Advice on how to identify goldies

[Pedro]

Gday E-trackers, I am new to metal detecting and started off with a Garrett 250 about 9 months ago and enjoyed dirt fishing so much I traded in the Garrett for an E-Trac after 3 months. In the last 6 months I have found some really great coins with the oldest being a fairly worn 1816 George 111 Shilling. When I go targeting 1 and 2 dollar coins I end up digging quite a few aluminum bottle tops and I am wondering if I am missing some clues that the Etrac is trying to tell me "not to dig". Any advice would be most welcome. 

[neddy]

Unfortunately aluminium bottle tops come in at about the same position as $1 and $2 coins. Some times the signal can be identified by a slightly longer stronger signal than the coins, the coins are shorter and sharper.Especially in pin point mode. One way of identifying a buried aluminium cap is using a sharpened screwdriver for a probe. Locate your target by using the probe and push hard on it. The probe it  will spear and go through an alumium bottle cap it wont go through a coin. It saves digging. seeya NED.

[lxss5000]

I find the bottle tops come in a few numbers higher most of the time and sound a bit too high pitched, I also use a Garret Pro pointer and screwdriver, when you hit the target with the screwdriver give it a little bit more of a push if it goes through its not a coin.

[Pedro]

To those who took the time to share their time and experience, thanks very much for the advice regarding the goldies. I will take more notice when I pinpoint and try the probe as well. With the Garrett it was beer bottle tops, but with the Etrac it's the aluminum screw tops. guess I will have to live with it to some extent.

[bthomnz]

I find that if you get a signal in the top three inches or so the aluminum caps ( as is said above) give a messier signal.. though so do goldies that have gone through the mower. And yes pinpoint mode is a good clue, there a little bigger.... I still dig just in case but if you dig down to where the goldy should be and it aint there.. dig another 2 cm and there will be your bottle lid....

[Onequickpuck]

I don't have an E-Trac, but I get the same conditions with my Explorer II.
One additional tip I learned in the field......
Listen in discriminate mode first,
then listen in pinpoint,
but then listen to your pro-pointer. With it pointed straight vertical, grid the area and take note of how small the signal area is (this only works if it's within the top 3-4 inches of soil).
The goldie will make a narrower, faint signal on the pro-pointer where the bottle top or alloy can will make a larger revved up signal pattern.
I'm still learning this technique, but basically my pinpointer gives me a third dimension of information to process. It's particularly good for discriminating against whole flattened alloy cans as they can sometimes make a fairly narrow pattern on the Explorer, but the pinpointer tells the tale with a huge loud signal. Then usually one stab in the ground with the Lesche confirms the alloy kill
Like you blokes though I still dig up heaps hoping it's a great relic or some other treasure
I through nearly 2 kilos of alloy in the bin this wekend.