Our Pick: The Best Cheap Metal Detector for Coins, Rings, and Jewelry Discovery

Detecting coins, rings, jewelry, and other objects people carry around with them is best done in high pedestrian traffic areas, whether that's an area still used or an abandoned area. These metal detectors need to have proficient target separation, which is necessary to filter out what you don't want to detect in these high-volume areas. You can tune the settings to pick up on coins and jewelry and ignore the tin foil and pesky bottle caps.

Coins, Rings, and Jewelry

Garrett Ace 300

Our pick of cheap metal detectors for the coin and jewelry hunters has to be the Garrett ACE 300. It's got everything you'll need for this type of isolated detecting, with its effective notch discriminator allowing you to hone in on our target and leave the rest. When you do find a coin or piece of jewelry, Garrett's reliable coin depth indicator tells you where it's located, so you can decide to unearth it or not. The Garrett ACE 300 typically comes with a complete kit of accessories, too, so finishing the job and collecting your treasures is one smooth process.

Our Pick: Best Cheap Metal Detectors for Relic Hunting

Advancements in detectors have replaced the need to dig for everything that you're alerted to, and you can now tune your settings in to find what you're looking for. Gold metal detectors solely identify gold by using a high frequency and being well equipped to highly mineralized soil – where gold likes to live. As a gold hunter, you might spend longer than usual out in the field, so your detectors should come with a harness to help you with the weight of the machine over long periods.

Relic Hunting

Minelab Vanquish 540

We suggest the Minelab VANQUISH 540 for those pairing archeology with prospecting because its diversity and related features make it easy to isolate the valuable options you're looking for. Its customizable frequency range settings and large coil help you see further into the surface while maintaining a good level of sensitivity, as relics can be old and positioned deep into the ground. But VANQUISH's most suited feature for relics is the durability of this machine – wherever you want to take it, it will gladly join you for the ride.

Our Pick: Best Cheap Metal Detectors for Gold Prospecting

Advancements in detectors have replaced the need to dig for everything that you're alerted to, and you can now tune your settings in to find what you're looking for. Gold metal detectors solely identify gold by using a high frequency and being well equipped to highly mineralized soil – where gold likes to live. As a gold hunter, you might spend longer than usual out in the field, so your detectors should come with a harness to help you with the weight of the machine over long periods.

Gold Prospecting

Nokta Gold Kruzer

Our gold metal detector of choice is the dynamic Nokta Gold Kruzer, based on its value and usability. Its stability and sparse noise in mineralized ground make it the perfect tool to detect for long lengths and concentrate your efforts. Taking this baby out to rivers, streams, and exposed bedrock is likely to deliver some encounters with the nuggets of your dreams.

Final Digging

The trick to finding the best metal detector for you is to know your budget and needs. You might not need all the tools that a top-of-the-range metal detector offers, and a cheap option like the ones mentioned in this article may be perfect for finding your valuables. Serious Detecting is here to help you find what you need, and if you're still unsure which tool suits you best, we're here to help you discuss your options. Or browse through our vast and varied range of metal detectors to do your best detective work.