Many ordinary people mistakenly believe that it is extremely difficult to find an old and truly valuable thing. But sometimes it is enough to work with a metal detector for a while, and you will be able to see the opposite. There are still many treasures hidden in the ground. In addition, the excitement of the search itself is so absorbing that you should definitely try yourself as a treasure hunter. Finds with a metal detector can be very diverse, and the value of each of them is also different. So what can you find? Let's take a look.
What are the finds with a metal detector?
Today, metal detectors are no longer exclusively tools for the military or rescue services. This is an affordable device for treasure hunters, historians and enthusiasts who dream of finding something truly valuable in the ground. Most often, searchers find the following finds.
Coins, crosses and jewelry
Antique coins are the most common find. Considering that many travelers from different countries have passed through the lands at different times, a wide variety of banknotes can be found in the soil - from European to Arabic. They can be found anywhere, because they are found in parks, beach areas, fields and even in forests.
In addition, pectoral crosses, which were previously an integral attribute of every Christian, are no less common finds. Poor people wore metal versions, and noble people - gold and silver. In addition, in ancient times, people wore pagan amulets and icons. And the earth generously shares such valuables today.
Clothing and accessories
Among the valuable finds with a metal detector, buttons, fasteners, buckles and many other attributes that were used to decorate headdresses and clothes of the nobility are also distinguished. Especially valuable are products made of silver, gold and bronze.
Weapons
Ancient weapons are also often found in the depths of the earth. We are talking about all kinds of axes, swords, sabres and other things. Mainly iron products are not preserved in the best condition. The reason is susceptibility to corrosion. But at the same time, bronze items can become a worthy addition to collections of rare weapons.
TOP-5 most valuable finds with a metal detector
There are many stories and stories about simply incredible most valuable finds with a metal detector, which were made using a metal detector. In order to warm up your enthusiasm, we will consider the most impressive of them below.
Staffordshire Hoard (England, 2009)
This is one of the most grandiose hoards that were discovered in Great Britain. In the county of Staffordshire, a farmer Terry Herb found a hoard worth 3.3 million pounds sterling. Using the most ordinary metal detector, he found an item that, after further research, turned out to be part of an Anglo-Saxon treasure from the 7th century. In total, more than 3,500 items were found, including swords, gold jewelry, inlaid crosses, religious symbols and weapon fragments.
Gold Coin (USA, Nevada, 2023)
A retiree who was a keen digger in his spare time was able to find a rare gold coin from 1866. The main feature of the find is that it did not have the motto "In God We Trust", which is why it is of great value to numismatists. The cost of the coin was about 1 million dollars, and collectors showed interest in it almost immediately after the publicity.
Roman Coins in Somerset (England 2010)
Dave Crisp used his metal detector to discover one of the largest Roman hoards ever found in the UK. We are talking about more than 52,000 coins made of bronze. Moreover, the find was dated to the 3rd century AD. The treasure weighed about 160 kg. The treasure was found at a depth of less than a meter. The value of the treasure exceeded 320 thousand pounds. This find inspired many novice treasure hunters around the world.
Signet Ring (Israel, 2021)
On the beach in Caesarea, a treasure hunter discovered a gold ring depicting a shepherd carrying a sheep. This artifact was recognized as a Christian symbol of the 3rd-4th centuries. In addition, this find was confirmation of the presence of Christianity in the region at that time. Despite the fact that the size of the jewelry is quite modest, its historical value is difficult to overestimate.
Spanish Doubloons (Florida, USA)
A group of enthusiasts regularly combed the coast of Florida and their find with a metal detector was 50 gold Spanish doubloons that sank along with a galleon back in the 18th century. According to preliminary estimates, this find is worth more than $1 million, and some of the coins found were museum quality. This story has become a clear confirmation that pirate treasures are quite possible to find today.
All these stories with cool metal detector finds are united not only by fortune, but also by a burning passion for searching, a systematic approach and patience. Luck is important, but it mostly smiles on those who study old maps, read a lot of historical literature and analyze the terrain. And all these finds might not have happened if these treasure hunters had given up after the first failures. Who knows, maybe you will be the one to discover the next million-dollar treasure.
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