Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting Guides
Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting Guides
Complete guide to metal detecting techniques, from historical coinshooting to modern gold prospecting
Introduction
Metal detecting and treasure hunting is enjoying a resurgence, thanks to various "reality" TV shows. Despite what you may have seen on TV, most metal detectorists do not jump up and down and yell at every little find, but are quiet, considerate people who enjoy a hobby that is focused on discovery.
Metal detecting can be broadly broken into two branches (which can still overlap)—History and Treasure. Whether you're searching for historical artifacts or seeking valuable finds, understanding different detecting techniques helps maximize your success. For those who prefer guaranteed treasure, purchasing authenticated gold coins and bullion offers immediate access to precious metals without the uncertainty of field hunting.
Hobby Overview
Modern metal detecting combines historical research, outdoor exploration, and the excitement of discovery. While television shows emphasize dramatic finds, most detectorists appreciate the hobby's meditative aspects and connection to local history.
Table of Contents
History-Focused Metal Detecting
Some people take up metal detecting to learn more about the history of a place. This could be old homesteads, buildings, or churches that have long since disappeared, or places like ghost towns, or old military encampments. This activity can be broken down into two broad areas of focus: Coinshooting and Relic Hunting.
Historical Research
Successful historical detecting begins with research. Study old maps, property records, and local history to identify promising locations where people once gathered, lived, or conducted business.
Complementary Approaches
These two types of treasure hunting can be thought of as different focuses of the same activity. Treasure hunters looking for old coins will doubtlessly find relics. Conversely, relic hunters will dig up coins, which they would consider being another relic.
Coinshooting Techniques
Perhaps the most popular area of metal detecting, coinshooting refers to hunting for coins. This could be searching for spilled change in a park, to hunting for old coins at old homesteads, churches, or anywhere people gathered.
Research Strategy
Search for forgotten towns or railroad whistle stops on old maps of your area. You might find them online, or find physical maps at your local library, historical society, or public records office.
Modern Coinshooting
Contemporary coins and jewelry lost in parks, beaches, and recreational areas. While less historically significant, modern finds can still have monetary value and help fund the hobby.
Historical Coinshooting
Searching for pre-1965 silver coins, old gold coins, and historical currency that can provide insights into past civilizations. These finds often have both historical significance and precious metal value.
Valuable Finds
Detectorists regularly discover pre-1965 silver coins that contain 90% silver content. These finds demonstrate how precious metals have circulated throughout history, connecting hobby detecting to modern precious metals investing.
Relic Hunting
Relic hunting is the search for old artifacts from previous eras. There are obviously far more types of relics in Europe than in America. Metal detectorists in the United Kingdom regularly find relics and old coins from the Roman era, through the Middle Ages, to early modern times.
War Relics
War relics are a special area of relic hunting, where bullets, swords, and buttons can be the targets. Civil War battlefields and military encampments offer particularly rich hunting grounds in America.
Household Items
Everyday objects from past eras—tools, buckles, buttons, and household items—provide fascinating insights into how people lived and worked centuries ago.
European Advantage
European detectorists enjoy access to thousands of years of history, regularly uncovering Roman coins, medieval artifacts, and treasures spanning multiple civilizations. American relic hunting typically focuses on Colonial, Civil War, and early settlement periods.
Treasure-Focused Detecting
Other detectorists are focused on finding gold or silver nuggets, jewelry or even smartphones. While finding old coins or interesting relics is nice, the main focus is on a pay day. The two categories of "treasure hunters" are Beach and Water detecting, and Prospecting.
Treasure Hunting Reality
While television shows feature spectacular finds, successful treasure hunting requires patience, research, and realistic expectations. Most detectorists consider any find that pays for gas money to be a successful outing.
Beach and Water Detection
Beach hunters are after lost jewelry, dropped coins, and similar items. Experienced beachcombers know that smartphones that have shorted out from exposure to salt water can be sold for scrap. Many have paper money folded up and stored between the phone and its case.
Saltwater Beaches
Some treasure hunters, especially on the East Coast of the US, dream of Spanish shipwreck treasure, swept to shore by storms. Modern beach hunting typically yields jewelry, coins, and electronic devices.
Freshwater Hunting
Hunting on the shores of lakes, ponds, and rivers where people gather is a freshwater type of beach hunting. Swimming areas, boat launches, and fishing spots often yield lost valuables.
Prime Locations
Focus on areas where people frequently enter and exit water—beaches, swimming holes, and boat ramps. Early morning searches after busy weekends often yield the best results.
Gold Prospecting
Especially popular in Australia and the American West, prospectors use today's technology in historic gold-producing areas to uncover gold nuggets. This can be in remote areas in traditional gold bearing regions, to sweeping old mining camps.
Tailings Pile Opportunities
One lucrative area for gold prospecting is the old "tailings piles" left over from old mining operations. Especially at old river dredging gold mines, very small nuggets could slip through the gratings, and larger nuggets hiding encased in rock would have been tossed out before they ever entered the sluice.
Modern Technology
Today's metal detectors can find gold that 19th-century miners missed. Advanced discrimination settings help distinguish between gold and other metals in mineralized ground.
Research Areas
Study historical mining records, geological surveys, and old maps to identify promising prospecting areas. Understanding current gold prices helps evaluate the economic potential of finds.
Gold Prospecting Reality
While finding gold nuggets remains possible, successful prospecting requires specialized equipment, extensive research, and access to productive areas. Many prospectors supplement their hobby by purchasing gold bullion and coins to ensure their precious metals portfolio continues growing.
Getting Started Guide
There is no need to find out everything about metal detecting the hard way. Search online for nearby metal detecting clubs. Attend a couple of meetings to find the club that suits your interests and preferences.
Ethics and Respect
Respecting others is the #1 way to keep areas open to metal detecting. Review the "Metal Detecting Code of Ethics" so that you don't end up in trouble, and don't give the hobby a bad name.
Ring Finders Network
One way to enjoy metal detecting while doing good deeds is to join the Ring Finders database. Ring finders are metal detectorists that people can call on when they've lost a ring or piece of jewelry with sentimental value.
Best Practices
- Always get permission before detecting on private property
- Fill in all holes and leave areas cleaner than you found them
- Research local laws and regulations before detecting
- Join local clubs for mentorship and area knowledge
- Invest in quality equipment suited to your detecting goals
Finding Treasure the Easy Way
If spending your weekends sweeping a piece of equipment around and listening for beeps isn't your sort of thing, you can get your treasure the easy way here at Gainesville Coins. From modern bullion coins and bars to old gold and silver coins, to even ancient coins, you're sure to find something to make your day!
Guaranteed Quality
Unlike metal detecting finds that require cleaning, authentication, and research, purchased precious metals come with guaranteed purity, weight, and authenticity. Professional grading and certification eliminate uncertainty.
Immediate Gratification
Skip the research, travel, and hours of searching. Build your precious metals collection immediately with coins and bullion that maintain their value while providing portfolio diversification.
Historical Connections
Ancient coins and historical precious metals offer the same connection to the past that metal detecting provides, but with documented provenance and historical significance.
Best of Both Worlds
Many metal detectorists also maintain precious metals collections, combining the excitement of discovery with the security of known investments. Whether you find treasure in the field or purchase it directly, precious metals offer lasting value and historical connection.