Every detectorist dreams of making great discoveries while sweeping its metal detectors over the sandy beaches or lush green grounds. Some find gold nuggets, whereas many find nails, coins, etc., every day. Not all the significant discoveries get fame and fortune, but they are mentioned in the metal detectorists’ circle. Let’s look at a few of the known metal detecting finds.
Greatest Metal Detecting Finds
A Chalice Worth Remembering
An ancient golden chalice was discovered by Mike De Mar from a ship named ‘Santa Margarita.’ This treasure ship was considered to be 385 years old. The Golden Chalice was found in the ship that sank in 1912. It is considered the most valuable treasure dating back to the 1600s.
Gold is in the Air
In 1989, while metal detecting in a desert, a man from Senora, Mexico, discovered a huge piece of gold, also known as the ‘boot of Cortez’, that weighed a lot. It was the largest piece of gold ever found in the west. According to the story, a local prospector purchased an inexpensive metal detector from the junk shop. The metal detector’s technology was quite obsolete. Nevertheless, he swung his detectors for days and found metal junk like nails, bullets, etc. He suddenly got a signal from his metal detector and unearthed the ‘Boot of Cortez’ one day. This gold piece is considered the greatest metal detecting finds and was auctioned in 2008 for more than $1,553,000.
A Ring on the Finger
A volunteer archeologist in Bighorn found a bone still wearing a gold ring. It is believed that the ring dates back to 1876 when Lt. Col George Custer, along with his troops, was wiped out by Sioux.
Gold Necklaces
In 2009, another metal detecting find shook the world with astonishment. A person found extraordinary golden necklaces belonging to the iron age. The gold wires used in those necklaces were as thick as a finger. The necklaces were valued to be over $ 2 million. The person was paid handsomely for his services by the government.
Axe Head
The axe head is considered precious because it belonged to the bronze age. It was discovered by Steve Hickling, a famous historian, and is considered to be dating back to 1850-1750 BC. The axe is one of its kind, with extraordinary detailing, sharpness, and texture. It gives us a peek into life during the bronze age.
A Meteor
Jason Lyons, a 13-year-old boy, used a metal detector that his grandfather constructed. He never knew that he was on his way to one of the greatest metal detecting finds. He came across a 2lb space rock that had existed on Earth for a long time. This unidentified piece constituted of nickel and iron. The metal detector found this meteor because of the natural minerals like iron and nickel present in it.
High School Class Ring
Roy Llyod discovered a high school ring in 1974. The ring was found by him buried four inches deep in the sand. M.B was engraved on it. The ring belonged to Miles Baker and was lost 48 years back. Lost jewelry does seem to find its way back!
Ringlemere Cup
The cup was made between 1700 and 1500 BC. It is made into a beautiful cup from a single piece of gold. The cup would have taken hours to build. One can still see the beautiful craftsmanship and details on the cup, delighting many historians.
It was discovered by a beginner treasure hunter known as Cliff Bradshaw. Mr. Bradshaw had a feeling, and he dug 18 inches deep before he saw this piece of beauty. It was crushed due to farming equipment but still looked magnificent. It was sold for approximately $500,000.
Conclusion
If you also want to try your luck in making history, metal detecting can be a great hobby. You can purchase a beginner-level metal detector and metal detecting accessories from a nearby metal detector store like Teknetics Direct and enjoy your metal detecting finds.
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