Metal Detecting Stories

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Treasure hunters fall out over who deserves 500,000 pounds reward for Boadicea's gold
It was a treasure hunter's dream: a hoard of 800 gold coins dating back to the time of Boadicea. But the find has brought only bitterness for metal detecting enthusiast Michael Darke and his former friend Keith Lewis. Darke was alone when he found the first few coins in a Suffolk field and feels he is entitled to the lion's share. However Lewis, who helped him dig up the bulk of the hoard, thinks he deserves 50%. Within an hour of arriving, the pair had discovered an Iron Age cooking pot holding 773 gold coins - the largest such cache found in Britain since 1849. Yet more were found later. The pair face a legal battle over how to split a reward. | by dailymail.co.uk :: 2009-08-20 |

A history buff finds part of an ancient sword handle while metal detecting in Gloucestershire
A history buff has discovered a piece of weaponry thought to be one of the rarest ever dug up in Gloucestershire. Steve Taylor found part of an ancient sword handle while metal detecting on a farm near Cirencester. The bronze head, fitted to the end of a Celtic sword to keep the blade in place, is worth 5,000 pounds. Steve has given the artefact, which dates from 200-400BC, to Cirencester's Corinium Museum as part of a long-term loan arrangement. Steve uses a high-tech metal detector to browse the countryside for valuable items - he has been treasure hunting for 25 years and 2 years ago he found a haul of Roman coins in the Cotswolds. | by thisisgloucestershire.co.uk :: 2009-08-20 |

Detectorist Keith Bennett found one of the largest hoards of Roman coins ever discovered in Britain
One of the biggest hoards of Roman coins ever discovered in Britain has been declared 'treasure.' Amateur metal detecting enthusiast Keith Bennett discovered 1,141 Roman denarii (silver coins), in a field. The coins, in a clay urn and buried 4 feet underground, date from 206BC-195BC. Bennett found the hoard in a field in Stratford-upon-Avon. Landowner Peter Turner said: "Keith had been metal detecting and suddenly stopped because he saw a large number of objects flash up on his screen. After digging down around 4 feet he saw the top of a large pot had been smashed and hundreds of silver coins were inside." | by dailymail.co.uk :: 2009-08-20 |

Housewife finds a 15th-century gold treasure valued at 250,000 pounds with metal detector
The 15th-century gold treasure is believed to be part of a high-quality container or pendant, depicting the Holy Trinity. It is the first really valuable object that Mary Hannaby has spotted in 7 years of metal detecting fields and beaches. Mary, 57, made the discovery while on one of her usual 6-hour Sunday detecting walks with her son Michael: "You get a buzz every time you get a signal, but chances are it won't be anything." As one of only 3 of its kind to have survived, the find could be worth even more than 250,000 pounds, because its engraving is being compared to that of the Middleham Jewel, which fetched 1.3 million pounds at auction in 1986. | by telegraph.co.uk :: 2009-07-04 |

Metal-detecting group digs up Roman treasure a hoard of Roman silver coins
Metal-detecting hobbyists could soon be cashing it in after locating a hoard of silver Roman coins dating back 1,500 years. Three members of Bridlington Quay Detecting Society located 75 silver coins and 10 bronze coins, dating back to the year 355AD, on farmland near Filey. One estimate puts the value of nearly pure silver coins at up to 150 pounds each, with the value of bronze coins up to 5 pounds each. | by bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk :: 2009-07-04 |

Treasure hunter Odyssey ordered to give 500 million booty back to Spain
Did an American treasure hunter loot Spain's cultural heritage? Should private companies have a right to profit from historic vessels in international waters? Those were the questions that a federal judge in Tampa, Florida considered before ordering Odyssey Marine Exploration - the most sophisticated and well-financed treasure-hunting group on the planet - to turn over $500 million in gold and silver coins salvaged from a Spanish shipwreck. "The judge saw that the ship and its contents belong to Spain. It's a hugely important ruling and one that will set a precedent for future claims," said Spain's minister of culture. As a result Odyssey's stock dropped by over 50%. | by scientificamerican.com :: 2009-06-12 |

Lazy treasure hunters can "upgrade" their metal detectors to metal detecting sandals
Here is an alternative to carrying around large metal detector to search for hidden treasures: Metal Detecting Sandals. They work using the same principal as standard metal detecting equipment. A copper metal coil inside the right sandal is powered by a battery pack that is strapped to leg. If something metallic enters the magnetic field within 2 feet, the wearer can be notified by a red light, audible buzz, or vibration. Powered by a single 9 Volt battery, the sandals can be used for treasure seeking for up to 6 hours - and they do not draw as much attention as someone carrying a large metal detector on the beach. | by geek.com :: 2009-06-12 |

Metal detector hobbyist finds rare penny worth 2,000 pounds
After years of searching, the penny finally dropped for a metal detectorist when he discovered a coin worth 2000 pounds. Clive Nobbs stumbled upon the 1200-year-old penny -- rare silver penny of Queen Cynethryth -- in the middle of a 20-acre ploughed field. "This is easily the most important thing I've ever found. It didn't look like much when I found it. It was about 4-5 inches down and black with age but it turns out to be incredibly rare," explained the amateur archaeologist and historian. | by midhurstandpetworth.co.uk :: 2009-04-26 |

Metal Detecting Stories -- Delivering hand-picked articles about treasure hunting, metal detectors and detectorists

Metal Detecting Stories is an edited review of metal detecting, treasure hunting and metal detectors related articles.