New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

chrischch		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 8:26:24 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		How come we hardly ever see any on here? I've never found one. What's the reason? Size? Conductivity?
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Shilo		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:02:52 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		I've never found one either despite finding zillions of 2c pieces which would be a comparable size and conductivity. I think they simply weren't imported into the country for use as currency with the Penny being the lowest useful denomination. Any found most likely came over with British immigrants and then lost, a bit like the Aussie coinage we find now. Just my theory that makes me feel better not having found one!
		BLOG

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:19:46 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		I think you are right Shilo. Not that common. I have one after 3 years of this game and it is in very sick condition. Some are probably discarded with the 2c as they are the same size. Another coin I find quite rare is the "10c one shilling" minted in 1967 for decimal introduction. I have 7 so far. MK
		WWW BLOG

chrischch		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:27:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Yeah those 10c shilling are hard to find, I find a few 20c florins so they must be a bit more common. I wasnt sure if the farthings were used before 1933 or not. I see Robert (puiaki supply) has found a half farthing and third farthing in Ashburton.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

number8wire		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:44:02 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 10/06/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,175 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 913 times Was thanked: 880 time(s) in 425 post(s)		Originally Posted by: chrischch Yeah those 10c shilling are hard to find, I find a few 20c florins so they must be a bit more common. I wasnt sure if the farthings were used before 1933 or not. I see Robert (puiaki supply) has found a half farthing and third farthing in Ashburton. Interesting chrischch, I have found far more 10c shillings than 20c florins.......In fact, I have found more Brit florins (15) than I have NZ ones (6).......figure that one out! ....and no, never had a farthing...yet. Edited by user Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:57:22 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
		TEKNETICS T2 SE plus X-POINTER 2016 Silver coins- 233 Other silver- 13 Gold- 1 Sovereigns-0 Spendies -$119.00

Shilo		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 9:59:35 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Have found a lot of 10c shillings, I even have had one all my life that is unused as part of a collectors set (birthday is in July '67). But like N.o. 8 wire I have only found a few 20c florins. One thing I have noticed on the forum is that there seem to be more older and rarer coins found in the Christchurch / Dunedin area compared to the Nth Isl. Maybe its because of more immigrant arrivals and their demographic makeup was different then Auckland.
		BLOG

chrischch		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:03:43 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Yes I think you are right about that Shilo. The early settlers here were varied and plentiful during that time period. i only got my first silver florin (1933) the other day after two bloody years! Pretty damn embarrassing! Only the one half crown too (1922). Plenty of smaller silvers though.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:05:57 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: Shilo Have found a lot of 10c shillings, I even have had one all my life that is unused as part of a collectors set (birthday is in July '67). But like N.o. 8 wire I have only found a few 20c florins. One thing I have noticed on the forum is that there seem to be more older and rarer coins found in the Christchurch / Dunedin area compared to the Nth Isl. Maybe its because of more immigrant arrivals and their demographic makeup was different then Auckland. I think detecting must have started earlier in Auckland than the South. I have heard stories of how much was there for the taking about 30 years ago in Auckland. Bucket loads. Here is my hard won silver coins list so far: http://metaldetectornz.b....co.nz/p/coin-finds.html MK
		WWW BLOG

chrischch		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:14:28 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Originally Posted by: Metal Kiwi Originally Posted by: Shilo Have found a lot of 10c shillings, I even have had one all my life that is unused as part of a collectors set (birthday is in July '67). But like N.o. 8 wire I have only found a few 20c florins. One thing I have noticed on the forum is that there seem to be more older and rarer coins found in the Christchurch / Dunedin area compared to the Nth Isl. Maybe its because of more immigrant arrivals and their demographic makeup was different then Auckland. I think detecting must have started earlier in Auckland than the South. I have heard stories of how much was there for the taking about 30 years ago in Auckland. Bucket loads. Here is my hard won silver coins list so far: http://metaldetectornz.b....co.nz/p/coin-finds.html MK I think you may be right. I did hear from a reliable source that Hagley Park was hit hard in the 1980's and they were getting 500+ coins a day or 500 silvers a day, I cant remember. Would have been some great finds amongst that lot! That's a good collection you have there Metal Kiwi! On another note, I found half a live 303 shell that has these cord type things packed inside and if you pull one out and light it, it burns like a fuse. Is that cordite?
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Shilo		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:22:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Wikipedia will show a pic of cordite to compare yours with. Found this bit interesting - another definition of "Biting the Bullet":) The chewing of cordite, as a form of chewing gum was far from unknown in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sweet taste made it attractive, and it gave the user feelings similar to those produced by alcohol. ( Due to its explosive qualities, however, several fatalities were reported, from chewing too strenuously. My total of silvers (3 1/2 years detecting) - haven't differentiated between NZ and British though (also not included is a US 1/2 $). Threepence 124 Sixpence 83 Shilling 43 Florin 16 Half Crown 14 Edited by user Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:27:28 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
		BLOG

1864hatter		Posted : Saturday, 12 October 2013 10:24:29 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,007 Location: Auckland.... Thanks: 49 times Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)		Yes it's cordite, I had found some the same and asked lammerlaw about it. He confirmed it was
		And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!

chrischch		Posted : Sunday, 13 October 2013 12:54:34 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Hmmm thats interesting......I dont think its tastes that great at all though. That sure is a shitload of silvers Shilo....I'd be interested to see someone put it in one of those calculators and see how much that lot would weigh.
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.

Shilo		Posted : Sunday, 13 October 2013 7:53:54 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 29/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 573 Location: Kawhia Thanks: 17 times Was thanked: 285 time(s) in 185 post(s)		Originally Posted by: chrischch Hmmm thats interesting......I dont think its tastes that great at all though. That sure is a shitload of silvers Shilo....I'd be interested to see someone put it in one of those calculators and see how much that lot would weigh. The below is the weight of silver content in the coins I found if they were all 50% NZ ones (some are British and of course 92.5%). Total Silver Weight Oz Threepence 2.81 Sixpence 3.78 Shilling 3.91 Florin 2.91 1/2 Crown 3.18 Total 16.58 Comparison chart of the spot value of the finds which I find interesting. 3p is the greatest number found but the least value when total weight of the silver is taken into account. The shilling is the most profitable find for me. I use a Google Doc speadsheet to keep track of my PM finds. It automatically downloads and uses current spot value to work out how much the finds are worth. Link to a template you can copy here if you want. If you use please copy to your computer & don't change the template at the above link. Also don't enter anything in the red columns as these contain the formulas. Like above the spreadsheet does not differentiate between British silver coins and NZ ones, instead it marks them all down as 50% silver.
		BLOG

chrischch		Posted : Wednesday, 16 October 2013 2:03:32 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 811 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 192 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 104 post(s)		Well what do ya know? I was in Hagley today with a couple other forum members and what did I find? A really nice 1936 Farthing! Wish I'd asked about Sovereigns now!
		Fisher Goldbug Pro, Fisher F2, Garrett Propointer.