Each month our Facebook group Metal Detecting Maryland (MDM) holds a contest to vote for our Find of The Month. The MDM Board selects 10 or more photos from the dozens of photos that are submitted for our Wall of Fame contest. The winning photos are voted on by our MDM members to determine which photo/item wins the title “Find of The Month“. To learn more about the contest click here
Our August Votes Are In!
Of the 15 photos chosen for the Wall of Fame, only one was voted as our August Find of The Month. The item that received the most votes is this 1777 Revolutionary War Continental Army Button featured below. This amazing relic was found by our member:
Donnie Bailey
Whats The Story Behind The Find?
Donnie explains, “My friend, Grant Hansen with XP Team USA, invited me to hunt a standing home built in 1810. It is situated along a road which existed during the Revolutionary War. You can see the road on period maps but, obviously, the home wasn’t there during the War. Perhaps, there was a cabin before the home? We may never know but the most interesting part is this was the first of now three Revolutionary War buttons found at the site and all were found next to the road. Grant found a 7th Continental Regiment button which is very rare and I found a second USA button. We are, obviously, still hunting the site.”
Check Out Some of Donnie’s Favorite Finds.
Lets Find Out More About Donnie
How long have you been metal detecting?
Donnie: 24 Years.
What is your favorite metal detector and what do you like about the machine the most?
Donnie: I have used many different brands through the years but the XP Deus is my all time favorite detector. I can’t imagine swinging anything else. I mainly hunt colonial era cellar holes which have a halo of 250 – 300 year old rusty nails all around the home site. The iron is so thick it sounds like a machine gun going off. With the Deus, you can adjust the Reactivity of the detector. Basically, you can make the machine see a target and recognize the next target at lightning speed. Most older detectors, and even some still on the market today, have only one Reactivity Speed built in. The Deus can “see” the rusty nail AND the good target next to it.
Who inspired you to get into metal detecting?
Donnie: That would be me. I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was probably 8 years old. I always loved history and wanted to go dig the pyramids. My next door neighbor had the very first metal detector in town. I used to sit on “Old Man Charlie’s” porch and ask him what he had found with his detector.
What do you consider to be your best find metal detecting?
Donnie: 1652 Pine Tree Shilling (shown below)
What is your favorite type of detecting (relic, coin shooting, water etc.)?
Donnie: I’m a relic hunter. I love to listen to the iron around colonial home sites and pick out the good targets in between.
Name 5 items you would like to find in the future.
Donnie: #1 Native American Kettle Point, #2 Revolutionary War Regimental button, #3 War of 1812 Artillery button, #4 Vermont Copper #5 USA North Carolina Button.
Do you have other social media links, channels etc. you want to share on your page?
Donnie: Yes, I would like to share Grant Hansen’s video of my Revolutionary War USA Button. Grant spends a lot of time and effort to make really good videos. Please like and subscribe if you like the videos. I would really appreciate it.
August 2020 Wall of Fame Winners.
Phil Kemmerlin – 1916 Mexican Border Wars Award/Souvenir found in Dorchester County, MD with the Minelab Equinox 600
Andy Nunez – Silver Onyx Stone Ring found at Ocean City, MD with the Minelab Vanquish 540
Doug Hartlaub – Large Crotal Bell found near Gettysburg, PA with the Nokta Makro Anfibio
Chris Martin – 1788 Connecticut Copper found near Mechanicsburg, PA with the Garrett AT Max
Doug Goodyear – 1861 Seated Half Dime found on the Eastern Shore of MD with the Minelab Equinox 800
Keith Sylvester – Civil War Hotchkiss Shell found with the Garrett AT Pro
Jeff Johnson – Civil War Infantry Button found near Frederick, MD with the Minelab Equinox 800
Brian Lee West – WWI Button found near Severn, MD with a Nokta Makro Anfibio (Multi)
Jason Stull – 1898 Baltimore Dog Tag found near Glen Burnie, MD with a Minelab Equinox 800
Mike McCullough – Silver Point Pendant found near Cockeysville, MD with the Minelab Equinox 600
Doug Smith – Civil War General Staff Officers Button found in Adams County, PA with the Minelab Equinox 800
Are You Ready to Upgrade Your Machine to One of The Metal Detectors Mentioned Above?
If you are then you’re in luck. Fort Bedford Metal Detectors carries all of the metal detectors mentioned above and more. Plus, they carry all the accessories you’ll ever need. Give Keith Leppert a call at 814-215-1732 or visit his website If you are looking at other machines, coils, accessories etc., Fort Bedford is the place to go. Tell him Scott from Mental Metal Detecting sent you!
Join us and submit your photos!
