Ever wonder whether those were really found yesterday, or found at all?

[RickO]

Hmmmmmm. Art these the same people who post pictures "of themselves" on dating sites, clipped from catalogs, when they really look lilke Janet Reno?

That one really tickled me... I have some single (were) friends who tried the internet dating thing... each one.. at different times.. said "people lie - post pictures of 'themselves' and nothing like them in person"
One fellow said "If you saw her picture, and then saw her standing with five african american females (she was white), you would not be able to pick her out." RickO

 

[tabdog]

I've heard of people making false claims.

Sometimes it's hard to beleive stories like
that Christmas morning when when I dug
a meteorite in my front yard.

Or the time I found a large gold nugett in
my back yard.

But, such claims should be taken with a
grain of salt about the size of the pea
brain who posted it.

Hay!! I resemble that remark!!

Happy Hunting,

 

[dutchroots]

Is anyone familiar with the remote controlled metal detector called Decima from the UK? There are videos on youtube showing the machine crawling along a nice flat sodded lawn swinging it's arm back and forth, and then there are photos of piles and piles of coins found with the machine. I haven't seen all the videos available, but I haven't come across one yet that shows the machine actually hitting a target and somebody digging it up. Looks a little suspicious to me, but I could be all wrong.

 

[steve in so la]

A number of years ago I knew a detectorist who was going around town to different coin shops and taking pics of them to put on the net as his dug items. I haven't heard from him in 10 years or more but I think basically, most posters are honest.
And I know what you mean about certain people who always make fantastic finds, nothing less.
One reason why I like this forum is that everyone seems to be honest, steve in so az

 

[CyberSage]

There's just as many dishonest people in this hobby (and this forum, too) as in any other hobby.

I don't thinks it's that bad here on the forum. There are some embellishments and an occasional tall tales but most post are very believable and enjoyable. I have had some pretty crazy hot streaks this year, why shouldn't I believe someone else is having a good day as well? As far as noobs (new detectorist) finding great stuff, I can tell you they do! I have 2 friends who have just started and I watched them pull a Merc, a Barber Dime, 2 gold rings, and several Wheats. It happens! Sometime not knowing any better newbies hunt in spots that most detectorist would pass by. It's happened to me.

Keep Swing'in
Jack

 

[rcasi44]

I think most guys are honest. Many guys who have been around for a while don't even post their finds unless they are really exceptional. After a while you have nothing to prove and no one to impress. If someone needs to post fake finds, that's fine, let them have a good time. They aren't hurting anyone.

The same with excessive depth claims. Some people miss coins falling back in the hole, or use their depth meter rather than measuring the coin. In many cases it is a case of inexperience or just an honest mistake.
Rob

 

[peltormaximus]

Bogus Claims

You do have to wonder sometimes. On the whole most claims are probably true. As for noobies finding good stuff. Some fellow in England had a bottom level detector and found a massive pot of Roman coins in a very heavily hunted field. I vaguely remember his comment being that many people had found the same target but passed it by only because it was so loud and big. Being a rookie he just wanted to see what it was.

The rookies tend to hunt harder in the beginning so they will just find more. I recently have found myself with a lot of time on my hands and am hunting about 2 hours a day monday through friday. My finds have gone way up including at least 1 piece of jewelry a week, some of it really nice stuff. A lot of the coins look pristine since I am working my favourite sites regularly. The coins are right in plain view many times.

"How big was your fish?"
"This big!", said the one armed fisherman.

 

[SeabeeRon]

Ove the years I have heard many whispered tales accusing famous treasure hunters of salting their stories, and exhibiting purchases as finds.

Reasons to do this?

1. To build reputation

2. To look superior to other treasure hunters

3. And especially to sell detectors ("Look what I found with this machine! Buy it from me and you'll find these things, too!")

Good points Dan!! And all the more reason to NOT fake your finds cuz you would lose that reputation, respect, and ability to sell anything! Who could trust someone like that?!? I believe 99% of our members are honest seekers of lost treasure!!

 

[mlitty]

Ove the years I have heard many whispered tales accusing famous treasure hunters of salting their stories, and exhibiting purchases as finds.

Reasons to do this?

1. To build reputation

2. To look superior to other treasure hunters

3. And especially to sell detectors ("Look what I found with this machine! Buy it from me and you'll find these things, too!")

Though I have no doubt that some people buy into the idea that

Look what I found with this machine! Buy it from me and you'll find these things, too!

but I just don't get it. It's like saying "I'm a carpenter and I build mansions. Buy this hammer and you'll build mansions too."

Don't people know that people make finds, not detectors? Any box can go beep. Someone has to know the history of the site, the probability of the target, the language of the detector, etc. But I guess there are gullible buyers out there.

 

[greasecarguy]

I agree that there are some incredible finds consistantly with the same individuals.Have not experienced or felt this on this forum WHATSOEVER!

TNET..some folks finds' there are too good to be true on a consistent basis.

that is why I like this site. as i have gotten to know the users in a cyber trusting kind of way, i have a geniune respect for those that have been here a while. Now if you find shiny new gold pieces every week for the next year, i would become suspicious.

 

[Westernlegend1]

Lets not beat around the bush! Start posting some examples of these alleged non-finds!
I'll go first, there was a post over three years ago....
This fella posted a seated half dollar, it was dated 1832 over 31 (or something real cose to that). It had a couple of rust spots on it, and looked every bit dug to me. Impressed I looked it up to see what the value of something like it could be. I found the exact same coin (even identical rust spots) on a site that sold coins! I sent the link to a friend and asked him to compare the two photos. His findings.... a dug coin being offered for sale had its image swiped for use on another metal detecting forum.

 

[Dr Doom]

JasonR, you are a bad boy but that is funny.
DrDoom

 

[Xray]

We had a whopper going a couple years back in the old forum ... Who was it .. Dave in PA was his name ? Dave got in a heated battle in another forum with a guy who presented a pretty fine looking and ultra rare 1856 flying eagle cent as ground dug. Dave gently at first questioned whether it was legit, and the other guy flew off the handle and things got out of hand, and it spilled over into our forum, I ended up getting into it and I likewise did not believe that it was a legit find. Old Dave got so worked up I believe he stopped posting for a few weeks after that. A few weeks later I worked up the nerve to wrap the whole episode in comedy, I made a post titled "Hey Dave Lookee what i founded", and posted a pic of a PCGS certified flying eagle cent, along with a detailed explanation of my exploit ... That got everyone laughing again.

But sure, I think it happens, not often but if its possible, it will happen.
I think if anyone tried to post sham finds on a regualr basis though, it would soon become apparent.

 

[simonthesearcher]

Is anyone familiar with the remote controlled metal detector called Decima from the UK? There are videos on youtube showing the machine crawling along a nice flat sodded lawn swinging it's arm back and forth, and then there are photos of piles and piles of coins found with the machine. I haven't seen all the videos available, but I haven't come across one yet that shows the machine actually hitting a target and somebody digging it up. Looks a little suspicious to me, but I could be all wrong.

Its true Dutch,someone did make this machine.Although the piles of coins are a lot of rubbish.It would work fine on a perfect flat surface but do you know of any ground that is prefectly flat.takes the fun out of it too i reckon.Its only a prototype and will never go into production,why?.because its a stupid invention.

 

[~Alan~]

There was a case in the UK a couple of years ago, where a detectorist found
a rare gold coin, which eventually was sold for a great deal of money.

There are many who were certain that he didn't find it where he said he did.
He claimed he found it on common land, so he wouldn't have to split the
reward money. Unfortunately for him, what he thought was common land,
was actually owned by a consortium of people.
He still made a nice profit, but not as much as he expected.

 

[Westernlegend1]

Tonight I'll try to find time to post about a contest that was held on another metal detecting site and how the voting for best find went and how one individuals entry was tossed out of the contest. This one happened around 4-5 years ago, by the way it was the same person! I'll not mention names of the site or individual.

 

[DougF]

I will agree that it doesn't *seem* to happen on this forum, as far as I have seen, but there's nothing to prevent someone from doing it. Some other forums seem to have much higher levels of competitiveness, which will tend to bring out this type of behavior. This forum seems to have a different spirit. One other forum prohibits any questioning of the validity of finds.

 

[foreverRich]

I personally would rather believe the best about the people on this forum. I have never had a reason to question anyone's finds. I just think about some of the finds that I have posted and had others on the forum ask if they can have them. In most cases I have sent them the item. It would have been pretty embarrassing to explain that I really didn't have the item. Even if the person didn't find what they posted, I enjoy seeing the items and consider "no harm done". If it makes them feel better, so be it. This hobby is too enjoyable to me to sweat the small stuff.

 

[headhunter]

I agree, but in this forum, it would be rare for someone to do that. Expecially for some of the members we have known for a while. The only ones I would have to question would be some of the newer members. But, until I have a good reason not to trust someone, I will trust them.

dang,making me not want to show a thing on here

 

[headhunter]

how does the newer members know they can believe what the older members are showing?hmmmm,i guess untill then we all got to trust each other,right??