Human beings have always been in pursuit of precious metal since the dawn of time. Throughout history you will find some reigning king ordering his soldiers to bring back every jewel they could get their hands on. The world has modernized since then, but metal detection is still a popular pastime.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the most distinctive metal detecting finds in history!

6 historical metal detecting finds of all time:

1956 Class Ring:

In 2013, Rick Vance from Michigan was using his metal detector on some deserted property when he found a class ring. The engraving on the ring said “Carol” and at that moment he knew he had to find her to return the ring. He spent months looking for Carol and finally, after chasing down too many false leads, he made contact with her. After being separated from the ring for 54 years, Carol could’ve never imagined she will find it like this.

Korean Temple Bell:

During WWII, an American pilot flew over Korea and his plane was shot down by Japanese troops on horseback. They buried him alive with a large bell on top of him that weighed around 500 pounds. A group of metal detectors decided to search the area and found a large piece of metal that they knew they had to dig up. It turned out it was part of an old temple bell that belonged in a nearby Buddhist shrine. The same bell the American pilot was buried under!

Chilean Silver Coin 1893:

A group of men from California were looking for metal in a dry lakebed when they found the first silver coin. They thought it was pretty neat but as soon as they dug deeper, their jaws dropped to the ground. Under that thin layer of silver coins there was a deep pit filled with hundreds and hundreds more just like them! It turned out these coins were mined in Chile and left behind by a large mining company. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

Oldest Shipwreck:

A group of divers were using their metal detectors in a lake when they found something really peculiar. They recovered hundreds of old coins from all over the world including roman emperors like Julius Caesar and Alexander Severus. This is when they realized the water wasn’t full of gold and it was in fact a shipwreck containing hundreds of amphoras (big clay jars) filled with wine. They were over 2000 years old!

George Washington’s Inaugural Cuff Button:

A metal detector enthusiast was walking around his yard when he found something interesting. He dug it up and realized it was the oldest inaugural cuff button ever! Not realizing what it was, he put it inside his bag with all his other findings. But after cleaning it back home, he realized what he had come across. It belonged to George Washington who wore them on both of his inaugurations in 1789 and 1793!

Pisco Treasure:

Ever heard of treasure being unfound? This was the case with the Pisco Treasure in Peru. Due to subpar record keeping, this heap of gems was kept from the masses. Carlos Canle and his team on the other hand did tons and tons of research trying to discern facts from fiction and found the original location of the treasure. They went through a lot of garbage before coming across the biggest metal detecting find of their lives — coins and jewels!

Our planet is full of all kinds of precious gems just waiting to be found and it’s never too late to start exploring! The satisfaction that comes from finding something incredible from a place that you wouldn’t think twice about is worth it. Invest in good metal detecting accessories like ones from Teknetics Direct and you’ll thank us later.

With that said, the world is your oyster! Go out and start hunting!

For frequently asked questions regarding metal detecting equipment, visit the FAQS section below.

FAQs:

What are the different types of metal detecting accessories?

There are many different metal detecting accessories you should invest in to get the most out of your hobby. The main types include coil covers, headphones, stylus/picks, gloves and pin pointers.

How does a metal detector work?

A quality metal detector works by sending out an electromagnetic signal that causes the ground to vibrate at various frequencies and then senses those vibrations as they bounce back. The more valuable the object, the easier it is for your machine to sense!

What’s better – a waterproof or a water-resistant metal detector?

If you’re going to be out in the rain, then definitely go for one that’s water-resistant. Waterproof detectors are great if you’re going underwater. click here for more articles.