Treasure Hunting Connecticut

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GOLD

Gold has been discovered in Connecticut in the western portion of the state.  While no lode has been discovered yet, it is still likely.  However, a number of placer nuggets in this part of the state were probably deposited by glacier movement.  

Placer Deposits

A placer deposit is a concentration of a natural material that has accumulated in unconsolidated sediments of a stream bed, beach, or residual deposit.  Gold derived by weathering or other process from lode deposits is likely to accumulate in placer deposits because of its weight and resistance to corrosion.  In addition, its characteristically sun-yellow color makes it easily and quickly recognizable even in very small quantities.

The gold pan or miner's pan is a shallow sheet-iron vessel with sloping sides and flat bottom used to wash gold-bearing gravel or other material containing heavy minerals. The process of washing material in a pan, referred to as "panning," is the simplest, most commonly used, and least expensive method for a prospector to separate gold from the silt, sand, and gravel of the stream deposits.  It is a tedious, back-breaking job and only with practice does one become proficient in the operation. Thankfully, technology finally caught up with our gold fever and brought us metal detectors!

As always, ask for permission before detecting / panning on private property.  Here's some locations where nuggets have been found in the past:

• Litchfield County:  Harwinton (Leadmine Brook), Torrington (Nickel Mine Brook), Riverton (West branch of Farmington River)
• New Haven County: Beacon Falls (Beacon Hill Brook)

RELICS

Connecticut is a relic hunter's paradise!  Connecticut offers a rich colonial, revolutionary war, and civil war history - waiting for you to rediscover.  Did you know that Waterbury, CT has been home to several military uniform button manufacturers from early on in this country's history.  So what?  Early military buttons can we worth $100s, and we'd be surprised if you didn't find any along with some early colonial coins.

GEMS

Garnet in mica schist near Roxbury and Roxbury Falls in Litchfield County was once mined, although not recently, for use in abrasive applications and for mineral specimens. The andradite garnet was found as well-formed dodecahedral crystals that separate easily from the host schist.

COINS & JEWELRY

For hundreds of years, the Mid-Atlantic coastline served as the busiest passage for thousands of Spanish, Danish, French English, and colonial ships.  Pirates and privateers combined with storms and shifting sand bars made this course the most hazardous in the world.  Hundreds of these ships may still be lying on the bottom of Long Island Sound.  

Locals say that if you just walk along the coast after a storm, you can find Spanish doubloons, coppers, pillar dollars, guineas, jewelry, pottery and other relics without a detector.  Just imagine.....having one!

Here's a few more ideas to get you started:

• Schools and College Campuses
• Parks / Playgrounds / Picnic Areas
• Foundations, Wells, and Cellar Holes of Old Churches or Houses
• Downtown Construction Sites
• Swimming Holes and Beaches
• Camp Grounds, Boy Scout Camps, and WPA / CCC Camps
• Sports Facilities
• Ghost Towns
• Riding Stables and Race Tracks
• Old Fair and Carnival Locations
• Old Town Dumpsites

LOST TREASURE

As in other areas of the US, there are several tales of lost treasure in Connecticut concerning caches buried for safety.  In many of these stories, people either died or forgot where they buried the stash.  Contributing factors include:   

    1.  Federal laws making possession of gold illegal in the early 1900s

    2.  Distrust of banks during the Great Depression.  

• Tuxis Island off Milford is said to have yielded "a great quantity of eighteenth-century coins" for a group of campers in 1903.  There's probably more remaining since metal detectors hadn't been invented yet.  
• The beach at Penfield Reef near Fairfield may be worthwhile, as in 1888 George Hawley found a cache of gold and silver coins all dated 1795.  If any US coins are left, it could well be worthwhile!

These excerpts are a sampling from American Coin Treasures and Hoards