5 Best Metal Detecting Finds in Illinois

Ever unearthed a piece of history buried beneath your feet? Dive into Illinois’ hidden treasures, where every find tells a story. Are you ready to discover yours?

Illinois is one of the best-known states that is recommended for metal detecting. It is also on the list of first-ever states to accept metal detecting as a legitimate hobby. 

The state also has a great history that dates back to prehistoric times and many significant events have taken place in this state. 

Metal detecting the public areas is legal here. There are a few exceptions for some places but most of the time, metal detecting is allowed. 

What grabbed my attention is the great history here. And a few online pages of some clubs have posted about amazing finds from there. 

So I wanted to research more on the treasures that can be found in Illinois.

I’ve visited Illinois several times and was able to find some really good findings with historical value with the help of local detectorists in Illinois.

So, I made a list of the best treasures that I’ve found and based on the data collected by local detectorists in detail for your knowledge.

Here are the best metal detecting finds in Illinois,

1. Old coins
2. War artifacts 
3. Farming land artifacts 
4. Jewelry
5. Household items

But there’s a lot more to know about those findings!

So, in this article, I’ll explore the best metal-detecting finds in Illinois and the exact locations they could detect.

Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions as well.

Let’s jump in!

Best Metal Detecting Finds In Illinois

Most detectorists find it fun and adventurous to metal detect around Illinois. This is because the findings are valuable and rewarding. 

And most of the places probably would let you detect something. There are some common things that you can find from any place that you detect. 

And some places are actually hotspots of these objects.

1. Old Coins

Old coins have been used as currency in Illinois since the early days. 

The first ever coins that were used here were Spanish Reales and they were brought here by the Spanish and French traders and settlers in the 1700s.

During the 1800s Illinois went short on coins and therefore, the merchants and private traders made their own coins from copper with their own markings. 

In the mid-1800s, silver and gold coins became the main currency form in Illinois due to the California gold rush and the introduction of silver mining. 

The introduction of commemorative coins occurred in the early 1900s. This was done to honor individuals and various events. 

Chicago

This is a large city with plenty of opportunities to find coins. 

Locations like beaches and parks and other popular sites such as the Chicago Riverwalk and Navy Pier are popular with metal detectorists. 

I also recommend Lincoln Park and Wicker Park for metal-detecting coins.

Springfield

Springfield is the capital of Illinois and has a very rich history. 

Most of it is linked to Abraham Lincoln. Some popular locations to detect coins in Springfield are the Old State Capitol and the Oak Ridge Cemetery. 

Rockford

This is a city in northern Illinois with a collection of different parks, playgrounds, and other outdoor spaces. 

These are potential locations to find coins. Sinnissippi park, and Anderson Japanese Gardens are some of the locations that can be named.

Galena

It is a historical town that had continuous habitations since the 17th century. 

Some popular locations here to detect coins are the Galena River Trail and the Galena historic district.

Alton

Alton is an old and historical city located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. It has a variety of historical sites. 

You can check the surroundings of the Clerk Bridge for coins.

Check out the Best Places to Metal Detect in Illinois!

2. War Artifacts 

Illinois being a state in the heart of America has a rich history when it comes to wars. 

The state has played a significant role in various wars. 

During the war in 1812, Illinois was a territory of the USA. It played a main role in the war as many battles took place there. 

The state also played a major role in the Civil War where thousands of soldiers fought for the Union.

Illinois contributed so many soldiers to World War I and II. So the state itself has a great history of wars and the chances of finding war artifacts are very high.

Peoria

It is a city in central Illinois. Peoria played a role in the Civil War and World War II. Detectorists can explore the Peoria riverfront.

This location has records of detecting war artifacts and other objects.

Marseilles

This is a town located in north central Illinois. 

It has a great history related to the Michigan Canal which was used as a transportation route during the civil war. 

Along this canal is a great place to detect as a lot of goods have been transported from this point.

Bloomington

Bloomington is located in central Illinois. It holds historical significance to the Civil War. 

The David Davis Mansion state historic site is a great location to explore here. 

Galesburg

It is a town in western Illinois that has a connection to the Underground Railroad and the Civil War. 

The Knox College Underground Railroad Freedom site is a great location to search for war artifacts including the metal pieces fixed to the uniforms of the soldiers.

Cairo

Cairo is a town located in southern Illinois. It played an important role during the Civil War as a strategic location for Union troops. 

Detectorists can explore the Fort Defiant State Park with a permit to find out different war artifacts and memorabilia of the civil war.

Read to know, Best State Parks in Illinois to Metal Detect!

3. Farming Land Artifacts 

Farming has been an integral part of Illinois’s cultural and economic history. 

The state has a rich soil, and the climate is ideal for farming. 

Therefore it became a prime location of agricultural development. 

Since the early settlers arrived, Illinois farming has become one of the major ways of life for many people in the state.

The history of Illinois is also closely related to livestock production. producing dairy, beef, and pork supporting many communities and families. 

It also positively impacted the economy of the state. 

As a result, artifacts related to farming have been discovered from around Illinois providing an insight into the history of farming.

Quincy

Quincy is a small town located in western Illinois near the Mississippi River. It has a long history of farming. 

You will be able to find artifacts related to livestock farming such as antiques, and milking machines.

Mendota

Mendota is a town in north central Illinois that has a strong agricultural heritage. The history of this town dates back to the 1800s. 

Farming implements such as plows and tractor parts can be found here. 

Princeton 

This is another small town located in north central Illinois that has a strict heritage of agriculture dating back to the early 1800s. 

The farm might include livestock equipment and tools. 

Arthur

Arthur is a village in eastern Illinois known for the Amish community living in it. They are known for the tradition of practicing farming. 

With the permission of the community and the authorities, you might be able to detect the place and find out old tools related to farming.

Metropolis 

This is a small town located in southern Illinois that is known for its agricultural heritage. It is surrounded by farmlands and old farm buildings. 

Detectorists have found artifacts related to farming practices from different time periods. 

4. Jewelry 

The history of jewelry in Illinois dates back to the prehistoric era with the earliest form of jewelry used by Native Americans. 

They used copper and beads to create the jewelry.

European settlers arrived in Illinois during the 18th and 19th centuries where they bought the new techniques of jewelry making. 

They used metals such as gold and silver to make the jewelry. 

Throughout the 20th century, major jewelry manufacturers were established in Illinois and they produced high-quality pieces from difficult types of metals. 

The pieces became popular across the country and beyond.

Chicago

As the largest city in Illinois, Chicago is the home to many jewelry stores and manufacturers. 

There are jewelry shows annually here as well. This location has a great history of Jewelry manufacturing factories and old jewelry shops. 

Try finding spots that have had old jewelry shops and factories where you will probably detect something precious.

Rockford

This is the third largest city in Illinois. 

Rockford owns several major jewelry companies and manufacturers including Jabel and Randall Manufacturing Corporation. 

The old sites of these manufacturing companies might probably give you parts or complete pieces of jewelry. 

Rock Island

Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River and it has a rich history that dates back to the early settlers. 

The area has many parks and historic sites that could be perfect for jewelry hunting. You will have to get permits to detect certain areas.

Springfield 

The state capital of Illinois, Springfield has many historic sites and parks that may harbor old jewelry artifacts. 

There are guidelines that should be followed while detecting these locations so be sure to obey them before detecting them.

Quincy

Quincy can be a promising area for detecting jewelry due to its rich history. There are also many parks and public places that are old. 

The south park is a great spot to detect jewelry. It has been there since the 1800s. There are many amenities and areas in this park. 

Another popular park among metal detectorists here is Wavering Park. This park has a long history and it has been a site of many events and celebrations over the years. 

The park has open areas, wooded areas, and walking trails which are ideal for exploring. 

5. Household Items

Metal-based household items have been in use in Illinois for centuries. 

This dates back to the era of indigenous populations where Native American tribes like Illini, Miami, and Sauk crafted tools and other objects from copper, lead, and iron.

With the Europeans settling down in the region in the late 1600s, they brought metalworking skills to Illinois. They used household metal items for cooking and other purposes.

As the state grew and developed, advances in metalworking technology led to the mass production of household appliances. 

Factories in Chicago and Rockford produced a wide array of utensils including kitchen equipment and hardware.

Chicago

With its history of metal-based household appliance manufacturing, Chicago provides plenty of opportunities for metal-detecting enthusiasts to find different household items.

Rock Island

This city which is located on the Mississippi River has a mix of industrial and historic sites. This makes it a promising site to find metal artifacts and household items. 

Alton

Alton is situated along the banks of the Mississippi River. It is home to some of the oldest buildings in the state. 

This makes the location promising to find many old household metal items. 

Congrats folks! Now you know all the best metal detecting finds in Illinois with the locations they could mostly find.

Now I’m going to share with you several tips that I’ve learned while metal detecting in Illinois which helped me to detect cool treasures.

The below tips will help you to achieve promising results in Illinois.

Some of the tips were gathered from local expert detectorists based on their experience.

Just keep reading!

Tips For Metal Detecting In Illinois 

There are some important tips that I can share with you on metal detecting in Illinois. 

Make sure you read them carefully as some of them will be so important.

Laws And Regulations Researching

Metal detecting is prohibited on public land in Illinois. 

However, some areas are designated for metal detecting. If you need to detect the public lands, you must obtain permits for it. 

Find The Right Location 

Some of the best places to metal detect in Illinois include beaches, parks and old historical sites. 

You can do research with historical records and maps to find a potential hunting location.

Choose The Right Equipment And Techniques 

Choose a metal detector that is appropriate for your type of hunting. For coins and small objects, a detector with a high frequency is recommended.

Make sure all the settings are according to the metal type and the size of the object.

Also, use a small digging tool to remove any targets that you find. Use a good and sensitive set of headphones so as not to miss any of the small signals. 

Wear gloves and protective clothes to avoid injuries from sharp objects and environmental conditions.

Respect The Nature 

One of the best ethics any metal detectorist could follow is to respect nature and leave it as it is. 

Make sure you fill in all the holes that you dig and restore them. This helps the ecosystem to recover from the damage. 

Also, leave the place cleaner than it was once your work is done. Pick up any garbage from the place and dump it in a proper manner. 

Artifacts from the 1812 war, including military buttons and musket balls, have been uncovered in Illinois, offering a glimpse into its rich war history.

illinois.edu

So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Best Metal detecting Finds in Illinois

In this article, I’ve discussed the best metal detecting finds in Illinois in detail with the metal detecting hotspots you can find them.

Best metal detecting finds in Illinois are historical coins in Chicago, war artifacts in Peoria, farming land artifacts in Quincy, vintage jewelry in Rockford, and household items in Alton, reflecting the state’s rich history and culture.

Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions a swell.

Hope you’ve learned all you wanted to know about the best metal detecting finds in Illinois in detail including expert tips.

Now it’s time for you to plan your next trip to one of the mentioned places in Illinois and start treasure hunting like a pro! Don’t forget to leave feedback in the comments!