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30 Brilliant Stories About The Coolest Things People Found While Using Metal Detectors
Going on an adventure is one of the most fun things you can do. Exploring the unknown and pushing past your limits really makes you feel alive! However, it’s a tough thing to balance that burning call to action with mundane responsibilities. You still need to pay rent, and someone needs to pick up the groceries, and do the dishes.
But waiting for your annual vacation can be dreadfully boring, so something that’s a good compromise is going on daily or weekly mini-adventures. You don’t have to go looking for gold in the jungle or discover lost ruins to have a great time. Sometimes, all you need is a metal detector and a heart full of passion.
Internet users who metal detect in their spare time shared some amazing and thoroughly enthralling stories in a r/AskReddit thread. Scroll down to read about the coolest things they found and to learn about the treasures they uncovered, Pandas! Upvote your fave stories, and let us know if you’re already feeling the desire to look up metal detector prices just like we are.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My buddy and I set out to find an old gold mining camp. We followed the maps and were in the right place when we discovered that the town was actually on the other side of a canyon. We had to beat our way through some 12' brush and then started finding things everywhere. He found a pocketwatch right by the side of the old wagon road. We realized that the entire dump was still there. Like the place had become forgotten and finally recorded on the wrong side of the creek years before. We actually stopped hunting and told the Forest Service. We met and took the archaeologist up there. He was floored because everything was still in context. Felt pretty good about finding a whole town.
#2
I've found a meteorite in Kansas. There is an area outside of Greensburg that is known to have had a meteor explode in the air before hitting the earth and dozens of smaller fragments are scattered over many miles. They are very deep and a lot of work to dig up, but my dad and I dug a 7 foot hole and extracted a nearly 30 pound stony-iron pallasite meteorite, which is worth nearly $2,000 a pound.
#3
Some German metal detecting / WWII enthusiasts actually found pieces of my grandfather’s B-24 Liberator that he was shot down in. They were able to ID the plane by its serial numbers. Miraculously, my uncle was on the same forum they were posting their finds on and connected. They sent my grandfather the pieces of his plane.
At its core, metal detecting is all about adventure, being out in the great outdoors, an excuse to socialize with your buddies (or spend some time with your own thoughts), and about that burning desire to uncover some long-lost treasure.
Who here hasn’t daydreamed about finding a chest full of gold, an ancient sword, or the remains of a massive Viking ship? You don’t necessarily need a metal detector to do that if Fortune’s on your side, but hey, some good tools aren’t a bad idea to bring into the fray, are they?
#4
Literally only did it once with a friend when I was a teenager at a beach with a friend (he and his dad were really into it). We found a $20k watch in 1995 dollars. Wasn’t a Rolex, but can’t remember the maker. We took it to a jeweler who made a few calls and found out it was in a registry and the owner was called. He was elated as it was a gift from his wife. He sent us each a check for $1,000. The jeweler gave us each a bitchin fake gold chain on the spot. Jean shorts and high tops need the perfect neck accessory and we got it!
#5
I was detecting on a beach and a desperate South African man approached and told me he had lost his necklace his mother (now deceased) had given him when he was young.
His friend had wrapped it in a towel and gone swimming. Then upon returning, flicked the sand out of the towel with the necklace in it.
He had to go home for the day, but I searched where he told me he was sitting. 15 minutes later, my metal detector went absolutely nuts for this beautiful silver chain.
I said to him that had he not asked me to look for him, I would have definitely found it later that night long after he had left with no way of contacting him. Crazy how life works like that.
Katy McMouse 2 years ago (edited)
That was very kind. In my family, I'm the one who finds stuff. I've spent weeks trying to find one item, but mostly I find missing things rather quickly. I've been campaigning to get my husband and boys to start calling me St. Anthony, but so far they just look at me funny and then scurry away with their formerly missing property. I think they take my powers for granted.
#6
Not my thing, but my brother was detecting just downstream from a popular swimming hole on the American River in California a couple of years ago, looking for dropped watches, phones, go pros, etc. Got a hit, flipped a rock, and found an 11.5-ounce gold nugget underneath. Miners tore the hell out of those rivers back in the 1849 Gold Rush, and amateurs have been panning it ever since, so it was pretty freaking incredible to find something that big.
The Idaho Potato 2 years ago
11.5ozt of nugget gold is sitting at roughly $20K USD at the moment not considering the extra value that it is a big nugget.
One recent story that really got us revved up for finding treasure was the discovery of a one-meter longsword, thought to be around 900 years old. The weapon, encrusted with various marine organisms, was found by an amateur diver off Israel’s northern coast after it resurfaced due to the shifting of the sands. Though no metal detectors were used in that particular case, as far as we know, that sense of wonder is something that many real-life adventurers share. Look, we really want to find a sword, whether with the help of technology or not.
According to the BBC, it’s thought that the sword belonged to a knight who was part of the Crusades. You might not be entitled to rule Albion after finding that particular sword, but Neptune and Poseidon might need to cede at least part of their watery kingdoms. The feeling we got reading that particular story is probably what metal detecting enthusiasts feel when they head out the door, into the unknown.
The UK-based National Council for Metal Detecting shares some basic rules for new enthusiasts. To start things off, you have to make sure that you actually have permission to detect on any land, including in parks, woods, public spaces, common land, and public footpaths.
#7
I went with a friend who's big into his detecting to see what he gets up to, we spend a solid 6 hours in this one field which he was adamant used to have a roman farmhouse. Just before we were going to give up for the day, and to be clear we had found the odd roman coin which was really cool in itself, we stumbled across what seemed to be really big. Anyway, long story short we dug down amd found a selection of roman agricultural tools set out in a relatively neat formation.
My friend has since gone back and found further tools as well as a huge haul of coins.
This will be really underwhelming for a lot of people but the historic tools were really cool
#8
Using a Schonstedt metal detector to determine the absence or presence of an underground heating oil storage tank in Morristown, New Jersey I found a subsurface object corresponding in size to a 550 gallon tank (4’x6’).
I obtained a municipal permit for removal, subsurface utility mark outs and when I excavated I discovered the object was not a tank but a cache of revolutionary war era cannonballs.
#9
I found a blacksmith’s shop in the middle of a farmers field. I was detecting for a historical society and their local expert told me to detect a certain spot that he calculated where the blacksmith shop would be. I did a 10x10 foot area with only finding small pieces of slag. I wasn’t convinced that the shop was there, but the expert wouldn’t have it. While everyone took a break at noon. I started a spiral pattern going farther and farther from his calculations. About 30 minutes later and 100 feet away, I got good strong signals and large slag pieces. I even found a single clay brick. One of the society members started an excavation at my spot. They eventually hit the corner of the shops foundation. They found a hammer and tools for the anvil and the rest of the blacksmith shop.
“Permission must be from the land owner (and the tenant if the land is leased). Beaches are a good place to detect and Crown Estate and Scottish beaches are generally fine,” the NCMD explains, adding that detecting on protected and/or historical sites is absolutely forbidden. You might even be prosecuted.
When you’ve dug a hole, make sure you fill it in properly. Moreover, take care to dispose of all of your rubbish: either throw in a garbage can or bring it home with you. Leave the territory as it was before you found it. Be respectful to nature and wildlife.
According to the NCMD, if you happen across something unusual, like bombs, human bones, ammunition, treasure hoards, or archeological remains, you should stop digging immediately and get expert help.
Keep in mind that your definition of treasure might not fit the official one. And that classification really does mean a lot. In the UK, treasure objects are the property of the Crown and belong neither to the finder, nor the landowner. In short, if you come across treasure, you’ll have to give it up.
#10
Work on a farm - a metal detector found a coin under a tree which was 600 years old and in almost perfect condition- as if it had fallen out of someone's pocket as they sat and had lunch after planting the tree.
#11
Found an old roman coin, they're are a ton of them so not very valuable, but as someone who loves roman history its really cool
#12
Bit of a cheat as was working a site on a uni course in Northern England. Discovered the end of a Roman Dagger and a relatively intact boot replete with nails. Also found a beautiful fragment of a glass bangle; beautiful turquoise blue glass with a bright yellow wave pattern painted on it. Fellow student found and urn full of silver coins. Jammy git.
Katy McMouse 2 years ago (edited)
Jammy git? I don't know what it means, but I like it. Kinda rolls right off the tongue.
The NCMD states that in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, treasure is classified as metallic objects that are made at least from 10% precious metal, and are at least 300 years old. This also includes prehistoric objects, as well as far more recent objects, “made substantially of gold and silver” that have been “deliberately hidden with the intention of recovery and whose owners of heroes are unknown.” Scotland, meanwhile, has its separate law concerning what is and isn’t treasure.
If you do happen to stumble across a massive treasure hoard, the first thing to do is to savor the moment… and then try to calm down.
The NCMD states that you shouldn’t be tempted to “phone all of your friends and family to share the news.”
“Or, even worse, post up information about your find on social media. You need to protect the details of your site as it will take time to get expert help. People talk and the last thing you want is to worry about is the security of the land.”
#13
15 years ago, me and my siblings found bomb from World War II in the Belgian Ardennes, using a $30 toy metal detector.
I remember walking off-road in the woods for hours until we found a spot that looked like nobody has been there in ages. We quickly found a couple of bullets and, while I was inspecting the bullets, my younger brother age 9 saw something sticking out of the dirt.
At first, we thought it was a rusty metal can, but when he pulled it out, it took us a moment to realize that he was holding a bomb. We didn’t know whether it was still intact so I instructed him to slowly put it down in way that it could not roll off the hill and hit something.
We didn’t have any mobile phones so we rushed to the nearest road which we followed to get to a village to get help. We marked the trees so we would remember where we had hidden the bomb.
When we arrived at the village, we explained what happened. Luckily, they believed our story and called the local police. When he arrived, we couldn’t understand a word he said (he was speaking French, we only spoke Dutch) — but eventually he would follow us deep into the woods.
When we arrived, the bomb was luckily still there, and after an inspection by the police officer we were instructed to leave as apparently it was too dangerous and had to be picked up by the bomb squad — but not before we snapped a picture for the local press, posing with the bomb next to us. I still have that picture. Here’s the pic:
https://ibb.co/MkQW5Zd (cheap metal detector also in the picture)
#14
I took a metal detector to my grandparents’ garden when I was 10 and found some Civil War canister shot. Goddamned if it didn’t get lost in a move a few years later. Never found anything as cool as that since then.
To make up for that, I spent the next ten years poring over war-era battle maps showing the positions of each regiment and battery over the course of a particular major battle that basically crisscrossed the whole area, comparing with modern topo maps, doing serious deep dives into primary sources, etc. Eventually, I figured out the exact hill the grapeshot had likely been fired from, and the side that fired it.
I’m glad I got to experience finding it, at least, even though it got lost. It played a big role in my turning into a big history nerd early on.
#15
Someone in my (norwegian) family has actually found a viking sword + some other stuff from that period. They have it hanging in their living room.
Ingvild 2 years ago (edited)
This is illegal, according to Norwegian law any finding that date to before the year 1537 is automatically "fredet", meaning it is protected and belongs to the state. Since the viking age ended in 1066 any private person in possession of a authentic viking sword would need to alert the Authorities. It is a part of Norways cultural heritage, not a decoration.
#16
I used to live near the railroad tracks near an airport and an old industrial area. They used to have a local station for the workers to shuttle into the area (late 1800's, early 1900's). They eventually tore down the station in the 30's/40's when the highways got built nearby.
My dad used to take me with metal detectors and we would find railroad spikes, pocket watches, wrist watches, old silver
dollars and other coins. Best haul by far was a gold locket with a picture of someone's wife/girlfriend ensribed "All My Love, Annie". It wasn't the prettiest locket, but you bet your bottom dollar someone was kicking themselves for losing that precious treasure.
#17
Usually just found lose change people lost at the beach. However, I did have to go find a diamond ring once. Wife of a friend who was currently deployed CLAIMS she lost it while at the beach with her GIRLFRIENDS. It took me a day, but I was able to find it. She was appreciative. It wasn't until he got back that I found out that she lost it because she was taking it off while dating other men. I hated her ever since for playing me like that.
#18
I don't but my father did. He found a confederate Medal of Honor from a guy named John S. Heard. In Georgia we have a Heard County, so this guy's family must have been really influential.
That's a once-in-a-lifetime find. Another time he found a rock that didn't look like much, but turned out to be a prehistoric Native American rubbing stone (used on hides).
#19
When I was in college I went on an archeological dig at a revolutionary war site in NJ. I found a brass button with a flag on it. My professor said it was one of the earliest depictions of an American flag he’d ever seen.
#20
I have found quite a few musketballs! Someone clearly did lots of shooting on our land back in the day
#21
Our son’s wedding ring. He lost it on a landscaping job. The home owners bought a case of beer and about halfway through the case we found it.
Chucky Cheezburger 2 years ago
And that's the second reason I don't wear a wedding ring. The first is to avoid being degloved. Don't look that up if you're squeamish.
#22
Been at it since 1999.
I've found a lot of stuff so what would be the coolest find would be subjective.
I've found a few gold rings , silver jewelry, silver coins, civil war bullets including a couple of possible "bite" bullets and one union cavalry button.
Top finds would be... several silver half dollars (Walking liberties from the 1940s and ben franklins from the 1950s). my oldest coin find (an 1853 seated liberty dime) , my only seated liberty quarter (1877), my three gold rings (one that has 25 small diamonds, another that is a wide band wedding ring with three initials carved into the outside with inlaid silver metal, and an old Herf jones graduation/school ring that is basically a blank... nothing carved into it), an uncrushed 1930s silver thimble (most found thimbles are crushed).
I've never found a gold coin or a silver silver dollar or a pocket watch, or a two cent coin, or a three cent coin. :(
I live in Missouri so finds for the area will not be as old as say in the New England states. I DO know one guy who found an 1801 large cent in Kansas. I've found nearly every kind of coin from the 1850s to present day (barbers, wheaties, seateds, indianheads, standing liberties, etc. etc..). Only exceptions would be gold coins and silver dollars and some half dollars.
I've posted some pics in my past AMAs and other posts so if you search my name and metal detecting or metal detector on reddit you will find them.
#23
My buddy and I bought metal detectors during lockdown and went to the local lake to hunt. I s**t you not he found a silver grill. Not a barbeque, a set of silver teeth in the sand of the local beach. We quit metal detecting right then and there lol
Signe Manat Hansen 2 years ago
I don't understand why that would make you quit though :p it's just jewellery for your teeth
#24
A few weeks ago I was driving on a country road near my house. There was a car pulled over to the side and a young couple was walking around obviously looking for something. I stopped and asked if they needed help. The girl told me, "We were arguing and I threw a ring out of the window." Seeing the guy was beyond pissed, I told them good luck and I drove off. A few days later I got to thinking to borrow a metal detector from a friend who is into that. Went back and searched for about an hour, getting ready to call it quits when I found the ring. Sadly, I have no idea who the couple was and just hope they are OK now.
Holly Marley 2 years ago
Make a few posts on local social media about it? Word could get back to them if they are also local.
#25
Found a pre 1800s vertical Spanish double musket in the ring of a dead tree. Had a bayonet. Apparently the local (Florida Indians) had no idea how to operate these things so would just hide them in holes of oak trees ect. So this gun hung out in that tree until the swamp overtook the land and brought it to ground level.
#26
Probably only interesting to my fellow Seattlites, but an original elephant car wash token. Makes me happy.
#27
We found a buried heart shaped cement pond with some fixtures in the middle of the backyard a few inches down. Mom wasn't thrilled at our excavation!
#28
Never found a anything valuable. Once found a darts trophy medal on top of a mountain, for some reason. Coolest thing I've found was a bunch of various sized old nails from the 1700s. They looked like small railway spikes and ranged from 2 inches long to 6 inches long. After some research I discovered that they were used to build large wooden frames and as hooks to treat and stretch out wool by sheep farmers in the mountains (this is South Wales). Not worth anything, but a fascinating glimpse into a life, people and history of my local area.
Laura Ketteridge 2 years ago
The wooden frames used to stretch woollen fabric after it has been woven are tenters. The hooks are tenter hooks, and this is the origin of the word 'tenterhooks', (painful suspense - stretched out and left).
#29
My sister found a full on garden set in her new home. Metallic chairs and table. They stopped digging at some point, because they wanted to get done with their backyard but we're assuming that there is much more in it, she also found shoes and tools.
#30
A couple of historians found some old journals about a battle in the Indian wars and started to theorize that it happened on the farm I grew up on. They have gone out on 4 wheelers with metal detectors on sleds and found canon shot and canon balls. At one point where the soldiers started euthanizing their horses they found a row a slug with four horse shoes. Somewhere there is a canon, 2 Gatling guns, and a bunch of rifles that nobody has found yet.
What do you think ?
Chich 2 years ago
There is a British TV show, "The Detectorists". Two seasons. Sweet show worth checking out.
Laura Ketteridge 2 years ago
Three. :) It's a lovely British show, a gentle, light comedy. It was announced in May there's a one-off special coming this year.
Load More Replies...
Benita Valdez 2 years ago
My aunt is a rancher and got into metal detecting when she found some super old equipment parts while digging once. She downgraded to a smaller ranch closer to the family since she is getting old (about 75 now) and did some metal detecting for fun. She actually stumbled upon some arrowheads which lead to further searches of her ranch and ended up finding a cave with pictures painted on the wall which turned out to be from an indigenous tribe. She now has her ranch registered as a site of the indigenous people who used to live there as well as a historical site and can do tourism now if she chooses. This is in South America and pretty; she actually appreciates the historical aspect so for now she just allows archeological research.
Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
I just recently decided to try my hand at magnet fishing, so this was a nice bit of inspiration. :D
Chich 2 years ago
There is a British TV show, "The Detectorists". Two seasons. Sweet show worth checking out.
Laura Ketteridge 2 years ago
Three. :) It's a lovely British show, a gentle, light comedy. It was announced in May there's a one-off special coming this year.
Load More Replies... Benita Valdez 2 years ago
My aunt is a rancher and got into metal detecting when she found some super old equipment parts while digging once. She downgraded to a smaller ranch closer to the family since she is getting old (about 75 now) and did some metal detecting for fun. She actually stumbled upon some arrowheads which lead to further searches of her ranch and ended up finding a cave with pictures painted on the wall which turned out to be from an indigenous tribe. She now has her ranch registered as a site of the indigenous people who used to live there as well as a historical site and can do tourism now if she chooses. This is in South America and pretty; she actually appreciates the historical aspect so for now she just allows archeological research.
Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago
I just recently decided to try my hand at magnet fishing, so this was a nice bit of inspiration. :D
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