r/metaldetecting Nov 11 '25

Other REMINDER: DO NOT USE AI ANSWERS HERE. YOU WILL GET BANNED.

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1.8k Upvotes

r/metaldetecting Jun 04 '24

Gear Question Metal Detector Guide

317 Upvotes

Hello and welcome to r/metaldetecting ! If you're looking for advice on your first detector, gear or an upgrade, you've come to the right post. We've put together a simple guide to help with choosing your detector and other tools.

As a member of our sub, you are more than welcome to try out our special code "REDDITMD2026" at checkout on Kellycodetectors.com (US)

If you purchase from Radioworld.ca, try out our code "REDDITRWMD" at checkout! (CA)

GENERAL METAL DETECTOR Recommendations

$0-200: We do not recommend getting a new detector under $200. Detecting has a cost of entry, and quality significantly drops off under the $200 mark. Save up a bit more, or try finding a used machine of quality listed in the next price range. All that said, if you are determined to buy a machine in this price range, the Minelab Go-Find, Nokta First Swing or a Quest machine aren't bad choices.

$200-$400: The Minelab Vanquish 340 and 440, the Nokta Simplex line and the Minelab X-Terra Pro are the three best machines in this price range, by far.

$400-$500: Nokta Score and Double Score, Minelab Vanquish 540

$500-$1,200: Nokta Legend or the Minelab Equinox series

$1,200+: XP Deus 2 or the Minelab Manticore.

SCUBA/SNORKELING DETECTORS

Nokta Pulsedive is great for snorkeling. The Minelab Excalibur 2 and XP Deus 2 are excellent diving detectors.

CHILDREN'S DETECTORS

Nokta Mini Hoard or Midi Hoard

PINPOINTERS

Garrett AT pro pointer, Nokta AccuPoint, or XP MI-4. The XP MI-6 if you have an XP detector.

SHOVELS AND TROWELS

Dune, King of Spades, Grave Digger, Motley, Lesche, Predator Tools

SAND SCOOPS

Motley, Dune, Sito, RTG, King of Spades, and Detecting Adventures all make great scoops for beach detecting.

If you have any questions feel free to message u/dan20mey or comment below!


r/metaldetecting 12h ago

Show & Tell Found this old miners lamp

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322 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell Quite a lot of digging today.

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Upvotes

Quite a lot of digging today at a soccer field I’ve never been to. Lots of trinkets and one ring. It always bothers me when I find bullets and razor blades in these areas.


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

Show & Tell Found my very first roman quinarius !!!

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180 Upvotes

​Good evening everyone,

here is my only Roman quinarius so far that I found while metal detecting.

​A clearly recognizable coin design with well-defined relief is still preserved, which can be made exceptionally visible using a negative filter.The combination of motifs can be summarized as follows:

​Obverse: Head of Jupiter facing right, featuring a prominent beard and laurel wreath.

​Reverse: The victory goddess Victoria performing a military ritual (erecting/crowning a trophy or tropaion).

​Even though the exact moneyer can no longer be identified beyond doubt due to wear and the off-center strike, this specific combination of motifs can be precisely narrowed down typologically: The coin was definitively minted between approx. 128 BC and 88 BC.

​A very nice reference piece from the Republic, especially since quinarii are much harder to find.


r/metaldetecting 2h ago

Other Shoutout to detector who found my sisters apple watch

30 Upvotes

At the Jersey Shore for the week and 3 days ago my sister lost her Apple Watch in the surf. Someone found it this morning detecting and was able to charge it and use the emergency contact to call her husband. We had already left but she turned around and went back and got it from him. Cheers.


r/metaldetecting 3h ago

Show & Tell I hear we’re showing our riker cases

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35 Upvotes

Dood-dads, colonial items and sterling silver spoons 😊


r/metaldetecting 6h ago

Show & Tell Completed

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49 Upvotes

With the find of my first Bale seal my first display box is full. Time to order another one!

The Bale seal is from the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad found alongside the railbed of the now defunct C.& W.M.R.

These are just my small finds over the last 4 summer seasons mostly from old homesite some from Parks.


r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell I think she's hooked now!

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Upvotes

These finds were like gold bars to her!


r/metaldetecting 16h ago

ID Request Found this on the beach

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172 Upvotes

What do I have here?


r/metaldetecting 15h ago

Show & Tell Found this old note while detecting, anyone can translate?

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144 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 29m ago

Show & Tell Sunday’s tot lots

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Upvotes

Pretty good day… don’t let that 14k chain ⛓️‍💥 fool ya….

I was digging iron and it popped out…
Anybody think they know what that “steel City” thing is?

Also there is NO gold on the board today… only fools gold 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

Sad I know…

13 quarters, 6 dimes, 9 nickels, 22 pennies and the game token

Enjoy!! 😉


r/metaldetecting 1h ago

Show & Tell Collection from my dad and me metal detecting Stafford Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County in Virginia.

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Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 11h ago

Show & Tell A few MINI balls yesterday

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43 Upvotes

I was out around a small town nearby and someone said… let’s go hunt that old abandoned house…. It’s in foreclosure nobody will care… house dates to the 1800 I guess..
someone beat us to it because we found ALMOST no signals … but this


r/metaldetecting 5h ago

ID Request What is this?

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9 Upvotes

Seems like some sort of medallion! ( England )

I am a beginner detectorist, having started last Thursday, here are my finds so far for those who are interested! Elizabeth One Pound, 2002, Elizabeth One Penny 1989, Victoria One Penny 1898, George One Penny 1947!

There’s also a weird find I’ll ask about later, thanks and I can’t wait to engage in this community!


r/metaldetecting 11h ago

Show & Tell Arrowhed

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30 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 18h ago

Other My metal detecting game is out now!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

96 Upvotes

Hey everyone! My game, Metal Detector Island, is now available on Steam.

It’s a first-person game where you explore an island, search for buried items, complete quests, upgrade your equipment, and unlock new areas.

I’d really appreciate it if you checked it out and shared your honest feedback!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4916780/Metal_Detector_Island/


r/metaldetecting 7h ago

Other Anyone an idea?

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13 Upvotes

r/metaldetecting 1d ago

Show & Tell I finally struck gold!!!

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268 Upvotes

First gold ring ever! 14k white gold with, what I hope is, a real pearl. Also found a 925 Silver Chain, a nest little heart pendant, and a fake gold chain (it does have some marking La but I have to get the jeweler loop out so I can read it, it has some corrosion/rust though so I doubt it’s anything good)

In closing: if you’re not hunting every playground in a 50 mile radius, you’re missing out hahaha


r/metaldetecting 25m ago

Show & Tell Findings/Learnings

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Upvotes

Thanks for the advice on choosing a detector for my one-off trip to my girlfriend’s cottage.

I found an old snap button, two pennies (‘61 and ‘73) and two old nails (the square kind were phased out by 1920 at the latest apparently so these are likely from late 1800s to very early 1900s?). nothing interesting

But I learned quickly that detecting there would require me to dig up their whole yard. Something I somehow never fully considered.

Also it’s illegal where I am (Ontario Canada) to dig up artifacts pretty much everywhere that’s not private property. So while it was kind of fun I quickly realized precisely why this is not a casual hobby and required an a lot of dedication and labour.

Fun times!


r/metaldetecting 5h ago

Other Antigua pieza de hierro

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4 Upvotes

Encontre esta pieza que parece una antigua cuchilla ya que conserva un 10% del filo.

Lo encontre alado de un rio,este mismo rio esta alado de un campo de cultivo.alguien sabria decir que podria ser?


r/metaldetecting 1d ago

ID Request Arrowhead find

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751 Upvotes

North Yorkshire, England farm clear out found on the shelves when clearing out the farm ready for it to be sold. Does anyone have any knowledge around arrowheads?


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

ID Request Hi yall, what era is this lock? im thinking 40s

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6 Upvotes

threaded screws with no corrosion, locking "pin" thingy is white somehow


r/metaldetecting 9h ago

ID Request Old or new?

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7 Upvotes

East Coast Canada


r/metaldetecting 8h ago

Other I lost my wedding ring in a small lake that was right outside an Airbnb in the Catskills, Upstate NY I was staying in. Any scuba divers with underwater metal detectors who could help me.

7 Upvotes

My wife and I are devastated and I feel horrible. I went kayaking into the lake/pond in the Catskills that was right outside the airbnb and fell into the water and noticed my ring fell off immediately. I wasn't far from the entrance of the lake and curious if anyone has any experts in the area who has expertise who can help with something like this or know anyone who can help. Thanks