If you’re
just starting out on your metal detecting journey, welcome to the club! Many
newbies and experts choose to metal detect at their local beaches as they can
be a real treasure trove.
You’ve got all your gear ready and packed your bag, and you’re wondering what you could find when you are there. You may have friends in the metal detecting community or read online about the weird and wonderful objects they have picked up, and you want in on the action.
One of the things we love about metal detecting here at Crawfords is the possibilities are endless: metal detectorists really are optimists at heart. One day you could find a host of Victorian coins, the next you could be reuniting someone with a treasured piece of lost jewellery. In general, you’re more likely to locate more modern items than you would when detecting inland, as beaches are such popular tourist destinations.
Read on to
find out more about the types of things you could find. If you’re wondering how
to prepare, check out our ultimate guide to beach detecting to find out all you
need to know. We cover everything from what to wear to the best areas to
search.
Coins
Something
you could be likely to stumble upon are coins. We’re talking coins of all
shapes, sizes and ages. It’s common to find modern coins, there is even a term
for a flurry of coins found in one go - a ‘coin spill’. This usually happens as
a result of someone dropping their bag or wallet.
You may also
be lucky enough to find antique coins from all sorts of different eras. If your
detector has multiple pitches, it will make higher tones when it comes across
metals such as copper, zinc and aluminium. If you’re new to the world of metal
detecting, practice at home with any coins you have lying around so you can
easily recognise these higher pitches that often indicate a good find.
Jewellery
So much
jewellery can be found at beaches. Many metal detectorists find modern
jewellery, often because people wear it while swimming in the sea and then it
falls off. You could help reunite someone with their precious ring or necklace
in the process. You may also be lucky enough to find antique jewellery from
centuries past!
Kids toys
Children are
some of the most common culprits when it comes to leaving things behind on the
beach! You could find anything from action figures to dolls or even model cars.
You can disregard a lot of these things but it’s worth hanging on to ones that
look a little older, as some limited edition children’s toys can be quite
valuable.
Shrapnel
Some of the biggest battles in history have taken place on beaches, not least the D-Day landings in 1944. War shrapnel washes up and is often found on beaches across the UK and further afield. Of course, if you’re concerned about the safety of the item be sure to leave it alone and report it to your local authorities. After all, people have occasionally found landmines whilst out detecting!
Weapons
Living in the UK, you’re less likely to find modern day guns but you could find other weapons such as pocket knives or even bayonets from old rifles on the battlefield. There’s a beach in the Lincolnshire area of Cleethorpes, Northern England known by detectorists as ‘Bullet Beach’ where bullets are regularly found to this day!
Always be
careful when you think you have identified a weapon, if it is modern it could
be the case it’s been involved in a crime scene. This is one of the many
reasons why we always recommend wearing gloves while you’re detecting as it’s
important to protect your hands.
Rubbish
Unfortunately
even the keenest metal detectors will find rubbish! This could be anything from
ring pulls and beer cans to food tins or fishing weights. Although it is
disappointing to think you have found something, here at Crawfords we encourage
looking after the planet. Take a bin bag with you and pop any rubbish you find
in there to take home, and the earth will thank you.
Dream finds
As metal detectorists, we are realists as well as optimists. We know we are not going to find buried treasure every time we hit the beach, but it’s the possibility that fuels us! Here are a few of our ‘dream finds’ at Crawfords Metal Detectors.
Gold
We all dream
of finding gold! When you’re detecting, gold can come in many different forms
such as dust or pieces of old jewellery or in a more macabre way from gold
teeth or fillings.
Artefacts
One day you
might find your very own artefact when you’re combing the beach. This could be
anything from sword parts and armour to brooches and arrowheads. If you’re not
sure exactly what it could be, there are many online resources to help you
identify your finds. It’s important to be aware that if you find items that you
think may be of historical interest that you alert the relevant authorities.
Things to remember when detecting at the beach
As we have
covered in our guide to beach detecting, it’s important to remember it’s not
always a case of ‘finders, keepers’. Depending on where you are in the world,
there are certain laws you need to abide by and the items you find may need to
be given to relative authorities depending on their historical importance. Every
area in the UK will have its own Finds Liaison Officer (FLO for short). This is
the person employed by your local authority to investigate any finds of cultural or historical
significance. Their posts are funded by something called the Portable
Antiquities scheme: find out more about the scheme and the details of your
local officer on the official website.
Ready for your next beach adventure?
If you’re
thrilled at the prospect of what you could find metal detecting at the beach,
you will want to know how to prepare. Things like what to wear, what to bring
and how to target the best areas of the beach. We have covered all of that and
more in our ultimate guide to beach detecting. Good luck treasure hunting!