A metal detector is a device
which responds to metal that
may not be readily apparent.
The first industrial were
developed in the 1960’s and
were used extensively for
mining and other industrial
applications. Uses include
de-mining, the detection of
land mines, the detection of
weapons such as knives and
gun, especially in airport
security, geophysical
prospecting, archaeology and
treasure hunting. Metal
detectors are also used to
detect foreign bodies in food,
and in the construction
industry to detect steel
reinforcing bars in concrete
and pipes and wires buried in
walls and floors. Coin
shooting is looking for coins
after an event involving many
people, like a baseball game,
or simply looking for any old
coins. Serious coin shooters
will spend hours, days and
months doing historical
research to locate long lost
sites that have the potential
to give up historical and
collectible coins. General
metal detecting is very
similar to coin shooting
except that the metal
detectorist is after any type
of historical artifact. Metal
detectorists may be dedicated
to preserving historical
artifacts, and often have
considerable expertise. Coins,
bullets, buttons, axe heads,
and buckles are just a few of
the items that are commonly
found by relic hunters; in
general the potential is far
greater in Europe and Asia
than many other parts of the
world.
