Prospectors Radio LIVE 9-24-23 Special guest FL Thunder Diggin with Rob

·1 hr 59 min·5 clips

Rob Clark unearthed a 117-year-old solid gold Masonic medal from a 1912 yard, tracing its owner's lost lineage.

The episode begins with host Tim Grimes and regulars like Rich Cooley and Dennis Dayton addressing a technical issue from the previous week. They discuss a fire-starting contest where participants try to ignite a fire with two sticks, with Jeff leading but no one yet achieving a flame. The conversation shifts to a wild Canadian sighting and dental work in Mexico, touching on healthcare systems. Gold prices are reported: gold at $1,925, silver at $23.62, platinum at $927, palladium at $1,287, and rhodium at $4,450. Special guest Rob Clark (F.L. Thunder) joins, introduced as a metal detectorist from Tampa, Florida, nicknamed the 'Weedy King' for finding wheat pennies. Rob shares his background, including the origin of his nickname 'Minardo Rob' from a lockout incident. He describes his detecting preferences, favoring dirt hunting for old relics over beach hunting, though he does both. His standout find is a solid gold 33rd-degree Masonic medal from 1906, found in a 1912 yard in Zephyr Hills, with a detailed inscription and no living relatives to return it to. Another significant find is a token from a 1905 speakeasy in Tarpon Springs, now in a historical museum, which revealed unknown local history. Rob talks about his detecting techniques, using Minelab detectors like the Equinox 600 and 800. He recounts a scary moment with a homeless guy under a pier but notes he usually hunts with others and is armed as a former cop. For permissions, he door-knocks old houses, getting about 6 out of 10 yeses by asking to 'scan' rather than 'dig', and emphasizes covering holes properly. A notable incident involved police being called over a curb strip dispute, leading Rob to obtain a 30-day permit via 811 for legal digging. He discusses Florida beach laws, where detecting is allowed from the high tide line down, and mentions club involvement with the Sun Coast Research and Recovery Club, part of Ring Finders, which recovers lost jewelry on donations. Rob shares stories of ring recoveries, including a $20,000 diamond ring lost in the Gulf and a $500 donation from a grateful client. He shows various finds: his first ring, a large silver Aztec biker ring; gold rings from beaches; and unique items like gold grills, a Civil War-era rifle trigger guard, Tootsie Toy planes, and WWII bomber wings. The episode concludes with Rob expressing his love for the hobby's relaxation and surprises, and a humorous anecdote about accidentally digging up a pet dog's ashes.

As heard by us

A live club hour where smoke, muck, and lost jewelry each get their turn.

This episode opens by circling back to last week's technical trouble and the easy Microsoft joke before turning to Jeff's fire-starting video, where two sticks, wood shavings, and a lot of smoke create a close call worth a closer look.

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Why you'd press play

You get smoke, a close call, and a patient look at how finds get recovered.

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