Ever heard of metal detector? It is a device that can detect and identify metal beneath the ground. There have been a lot of people around the globe using this device. They use it with hope that they could find something valuable like hidden treasure. Some people might laugh when someone does such thing. But, surprisingly, there are plenty of amazing things found with a metal detector. Here are a few of them.
1. Stolen Money
In 1946, some postal inspectors had a long suspicion with a deceased post office employee. They suspected him to be involved in criminal act happened years ago, which was stealing money. They decided to borrow a metal detector from the US Army and searched the stolen money in the backyard of the employee’s house. They actually found it, a total cash of $153,150 stashed in cans and jars and buried 9 feet below the ground.
2. Crosby Garrett Helmet
A great discovery also happened in an English field. A metal detectorist found dozens of fragments and brought it to an auction house. After spending 200 hours to unite the pieces, it turns out to be 1800-year-old helmet known as Crosby Garrett Helmet. The function of the helmet is not for war. It was worn during tournaments by Roman cavalrymen. There are only 3 discoveries of the helmet in Britain.
3. Pirate Treasure
Finding a pirate treasure is like a dream comes true for all treasure hunters. And, that is what happened to a pirate specialist and maritime historian named Edward Row Snow. Using his metal detector and a mysterious map, he searched around a small area of Nova Scotia. Then, he found a stash of 18th–century Spanish and Portuguese doubloons. What’s more surprising is that he also found skeletons which are holding the treasure.
4. Boot of Cortez
In 1989, a prospector from Mexico intended to try his new metal detector. His family and friends ridiculed him for doing such thing. But soon the prospector got the last laugh. He hit a jackpot after one week passed when he discovered a 26.6-pound gold nugget. Since it has a shape like a boot, it is called as Boot of Cortez.
5. Staffordshire Hoard
In 2009, a man named Terry Herbert tried his luck by using a metal detector. He used it in a farmland owned by his friend. At first, he aimed to find a few coins. Instead, he discovered 10 pounds of treasure, which caught the attention of local archeologists. When they investigated the area, they found 4,000 fragments from 7th century including helmets, sword decorations, and crosses.
6. Ringlemere Gold Cup
A retired electrician named Cliff Bradshaw pursues his dream as amateur archeologist with his metal detector. His efforts got paid when he found the Ringlemere Gold Cup in the English county of Kent. Despite of its damage, it is still one remarkable discovery since it is one of only seven similar cups found in Europe.
7. Gold Chalice
A diver named Mike DeMar found something which he thought to be an ordinary beer can while diving in the coast of Key West. But, it turns out that the “beer can’ is actually a 385-year-old gold chalice from Santa Margarita that sank in 1622.
8. Stirling Torcs
When he wanted to get a fresh air, David Booth decided to use his metal detector. Never did he imagine to hit a jackpot right in the first time. He found 4 Stirling torcs or necklaces which have different styles of design. Two of them have Scottish style, one has French style, and the other is in Mediterranean style. Historians said this hoard as one of the most important findings in Scotland.
By looking at some of the findings above, some of you might want to have a metal detector now. Before you purchase one, make sure to read some metal detector reviews. It allows to know which one is the best option. So, are you ready for treasure hunting?
