Maybe the person who found this won’t be able to pawn it off for a hefty sum, but they can definitely be happy about discovering a piece of history. This stamp-looking plate was actually a printing plate used in a letterpress machine in order to print an ad in the newspaper. Before the Linotype was invented, each letter printed in the press had to be set by hand.
This particular one is of an advertisement for Penetro Nose Drops, from the 1930s. What is fantastic about these drops is that they claimed to alleviate everything from chest congestion to head colds and indigestion. The list of ingredients must be quite interesting.
A Graduation Ring from 1967
This guy’s brother worked on houses in Southern California, and he decided to tag along one day and bring his metal detector to have some fun. While his brother worked on the house, he ventured to the fields nearby, and after a few hours found an incredible graduation ring from back in 1967!
He and his brother managed to track the man down by the ring’s initials and past tenants of the area. When they made the call, the man’s wife answered and started crying with happiness – it turned out the man’s mother had bought him the ring for his graduation right before she passed, and the ring had been stolen in the 80s. It seems the burglar dropped it on the field nearby without realizing it!
A Piece of Army History
Often, the most exciting finds with a metal detector are not based on the item’s monetary value, but rather its origin story and emotional value. This was such a case – back in 2020, a guy in Northern Australia found this old military tag buried in the ground. The zone where he lives used to be a casualty clearing and medical quarantine area for troops stopping in the Pacific Islands on their way north.
They often find all sorts of artifacts from US and Australian troops, and this tag was one of them. The finder managed to track the American soldier’s family, specifically his grandniece, by looking up his obituary in old newspapers. He found her and mailed the tag to his family in California, and they couldn’t have been happier.
A Roman Artifact
Few things are more exciting than finding an artifact from ancient times, and this guy found one in pretty good condition. On a holiday weekend in the U.K., a guy went searching for treasures with his metal detector, and what he found had him doing somersaults of excitement.
The weird-looking artifact pictured above is from Roman times, and even though the finder is not sure, it appears to be a fibula. A fibula was a brooch-type pin for holding clothes together, usually in the area of the shoulders. Think of it as a modern-day safety pin but with way more style.
A Coin From the 1800s
These guys decided to go hunting for relics with their metal detector one afternoon and definitely found a treasure. The one holding the metal detector was in such a shock that he simply threw the detector on the ground and started jumping up and down. When his friend asked him what was going on, he just pointed to the ground, and his friend saw a $1 coin from 1851!
Hopefully, these guys stayed for hours searching the entire area for more finds. We don’t know if they kept it or sold it for a pretty penny on eBay, but this makes us want to go out and get a metal detector of our own.
A Tiny Silver Spoon
This person found a tiny silver spoon in their backyard, and after doing some research online, found that it was made in the 1800s, most likely in Germany. The mark that says “.800” denotes the purity of the silver, which means that it is 80% pure silver.
And the little symbols of the crescent moon and the crown next to the numbers were also general symbols for true silver. Even though it has a crack in the middle, this tiny spoon is probably worth a decent amount. It was probably used as a salt spoon in a wealthy family’s home, as silver was reserved for the very rich.
Mexican Coin From the 1700s
Imagine living in a sleepy town in western North Carolina and finding a real piece of treasure and history from the 1700s. This is exactly what happened to someone who was doing some hunting with their metal detector one day – they turned up this amazing relic: half of a Mexican 8 ‘reales’ coin.
After some investigating online, the person found out the ‘real’ was from 1737, and due to its coloring, it was most probably a counterfeit made from copper alloy instead of the real thing. However, that made the story even more fascinating, because as it turns out, there were thousands of counterfeit coins made during this period in Mexico.
A 400-Year-Old Artifact
Obviously, searching for treasure with a metal detector can turn up infinitely more fascinating finds depending on the part of the world you’re in. This person found a 400-year-old spoon while using his detector in a field in Lithuania. Even though they just found the head of the spoon, it is still pure silver and has incredibly beautiful etchings and designs.
This is what led to the fact that it is from the 1600s. This isn’t the first hefty bounty this person has found there, as it seems to have been a 1600s settlement raised next to a 3000-year-old burial mound – creepy!
A Silver English Coin From 1250
As far as coins go, this is probably one of the oldest found on this list. This guy was on his family farm in Buckinghamshire, U.K., and he decided to pull out his metal detector in search of treasure – and boy did he find one! The coin here is an English hammered silver coin from 1250, with an engraving of Henry III.
Now that’s a true piece of history, and to be found in such mint condition is an absolute miracle. This guy was probably screaming with excitement, after which he surely rushed home to clean his new treasure.
The Haunted Key
We don’t know about you, but the first thing that came to mind after seeing this old key was a creepy dungeon from medieval times. Found in Scotland in a woman’s backyard, which happened to be next to a 13th or 14th-century church that was also a hospital, this key’s origins are still a mystery.
The woman who found it even considered it to be a key to a basic shed from the 1980s, but after some research and sending the key to the Scottish National History Museum, it seems to have been from the 15th century. Oh, the stories this key could tell.
A Medal From an 1800s Carnival
This is seriously one of the best finds on this list, as it almost looks like it came straight out of a Stephen King book – only that it’s real! In 2021, a guy found a medal buried in the yard of his house, and it turned out to be a souvenir badge from a Carnival of Fun that came through Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1897.
The carnival was a four-day debauchery festival filled with music, parades, strange performances, dangerous games, and the naming of the carnival King and Queen. The first ever Carnival of Fun held in Grand Rapids was in October of 1897, the same year the medal is from. The guy who found it lived 5 miles from where the carnival grounds used to be.
Netherlands Treasure From 1699
There’s always a chance of finding something amazing buried underground, and every place has a history. But clearly, the difference in history between a relatively new country like Australia or even the United States compared to Europe’s ancient past. And this find proves it – a silver coin from 1699 was found in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. Back then, it was called ‘Zeelandia’, as is clearly legible on the coin.
The guy who found it back in 2019 must have been over the moon when he realized what it was. Whether he kept it for his collection or gave it to a local history museum, a coin that’s over 300 years old is definitely a relic.
A Wrist Compass From WWII
Now this is an incredible piece of history – this guy found a wrist compass that paratroopers used to wear during World War II. Strangely, the area where it was found was never a battleground or anything to do with WWII, so it was probably lost by a war veteran after the war ended.
The magnificent thing is that apparently it still worked! The fact that this guy might be able to use a wrist compass from the Second World War whenever he needs a sense of direction is simply astonishing. The wrist compass was made by ‘Taylor’, a company that made most of the compasses used in WWII.
Part of a Viking Sword
This find truly sounds like something out of a movie, because it’s simply too fascinating to have happened in real life. But alas, it did! This person found the guard of a Viking sword in a field in the Norwegian city where they live. Imagine just walking around with your F75+ metal detector and finding a piece of Viking history.
The design on the guard is beautiful and elaborate, and just to think some Viking warrior held it in his hands over a thousand years ago! This priceless piece was sent to the archeological community in the city where it was found and then forwarded to the National History Museum in Oslo.
A WW1 Hand Grenade
Any war or history buff would go crazy for this find, and probably pay a hefty sum for it. But the person who found this WW1 German model 1915 kule grenade probably kept it for their collection. The piece is almost intact, and yes, the fuse was removed so there wasn’t any chance of it exploding in the guy’s hands.
These specific hand grenades were manufactured in Germany during the First World War and consisted of a hand-thrown fragmentation grenade. We can’t even begin to imagine all the hands this little grenade passed through, and the scenes of war it was present at.
A Land Mine From WWII
This German-made anti-tank blast mine was used during the Second World War, and it was found in the land of Courland, Latvia in 2023. Imagine being the person who found this. Firstly, the first reaction of a normal person when finding a mine would be to run as far away as possible and call the police.
However, this guy was much braver and decided to get close enough to the unearthed mine to check if the explosives had been taken out. Luckily, they had. Now, this guy gets to keep a Teller Mine 42 landmine in his collection of war memorabilia. Bravery does pay off sometimes.
A 19th Century Pendant
A young teen was out in Seattle, Washington doing some treasure hunting at a lake with her trusty metal detector, and she found this incredible pendant. Retrieved from under 12 feet of water, this pendant is not only special because of the type of carving, but also because it dates back to the 19th century. The form of carving is done from below the surface of the pendant, like the opposite of raised relief carving.
The figure of the lady in the center is beautiful and probably has a rich history behind it. We hope the person who found it took it to the nearest antique jewelry store and got it analyzed because that is one rare find!
A 19th Century Queen Victoria Gold Coin
This young woman had to take a few minutes to catch her breath from excitement when she unearthed this rare treasure. In a field behind a supermarket in Scotland, that used to be a Victorian plantation, a woman was hunting with her Garret Ace 150 metal detector and found a 22-carat gold coin!
The coin, which was in almost perfect condition, was a Queen Victoria Shield coin from the 1800s. We don’t know if this avid coin collector kept this treasure to herself or donated it to her local museum, but this is probably one of the most amazing things she will ever find buried in the ground.
A Watch From the 1800s
This beautiful vintage watch was the first piece of silver an amateur metal detectorist turned up, so you can only imagine his utter joy. It turns out the watch was manufactured by the prestigious Charles Oudin watchmaker house in Paris, which opened its doors in the 1700s. Some of the watches are such works of art that they are exhibited in museums.
After posting the photo online and doing some research, it became clear that the watch was most likely from the 1830s, and if you zoom in, you’ll see the beautiful, intricate etchings on the silver. Definitely an incredible vintage find. This guy was probably digging around the area for hours after that just to make sure there weren’t more treasures around. Beginner’s luck!
A Mysterious Brooch
This one remains a bit of a mystery, although two things are for certain – it is most probably a clothespin or decorative brooch, and it has a Greek figure carved onto the relief. The guy who found it, in Ontario, Canada, tried doing some research to discover its origins, but few could tell him for sure what historical period it was from.
One thing’s for sure, the carving of the Greek head is exquisite. Despite it being chipped, it’s easy to see the dedicated hand carving that it took to make. Perhaps someone from Greek royalty decorated their clothes with it thousands of years ago, but we will never know for sure.
A 19th Century Pocket Watch Frame
It is always fascinating to find antiques buried in the ground, especially when they are as beautiful as this one. This gorgeous vintage pocket watch frame probably belonged to a wealthy lady from the 19th century, as the ornate flower carvings seem to indicate.
Any vintage watch collector would jump at the chance to buy one of these, but we suspect the person who found it kept it for themselves and repurposed it for a new watch or jewelry piece. It must be a thrilling feeling to wear something that has been buried in the ground for over 200 years.
An 1800s American Military Belt Plate
This guy found an 1800s belt plate near his home in Northern California, which considering the area’s history, is a very interesting find, to say the very least. After some research, the general consensus seemed to be that it was a miner’s belt plate from the 1800s, although some said it could also be a sword belt plate.
Regardless, the figure of the eagle indicates that it is definitely from the 19th century, and probably belonged to American militia in the area. Now that is a marvelous piece of history this guy should definitely clean up and add to his collectors’ cabinet.
A Medieval Ring
Now this is one incredible antique – a medieval ring found in the U.K. that dates back to 1450! This guy found it near his home a few years ago and after much research, he finally realized that because of the ring’s time period and manufacturing material, he was required by law to report it and sell it to a museum.
He must have been heartbroken to have to part with such a treasure, but the law was quite strict, especially in the United Kingdom. One has to wonder what the initials carved in the center mean, which are probably explained in whatever museum he chose to auction it off to.
A 1900s Buckle From a Woman’s Gown
This beautiful, gothic-style belt buckle was found in Canada a few years back, and thanks to the wonders of online forums and research, it was dated back to the 1900s. The intricate buckle belonged to a wealthy woman’s formal gown and was probably worn to the most elegant events of the time.
The particular nouveau style of the buckle makes it especially stunning, and even though that’s not real jade, it is certainly a very beautiful turquoise stone. These buckles were often matched with a specific gown, so it was definitely part of an intricate costume. This could certainly be repurposed and, if worn with the right outfit, be an absolute dazzler.
An Irish Claddagh Ring
Depending on whether it’s gold or not, this ring might be able to sell for a hefty sum at a collectors’ auction. But regardless of its monetary value, it is still a beautiful find, with quite an interesting history behind it. The guy who found it was doing some treasure hunting with his metal detector in a soccer field behind a college, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The ring, with a unique design of a crowned heart and two clasped hands, is called a Claddagh ring and is originally from Galway, Ireland. It’s very common to find people of Irish ancestry wearing them, and they date back as far as the 17th century. The heart signifies love, the crown stands for loyalty, and the hands stand for friendship.
A Historic Pin From WWI
During the First World War, there was a category of army pins that were given to family members of soldiers who had passed away in battle. The very special pin pictured below is one such relic, which was given to the father of a young man who lost his life during WWI in 1917.
This is a true piece of history, and definitely an incredible addition to any antique collection. We hoped whoever found it kept it in a safe place, or if they were up for the challenge, tried to find any remaining family of who it originally belonged to.
Ancient Dagger
This incredible artifact seems to have been a dagger or sword of some kind and possibly dates back to Roman times. It was found in a field in Somerset, England, which was very near to an old Roman town. Alternatively, there were also civil wars that took place near the area, so the dagger could date back to more recent times.
Whatever its origins, this is one cool find! Despite its small size, the thought of it having been used in ancient wars by fearless warriors is simply fascinating. We hope the guy who found it was able to get some of the rust off somehow because that is one beautiful piece of history.
American Machete From WW2
This find is so cool it could pass as a movie prop in an epic war film, but the fact it was found underground and it’s the real thing just makes it amazing. An original machete from the Second World War, which indicates it was designed by an American company, judging by the handle.
Scary to think of all the times this weapon was used in combat, and utterly fascinating to imagine all the history it was part of. The finder probably kept it and tried to clean the rust off, but this artifact really belongs in a history museum.
A U.S. Seal Lock From 1870
This find must have quite the story behind it since it not only dates back to 1870, but it’s a lock that has hammer marks indicating it was forced open. The finder dug this American seal lock in Southern Georgia. By the engravings, we know the company was based in New York, and perhaps whatever the lock was safeguarding had to do with U.S. Customs.
The hammer and chisel marks suggest that either the rightful owner lost his key, or someone tried to rob whatever this lock was protecting. Perhaps a horse-drawn carriage was carrying a hefty loot and got robbed mid-travel. We will never know, and that makes this relic ever so fascinating.
A 150-Year-Old Portrait
This person found a 150-year-old portrait while hunting for treasure with their detector at a homestead. It would be fair to assume this was the homestead’s past owner since these tintype lithographs could only be afforded by the wealthy. Someone suggested it might not even be a lithograph, but rather a gravure printing, which is basically relief printing on metal surfaces.
Whatever it is, one can’t help but wonder what this man’s story is, who he was, what he did, when he passed, and what happened to his family. So many questions and endless storyline possibilities from a single portrait, which was buried and forgotten under the ground for over 150 years.
An Antique Match Safe From the Late 1800s
Unlike now, matches from the 1800s were extremely unstable and likely to combust on anyone carrying them. Therefore, the match safe was created – an elegant silver or metal encasing that kept matches contained whenever the owner was moving about. People usually carried them on their pocket chains, along with their cigarettes, and this was fairly common until the 1900s when a new, more stable type of match was developed.
The finding above, which was unearthed in Colorado, was one such item. The engravings on the front of the plate show quite the craftsmanship, although it is an interesting scene being depicted, as it seems to show some kind of horse robbery from two women.
A 13th Century Seal Stamp
This person must have been overjoyed when they unearthed this small treasure. The relic below is a seal stamp from the 13th century, found in a field that used to be an old marketplace from medieval times. What’s incredible about it, apart from the great condition it’s in, is the fact that these stamps were a personal item back in the day.
This means that probably only one of its kind exists. After some digging with the local historian, the finder discovered it belonged to a knight from a family named Soyer, who lived in the area over 800 years ago!
An Animal Trap From the 1920s
This primitive-looking contraption was actually an animal trap manufactured in the 1920s, and it was mostly used for minks and muskrats. The company that manufactured them, based in Oneida, New York, made millions of these between the 1920s and 1960s. The finder unearthed it while metal detecting on the land around their family cabin buried 6 inches below the ground.
If we didn’t know any better, we’d say it looks like a medieval torture device of some sort, which is basically true for any animal caught in it. And the trap still works! They stepped on the spring and set the trigger plate and the trap immediately snapped. Yikes!
An Antique Necktie Pin With Jewelry
If there’s one thing history has shown us is that a century ago, people used to dress to the nines – at least the wealthy ones. Women were always in stunning handmade costumes and men wouldn’t leave their homes without a full suit. This necktie pin pictured is a historical relic from those times.
And apparently, whoever wore it was pretty well off, since it has a fancy piece of jewelry attached to it. What’s interesting is that it was found in a tin box, which looks as if someone burned it. If only this little pin could talk and tell us the story of what happened to it.
A Serbian Seal From the Middle Ages
Any artifact dating back to medieval times is already fascinating, simply because it’s a piece of how life was nearly a thousand years ago. The seal pictured below is most probably a Serbian wax letter seal from medieval times, and its design is astonishing. The eagle on top of a medieval helmet on top of a shield indicates it dates back to the Middle Ages, making this an extraordinary find.
The finder would be wise to take this into his local history museum and try to do some research on the exact time period it came from, not to mention the meaning of the words carved around the seal.
A Tobacco Tin Lid From the 1900s
An amazing thing about past centuries is that everyday objects were incredibly intricate and ornate, partly due to the fact that things were handmade and took a long time to finish. Even a simple tin lid was a thing of beauty back in the 1900s, as proved by the picture below, which shows an ornate tobacco tin lid predating the 1920s.
After doing some research, the finder discovered it was a German-made tobacco or snuff tin that was usually imported to the United Kingdom back in the day. The fact that it was no company mark or branding is probably because it was for personal use and people were quite discreet about these things back then.
Antique Plate With Atlanta City Symbol from 1921
Apart from it being a beautiful antique copper plate from the city of Atlanta in 1921, this find would have been interesting simply because of the discussion it generated in online forums over the years. Some have claimed that it was an antique watch fob missing the center insert, while some have claimed it was an old police badge or insignia of some kind.
And others were sure it was a lock plate to an old antique chest. Regardless of its true origins, the symbol of the phoenix, which has a particularly important symbology in Atlanta, makes it quite unique.
1840s Toronto Merchants Token
An interesting piece of Canada’s history, this Toronto merchants token from the 1840s was found in southern Ontario in 2023. Despite being somewhat rusted, the words are still perfectly readable – “No Labour No Bread”, and an image of a man winnowing wheat on a table.
Back in the times when there was no official coinage in Canada, these tokens were used as currency to pay workers. On the reverse side of the token is the phrase “speed the plow”, clearly indicating the harsh labor that was necessary back then in order to barely survive. A very nice find, regardless!
A 6-lever Lock From the 1800s
This beautifully designed padlock dates all the way back to the 1890s, and is a true antique find. The famous “favorite 6-Lever” brass padlock was manufactured by the Connecticut-based Eagle Lock Company, founded in 1833. Its unique Victorian style is an example of how creative 19th-century design was, combining functionality with aesthetics.
The lock mechanism features a push, instead of a turn, of a key. The Eagle Lock Company was one of the world’s largest lock makers in the world back in the 1900s, specializing in padlocks. We’re sure whoever found this beauty will clean it and repurpose it, as it deserves.
A 14-Carat Gold Ring
Some metal detector finds are part of a time in history. Some are valuable antiques, while others are long-lost sentimental pieces thought to have been lost long ago. And some can be sold for a pretty penny. This 14-carat gold ring would be an example of the latter, as we suspect that a pure gold ring would go for a pretty high sum nowadays.
Unless, that is, the finder would want to keep this piece of jewelry for themselves as a collector’s item. The finder unearthed this little gem just a month after buying his first metal detector, talk about beginners’ luck!
Antique Fox and Hound Lids (or Buckles)
These two lovely metal plates were found in Ontario, Canada, and there was some debate online on what they were exactly. Since both plates had animal designs engraved, specifically a fox and a hound, some people claim they were lids to canned pet food that existed decades ago. Others say they were belt buckles of some sort from the 1900s.
Since they are 8cm wide, they were probably lids for some sort of cans, but regardless of their story, it’s obvious some intricate engraving went into these. Ah the good old days, when even the lids for pet food cans looked like ornate designs.
Recycled Metal Sculpture of Don Quixote
This one may not have much history behind it, but the fact that it is a Don Quixote sculpture made with recycled metal makes it a cool find all the same. Now that is one cool trinket to turn up from under the ground, and we’re sure the metal detector must have been beeping like crazy.
Whoever found this quirky little figurine must have kept it as a house ornament, because honestly, they’d be crazy not to. Who knows, maybe its original maker/owner will see the post and go back to claim it one day – it is a pretty unique figure.
Gold and Sapphire Earrings
Not only did this person find some very valuable earrings, made of 14-carat gold and sapphire – she managed to find one first, and then its pair only 13 days apart! One was found on the beach and nearly two weeks later, in the same area, the person went back with the hopes of finding more jewelry buried in the sand, and they actually found the other earring.
Now that is some wild luck, and whatever they decided to do with them, whether sell them or keep them, those are some fine pieces of jewelry. The unlucky owner who lost them must still be scrambling to get them back.
A Very Special Silver Ring
One of the best stories on this list, this could easily be something straight out of a movie. This guy was doing some metal detecting in his backyard one day and his landlady happened to pass by. She told him to keep an eye out for a very dear ring of hers she’d lost about five years back.
She had gotten the silver ring in Bali and it had special meaning to her. An hour later, he actually found the ring! The landlady was in tears when he gave it back to her, and hopefully, she gave him a month’s rent for free.
A 100-Year-Old Time Capsule
This person found a ‘time capsule’ box buried in the yard of their house. Some of the valuables in the box dated back to the mid-1800s, so it was probably buried by the family who lived in the house over a century ago. Inside the box were different objects.
These included an elephant figurine that was a campaign pin from the 1928 election, a pre-civil war coin dated 1826, an old black-and-white photo of the people who probably lived in the house, a Kkovah Salts medicine can for the stomach, liver, and blood, and an old Christmas card. The person who found it decided to look for the family that lived in the house in the early 1900s.
Native American Indian Metal Plate
This one is a bit creepy, considering all the folklore attached to Native American culture and the expression on this particular Indian chief’s face. After much speculation and discussion online, the finder concluded it was a wall-hanging ornament, and while it may not be from medieval times, it may very well be quite old and have some interesting history behind it.
Then again, perhaps someone dropped it or decided to throw it away after purchasing it from a souvenir store. Regardless, it’s a unique piece to add to a metal detector collection, or even hang on a wall as a decoration.
1.6 Grams of Gold
There are many things to love about California, and one of them is the fact that you can still find gold buried anywhere underground. Because it was the epicenter of the Gold Rush, there are still remnants of the precious metal under the soil, you just have to look well enough.
This guy and his friends went out with their metal detectors to see who could pull out the biggest bounty, and with 1.6 grams of gold, he won. It may not look like much, pictured as a few small rocks on the guy’s hand, but those tiny nuggets are worth over $100.
A Lost Good Luck Charm
At first, this may look like some suspicious medallion from medieval times, but at a second look, one can see it is simply a very beautifully designed good luck charm. It features the Star of David with a downward facing “hamsa” or “hand of God”, which signifies abundance and protection.
The person who found it might have unknowingly unearthed something that was very special to whoever lost it. Judging by the loop at the top, it seems to be some kind of pendant, so whoever this belonged to, they are probably pretty upset to have lost their good luck charm.
A 1930s Printing Plate for Nose Drop Ads
Maybe the person who found this won’t be able to pawn it off for a hefty sum, but they can definitely be happy about discovering a piece of history. This stamp-looking plate was actually a printing plate used in a letterpress machine in order to print an ad in the newspaper. Before the Linotype was invented, each letter printed in the press had to be set by hand.
This particular one is of an advertisement for Penetro Nose Drops, from the 1930s. What is fantastic about these drops is that they claimed to alleviate everything from chest congestion to head colds and indigestion. The list of ingredients must be quite interesting.
A Graduation Ring Returned to Its Rightful Owner
One of the best things that can happen when finding treasures with a metal detector is being able to return them to their owners – especially when they are of such great sentimental value. This University of Michigan graduation ring is one such example of a heartwarming story.
A guy who was doing some metal detecting in Chicago Park found a graduation ring from the 1980s, and after a lot of research, he managed to track its owner down and return it to him. The man said he had lost it 43 years ago while playing volleyball in the park, and he was in tears when it was returned to him.
Infantry Button From the American Civil War
This guy seemed to find a few artifacts from the American Civil War right in his backyard. First, he found a war buckle and then he found the same soldier’s infantry button, with the characteristic eagle insignia. The finder’s home wasn’t even on an old battle encampment or battlefield, but it was probably the private property of an ex-soldier back in the 1800s.
This guy should definitely dedicate a few days to digging around the entire area, because who knows what other war artifacts he might find. There might actually be an entire treasure trove of Civil War relics.
A Collection of Old Jewelry
We don’t know how much time it took this guy to find that amount of jewelry, but he’s certainly amassed an impressive collection. Although there are no antique pieces here, it is not that big of a surprise considering they were found in Australia, which is a relatively new country.
However, there must be a lot of people looking for their lost rings and bracelets; in fact, the finder even returned two gold rings to their owners. It might not have thousands of years of history, but that is still quite a large collection of things to find buried in the ground.
An 11th-Century Viking Brooch
The Vikings were one of the most amazing civilizations to ever exist, considered fearless sea warriors who conquered everything they touched. So logically, finding any piece of that time in history is absolutely incredible. This woman found a beautiful Viking-era brooch while metal detecting in Finland, and the local museum confirmed it was an original artifact from that period.
The carefully engraved spirals on the bronze heart-shaped brooch were one of the many things that made the Vikings so particular. Even though the brooches were mostly functional for holding clothes in place, they were often engraved with intricate designs and precious gems they found during their travels. They might have been barbaric, but they certainly had style.
A Pocket Flashlight From the 1910s
This guy found a relic on one of his first tries at metal detecting out in his own backyard. As his house was originally built in 1910, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were all kinds of treasures hidden underground, and this one is quite special. At first glance, it may seem like a regular old metal case with rust.
But after some research, the guy discovered it’s actually a vest pocket flashlight case from the 1910s! Back then, it was fairly common for men to carry these little portable flashlights in their suit’s vest pocket. With a bit of cleaning, this little case could be repurposed into a very nice vintage box.
A Russian Revolver From the 1800s
This amazing find is a Russian Nagant M1895 Revolver, and even though it’s rusted and obviously unusable, it is a fine relic to add to any collection. This particular revolver was designed and created in 1886, by a Belgian industry man named Leon Nagant, specifically for the Russian Empire.
This seven-shot, gas-seal revolver is unique in its functioning, which made it a favorite for the Russians back in the day. Considering how long it’s been underground, it’s still in pretty good shape. Hopefully, the finder will be able to clean most of the rust off and keep it as a valued collector’s item.
A Snake Ring Made of Gold
We hope this guy went out to celebrate as soon as he found this because that is truly one astonishing item! Weighing about 5 grams, this golden snake ring with diamond eyes is not only quite rare looking, but it’s also probably worth quite a lot if this guy is ever in a jam and needs some extra cash. We suspect one of the first things he did was contact an antique jeweler to get some information and assess how much it could be worth.
This ring could have come from different time periods – maybe someone bought it back in the 90s and dropped it without realizing it, or perhaps it belonged to the Victorian period, as they were quite fascinated with the ouroboros snake.
A 1700s Jewel From the Georgian Era
It may not look like much now, but this find is actually a piece of costume jewelry from the Georgian Era. In a period of British history from 1714 to roughly 1837, women of the Georgian era were characterized as being incredibly elegant and adorned. This particular piece, which is most probably a hair brooch, probably had precious stones where all the empty holes are now and must have been a thing of beauty.
It was found in the region of East Anglia, in England, U.K., buried deep underground and forgotten by time. We wonder what stones it must have had, and how beautiful a piece it must have been when it was first worn.
A 1944 Pigeon Racing Band
Yes, you read that right – this band was put on a pigeon in a pigeon racing tournament. It turns out that since 1910, an organization called the American Racing Pigeon Union has been organizing pigeon races in the United States. This find belonged to a pigeon in 1944, and the numbers engraved on it, “3850”, were most probably that pigeon’s specific ID.
Perhaps not worth much, but certainly a very special and quirky find we hope this person kept in their collection. The mere thought of pigeons racing is fantastic, and perhaps this band belonged to a fierce competitor that won plenty of races back in the day.
British Coins From the 1700s
Whoever dropped these back in the 1700s must have had one of the worst days of their life as the gold coin alone was probably a month’s salary back then! Fast forward 300 years and a very lucky person with a metal detector found these coins in a field in the U.K.
This picture shows a gold guinea coin from 1715, and two silver sixpences from 1696. He was probably required by English law to turn them in to the nearest history museum. But if he was allowed to keep them, those are some impressive historical coins to add to any collection.
WW1 Austro-Hungarian Knife
The piece pictured below is a WW1 Sturmmesser M1917 fighting knife from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It may not be in great condition, as part of the blade is broken off, but this weapon is a significant piece of war history.
These knives were one of the Empire’s favorite weapons, as they were easy to handle because of their size but still very deadly, as the blade had a particular shape. Besides, whoever found this now has an official weapon from 1917 in their home! If the local history museum didn’t come knocking on their door to reclaim it, of course.
Old Suspender Adjuster From 1862
It was quite common for men to wear suspenders back in the 1800s, and these came with different types of adjusters, buckles, and other functional accessories. The suspender adjuster pictured here was designed in 1862, by Farmers Brace, one of the largest suspender accessory companies at the time.
The design of this particular adjuster is quite intricate, and although it might not be worth much if the finder decides to sell it, it is definitely a vintage item. Someone must have lost their fancy suspender adjuster as they were working outside in the field. Or perhaps they threw it away and decided to buy a better one. Oh, the infinite stories one could come up with.
A Mine Lamp From the 1910s
Back in the 1910s, coal mining was one of the most common jobs for men, both in the U.S. and Canada. Since the 1880s, coal started to be widely used as the main generator of electricity across the country, so there was always a shortage of miners. One of the most important, if not THE most important things for a coal miner to have underground was a trusty lamp.
Back then, these were carbide lamps, and one of their main manufacturers was the Justrite Company in Chicago, Illinois. Pictured above is one such mining lamp, unearthed by a metal detectorist in a creek. Now that is one very cool find!
A Gold Ring With Diamonds
This guy hit the jackpot when he unearthed this 10-karat gold ring encrusted with actual diamonds while metal detecting in an abandoned football field. Even though it looks like one of the diamonds fell off, the ring still appears to have the remaining six intact!
Perhaps the guy decided to do some research on the history of the field to discover if any families lived there before. However, it seems most probable that someone dropped a very valuable ring one day and this lucky guy was around to find it years later. If he did decide to sell it, he must have gotten a hefty sum.
An Ancient-Looking Bottle Opener
At first glance, this ancient-looking object might seem to be an artifact from medieval times, but that would just be the cool effect given to it by rust and years gone by. Upon a closer look, it seems to be some kind of bottle opener, from when or where, no one knows.
Even though the find might not have a high monetary value, it’s always cool to find things buried in the ground. Who knows what the story behind this bottle opener might be, and honestly, it could date back to the 1900s. Truth be told, bottle openers have come a long way since then.
A Rock Drill Tooth or a Grenade?
The person who found this unearthed it in Croatia and was almost positive it was a grenade fragment. Which leads us to beg the question, why on earth would they pick it up with their hands? After some research online, they concluded it was one of the replaceable teeth on a rock drill auger.
As these pieces wear down, they are thrown away and replaced with new ones. Apparently, this was just an old piece of construction equipment. Still, the fact that it was discovered in Croatia still makes it pretty cool, and who knows how long it’s been buried underground.
Vintage Costume Jewelry
This is quite a strange find since not even online research could turn up its origins. It looks like some kind of pendant, perhaps religious. Or maybe some kind of medal that was repurposed as a pendant, but what is certain is that it is quite old. As in, probably over 100 years old.
Something is written inside what seems to be cloth or fabric covering, and we really hope whoever found it was able to find some kind of explanation as to what it is and where it came from. The center almost looks like an image of a large yellow fish, which doesn’t make much sense. But then again, nothing about this artifact does.
A Squidward Figurine
Anyone who’s ever done some metal detecting knows that it can be a hit or miss. Sometimes you find something incredibly valuable, whether monetary or historic, and sometimes you find worthless junk that can still be very fun and cool to keep. Like this Squidward figurine that turned out to be a SpongeBob monopoly piece.
The girl who found it was digging around her apartment complex in Michigan and unearthed this beloved cartoon character. All in all, it’s a pretty cool thing to put on your mantle at home, and if this girl was actually a SpongeBob fan, all the better!
A Golden Diamond Teeth Grill
Well, this is what happens when you go metal detecting in the United States – you find a diamond grill. A very weird, and quite disgusting, thing to find buried underground, if we are going to be perfectly honest. But hey, perhaps the gold and tiny glitter-like diamonds are worth something.
We guess it’s better than going home empty-handed after a long day of metal detecting. Still, whether that grill was intentionally thrown in the ground and left there or it belongs to someone that is also buried, we don’t want to know. Dear people from the past, please just put your teeth under your pillows like a normal person.
A 400-Year-Old Silver Brooch
Imagine finding a piece of jewelry that is 400 years old and is still in good enough condition that you can wear it today. This is what happened to this metal detector – they found an annular silver brooch dated 400 years old buried in a field in the U.K.
When she proceeded to report it to the history museum, as is required by law, they confirmed its age but said they weren’t interested in keeping it, so it was all hers! Now this person can rock their (very) vintage brooch anywhere they go, and that’s definitely an accessory to comment on.
Clover Heel Plate From the 1800s
This might look like a metal trinket at first, but it’s actually a relic from the 18th century. This heel plate with a clover etched in the middle is from the 1800s and is in amazingly good condition considering it’s probably been underground for over 150 years.
Back in the 18th century, people used steel or brass heel plates to attach to their shoe’s worn-out soles. The plates were attached to the soles with nails and would make sure the soles would last another few years. This find is a true piece of history, and the clover design makes it even more special.
An Unknown Viking Artifact
This unusual artifact was found at Kingsbarns Beach in Scotland, which makes us think it must belong to the Viking civilization. Judging by the fact that it’s made from some kind of copper alloy and has an iron insert, one would believe that it was a strap-end of sorts, used for belts or other leather straps.
Also, the particular swirls in the engravings are characteristic of Viking patterns. Whatever this ends up being, it is certainly an ancient piece of one of the most fascinating civilizations to ever exist. Hopefully, the finder was able to get some clarity from their local history museum.
A Silver Pendant Over 200 Years Old
This is truly an amazing find, not only because it’s pure silver, but because it’s in such good condition we can actually see who it belonged to – back in the 1700s! Over 230 years old, this silver pendant belonged to Miss Anna A. Leonard, who was born on May 5th, 1794.
Perhaps it was a birthday gift given to Miss Leonard or a present from a suitor. The detail is exquisite, though, with everything from the lettering and the designs done with handcrafted dedication. The bird and the laurel branches are beautifully done, making this a very rare treasure.
A Heart-Shaped Jewel From the 19th Century
This beautiful heart-shaped stone, which might actually be glass, was found near a bay in Washington, U.S. After some research, the finder discovered that it probably dated back to the late 1800s or early 1900s, since using fine pieces of colored glass instead of gemstones was quite common back then.
Gemstones were too expensive, and so women would often settle for glass that looked like a ruby or an emerald. As amazing as it would be if this person took the finding to a trained jeweler who confirmed it’s an actual ruby, even if it turned out to be glass, it would still be incredible for the mere fact of being over 200 years old.
A Miniature Car From the 1930s
This guy was doing some metal detecting in his garden in Athens, Georgia, and found a very cool item. The miniature car, which appears to be modeled after a 1937 Lincoln-Zephyr, could have belonged to an avid miniature car collector from that era. It certainly appears to be quite old, as it doesn’t resemble the miniature car manufacturing techniques from the last decades.
The condition of the car and the rust also indicate it was probably buried underground for many years. Who knows what the story behind this little car is; whatever it may be, it’s definitely a very cool find.
A Lost Earring From Many Years Ago
This find is incredible because of the story behind it, not so much for the item itself, which turned out to be a $1 earring from a mall store. This woman lost one of her favorite earrings when she was a little girl, and over 15 years later, her parents gifted her a metal detector.
The first time she tried it out in her garden, she found the earring buried 2 inches underground! It may be a trinket, but this story is enough to get anybody hooked on metal detecting. Imagine the excitement of finding something you thought you’d lost forever; now that’s priceless.
A Bucket Tooth Shaped Like an Ancient Arrow
Don’t worry, we didn’t know what bucket teeth were either until we saw this crazy find. Apparently, this 10-kilo piece of metal that looks like an arrow from medieval times is actually a rusted old bucket tooth, which are the sharp things on the rim of an excavator.
Maybe this guy was disappointed his find didn’t end up belonging to a medieval castle from a thousand years ago, but that is still a pretty cool piece of metal that could be repurposed for several things. The fact that it looks like an almost perfect arrow also makes it quite interesting to look at.
An Ancient Buddhist Monk Medallion
Now this is one cool thing to find buried in the ground – a very old Buddhist monk medallion. Curiously, its origins are uncertain, as the monk’s name or the meaning of the letters, or even the language they’re in, hasn’t been revealed.
However, some people claim the language is Thai, and these sorts of medallions are very important in Buddhism, as each carries a different meaning and power for whoever wears them. The finder should definitely take this to an expert in Buddhism to try and figure out who this is and what those letters mean. An amazing find!
An Axe Pendant From the Middle Ages
The fact that this probably belongs to a civilization that existed in the early Middle Ages, before the Vikings even, is simply astonishing. The small pendant with the particular carvings is claimed to have belonged to the Picts, a group of people who lived in Britain before the Vikings.
It seems to have been some kind of pendant, judging by the loop at the end. We honestly hope this was taken to the local history museum immediately, at least to be sure of its time period and find out what it was. What else could this tiny relic have been if not a pendant?
Vintage Radio Dial
The person who found this very cool vintage radio dial did so around a creek near his house, which was built in 1929. This makes the unearthing of this dial even more interesting, as establishing the time period it dates back to is much easier. It most probably belonged to the radio owned by the family who lived in the house in the 1930s.
If you take a closer look, you’ll find the wavelength is measured in meters, on a scale from 0 to 100, and then on a scale of 200 to 250. A very beautiful vintage piece to either be repurposed for something cool or kept in an artifact collection.
Pennsylvania Plate From 1940
How cool is this license plate from 1940?! Not only can whoever found this hang it as an awesome piece of décor on their wall, but they also own a piece of history. Judging by the engraved numbers and letters, it belonged to a resident of Pennsylvania, or at least the car was manufactured there.
Maybe it would even be possible to find who the car was registered to or what kind of car it fell off of. We’re sure this person kept it for their metal-detecting collection, but any transportation museum would go crazy to get its hands on something like this.
Old Italian Knife
This very unusual pocketknife was found by a metal detector in Northern Italy. The finder still hasn’t quite found what year it belongs to, which is made harder because clearly there are parts of the knife missing.
This looks like it could have been made in the 40s or 50s, judging by the style of similar knives. Since it has no marked engravings that could indicate the manufacturer or year it was made, the best thing would be to dedicate a few hours to researching online. Or to take it to a knife expert. Still, that is one cool find.