The weekend brought in some above and below ground finds....

Just a quick post to put something on the board. Claire found most of our above ground finds; $.26. We also did some metal detecting. Our total finds came out to $1.87 (2 quarters, 11 dimes, 2 nickels and 17 pennies.

Last few days of finds: $2.13

Above ground finds: $.26

Below ground finds: $1.87

Total finds to date: $24.14 (32 days of hunting averages out to $.75 per day

The Lincoln Penny Project grand total: $63.75

Above ground finds: $39.28

Below ground finds: $24.47

Wow! It's been almost one week since our last post....

Hunts have been sparse recently..so have the finds unfortunately. Over the last week we were only able to get out a few times. The above ground finds brought in 4 pennies and we had a Bellingham hunt late on Friday that brought in $1.24 (4 quarters, 1 dime, 2 nickels and 4 pennies). One of the quarters was a 1976 bicentennial coin-our first!

Our first month of metal detecting proved to be a success. We got in a number of hunts and Max unearthed our first silver item and wheat back penny-a 1919S. This is our oldest coin to date. We are still waiting for our first silver coin. Check out the items that we scooped up. The list includes three silver rings, one titanium ring, several other rings and charms and a bunch of pennies and clad. We unearthed a few relics too as you can see by the photo.

Happy Hunting everyone!

Total finds over the last several days: $1.28
Above ground finds: $.04
Below ground finds: $1.24
Total finds to date: $22.01 30 days of hunting averages out to $.73 per day.

The Lincoln Penny Project grand total: $61.62
Above ground finds: $39.02
Below ground finds: $22.60

We are over the $50.00 mark of money finds!

Total finds since The Lincoln Penny Project began. Above and below ground finds.

Our quick afternoon hunt brought in $.88

Since The Lincoln Penny Project began on July 12, 2009 - we have recovered lost coins and bills in the amount of $50.61. It's been even more of an adventure since we got a Garrett Ace 250 metal detector for Christmas. We initially started out hunting for coins above ground and have been successful. It's amazing what people leave behind for us to pick up.

Max and I did a quick park hunt and our batteries for the machine finally quit on us. Since we didn't have any AA's with us, we had to hang it up for the afternoon. We did however dig up $.88 (1 quarter, 6 dimes and 3 pennies).

Daily find: $.88

Above ground finds: 0

Below ground finds: $.88

Total finds to date: $11.13 Day 10, which averages out to $1.11 per day.

The Lincoln Penny Project grand total: $50.59

Above ground finds: $38.33

Below ground finds: $12.26

181 finding days averages out to $.28 per day.

Look what the first day of 2010 brought in!

It's the first day of the year and the excitement will build for the next 364 days for The Lincoln Penny Project. Claire and I challenged each other to see which one of us would come up with the first find of the year. I told her that I would find a dime first and she said she would find a penny. Our first stop was Half Price Books-and the parking lot gave up zip. She did end up scoring on some great $1.00 books though. Then we went to the Redmond Town Center. On the way back to our car we both took different routes. I ended up calling Claire over to our first find of the year....it was a dime, four pennies and a nickel ( a total of $.19). How cool!

Our next journey was on the Washington State Ferry to Whidbey Island. We stopped off at the Red Apple Grocery for some snacks and found $.06. We then got to our final destination-Coupeville. It was nearing dusk and I had to try and get in 15 minutes of metal detecting-which I ended up digging 2 dimes and a penny ($.21).

First find of the year nets us $.46

Above ground finds: $.25

Below ground finds: $.21

Grand total to date: $.46 Day 1

Our third day of detecting

After passing out fliers by one of our job sites, I decided to get in 45 minutes of metal detecting. Before the job site fliers, I went to the store to get a few things. On my way out of the store I spotted a dime and scooped it up. My metal detecting stop took me to the place that Max and I went to on Sunday. It's a dog park in Bothell, but this time it was late afternoon with very few people. I ended up digging up a number of scrap aluminum pieces, rusty nails, a couple of fishing weights and 2 dimes.

So far we are 3-3(coin finds)on metal detecting hunts-which I am happy about.

Daily total: $.30
Grand total to date: $38.51
169 finding days averages out to $.23

Above ground finds: $37.22
Below ground finds: $1.29

Only 4 pennies today

When I think of the number 4, Lou Gehrig comes to mind. The powerhouse, "Iron Horse" Lou, was the clean up hitter for the New York Yankees. He came in when legendary first baseman, Wally Pipp, had a headache one day. Miller Huggins, the Yankees Manager, told Wally to stay out and take a rest for a game. Lou Gehrig ended up playing in 2,130 consecutive games-which allowed Wally a long rest. What happened to Wally Pipp after Lou stepped in? Google it and check it out.

Claire and I ended up making it to Yankee Stadium on the final year that the Yankees played in "The House That Ruth Built." What a treat it was to be in the same stadium that all of the greats of the past once roamed. One could vision Gehrig, Ruth, Mantle and Dimaggio running the bases, hitting home runs and tracking down the ball. It was truly amazing to be at 161st and River Ave where Gehrig and Ruth walked the streets after a game.

This brings us to our big 4 pennies for the day-which adds $.04 to the pot. It's a day for Lou Gehrig, #4.

Daily total find: $.04

Grand total to date: $33.70

Max gets in on the action and finds $.33

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. No time to search for the coin today. After I picked up Max he said, "let's go to the car wash!" It's the car wash that results in the best finds. I told him that we didn't have any time and needed to get home, prepare dinner and do some homework. We compromised and went to the local Shell station by the air/water area. Max ended up finding $.33 (quarter, nickel and 3 pennies). Way to go Max-a great addition to The Lincoln Penny Project! He understands that some of our finds will be going to a charity of our choice and a rainy day fund. He's always excited for the hunt!

Daily total find: $.33

Grand total to date: $27.25

108 finding days averages out to $.25 per day.

A Sunday morning drive

Sunday proved to be a better day for hunting. We had a day trip planned for Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Our plan was to drive around and stop at Deception Pass for a hike down to the beach-and then go to my mom's in Coupeville to help her put outdoor things away for the winter. Before our hike, I found a quarter sitting in the vending machine where the pop gets dispensed. Was someone pitching quarters? It appears that I was the winner. That was our most important find of the day. We always like to note a find that links to a special event/hike, etc. Other noted finds of the day consisted of Claire's quarter find at the car wash, her penny find at Topp Foods in Burlington, and 3 cents at another car was near home.

I ended up finding $.21 at a Texaco in Freeland-and a nickel was waiting for me at a newspaper coin return at the ferry landing in Clinton. Not a bad day! Check out the cool, round rocks that resemble coins.

Daily find total: $.80

Grand total to date: $19.24

91 finding days averages out to .21 per day.

After all of my US Post Office visits-I finally found something!

Before we started hunting for coins-I would see a couple of pennies here and there at the post office. When the hunt was on, money finding was scarce until today! I normally pick up our business mail a few times a week and do my normal ground scanning like a metal detector would. Of course my eyes are searching high places too. My first stop is the parking lot with a quick look. Next I come upon the newspapers. To my surprise-the US Today had 4 Washington Quarters just waiting for me. Right place at the right time-indeed!

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Happy Hunting!

Early morning find - $1.00 (4 quarters)

Enjoy the photos from our early summer trip to D.C. This is George Washington's home in Mt. Vernon. General George Washington/President Washington deservedly belongs on coins and bills.

Nickel in the Loo?

Question: Is it weird to pick up a nickel from a bathroom floor?
It's not that it is the nickel's fault, but to be seen lying on the bathroom floor of a "sick room" among the mire of germs and viruses found in a junior high school is a skosh gross. It sort of makes the thought of picking up that poor little "Tommy," a bit disconcerting.
But I did it anyway....and I'm five cents richer today than I was yesterday.
And I am glad that the one staff restroom was occupied and I had to tinkle so bad that I earned a little jingle in my pocket!

Enjoy the photos from our recent summer trip to Colonial Williamsburg and Washington D.C. If history is your thing, this is the place to be...Incredible! Photos include bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in Williamsburg, VA and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. That's Claire in the picture with the Jefferson Memorial in the background.

Breakdown of the finds!

Here is our money find total since July 12, 2009. There are days that we go without finding any money-or other days where we find loose change and didn't get a chance to post. This is a fun event for the family and each individual. Not only does this give us some extra exercise, it adds to our competitive nature to come up with something by the end of the day or week. We highly suggest this-give it a try! Happy Hunting!

$5.00 total-1 = $5.00

$1.00 total-2 = $2.00

$.25 total-9 = $2.25

$.10 total 23, 1 Canadian Dime = $2.40

$.05 total 12 = $.60

$.01 total 108 = $1.08

Grand Total = $13.33

78 Finding Days averages out to $.17 per day