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Metal Detecting Finds in United States

5 published discoveries from United States — coins, hoards, jewellery and artefacts recovered by detectorists and archaeologists.

Discoveries from United States

5 finds
United States · Jewellery · Modern ·

Olympic gold medalist loses Cartier rings. JoCo man with metal detector finds them

Olympic long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall and her husband, Paralympic sprinter Hunter Woodhall, enlisted Overland Park treasure hunter Ed Rogers after two Cartier rings—valued at over $10,000—flew off her hand while she was throwing grapefruit to deer in their Wamego, Kansas, backyard. Rogers, who runs the YouTube channel Hi Ho Silver and lists his services on RingFinders.com, travelled to their estate and located both the classic gold band and a diamond-encrusted gold band within 25 minutes using a metal detector. Unaware at the time that he was helping two renowned Olympic stars, Rogers returned the jewellery for his standard $100 travel fee plus an undisclosed reward from the couple.

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United States · Jewellery · Modern ·

Long-Lost Class Ring Found 28 Years Later Under a Rock at a Lake by Metal-Detecting Enthusiasts

Kim Rasbeck, a graduate of the Red Creek High School Class of 1988, was reunited with her long-lost class ring 28 years after losing it during a trip to [Great Sacandaga Lake](https://people.com/lost-class-ring-found-28-years-later-by-metal-detecting-enthusiasts-12103179?utm_source=gemini) in New York. Metal-detecting enthusiasts Michael Siegle and Dylan LaPort discovered the ring under a rock at the shore and tracked down Rasbeck by contacting her former high school and sharing a post on Facebook. Recognising the initials and nickname engraved on the ring, a high school secretary helped confirm the owner, and the duo mailed the keepsake back to Rasbeck at no charge, restoring her faith in humanity.

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United States · Jewellery · Modern ·

Another lost wedding ring found by local metal-detecting hobbyist

A local metal‑detecting enthusiast who recently gained national attention has once again helped reunite someone with a lost wedding ring, adding to a growing list of successful recoveries. WTOL 11 reports that Jeff—whose earlier story brought widespread recognition—continues to use his hobby to assist community members who have misplaced sentimental jewellery, with this latest find reinforcing his reputation for turning chance discoveries into meaningful returns.

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United States · Artefacts · Post-Medieval ·

Metal detector leads treasure hunters to 'exciting' discovery at legendary 17th-century shipwreck, Florida Keys

Treasure hunters exploring the wreck of the 17th‑century Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha off the Florida Keys have recovered a heavily encrusted 55‑pound copper ingot, detected after Captain Drake Nicholas picked up a faint signal while following a trail of coins. The Atocha, which sank in a 1622 hurricane while carrying gold, silver and emeralds, has been searched for decades by Mel Fisher’s team, who famously located the ship’s “Mother Lode” in 1985. Copper was a valuable resource in the 1600s, used for casting bronze cannons, and the crude ingot—likely poured into a sand pit—adds to recent finds, including a 22.5‑pound silver bar. Nicholas believes new technology and a cluster of promising deep targets suggest the crew may be closing in on a larger concentration of treasure.

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United States · Hoards · Modern ·

Saddle Ridge Hoard: 1,427 gold coins found on a California property

A California couple walking their dog in 2013 discovered a rusted can on their own property, leading to the excavation of eight containers holding 1,427 gold coins minted between 1847 and 1894—almost all in near‑uncirculated condition and ultimately valued at around $10 million. The find, known as the Saddle Ridge Hoard, sparked debate over whether it was linked to a historic 1901 theft from the San Francisco Mint, but coin experts and federal officials dismissed the theory due to mismatched dates, denominations, and mint records. The couple, identified only as John and Mary, were legally entitled to keep the treasure but faced a substantial tax burden, with nearly half the value treated as ordinary income. Most of the coins were later sold through an exclusive arrangement with Amazon, including several exceptionally rare pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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