Ever unearthed a piece of the past? Discover the thrill of finding hidden treasures in Pennsylvania’s rich soil. Curious? Dive in!
Are you someone from Pennsylvania? Or are you someone who is visiting Pennsylvania quite often? Pennsylvania is more than a state to me. It is my home.
As a Pennsylvanian, I can assure you that the state is filled with amazing places to metal detect.
Ad, there is a bunch of elderly and professionals at the metal detecting game who always is willing to help someone in need.
Some common findings can be uncovered from every state I have been to. The case is the same in Pennsylvania, too.
When I started metal detecting 15 years ago, I was fascinated by the things I used to find in my backyard. That is what got me into this hobby.
After spending about three years detecting around the neighborhood, I expanded my search radius. That is when I first thought about detecting in the whole of Pennsylvania state.
When I stepped out to detect the state, there were quite a few common finds that I could uncover in the first three months.
So, a few weeks ago, when I was reminiscing about how things have gone up to now, I thought I hadn’t educated my fellow metal-detecting community about the things in Pennsylvania.
So, I have made a list of common substances and items in Pennsylvania with the help of other local expert detectorists in Pennsylvania.
Here are the best metal detecting finds in Pennsylvania,
- Coins
- Jewelry
- Military Relics and Artifacts
- Native American Artifacts
- Antique Tools
But there’s a lot more to know about those findings!
So, in this article I’ll explore the best metal detecting finds in Pennsylvania with the specific locations they can find!
Furthermore, I will provide you with useful location information that you can use to start your metal testing journey in Pennsylvania.
A surprise will be waiting for the readers who hang till the end. I will share some expert tips and tricks to excel at metal detecting in every instance.
So, let’s dig in!
Best Metal Detecting Finds in Pennsylvania
Even though there are many things you can discover in the state of Pennsylvania, the success of these findings will be based on a few factors.
The major factor that could affect the outcome of the oru metal detecting session is your ability, which can be termed the practice or the experience; the other thing is patience.
These are two of the most important parameters a metal detectorist should consider. This is because you know you will need help if you are new to the metal-detecting game.
It is common to everyone. But there are a few things that you can do to overcome this struggle.
Things I used to do when I was starting: I hid items in my backyard and kept them hidden for about three or four months until I needed to remember where I hid them.
Once after three or four months, I will try to find it using my metal detector.
This is one of the methods I used to improve my skill in metal detecting. Reading many articles and gaining knowledge is also important in knowing what to do in the field.
But you have to practice and apply them physically in some way, shape,e or form to see the differences.
If you are a young metal detectorist, you should practice more often with your metal detector and get used to its settings and other things.
When starting, make sure that you set achievable targets; this will help to build your confidence and further motivate you to engage in metal detecting.
Unachievable highly ambitious targets will only put you down mentally. So be sure to set some small targets when starting.
The other very important thing is the patience. Patience is necessary for life and a journey to a metal detectorist.
If you are someone less apt, I suggest you increase your patience levels because this journey isn’t easy.
There could be months passing without you finding a thing. Better days will come if you persist and get through the rough patch with patience.
But if you fall for this trap and lose all the love and inspiration towards metal detecting, it would be able to repair.
I have seen countless people starting gout very ambitiously and, after about three months, abandoning their gears and passion for metal detecting.
Metal detecting isn’t easy, so build these qualities, and you will be able to have a successful metal detecting journey ahead.
Let’s talk about the common findings in Pennsylvania,
1. Coins
Coins are among the most commonly found in the United States of America. When I started metal detecting, Pennsylvania coins were the most common.
These coins can be categorized according to their period. Some coins belong to the colonial era, some to the world war post-industrial eras, and some coins belong to the recent past lost by the viewers and visitors.
Apart from these, in some areas, you could also find coins like metal disks rumored to be used by the native American people as their currencies. Even though this is historically not confirmed, it is also possibly a coin you can stumble upon in Pennsylvania.
Colonial coins include British half pennies, Spanish reales, and early American coins. These early American coins are much larger than those present today.
Due to the policies of Pennsylvania, you cannot claim authority or ownership of any of these items.
To claim ownership, it would be best to sort it out with the department responsible for these findings.
Coins of recent times can be easily found by going to places with heavy tourist attractions and high-traffic areas where people gather more often.
Here is the list of places that you can visit to find lost coins in Pennsylvania,
- Beaches along Lake Eerie
- State Parks like Raccoon Creek State Park, Moraine State Park, and Promised Land State Park.
- Camping ground areas
- Areas of Philadelphia, due to its rich history in colonialism, can be found coins belonging to the colonial area
- Historical parks like Valley Forge National Historical Park
- Amish Settlement areas like Lancaster County and Ephrata County.
Read to know the best state parks in Pennsylvania to metal detect!
2. Jewelry
Jewelries are the second most common thing that I found in Pennsylvania. These can belong to earlier or recent periods that the visitors might have lost.
The jewelry is made of gold or silver, so these findings could carry much more value than other items. And if the items are more recent, the chances of you finding them also increase.
Most jewelry includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, and pendants. The sizes and shapes of these items could vary according to the era and year they were made.
Due to the laws in the state, it is easier to claim the items that have been lost recently than the older items. But there are a lot of older items that you can find in some areas of Pennsylvania, too.
You can uncover some jewelry pieces if you visit areas with high traffic and people gathering.
And if you are keen on detecting in the city streets, these areas could also have some interesting findings.
But if you find something valuable and can track it back to the owner, returning it will spark some joy in the owner’s eyes. And for me, it is more pleasurable than keeping it for myself.
Here are some of the areas in Pennsylvania that you can potentially find lost jewelry items,
- Rittenhouse Square and its vicinity. The Rittenhouse Square is known for people gathering from earlier ages.
- Historical parks like Independence National Historical Park
- Beaches like on the shores of Lake Eerie
- State parks like Pittsburg Point State Park, Gettysburg National Military Park
- Hershey Amusement Park in Hershey
3. Military Relics and Artifacts
Pennsylvania has a rich history of civil war and various other wars in the historical timeline.
Due to these, there are ample items to be discovered by the metal detecting enthusiast in Pennsylvania.
Civil war items found easily in Pennsylvania are military badges, buttons, weapon parts, small bullet clipping, and other military-related meal items.
These are almost spread over the Civil War battle sites in the state.
The areas you should focus on if you want to find civil war relics are,
- Gettysburg National Park
- Antietam National Battlefield area
- Fredericksburg Battlefield Park
- Monocacy National battlefield area
These are some of the highly affected and battered areas during the Civil War. Even today, you can detect some items belonging to old war heroes in these places.
Another important war in the historical timeline of the United States of America is the Revolutionary War.
There are metal items like buttons, buckles, weapon parts, bullets, and musket balls belonging to this era hidden under the soil of Pennsylvania.
If you’re keen on finding metal items, I suggest you look in these places,
- Valley Forge National Historical Park
- Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia
- For Pitt Museum in Pittsburg
- Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford
- Washington Crossin Historic Park in Washington Crossing.
Most of these sites mentioned above allow the recreational use of metal detectors within them but make sure that you adhere to the rules and regulations put up by the authorities to avoid any conflicts.
4. Native American Artifacts
Pennsylvania is an area that was heavily populated by native American people back in the day.
Upon investigating the lands these indigenous people used, you might find stuff like arrowheads, stone tools, jewelry items, buttons, metal equipment, etc.
Even though these don’t possess economic value, they are very high in historical and cultural value.
So mostly, you can keep this with you or claim ownership[ over these items unless you found these on privately owned land.
Here are some of the places that you can go searching for in Pennsylvania for native American Artifacts,
- Meadowcroft Rock shelter area in Avella
- Indian Steps Museum and its vicinity in Asheville
- Fort Necessity National Battlefield Park in Farmington
- Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque lakes in Tioga County
- Mifflinburg Buggy Museum and its vicinity in Mifflinburg.
5. Antique Tools
Pennsylvania has a rich history of industrial items and has been a leader in industrialization in the country.
Due to these, there are a lot of abundant industrial zones in the state that you can easily visit and metal detect in.
Some of the common finds you can find in these places are nails, hammers, chisels, and other equipment used in agriculture, construction, and manufacturing processes.
As these are abundant places, you can mostly claim any of these items.
But you might have to ask for permission before entering into these sites. The local government controls some sites, so in these places, ensure you adhere to the laws and regulations.
Here are some of the places that might interest you if you are keen on finding old tools and equipment,
- Landis Valley Village in Lancaster County
- Eckley Miners’ Village In Weatherly
- Johnstown Flood National Museum and Johnstown area in South Fork
- Scranton Iran Furnaces in Scranton
- Mifflinburg old town in Mifflinburg
Congrats folks! Now you know all the best metal detecting finds in Pennsylvania with the areas where you can find them with useful techniques.
As a Pennsylvanian, I’m going to share with you tips that I’ve learned when metal detecting in Pennsylvania for the past 15 years to catch cool treasures.
The below tips will definitely help you to detect treasures without worrying much because they directly come from a Pennsylvanian.
Some of the below tips were gathered from some of my friendly expert local detectorists by interviewing them.
Just keep reading!
Tips For Metal Detecting in Pennsylvania
As explained earlier, experience and patience are the two most important things in a metal detectorist’s life.
To have experience, you need to engage in many metal-detecting sessions. Here are some tips and tricks I use to detect metal in Pennsylvania.
Research
Before going out to Metal Detect, I researched the area I would attend. And If I don’t have enough information about the area, I don’t hesitate to ask someone who knows better.
If you are from outside the state, you can always look online for more knowledge about the area.
Set the Settings accordingly.
Once you are on the site metal detecting, set the settings according to your needs; it takes a few minutes. To this, you should have mastered the controls of your device.
After you set the controls according to your needs, the others will easily follow suit.
The correct settings and adjustments save you time and energy and will help you massively find stuff hidden beneath the earth.
Don’t rush. Use slow movements
Don’t ever rush in a metal detecting session. Go as slowly as possible to ensure you covered the whole area and don’t have to come back.
And when metal detecting, follow a grid or pattern of your choice. I use the grid pattern because it is easy to know where your metal has been detected and where you haven’t.
This helps me to save time and energy as well.
These are the tips and tricks I use when metal detecting in Pennsylvania.
I hope any upcoming metal detectors find this information useful and shape their metal-detecting journey with these devices.
If you like to know more details about Pennsylvania treasures, join a metal detecting club in Pennsylvania and try to engage with the experts.
Pennsylvania is home to the famed lost Civil War gold, a treasure trove rumored to be worth millions, buried and undiscovered in the dense forests of Elk County.
apnews.com
So, let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
FAQs
Is it legal to keep the military relics found in Pennsylvania?
Military relics, especially those related to the Civil War, can be found in battle sites across the state; however, adhering to the legal regulations for claiming or keeping these artifacts is essential.
What skills are essential for successful metal detecting in Pennsylvania?
Patience and experience are crucial for metal detecting; practicing with your metal detector and learning its settings, as well as understanding the terrain and historical context of different areas in Pennsylvania, can significantly enhance your finds.
How can I improve my metal detecting skills?
Practicing regularly with your detector, setting achievable targets, and patiently persisting even during dry spells without significant finds can enhance your skills and success in metal detecting in Pennsylvania.
Where can I find support and join communities for metal detecting in Pennsylvania?
There are clubs, groups, and online forums where new and experienced metal detectorists share their experiences, findings, and advice, offering a supportive community for those passionate about this hobby in Pennsylvania.
Is permission required to metal detect in certain areas of Pennsylvania?
Yes, obtaining permission is often necessary, especially for metal detecting in state parks, historical sites, and private properties, ensuring that you adhere to the legal and ethical guidelines of treasure hunting.
Did I cover all you wanted to know about: Best Metal Detecting Finds in Pennsylvania
In this article, I’ve deeply discussed the best metal detecting finds in Pennsylvania with locations, historical values of places, and techniques.
Coins, jewelry, military relics, Native American artifacts, and antique tools are among the best metal detecting finds in Pennsylvania, uncovered in places like Lake Erie beaches, state parks, and historical battle sites.
Furthermore, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions as well.
I hope I covered everything you wanted about Pennsylvania’s best metal-detecting finds including experts’ tips.
It’s now time for you to begin your research, grab your metal detector, and embark on a treasure-hunting adventure across my beautiful lands in Pennsylvania.
If you find yourself passing through Portersville, PA, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for a coffee. Wishing you a happy metal-detecting experience in Pennsylvania!
