I took up metal-detecting in November 2009 and joined the Essex Detector Society. I started off by purchasing a Minelab X-TERRA 305 and soon started finding coins. These were both copper and hammered silver coins. I decided after about nine months to upgrade my metal detector and purchased a second hand Minelab E-TRAC, which has proved to be an excellent choice. One weekend early in August 2011 I took a friend out with me to a field where I had previously found approximately ten hammered silver coins. My friend also has a Minelab E-TRAC. I was trying to show him how to keep his detector level as he moved it from side to side. It was quite frustrating, so I put my detector down and walked alongside him for about an hour. He very soon detected and retrieved a nice Victorian silver threepence. I decided to carry on detecting and after spending five hours on the field we had some buckles, copper coins and plenty of buttons but not much else. We then decided to call it a day.