GOLD

     The Maryland Journal reported in May, 1901 that "Many persons will be surprised to know that within easy walking distance of the National Capital there are no less than a half-dozen gold mines in actual operation. Prospecting is now a rather extensive industry along the banks of the Potomac, from a point near Georgetown up the river, past Great Falls, a distance of perhaps ten miles." Although no mining is currently underway in Maryland, individuals still seek their fortunes in gold.

     Although gold was first reported in 1849 on Samuel Ellicott's farm near Brookville, Montgomery County (the bulk of today's gold concentration in Maryland), no production was recorded. There are numerous versions of the first discovery of gold in the Potomac area. In 1861 during the Civil War, a Private McCleary (or McCarey) of the 71st Pennsylvania Regiment (or "1st California Volunteers") was stationed outside of Washington, D.C. While encamped in the vicinity of Great Falls, he discovered gold. It is reported that the gold was found while washing skillets in a stream near McCleary's hilltop camp overlooking the old Anglers Club. By 1867 the first shaft was sunk near the site of the Maryland Mine.  Since then, gold production went into full force until the last mine was closed in 1951.  

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!

     Unlike many other New England states, Maryland's gold is not the result of glacial deposition.  In fact, its in relation to the metamorphic gravels of the Piedmont Plateau, a belt of metamorphic rocks extending from New York to South Carolina.  The metal occurs as grains, wires or sheets in quartz veins and along mineralized fault zones in the surrounding metamorphic rocks. The distribution of gold in the quartz veins is sporadic and the concentration ranges from 0.1 to 5 ppm (Reed and Reed, 1969). Sulfides sometimes found with the gold are pyrite, sphalerite, and galena. In the copper districts of Maryland, gold has often been noted as a minor accessory mineral.

     While Montgomery County holds the record, gold has also been found in Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Baltimore, and Harford Counties.  If you can find an old mine dump (tailing), you will probably have great success with a metal detector due to the primitiveness of early mining.  As always, ask for permission before detecting / panning on private property.  

• Check with the Maryland Forest and Parks service for info on detecting or panning on state owned lands. 
• For federally owned property, check with the Superintendent of Parks
• Other helpful resources include the Maryland Dept of Resources and the Maryland Geological Survey  

RELICS, COINS, & JEWELRY

     A relic hunter's paradise!  Maryland offers a rich colonial, revolutionary war, and civil war history - waiting for you to rediscover.  Whether it's an old colonial foundation, an early bivouac site, or downtown construction, you are sure to find some awesome coins and relics.  However, that's not to speak of the seashore's huge potential.  Maryland coastal areas are said to conceal some of Captain Kidd's treasure, some of which may be inland near the old Mansion House in northwest Baltimore.

     Also, 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.  Chesapeake Bay has had its share of ship losses, but any coins remaining on the sea bottom are probably the personal property of passengers rather than lost treasure cargo.

     Nonetheless, 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 Maryland 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.  

• A French immigrant is said to have buried $100,000 in coins near Catonsville.
• Near Salisbury, about $30,000 in treasure had already been found by the early 1950s, and legend has it that more awaits lucky searchers.
• At or near the old Croissant Mansion in California, St. Mary's County, a treasure is said to be hidden.

These excerpts are a sampling from American Coin Treasures and Hoards