Hobbies And Interests
What to Look For
In ancient times, in the absence of traditional banks, people buried their coins. Each month, hoards of coins are found in the ground in the countries today known as Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Spain. But coins can also be found in the United States. Wonderful colonial and early American coins have been found on the East Coast while fantastic gold coins have been found in the West Coast, left by gold miners. On the coasts, 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century coins have been known to wash ashore from shipwrecks.
Where to Look
A treasure hunt can start in your own back yard. To find buried coins, think: Where could people have dropped them? Start at a local park or similar recreation area. Public beaches are ripe for finding coins, as people drop coins on the beach and coins can wash ashore. Historic areas can also be treasure troves, but don't violate any laws in your search.
Tools to Use
A buried coin is not just going to make itself known. As with many tasks, you need tools. Metal detectors come in a variety of shapes, sizes and price ranges. New metal detectors have discrimination controls, which eliminate undesirable objects such as can tabs or bottle caps. They also use sound to allow audio feedback.
Purchase a metal detector new or find a pre-owned one to figure out the features and depth level that you need. Basic metal detectors are easy to use, but more advanced (and expensive) ones offer more features. Some are even waterproof.