Dear White's,

My girlfriend had always thought metal detecting would be cool and lucrative. She said that women often throw engagement rings out of car windows. I asked if there was a particular spot where this took place--maybe with a sign saying "SCENIC OVERLOOK & RING-TOSS?" But I got her a Prizm III for her birthday in 2006, after a week with it I had the fever and sold a 1973 Fender Stratocaster to get the money to buy my DFX.

This is the best hobby there is, and White's is the best Metal Detector maker on the planet. Your machines are superb and your Customer Service is miles better than anyone else. Thanks! Here are some of my favorite finds from 3 seasons with the DFX. It was tough to pick the favorites. Pre-1900 coins are what I'm all about, but cool relics like the Radio Orphan Annie Decoder Wheel are great fun to dig up (I have to watch "A Christmas Story" again to see if Ralphie's decoder was a 1935--the first year they made these). There's still some gold & green paint on this one.

I had seen Victorian-era match safes on Antiques Road show, and it was great to dig up the Pabst promotional one. I'm still looking for the lid, if it's there, I'll find it. The Civil War Infantry Officer's button was a rare find for Michigan. The young fellow who lost it under a tree in the front yard of an 1856 house enlisted in the Union Army 2 weeks before the end of the war. Timing is everything.

Our village museum helped me ID the man. The Grand Army of the Republic medal was probably lost by one of 2 Civil War veterans who at different times owned the 1848 house where it was found. My "Best Whatizzit" is the tin eyepiece and tube from 'something that looked around corners'. The disc is a mirror and was mounted to the adjustable axle at the juncture where another tube used to be. I first thought of a box camera, but someone suggested it might be from an old surveyor's transit. Nobody has been able to figure it out with any certainty.

Coins: The 1858 Flying Eagle Cent is my oldest find. As with the 1865 2-Center, I'd never even seen one before I dug one up. The 1872 Indian Head is the most valuable, but I'll never sell it.

2008 was a great 3rd season. I even got to find someone's lost wedding band (turned down the offer of a reward). I have more fun with my DFX every year. I'm going to buy one of the new 10" double-D coils and hit all my old sites again in the spring.

Thanks again!

PlunkTwang