Does anyone here metal detect? And if so, what’s the oldest thing you have found

For me, the oldest coin is a 1919 penny.  

I've never metal detected, but have several friends who do. I have seen some of the finds, but can only attest to this one I received as a gift. 

It's a rather beat up copy of N#224723. Date 1861-5.

What a cool token and penny!

My oldest find is from the Biblical times, 1968-D penny.  Then again, I only went metal detecting like 4 times.  Hope to do more in 2026 🙂

Nice! 1968-D is pretty good for only 4 times. In my first 4 times detecting I got excited over finding something older than the 2000’s

Oh it's easy, try metal detecting in the Give-a-penny, take-a-penny trays. 😅

The oldest thing i have found here in The Netherlands as a newbie (with finally a nice field) is a 1788 N#6171

(Also my first coin older than 2000)

I don't detect, but I once found a cluster of 4 coins out walking. Some George II & III farthings & halfpennies, IIRC. Just on the ground, evidently been there for a while. I can only assume recent rain washed away some topsoil & exposed them.

They're terribly beat up and suffer from bronze disease so they live separately to my main collection. I'll pull them out to get a pic some time though. 🙂

A Collector

I don't detect, but I once found a cluster of 4 coins out walking. Some George II & III farthings & halfpennies, IIRC. Just on the ground, evidently been there for a while. I can only assume recent rain washed away some topsoil & exposed them.

They're terribly beat up and suffer from bronze disease so they live separately to my main collection. I'll pull them out to get a pic some time though. 🙂

That’s cool! Oldest thing I’ve found on the surface is an old beer can.

I don't usually metal detect, and when i do i usually just find an entire bag of rusty old nails from the third reich or older. But before i moved to Germany, i found this uncommon 1801 2 Kopecks coin. N#91145

Its surprisingly in good shape, as it only has a few minor dents and just a black patina, but for some reason the reverse of the coin is slightly off center. I haven't been able to find much coin since then, only nails everywhere.

From my “Isolation unit”:

Four of these six were just found on the surface. At the time they were green but seem to have stabilised. I try to keep them in a dry, airtight tin - individually packaged to avoid cross contamination.

Certain on top left, bottom left, and bottom centre. Not sure which of the other three was the found coin. 

A Collector

From my “Isolation unit”:

Four of these six were just found on the surface. At the time they were green but seem to have stabilised. I try to keep them in a dry, airtight tin - individually packaged to avoid cross contamination.

 

Certain on top left, bottom left, and bottom centre. Not sure which of the other three was the found coin. 

Have you tried sealing them with renaissance wax?