A Kentucky man who bought a beat up metal detector on a whim at a yard sale used his new toy to rediscover a lost anniversary gift. David Tincher of Madisonville paid $10 for the detector on Monday, and started poking around the yard. Tincher told The Messenger the initial search went slowly--a few nails and some old tools at the house built in 1792.
After a while, Tincher and his wife Judy searched near a tree where the beeper on the detector went off.
"Something set the beeper off, and my friend dug up a small pile of sod and dirt," David Tincher said.
In the dirt, Tincher found a large gold ring inlaid with diamonds _ an anniversary gift from his wife of 51 years. Judy Tincher gave him the ring in September 2000 and he lost it a month later while raking leaves.
"He was just elated," Judy Tincher said.
She had surprised him with it as a wedding anniversary gift Sept. 22, 2000. This fall, the Tinchers have been married 51 years. They were married in 1961 and started Country Cottage Antiques, which is still running strong, in 1965. David Tincher retired as a battalion chief and acting chief of the Frankfort Fire Department several years ago.
Tincher says the ring's monetary value isn't important _ it's the sentimental value that counts.
"She never did tell me what she paid for it, and I was afraid to ask her after I lost it," he said, laughing. "It was such a stroke of luck finding it. I'm a lucky man, in a lot of ways really, but this, this was a stroke of luck."