How deep can good metal detectors be expected to find coins?
This question is much easier to answer nowadays because virtually all modern metal detectors are ‘motion’ or VLF discriminator types. Most of them are also fitted, as standard, with search coils of around 8″ diameter, which is generally regarded as the optimum size for coin hunting on sites with moderate amounts of metallic litter. Using an incorrect sweep-speed will also affect depth, but the following figures are achievable with a correctly used detector: Nickel-Dime sized targets – 4 to 8 inches* Quarter-Half Dollar sized targets – 6 to 12 inches* Fruit jar lid sized targets – 8 to 16 inches*. Many other factors can affect your detector’s depth, but the same factors will affect all other detector depths. The two most important things for you to do today are to become familiar with your machine, and to use it at the proper sweep-speed. *Depths vary by model, manufacturer and coil size.
This question is much easier to answer nowadays because virtually all modern metal detectors are ‘motion’ or VLF discriminator types. Most of them are also fitted, as standard, with search coils of around 8″ diameter, which is generally regarded as the optimum size for coin hunting on sites with moderate amounts of metallic litter. Using an incorrect sweep-speed will also affect depth, but the following figures are achievable with a correctly used detector: Nickel-Dime sized targets – 4 to 8 inches* Quarter-Half Dollar sized targets – 6 to 12 inches* Fruit jar lid sized targets – 8 to 16 inches*. Many other factors can affect your detector’s depth, but the same factors will affect all other detector depths. The two most important things for you to do today are to become familiar with your machine, and to use it at the proper sweep-speed. *Depths vary by model, manufacturer and coil size.
