Gary's Metal Detecting Forum
Gary's Detecting forum => General detecting talk => Topic started by: Maxi21 on April 23, 2018, 05:05 pm
-
After a few years of detecting I have accumulated a growing collection of artefacts and coins. For the better or more interesting small finds including coins, I have a collection case with drawers, but like everyone else (probably) I end up with little pots of coins here there and everywhere especially when I first get back from a session, in between sorting and ID'ing finds and cleaning my kit. It was into this mess that I misplaced my first Irish Hammered that I found a few weeks back.
I spent a week checking odd corners of the house and pots of coins, trying to hunt it down. I even convinced myself that my wife had somehow hovered it up, so ended up using the new MI-6 pin pointer in the dust bag to see if it was in there - it wasn't. My youngest boy (10 yrs old) has a really bad temper and as I had told him off recently, I suspected that he might even have moved/ hidden/ thrown it out of the house! So sat him down and cross questioned him, but no he claimed he hadn't touched anything.
So as a last resort I went through my coin collection case and it was there mixed in amongst some other silver hammered penny's - I couldn't remember putting it there, but I must have done fearing it might otherwise get lost.....
Please excuse my rather longwinded story telling, as background to my question, but how do you keep track of your finds and do you keep either a paper or electronic database of them? If so what are the key database fields?
I started an excel spreadsheet yesterday afternoon and before I go too far, I wondered if anyone has a template they wouldn't mind sharing?
I was wondering if and how you keep track of your finds especially coins?
-
Wish I found enough to start a data base :D
-
I have similar problems. I have a silver coin case, but when I put them in the trays I have to split them from the PAS paperwork, and I find it difficult to recall what everything is. Add to that all the tins and trays with bits in them and it's all a mess at the moment. I really want a solution as I have two sets of items back from the museum just sitting in the bags with the paperwork.
-
Can't you just photograph the item + paperwork if any, add your own discription and accounts and put it in a file number and date order.
-
Can't you just photograph the item + paperwork if any, add your own discription and accounts and put it in a file number and date order.
That's a good idea. I would like a way of actually filing the finds with information, possibly achievable with coins if can get the right kind of folder, probably not easy for artefacts.
-
Nick, a few years back I felt ambitious and set up an Access database for my finds. It really wasn't that hard. If you can do Excel, you can do Access. Actually, I think you can start by making a spreadsheet then import it into Access to create the template. But you can almost do as much filtering and sorting in Excel as you can with Access. With Access you can add a pics of your find to the entry. Mine is pretty simple. I have columns for :
Date Found
Location
Find Type
Coin Type
Variety
Year minted
Coil used
Program notes
Comments
Picture
Most of those column headings have drop down selections. For example for Coin Type, I have Colonial, Confederation, Large Cent etc. Then for Colonial Type, I have drop down selections for William III, KG1, KG11, KGIII etc. I think Access is better if you have a lot of sub menus.
I have to admit I enjoy sorting the data. It can tell some interesting stories.
Lodge
-
Sounds a good idea, Lodge.
I record the location and detector/coil used of my hammered coins, in the hope of spotting a pattern, but the majority of my finds (i.e. of no significance whatsoever) just get bundled into boxes after the club meeting every month.
The more interesting ones that the FLO records get stored exactly as they come back, still in their plastic bags with their printouts.
-
Thanks all for your comments, particularly for Lodge for suggestion of Access Database rather than Excel. I will have a look and see if I can get on with it.
Fields I have gone with are -
Monarch Self-explanatory
Ruled Date they Ruled, which dictates the order of the entry in the file
Coin Type Penny, cut-half, groat etc
Date Specific date of the coin or date range
Reference Dia, weight & thickness plus reference used (Spink / North etc)
Description Lifted from the PAS description
PAS Reference URL link to PAS page
Picture Lifted from PAS
Value My best estimate of value, particularly for cut quarters /halves etc.
Fine Value The 'fine' value as in Spink
You will notice the Value/ Fine Value at the bottom of the fields, this is not because I am a seller of finds, I like to collect and have never sold any of my finds. The reason I am doing this is, if I keeled over tomorrow, my family would then have an idea of the value of my collection, if they decided to sell it and would know if a dealer was being honest in evaluating it. Morbid maybe, but you do hear stories of boxes of coins being picked up for very little at car boot sales because partners of detectorists being completely in the dark about the value of collections.
-
Not morbid Nick. Good idea. I will add a value to my finds for the reasons you mention. Most of my stuff is worth millions in nice memories to me, but of low or no monetary value to everyone else. But there are a few items that would fetch some good $$$$. I would hate to see those tossed out with the junk.
-
A really good thread, cheers Nick. Certainly given me some food for thought.
-
Some good suggestions here lads.
@ Nick. I like your idea about values. Wife and kids would not have a clue otherwise. This also applies to other things like books, machines ect. Cheers for that one Nick.
-
No worries Rew. I don’t know if it’s an urban myth (wife selling valuable collection), but I wouldn’t be surprised!
-
Hi nick
There shoujd be a an inventory database that you can customise. Although I don't use access I use lotus approach, I will have a look.
But that's a good idea cataloging coins if you have time.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.wikihow.com/Make-an-Inventory-Database-in-Access%3famp=1
-
Hi nick
There shoujd be a an inventory database that you can customise. Although I don't use access I use lotus approach, I will have a look.
But that's a good idea cataloging coins if you have time.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/m.wikihow.com/Make-an-Inventory-Database-in-Access%3famp=1
Thanks Andrew,
I am by my own admittance quite untechnical, but had a quick look at access, which I hadn't used before. It doesn't look very easy to me so I will persevere and your link looks helpful. Its about time this old dog learned new tricks!
-
I've down the line of all that twaddle and after 20 odd years detecting have
given away 95% of my finds. For me the thrill of the chace and the excitement
of making the mud clod smaller and smaller to find that lovely trinket is the only
thing that's worth doing in metal detecting.
Database pointless unless you like number crunching and making work for yourself.
-
Who's woke up with a sore head today then ;)
-
Well I go back well before the age of the computer for data collection.
I have some records but many of my finds even precious metal ones, I have given away to Farmers and friends.
Some of the more important ones are in museums.
I just enjoy the research before the hunt and after with identification, plus of course swinging the detector in the fresh air.
I have over time had some lucky finds, but my advice is dont give up the day job. ;) :)
Happy Hunting,
Jerry.
-
Database pointless unless you like number crunching and making work for yourself.
Mr. Farty, I think you are missing the point. For me the database is for preserving fond memories and a tool for compiling clues to help me imagine what life was like for the people that dropped the artifacts. All fun parts of the metal detecting experience. ;)
-
Database pointless unless you like number crunching and making work for yourself.
Mr. Farty, I think you are missing the point. For me the database is for preserving fond memories and a tool for compiling clues to help me imagine what life was like for the people that dropped the artifacts. All fun parts of the metal detecting experience. ;)
100% agree with you there lodge.
-
I've down the line of all that twaddle and after 20 odd years detecting have
given away 95% of my finds. For me the thrill of the chace and the excitement
of making the mud clod smaller and smaller to find that lovely trinket is the only
thing that's worth doing in metal detecting.
Database pointless unless you like number crunching and making work for yourself.
Each to his own Farty. Like you I have shared finds with landowners, as I believe if a landowner is good enough to let you on his property then the least you can do is show them and if they want one or two of them that adds to the relationship. For me the database is all about the research and consolidating in one place all my finds with the PAS links, plus giving my family a clue as to what's there in case something suddenly happens to me. If they wish to give it to a museum I would be delighted and the database would be invaluable to the museum as a starting point to know what is there, but equally if they were in a difficult position financially and opted to try to sell some bits then that is their prerogative and the database would be a guide for them.
Happy hunting one and all!
-
Well I go back well before the age of the computer for data collection.
I have some records but many of my finds even precious metal ones, I have given away to Farmers and friends.
Some of the more important ones are in museums.
I just enjoy the research before the hunt and after with identification, plus of course swinging the detector in the fresh air.
I have over time had some lucky finds, but my advice is dont give up the day job. ;) :)
Happy Hunting,
Jerry.
Just a thought.
Here is a typical finds box with the recipients name removed.
The Finds sheet listings from the boxes act as a personal record if I need to re-cap.
Happy Hunting,
Jerry.