A detectorist is a person who uses a metal detector to search below the ground’s surface for buried objects. The pastime appeals to people with many different interests and backgrounds. Some enjoy history, fresh air, collecting, or simply the enduring appeal of discovering buried treasure. As interest in the hobby grows, more people are taking up metal detectors. The following basics offer a starting point for using one to search for old coins.
How Does It Work?
At the time of original publication, the article described the following: A metal detector works by producing a magnetic field. Electricity from its battery travels down the device’s shaft to a coil, which creates that field. As the field moves across metal beneath the ground, it induces an electrical current in the object. The current then produces a second magnetic field within the buried metal. A receiver circuit inside the detector senses that field and causes the machine to sound.
Where Should I Look?
Rare coins and other interesting objects may turn up in almost any setting. Beaches, parks, and other public areas can be sensible places to begin. Experienced hobbyists often research a city’s past to locate former markets, stadiums, playgrounds, and gathering places that no longer exist. Churches, as well as locations where churches once stood, may likewise be productive search areas. Any location with substantial pedestrian traffic and many visitors can be a prime location for treasure hunting.
What Might I Find?
One of the most appealing parts of searching with a metal detector is the wide range of possible discoveries. Over time, detectorists have brought up genuinely remarkable objects. In 2009, a man in England discovered a Roman coin dating from 207 B.C., when England was a distant outpost of the Roman Empire. Finds of that kind remain part of what makes the hobby so intriguing.
When this article was originally published, readers who had found unusual or rare coins with a metal detector were invited to bring them to Atlanta Gold & Coin Buyers, described as a premier rare-coin dealer in the Atlanta area, for a free appraisal and information about the find. The article stated that the business purchased rare numismatic coins, along with gold and silver coins and bullion. At publication, readers were invited to contact it online or call 404-236-9744 to arrange an appointment.
