Would you like to find your next treasure by metal detecting? There are many best places to metal detect, but we will talk about the best ones in this blog post. These best places for metal detecting may differ depending on what kind of experience you are looking for. We will discuss some of the best places to metal detect and give reasons why they are so great.
We discuss various metal detecting locations in this chapter of our metal detecting guide. Metal detectors and real estate have one thing in common. It’s where the property is located. If people haven’t lost things there in the past, then a metal detector won’t find anything either.
Nearby Places to Use a Metal Detector
When determining where to metal detect, one of the most significant factors to consider is who owns the property. Is it a relative or a friend? Is this a government agency? Is this the first meeting for you? It is important that when looking for a place to metal detect, you get permission from the landowner. Otherwise, it would be against the law, and people would think badly of those who responsibly enjoy metal detecting.
Detecting on public land is hard. It varies from state to state. Any publicly held historical monument should be off-limits as a general rule. But some states do allow detecting in certain state parks, as long as you apply for a permit first. Metal detecting is an activity where you use a metal detector to find things. You can do this on public land like parks and courthouses. But it is best to check your local laws before you start.
Finding Places to Metal Detect
It’s recommended to begin by going around your own yard if you’re just getting started. Learn how to cut a plug and familiarize yourself with the detector. Before trying out an old house or public park, you must know what not to do.
When you want to explore, ask your family and friends for permission. Chances are you know someone who lives in an old house that might have coins or other things from the past. Ask them first before knocking on a stranger’s front door.
Best Metal Detecting Locations for Antique Coins and Jewelry
- Parks and schools
- Old houses
- Public beaches and swimming holes
- Churches
- Sports fields
- Fairgrounds
- Abandoned home sites
- Tourist Sites
- Abandoned Mines
- Ghost Towns
- Battlefields
- Your Backyard
- Campgrounds
- Amusement Parks
- Playgrounds
- Picnic Areas
- Fishing Areas
- Old Sawmills
- In the Woods
- Drive-in Theaters
- Roadside Stands
- Ski Resorts
- Old Bars and Taverns
- Old Barns
- Old Chicken Coops
- Florida
Parks and Schools
If you can search on public land, parks and schools are good places to search. Kids can lose things like coins. If the school is old, you might be able to find silver coins. You should only do this when the school is not in session, like on weekends or summer months. Even modern schools could be a good place for searches if they used to have an older school site there before.
A park can hold many things. A hundred years ago, people came to the park to play games and talk with friends. If you want to go, find out how old the park is and what was there before it. There are many valuable items in parks, but only if the park is old or has been around for a long time. You might also find lots of trash at these parks because some people litter there.
Around Old Houses
When you walk through a neighborhood, which houses seem older? The older the home, the better. Older yards have had many years to accumulate losses from people who lived there. These are things that can be found by using a metal detector.
If you need to know when a house was built, you can look at the foundation and the chimney. A house with a cement block foundation was built after 1930. If your house has a stone foundation, it will likely be older. If you have more than one chimney, it is almost always older, and if you do not have a chimney, it is probably new.
Public Beaches and Swimming Holes
You may live in a place where you can go to the beach. When people swim at the beach, they might lose coins, wedding rings, or keys. But even if you do not live near the ocean, there are still beaches where you can search for these lost items. Lakes or rivers that people swam in before are also good places to find lost things.
Metal detecting at beaches is a lot different from metal detecting on land. You’ll find more gold and silver jewelry underwater, but there are difficulties too. Your detector might not work in the water, or you might lose your balance if waves knock you over. But if you prepare first and are patient, it can be very fun!
Churches
Metal detectors can be used to find metal objects, like coins. Churches are no different – people could have worshipped at that spot for decades or centuries. Church sites can be very productive, but you need to do your research first. You should know when the church was founded and where the original building is about the current building. It might not be worth it if it’s too far away!
Sports Fields
In sporting events, people have coins. It is a good place to find them. You can also find coins in games and food stands. Sometimes there are silver or gold coins in sports fields too.
But if you are detecting on a sports field, you need to not leave any traces of your presence. Otherwise, the players might trip or fall over something left there. The best thing is to detect where people are not playing and do it there.
Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds are an excellent place to find lost coins and jewelry. They are easy to search with a metal detector. You can look for places that have photos and grid out the field. Some fairgrounds are publicly owned, so you can detect metal without permission when it is not fair. When a renaissance fair comes to town, that is a good time to hunt for treasure.
Old Home Sites
The roads and population centers of the past do not always match how people live today. We occasionally come upon abandoned houses or cabins in the woods. Coins, relics, tools, and everything in between may be found at these locations. These are artifacts from another era. Don’t be dismayed if you don’t see much at an old house site; some individuals didn’t have anything to lose back then.
Tourist Sites
Tourist sites are a place where you can find old coins. If you get permission from the local authority, you will search for things. Tourists and tourists unconsciously leave various belongings, money, and other important stuff behind. The best times to look are in the early evening or early in the morning when fewer people are around.
Abandoned Mines
Some people like to explore abandoned mines. They are dangerous, but some people still go in them. People who go into abandoned mines are taking a very real risk.
Ghost Towns
Ghost towns are places that have been abandoned after a disaster or because of economic hardship. They can be really interesting, and you might find old coins and other things like jewelry and pottery. But to find them, you need to do some research because they’re often in isolated areas.
Battlefields
Metal detectors can help you find things on battlefields. You need to ask for permission from the Battlefields Trust. Metal detectorists have helped keep battlefields safe and clean, too. They find old buttons, bullets and cannonballs, and many other relics like that.
Your Backyard
Don’t forget that you can search for treasure in your own backyard if you live in an old house. You might find things there that are worth a lot of money.
Campgrounds
Old campsites are often good places to find old coins, jewelry, and other objects. You should ask permission before you start metal detecting. Once you have written approval, you will have little trouble getting started. RV campsites are also a good place to metal detect.
Amusement Parks
Look for coins in amusement parks. They are most often found at the food and game booths. You can also find them near the rides area, where people may have dropped them while waiting in line. You can also try looking around near bathrooms or entrances to the park.
Playgrounds
Playgrounds are full of coins that kids lose. And when they do, the playground is generally safe. So metal detecting in a playground is a good idea.
Picnic Areas
Picnic areas are a good place to metal detect. However, it can be hard because there is trash on the ground. Only go metal detecting at picnic areas when you have permission.
Fishing Areas
Fishing Areas are a good place to find metal detecting. Many people walk there, but they might drop an old fishing gear or old pocket knives.
Old Sawmills
Old sawmills are a good place to find old coins, jewelry, and other valuable treasures. Before you go metal detecting on one of them, you must first get permission from the town council or someone in charge.
In the Woods
One of my favorite activities is metal detecting in the woods. You can find old homes, wells, barns, and other old structures if you look hard enough.
The woods might not seem like a good place for treasure, but sometimes it is. If you come across an old foundation or what appears to be a stone fence, it could be the site of a previous drop.
Drive-in Theaters
Drive-in theaters are not as common as they once were. Metal detectors can help you find coins, jewelry, toy cars, and other things that people have left there.
Roadside Stands
Some people might not search for coins at roadside stands, but it is good to find them.
Ski Resorts
Some people metal detect at ski resorts. Coins and other metal objects are frequently found on the ground near ski lifts, particularly where people climb on and off. You need to know where you can hunt, so you don’t trespass on private property.
Old Bars and Taverns
When old bars and taverns are filled with coins, it is easy to find them. I like finding coins at old bars and taverns. Bars and taverns have lots of other things you might find like guns, knives, bottles. These can be fun to find, but coins are probably the easiest to find at an old bar or tavern.
Old Barns
Old barns are good places to start hunting for treasure. You might find many metal objects, like old farm tools and parts. There could be money buried in the ground, so if you are looking for coins, look in the corners of the barn.
Old Chicken Coops
What if I told you there is hidden money in old chicken coops? What if I told you that farmers would put their money there because they didn’t trust banks? What if I told you that today, people are still putting their money in old chicken coops because they don’t trust the bank.
Florida
In Florida, many people go on vacation to the beach. They sometimes leave something behind when they go home. It is a good idea to look for their lost treasures on the beach.
Places to Hunt for Gold
There are goldfields in some places. Some people use metal detectors to find gold. You can find gold when you use a metal detector. People find gold in these areas. They look for old mining sites or places where people used to live. People also find gold in water sources like rivers, streams, and creeks.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of places to metal detect. Be sure to check the laws before going somewhere new. If you want to metal detect at a historical place, make sure it is allowed and not against the law.
Metal detectors help find things that people have lost. You can find them in any place that you live. Try to find a good location and be patient, and you will find treasure too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Places to Metal Detect
Where Can You Metal Detect Legally?
You can dig metal on beaches and shorelines. You can also dig in local parks, school playgrounds, old churches, abandoned homesteads, or war battle sites.
Where Is the Best Place to Metal Detect Coins?
Old coins can be found in different places. One place to look is parks and picnic sites. Also, old houses, churches, school grounds, and beaches or waterways can be a good first spot to start looking for coins. You should also look on the sidewalk and other places you might not think of as possibilities for old coins.
Where Are You Not Allowed to Metal Detect?
Metal detectors are not allowed in US federal and national parks. No monument or historical site allows you to use a metal detector on their grounds.
Is It Illegal to Metal Detect Without Permission?
In most states in Australia, you need a Fossicking License to go Metal Detecting. In New South Wales, you are only required to have a Fossicking Permit if you are fossicking in state forests.
Can You Metal Detect in Woods?
To use a metal detector on another person’s property, you must first obtain permission. You always need their permission to detect on their land and keep any items you find there.
Can You Use Your Phone Like a Metal Detector?
With an app called Metal Detector (by Smart Tools), you can make your phone a metal detector. It operates by detecting the magnetic field surrounding your phone.
What Is the Most Expensive Item Ever Found With a Metal Detector?
Kevin Hillier found a gold nugget called the Hand of Faith. He found it on a metal detecting trip in Kingower, Australia. It is the most expensive thing that someone has found using a metal detector.
How Do I Find My Lost Coins?
Search around your front porch, back door, sidewalk, and driveway. Look at the floor and the baseboards for lost coins. Very old coins can be found in these places. People hid their money by putting it behind walls or inside hollow doors.
Can You Metal Detect on Your Own Land?
People might think it is wrong for someone to search for metal on your land without your permission. But it is not. If someone wants to, they can ask you first.
Can I Metal Detect on the Beach?
You do not need permission to carry out metal detecting on the beach. The land is between high water and low water.
Can Your Metal Detect on BLM Land?
Metal detector use is allowed on public lands. You can find money here, but you must not take coins and artifacts more than 100 years old.
Can I Take My Metal Detector to Mexico?
After talking to a metal detector store owner in Mexico, he told me that it is okay to take metal detectors into and out of Mexico. If you find something, you have to say what it is to not break any laws.
Do I Need a License to Metal Detect on the Beach?
You can take a metal detector to places where you are allowed. The beach is usually safe, but sometimes the rules will differ depending on what part of the beach or go in the water.
Can You Metal Detect in Cemeteries?
Metal detecting in a graveyard does not positively represent the pastime. You may be breaking the law and should never do it inside any cemetery boundary.
Are Metal Detectors Worth It?
Some people start hobbies to make money. Others, like me, do it to keep fit. Some people want to explore the outdoors. Other people might do it because they are looking for friends. Whatever your reasons are, metal detecting is always worth doing as a hobby.
To learn more about the best places to metal detect, click here.
