Delaware offers so much for the metal detectorist. Being the first state it is a no-brainer that it should have some of the oldest metal lying under it’s soil. Delaware is one of the smallest states, measuring only 17 miles across at it’s widest point. But Delaware also has some of the best places to metal detect in the USA.

On one side is the Delaware Bay which turns into the Atlantic Ocean about 1/2 way down the state. The Delaware Bay is one of the oldest waterways used as an access to Philadelphia. There are thousands of shipwrecks in the Delaware bay and for years things have been washing up on the Delaware seashores from those wrecks.

One beach in particular sees so much activity in the way of old coins, pottery and ship driftwood that it has been labeled “Coin Beach” by the locals. For years now people in the area look out for a good “nor-easter”  to come around. When that happens thousands of tons of sand are removed from the beaches and lots of old coins and pottery and jewelry from those old sunken shipwrecks come to the surface. Metal detectorists for hundreds of miles away come to battle the elements with the hopes that they can walk away with a few pieces of eight or doubloons.

Delaware also has hundreds of parks and recreational areas and most of them allow metal detecting. Just make sure you check with the park officials because metal detecting is not allowed in a few of them. For instance, in certain parts of Cape Henlopen metal detectors are off limits only because there is believed that some burried mines still exist from the wars.

In Dover, the state capitol, all of the parks allow metal detecting. Sometimes they plant new grass so you have to abide by the “keep off the grass” signs. But there are like 15 parks in Dover so there’s always a place to hunt.

My favorite place to metal detect in Delaware is along the sea shore. Beach hunting usually does not uncover many old coins but there is plenty of jewelry including gold and silver rings, some quite valuable if they have diamonds attached. Gold necklaces and bracelets are also common. Also, hunting the beach is so easy because digging in sand is so much easier than digging in dirt. I can retrieve a 10 inch target faster in sand than I can a 3 inch target in dirt.

So grab your metal detector and come to Delaware. You will never leave empty handed and it’s quite possible that what you find can pay for your entire vacation!