detect lately. I did make it out late yesterday evening for about an hour at a property where cottages were built in 1958. The landscape is currently torn up as the structures undergo renovations. I'll likely head back this evening and see if I can scrounge up some silver. Happy hunting!

Notable finds:

• Ellwest Stereo Theatres & Jolar Cinemas Vintage Peep Show Token
• 1946 D, 1953 S, 1954 S, 1956 S Wheat Cents

One and a Half Rings

Last night I found half a 925 ring in the dry sand. The telltale sign of beachcomber tines were all over so perhaps it was the cause. It still counts!

Walked a bit further down the beach and found a slope that has been productive in the past. The starfish 925er was at the very bottom of the slope and at least a foot deep. The ability of a properly tuned Minelab Sovereign GT, combined with a slow and low swing, to sniff out deep targets always has me nodding in approval.

April 14, 2015 - Dry and Wet Sand Hunt