DIGSTOCK IX - From Muddy Mayhem to Gold Coin Glory

matt08938
Jul 22
3 min read

Updated: Aug 13

Not every Digstock event is blessed with sunshine and smooth sailing—but sometimes, the most memorable hunts begin in the mud.

Digstock IX was one of those events.

Right from day one, we knew we were in for it. A cold front rolled in fast, bringing relentless rain and frigid temperatures. As guests arrived, they had to make the trek down a long dirt road riddled with low spots, then climb a hill for registration and our pre-hunt meeting. We got most of the setup done while it was still dry—but as soon as we opened the gates for the 500+ participants to start pulling in?

The skies opened up.

The Weather Wreaks Havoc

It poured. Then it poured some more. And it didn’t take long before the dirt road turned to soup and the parking field became a slippery mess. We did everything we could—shifting cars to higher ground, working the lanes, adjusting on the fly—but the site we were using was the only location the landowner allowed for parking. No Plan B this time. We had to make it work.

By the time most folks were finally parked, the heavy rain slowed to a misty drizzle—but it was still cold, wet, and uncomfortable.

At our pre-hunt meeting, we faced the facts: everyone would need to leave the way they came in. So we gave the one golden rule:“Once you get going, do not stop.”

Miraculously, everyone made it out that first evening without a major issue. Guests returned to their hotels to rest up and plan their next two days of detecting, and we crossed our fingers for better weather ahead.

Turning the Corner

By the next morning, the sun broke through, and the breeze helped dry out the roads and fields faster than expected. Morale started lifting. We turned our attention back to the hunt and began making our rounds to visit participants in the field.

At first, the finds were typical:

Flat buttons
Silver coins
Watch fobs
Brass cutlery

The usual odds and ends from 100+ year-old homesteads. Good stuff, but nothing earth-shattering.

Then the rumors started.

Whispers of Treasure!

Around 2 PM, we started hearing chatter about big finds:

Cut Spanish silver
King George coppers
Seated and Bust dimes
1820s military buttons

And then—the showstopper: An 1852 $2.50 gold coin

Now, we’ve heard stories like this before. Sometimes it’s just playful gossip or a well-meaning hoax to get folks stirred up. So we took the rumor with a grain of salt… until a message came through.

IT WAS REAL!

We headed straight to the site, and there it was—a gleaming gold coin, held proudly by a longtime Digstock participant with a grin a mile wide. His team had been hunting a promising zone, and their persistence paid off. The area was already producing great colonial-era finds, but this?

This was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

The discovery was so significant it was later featured in American Digger Magazine. (We’ll link or include the article at the bottom of this post.)

From Rain to Reward

Each day brought more incredible finds—tables filled with colonial and early American artifacts, copper coins, rare buttons, and relics worthy of museum shelves. The atmosphere had completely transformed from miserable to magical. There was laughter in the fields, camaraderie at the tents, and that unmistakable sparkle in the eyes of treasure hunters living their best day.

Despite the soggy start, Digstock IX became one of the most unforgettable events we’ve ever hosted.

Final Thoughts

What began as a washout turned into one of the most legendary hunts in Digstock history. Mud-soaked boots gave way to gold coin grins, and even the worst weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of this incredible community.

To every digger who toughed it out, pushed through the mess, and unearthed pieces of the past: thank you. Your determination and energy are what make Digstock more than just an event—it’s a family, a movement, and a shared adventure into history.