"Listen up, Greenhorns and Sourdoughs! Panning for modern gold takes a different kind of eye than the old stuff. Here is how I sift through a Stampede Pay Dirt bag to make sure no 'nugget' gets left in the tailings."
1. Clear Your Workspace (The "Claim Site")
"Don't go dumping your bag on a cluttered desk! You need a clean, flat surface—preferably with a dark-colored mat so those bright modern colors pop. Make sure your lighting is as bright as a high-noon sun. If you can’t see the perforations, you can’t see the gold."
2. Sift the Surface (The "Flashy" Finds)
"When you first open that bag, you’re gonna see the big, colorful commemoratives—the 'showy' gold. Spread 'em out! Look for those Souvenir Sheets and large-format issues from 2015 to now. These are your easy pickings, but don't stop there."
3. Mind the "Tailings" (The Small Definitives)
"This is where the real prospectors make their name. Those small, everyday 'definitive' stamps might look like common gravel, but in the modern era, certain printings and denominations are rarer than a rainstorm in Death Valley. Check your catalog! A small stamp with a high face value is often a hidden nugget."
4. Look for the "Golden Cancels"
"Sometimes the gold ain't the stamp, it's the mark on top of it. Keep a sharp eye for Special Event Cancels or clean, circular date stamps (CDS). A modern stamp with a perfect 'First Day' mark or a rare territory postmark can double the value of your find."
5. The "Clementine" Inspect
"Once you think you’ve found a winner, do what Clem does: Check the 'teeth' (perforations) and the centering. A modern rarity in 'Superb' condition is the motherlode. Use your tongs—don’t go getting your thumb-grease on the merchandise!"
6. File Your Claim
"If you strike it rich, don't be shy! Bring your find over to the Stampede Gazette section of the site and let us know. We love seeing what our Claim Jumpers unearth in the hills."