top of page
Search

What Can I Find Metal Detecting?

  • Writer: Holly
    Holly
  • Aug 18
  • 4 min read

Updated: Aug 20


silver coin

When you first switch on a metal detector and hear that first exciting beep, the imagination runs wild. Gold coins! Roman brooches! Maybe even a Viking hoard! But what detectorists actually find day-to-day is a mix of the thrilling, the ordinary, and sometimes the downright puzzling.

So, what really comes out of the ground in the UK? The answer depends on where you detect, the history of the land, and a bit of luck. Let’s explore the kinds of discoveries you can expect.


Everyday Modern Finds

One thing you’ll dig up a lot of is modern rubbish. Ring pulls, bottle tops, foil wrappers, and rusty nails are the bread and butter of detecting. It might sound dull, but learning to recognise these signals is part of the craft.

Among the clutter, you’ll also find modern coins. Most detectorists build up collections of pennies, two pence pieces, and pound coins. On beaches, you might turn up jewellery dropped in the sand — anything from stainless steel rings to silver bracelets.

Modern finds may not be ancient treasure, but they often lead to stories. Returning a lost wedding ring to its owner is one of the most rewarding parts of the hobby.


Coins Through the Ages

Coins are among the most common historical finds in the UK. Because they were carried daily and easily lost, they are scattered across fields, paths, and old settlements.

You might uncover:

  • Georgian and Victorian pennies: Large, chunky coins often found in farmland.

  • Medieval hammered coins: Thin, hand-struck silver coins that can date back to the 13th century.

  • Roman coins: Common in many parts of England, ranging from humble copper bronzes to rarer silver denarii.

Each coin, no matter how worn, tells you something about the people who once walked the same ground.


Artefacts and Everyday Objects

Beyond coins, detectorists regularly find artefacts — objects once used in daily life.

These include:

  • Buckles and buttons: Clothing accessories lost across centuries.

  • Musket balls: Reminders of Britain’s military history.

  • Horse tack and harness fittings: Common on farmland.

  • Thimbles, spindle whorls, and weights: Domestic tools of past households.

They may seem modest, but such items are windows into the daily lives of people from centuries ago.


Jewellery and Personal Items

The dream of many detectorists is to find jewellery. Rings, pendants, brooches, and bracelets do appear — though not as often as beginners imagine.

Some of the most exciting finds are personal objects with inscriptions, such as a silver ring engraved with initials or a love token made from a bent coin. These pieces carry human stories that connect you directly to someone from the past.


Hoards and Treasure

Occasionally, detectorists uncover something truly spectacular: a hoard. These are groups of coins or objects buried together, often for safekeeping.

Under the Treasure Act 1996, hoards usually qualify as Treasure and must be reported. Famous examples include Viking silver hoards, caches of Roman coins, or medieval jewellery buried during times of war.

Such finds are rare, but they capture the imagination because they represent moments of history frozen in time.


Regional Variations

What you can find also depends on where you detect:

  • East Anglia and Lincolnshire: Rich in Anglo-Saxon and Viking finds.

  • Wiltshire, Somerset, and Kent: Strong Roman and medieval activity.

  • Yorkshire and the North East: Norse and medieval finds are common.

  • Beaches: More modern coins and jewellery, but occasional historical items wash up too.

Every region has its story, shaped by who lived there, what routes they travelled, and where they traded.


The Reality Check

For every exciting coin or artefact, you will dig dozens of junk signals. Most days, your finds pouch will contain more scrap than treasure.

But that’s part of the appeal. Detecting isn’t just about valuable discoveries. It’s about the hunt, the surprises, and the connection to the land. The next signal could be a button — or a coin lost by a Roman soldier.


Recording and Respect

Whatever you find, remember the legal and ethical responsibilities:

  • With landowner permission, you may keep ordinary finds, but always honour any agreement.

  • If you find Treasure, report it under the Treasure Act 1996.

  • Consider recording finds with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), so even modest artefacts contribute to the archaeological record.

By doing so, your finds don’t just sit in a box — they become part of our shared history.


Final Thoughts

So, what can you find with a metal detector? A mix of the mundane, the magical, and the mysterious. From ring pulls to Roman coins, from modern pound coins to medieval brooches, every dig is a step into the unknown.

Most finds won’t make you rich. But they will enrich your understanding of the past, and that’s the real reward of metal detecting.


Sources & Further Reading

Comments

bottom of page