Places & rules
Can I detect here?
Choose the country before the ground. The rules hub leads to the available access and reporting guides.
Available now: England and the Netherlands.
Open the country guidesDetecting Atlas · Europe
Start metal detecting in Europe. Choose your next step.
New to the hobby or a new country? Check the country rules and get permission for the exact place first. Then pick a field skill or find guide that matches what you need.
Three starting routes
Choose the question you have now.
Each route leads to an existing guide. Start with access if you have not confirmed your ground.
Field skills
What should I practise?
Choose one field skill, from coil control to careful recovery. Check the country guide before putting it to use.
Explore field techniquesFind identification
What did I find?
Keep the find context and look at material, shape, portrait, and lettering before cleaning a possible old coin.
Explore find identificationGo deeper
Field skills, find clues, and sources.
Move from a permitted hunt to careful recovery and identification. Use the guide that matches the next decision.
Finding small hammered coins
Set up for weak signals and recover with care for the find context.
Medieval coin identification
Use the cut, cross, portrait, and lettering to narrow a possible match. For a Roman coin, follow the portrait and legend guide.
How we check sources
See how Detecting Atlas handles changing rules and uncertain claims.
Detecting in the United States? Start with the US location guides.