Mark K. hit the jackpot while hunting an abandoned mental hospital site near Long Island Sound — a gorgeous 1777 Spanish half reale that proves old institutional grounds can hold incredible treasures.
"I found a nice small silver disc which turned out to be a 1/2 Reale. I was hoping it was a Trime but I'll take the Reale!" Mark shared about his find.
The Find: 1777 Spanish Half Reale
Spanish half reales are fantastic finds for any detectorist. These small silver coins circulated widely in colonial America and represent some of the earliest currency used in the New World. The 1777 date puts this coin right in the thick of the American Revolution period.
Half reales were minted at just 1.69 grams of silver, making them tiny targets that many detectors struggle to pick up cleanly. That's what makes Mark's find with the Minelab Equinox 800 so impressive.
Why the Equinox 800 Excels at Small Silver
The Multi-IQ technology in Minelab metal detectors really shines on tiny silver targets like half reales. Running multiple frequencies simultaneously gives you better target separation and cleaner signals on small, deep coins.
For Spanish colonial coins and other small silver, we recommend:
- Park 1 or Park 2 mode for general hunting
- Recovery speed 4-6 for trashy areas
- Sensitivity as high as ground conditions allow
- Accept low tone targets — half reales often sound scratchy
Hunting Old Institutional Sites
Mark's choice of an old mental hospital site was smart detecting strategy. These locations often produced coins from multiple eras as staff, visitors, and patients lost items over decades of operation.
When hunting similar sites, focus on:
- Entry walkways and gathering areas
- Picnic or recreation zones
- Areas near old buildings (now demolished)
- Parking areas from different time periods
Always check local laws and get proper permissions before detecting institutional sites.
Spanish Colonial Coins: What to Look For
Beyond half reales, Spanish colonial sites can produce:
- 1 reale pieces (larger than the half)
- 2 reale coins (about quarter-sized)
- 4 reale and 8 reale pieces (much larger and rarer)
- Maravedis (copper Spanish coins)
These coins circulated heavily in colonial America until the early 1800s, so any site with pre-1820 activity has potential.
Equipment Recommendations
If you're targeting small silver like Mark's half reale, check out our selection of treasure and relic metal detectors. The Equinox series remains our top pick, but other excellent options include detectors from our Minelab collection.
Don't forget proper metal detector accessories for colonial coin hunting — a good pinpointer and small digging tools are essential for protecting delicate finds.
Have your own amazing find story? We'd love to feature it! Check out our submission guidelines and share your discoveries with the detecting community.
