Metal detecting is a fun and popular hobby and comes with the excitement of uncovering all sorts of things right below your feet! with so much history woven through the landscapes, there is every chance you will find plenty of things of interest – and you never know you may even come across some buried treasure!
From coins that go back to the Tudor times and older, to treasures from bygone civilisations like the Romans, it is exciting to think that when you go out you may well uncover something very special! However, you also need to be aware of the rules and responsibilities that come with metal detecting too.
The first thing that all metal detectors must do is get permission from the landowner to detect there. On some land, metal detecting is forbidden and although most beaches are fine to detect on, you should always check with the landowner or the council if it is public land.
You should also be aware of the law in the UK when it comes to finding special discoveries. There are certain finds that will come under the 1996 Treasure Act – for example, hordes of old coins, highly valuable or rare items or things that contain precious metals. Things that might relate to this always need to be reported within 14 days of finding it. If you find a coin and you are unsure of its origins and value, going to a professional like this coin valuers UK based company https://www.gmcoins.co.uk/ can be very helpful. As well as being able to give you information on the value of the coin, they will also be able to tell you more about the coin and the history of it.
If you are just getting started in metal detecting, the first thing that you will need is a metal detector of your own. You don’t need a top of the range one to get started – just get one that is reliable and easy to use so that you can get a good feel for it. You can get started by practising in your garden just to get an idea of how the detector works.
You need to carry a trowel with you to dig if you find something and if you do need to dig, make sure you dig a small and neat patch that can be replaced easily with minimal damage to the land.
