In Hard Times, Dreams of Easy Money

In Hard Times, Dreams of Easy Money Many metal detector enthusiasts never find more than old bottle caps, a few dollars in loose change, and some cheap jewelry in their searches, but on the afternoon of Aug. 14, in a horse pasture near Ridgeland, S.C., relic hunter Laszlo Eles unearthed what he believes to be right a more valuable find: a silver half dime from 1795, minted when George Washington was President.

The South Carolina resident has not yet taken it to an appraiser, but Eles estimates it is worth about $10,000—and he plans to hold on to the coin until the economy improves. In his 25 years as a hobbyist, this is not the first time he has come across a valuable item. In 2005, Eles found a South Carolina copper slave tag and sold it for $15,000 to a collector in California.

If only fate were so kind to us all. At a time when even those willing to work cannot find jobs and public disillusionment is high, according to a Bloomberg National Poll, it is tempting to dream of easy ways to make money—quickly and with minimal effort. After all, it has been done before.

First Texas Products, a metal detector manufacturer, and Kellyco Metal Detectors, the world's largest distributor of hobby metal detectors, tell Businessweek.com that their sales are up. Also, lottery ticket sales in North America increased by 1.5 percent in fiscal 2010 over last year, according to the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries.