How Deep Can A Metal Detector Find Treasure?

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

The GOAL is 75,000 subscribers by 12/31/25. Please help me get there! Thank you!

[@jeanpierretayeh]

well sir u deserve allot more than 75k your videos are truly informative and top notch experience its all substance and no glam may i suggest going a bit more commercial and aesthetic it will definitely get you more support

[@IndianaTones]

Lets gooooooooo!

[@ke4uyp]

Merrill you forgot to mention pulse induction. These metal detectors are virtually immune to mineralization in the ground. They see right through black sand on the beach. They can also see right through highly mineralized ground out west. Also another feature of pulse induction is you can have multiple coil diameters in one coil. Example a 6-in coil inside of a 12-in coil therefore, making it sensitive to both small objects like pennies and large objects like civil war belt buckles. One final advantage is you can change the power output of the metal detector in real time and make it go extremely deep when necessary and then dial back the output for working in trashy areas.

[@davidbenjamin5356]

A few years ago a friend bought a minelab etrac as his first detector. He asked me to help him set it up. We went to a local beach and began to search the dry sand area. My sovereign gt with 10 inch tornado coil picked up a quiet but consistent signal at full sensitivity. Before digging it I called him over. His etrac couldn't find it in any preset or custom setting. So I carefully dug it so we could measure how deep it was. At 20 inches I found a £1 coin on edge. Pretty impressive

[@GOEBOT]

You are a natural born teacher professor merrell! I always appreciate the education! Happy new year!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

@@GOEBOT thank you ! Happy new year!

[@stevelopes8783]

Thanks!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you! I appreciate your support!

[@benbogg5430]

Best teaching video this far Merrill. Been explaining this to people for decades, it goes in one ear and out the other for the most part. Thanks for putting it in "average person's" language. Hope to see you in chicago again!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you Ben!!!

[@stevelopes8783]

I love this channel! From a fellow "East coaster" who looks forward to each down to earth, informative, and entertaining video. I am completely new to metal detecting, and by far this is my favorite channel. I picked up your guide for the Legend as well! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge, experience, and humor!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

You made my day! Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words!

[@Cacherminnstars]

I just became a Member. Been a subscriber for sometime now and you have taught me a lot and made me laugh even more. Thanks Merrill!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

I truly appreciate the support!!! Thank you!

[@treasurearth]

I always watching and learning on your videos !! And love the supercomputer you used was the "Deus 2", and I agree awesome computing power with the Deus :). Thanks for sharing and all the Very Best in 2025 !!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@fabiobonavera3594]

Complimenti per il video finalmente un chiarimento serio sulla profondita 👍👌

[@brendansansom4895]

Excellent video Merrill, really easy to follow what is a pretty complex topic! Can see why you are a teacher 👌👌 Can totally relate to this after finding a Bronze Age Hoard recently (Axe Heads, Spearheads etc) using multi frequency the target could be heard but switching to only using a single 5KHz frequency this made a huge difference to how the target sounded, knowing that there is plenty of iron contamination in the ground. Top of the hoard was around 18 inches in depth. Keep up the excellent work 👍👍

[@dannybell926]

Happy new year M.. May the new year hold thousands of treasures of your rescuing

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy new year!

[@JustineGuzowski]

I learned a lot-again! Thanks, Merrill & Happy New Year.

[@Afterburner]

Hi Merrill - I am a ham radio operator and it is well known that antennas near saline conditions also have better performance due to the salts in the water acting as a ground plane to enhance transmission of radio signals. Given that metal detectors are, in fact, a modified form of radio transmitter and receiver, it is not surprising to see the same benefits arise for we detectorists. 73 (best regards) de (from) KK6IQK.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Very interesting! Deus 2 operates on a very fast radio signals to eliminate any sort of delay. It’s significantly faster than Bluetooth.

[@Afterburner]

@@MetalDetectingNYC - Hey just wanted to say Happy New Year to you and yours Merrill - Really enjoy your channel and you have a lot of great information to share. Many silvers and gold rings to you for 2025!

[@jimmymalone3494]

Awesome video Merrill thank you and Happy new year to you.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy new year Jimmy!

[@nickt7658]

Always make me proud Merrill! Nk.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you

[@michaelschecker2716]

Thanx for teaching

[@michaelzsizseri8015]

Thank you, Merle. Always learn something from your videos. Really enjoy them. Happy New Year to you and your family. Happy hunting I hope you'll find a Big chunk of Gold.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you for the kind words. Happy New Year to you as well!

[@SteveP5886]

Great and informative video Merrill!

[@bartcubbins3528]

Lol Your description of "The Worst Possible " conditions PERFECTLY describe 98 -99% of where I hunt!!!🤣🙄 😂 and yes I live in VA😋

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Oh jeez! My question is do you use pulse induction? I have tried and I miss the VDI. I DO NOT believe in the numbers at all but to know ferrous vs. nonferrous is so crucial to me. The older sites are built on iron.

[@lwg66]

Awesome video Merrill thank you. I learned so much, this was great.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Very happy that you enjoyed it!

[@melparker7711]

You hit the nail on the head with this video, good job. Also coils are antennas, the larger the coil the more subject to EMI you are.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Great point about the EMI Mel!

[@ohiofredl]

Lot of great information. Thanks for posting.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you

[@4th20thMech]

A 14 inch crushed can with a Whites Coinmaster. 8 or 9 inch coil. The ground was moist fill with a lot of clay. Recently, a partially rusted sewing needle about 6 inches with a Equinox 800. It haloed when it rusted I guess. Took forever to find it. Also a cinder, burned coal, dump will make your day. Big hit, nothing there. It is like a ground up hot rock or something. Liked the video and subscribed.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

@@4th20thMech thank you so much!

[@goodasgold4072]

Good info.👍 Happy New Year!🎉

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy new year!

[@lawrenceandria7551]

Great video, always informative and entertaining.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@nightcrawleroriginal]

Very informative NYC, thank you. 👍

[@MetalDetectingMermaid]

Very cool and informative video. Thank you for all the education you offer. This was really interesting.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@vinxmod793]

Great Video, Well Done ... when Metal Detecting I wish to wear a T-Shirt that has your statement at 7.58 on it ... "Iron is the Stuff that Actually Blows Up Stars and Masks Metal Detecting Signals" ... PERFECTLY describes the two most important scientific items to remember about IRON 🙂

[@fabianwylie8707]

We love that treasure stuff 😂. Well thought out video buddy . Happy New Year everyone. Get that yellow ❤🥰🤩🤩

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

I appreciate the kind words, I hope you have a successful and happy new year too!

[@antoniojamila5175]

Subscriber from the Philippines. Hope to learn more about metal detectors from you...

[@IndianaTones]

Going to have to find my video on salt and electric and share it!

[@KCAdventuresHuntingTreasures]

Great Vids as always!

[@CookieMonsterGoldenNFriends]

Love love this video! I just got into metal detecting last spring. I first started with a Simplex Ultra which was great. But, after being blessed to co-teach high school physics these last six years ( I was the special education part) with an actual physicist, I have really started to want to learn the actual science behind metal detecting and to explore further. I got a Minelab Manticore for Christmas, and already, I am lying in bed at night thinking about frequencies, iron in the soil, why does gold register similar to aluminum, how (or does )the volcanic soil where I live in Los Alamos affect the detector? So many questions. So much to learn. But your videos always have been helping me along the way. Thank you and Happy New Year!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy New Year from a fellow teacher! www.businesseducationny.com/

[@algiordano9214]

Thank for the info. NY. Al, NJ

[@TheMedicalDetectorist]

Thanks for the great info as usual! Happy New Year! Here’s a perfect wine I discovered for Metal Detectorists …it’s called: Iron and Sand Cabernet😂

[@mwdjr3158]

Fantastic!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thanks for watching!

[@engwaleed2223]

Hello mate, I'm really confusing about which metal detector to get can you please help me as i saw you have experience with metal detectors world, which of these metal detectors will serve my demand, nox800 or manticore or xpd2 or tarsacci, for minelarized ground and emi effect and area with infused iron and will go deep, thank you

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Deus 2 all day

[@engwaleed2223]

@MetalDetectingNYC thank you 😊

[@RobertSteer-cp3pf]

Is that why on Vanquish 440 on the V10 I can only get up to 10” down? Do I need another coil or just get the Nokta Legend? Or do I go out when there is more soil moisture? Thanks 😊

[@WILE-E-DETECTING]

Loved this video thanks.😎

[@stephencurry599]

Yep. The soil in my area of the US varies from sandy to red clay with lots of "iron" rocks. I've always been told they're iron concretions. You can pick them up with a pinpointed more than occasionally. Point is, in the sandy areas I've found coins around a foot. Even though they'll be some of these iron rocks in the soil. Where is really hard red clay with lots of iron rocks you'll be lucky to get 8 ". In the areas where it's hard clay and these rocks are so numerous that it's like walking on marbles you'll be lucky to get an inch or two and definitely expect the vdi to be way off. You're just glad you got a signal.

[@twofeathersnmi]

I found a 50 Cat bullet in the beach at 3 feet with a Fisher 1280z while in the Philippines.

[@GerhardVanwyk-z1f]

Very good teacher

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you! 😃

[@vtd3271]

You would be a pretty good teacher sir

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thats my day job! :) www.businesseducationny.com/

[@Mike-t5h7x]

OK, check this, Parrot fish eat coral and poop sand ! Which is just digested coral which is or was a living organism. So there ya go.👍✌️👌🤯 Thanks for the info on coils. I'm just learning and not sure how to pick out a detector. I live in Las Vegas so lots of sand, clay, and the dreaded caliche

[@hothmobile100]

I live near the 1715 Spanish treasure wreck beaches. The local counties dump sand on the beach so the remaining coins are under 2 to 5 feet of sand. Is there an affordable way for me to detect at better depth than my 13 inch wide coil? Is there a similar type of “extreme hunter” deep coil system for Nokta double score? But you mentioned too big of coil can’t see coins. What is the biggest coil system that can detect coins?

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

There is a reason that the biggest coils offered are 13-15 inches. It would be my guess that is where a detectorist would struggle to find the smaller coin targets.

[@hothmobile100]

@@MetalDetectingNYC Okay thanks. I bought the largest coil made by Nokta for Double Score. About 13.5 inches wide so I'll try using that. Well, you taught me something about bigger coils. I didn't know if you go too big they can't find coins. Now I know why the wealthy lease holders of the treasure sights in the water just try blowing sand around first. They blow the sand away and then use normal size coils.

[@unclepappy3823]

if there was a merc at the center of the earth, Merril would be the one to find it!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

lol 👍

[@dan.nic.metaldetector]

Grazie del video e delle informazioni 👍

[@Paulsofsteel]

Circumference or diameter?

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Meant to say diameter

[@ReversXC]

0:27 I don't know if you showed half the coil width by accident or not. But by all logic, only half the coil diameter determines the depth. After all, the receiving and transmitting loops divide the coil in half. By this logic, Garmin and Minlab X Tera concentric coils will see deeper than 2D coils of the same size.

[@processinstman]

I really like your channel and content. Going to hit the like and subscribe button. Thanks for the entertaining content.

[@farkasdavid8103]

What would be the best one between these? : Quest X10 idMAX, Vanquish 340, garrett ace 300i or fisher F22?

[@larrylogan6715]

Manticore rocks!

[@scottwhitaker442]

Go Merr

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy New Year Scott!

[@thunderwh]

I think I got it, when you get a permission to detect someone's field just salt it first - you'll increase the depth of your detector and the farmer will be happy because you made his vegetables taste better.

[@Ufopirate17Q-so5pb]

Great video o7

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thanks!

[@bruceallen6016]

I've been subscribed for a while already. I'm looking mostly for info I can use with my Nokta Legend. I think this is. 😎

[@bobcox9836]

So, since lower freqs penetrate better, would VLF detectors be better?

[@hellomcflyy]

I dug a large cent at around 20 inches -but I was using an 18' WOT coil

[@HeatherMizzell]

Depends on the treasure and the machine

[@acb381]

Swear the moon phase does something ,

[@SummerYeti]

Very easy to test

[@nts323]

Need the extreme hunter out here in las Vegas dessert

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

It’s an incredible tool!

[@ohdannyboyjustadiggin]

Happy New Year.. Go Deep or go Home.. I dug a Dime at 10inches with a 6inch coil. So the Soil must not have been Spoiled. Peace

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Happy New Year Danny!

[@duffg9229]

Great video. A video you did a couple years ago you recommended the Legend as a beginner machine for someone who plans to stick with the hobby. Would this still be true?

[@thomasmeadows256]

what is the best all-around user-friendly good metal detector

[@Christopher-lz8qp]

New subscriber, l live in Cornwall Briain surrounded by beaches, could you tell me the best all round detector for the beach is please.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

XP Deus 2

[@jimzilladetecting]

The main thing that effects the depth is a the frequency output as well as the examples you describe. Since the FCC regulates the frequency that is transmitted, it is unlikely that greater depth will ever be achieved that we already have today unless the FCC loosens up on its regulations.

[@LorenLemcke]

It has nothing to do with the FCC.

[@jimzilladetecting]

@ it actually does. The FCC has limits on the frequency that is released by a detector. A friend of mine builds detectors are he tells me there are limits on frequencies. If there weren’t we would have detectors that go down 2 feet. Regarding an individual machine, what Merrill states is correct. Ground conditions, moisture, other detectors/emi in there area all affect depth.

[@LorenLemcke]

@jimzilladetecting Not true, or else Europe and the 3rd world would have these fabled ultra deep machines. The FCC is an American organization...

[@NateNorthern]

Awesome lesson explaining all the factors determining depth of targets when detecting! Definitely gets me to thinking of soil types, coil size choice, sensitivity settings, etc. You must really be a good teacher at your school; the kids there are really blessed to have you. Looking forward to your next video!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@paulevans5455]

Merrill, g'day from Australia. Grab an atlas or world map, check out Oz. You will see lots of organic/fertile land surrounding lots of mineralised/iron bearing deserts, both rocky and sandy. It's a bugger of a country for detectorists, most have a variety of coils and detectors to cover all eventualities. The fun not done, or, it is fun or downright painfull to travel and detect in this crazy land. Love your work, learning new things at close to 74, shame they don't make detectors that can alert you to potential biting bugs etc. On that note ant nests here drive a detector crazy.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

I cant wait to see Australia

[@stevemyo8137]

I have found items down to 13” with a 6” coil. I usually just leave the 6” coil on the detector because it is so light.

[@lindapelullo452]

Depth. How deep can you find targets has been discussed as long as I've been detecting (42 yrs) & probably continue way after I'm gone. LoL. The rule of thumb has always been youll go as deep deep as the diameter of the coil. IMO more or less depth is a result of settings, the makeup of the dirt you're searching in, moisture in the ground, depth/size/shape/makeup of target & operator experience. I'm primarily a land hunter & i rarely find much beyond 10-12" in undisturbed dirt. Depth is an issue if the area was developed/landscaped/etc, but i usually only find deep trash😜 I've had days where the machine & I are one & I'm hitting all kinds of great targets - deep & shallow. Not sure when/why but i think some of it is mindset. My $0.02. Enjoy your day! ☺️

[@ArcanZA]

Also what other metal trash are with the treasure you are hunting ( with black sand / mineralised clay / salt water) . A big rusty iron bar sitting on top of a penny or silver coin will definitely grab the signal and mask the good target.

[@stephendoughty9969]

Awesome info. Merrill!! Question ; then what size coil would be best for deep gold rings at dry sand beaches? And is there any data on what is the largest coil that still can detect a gold ring at maximum depth?

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Gold ring is a variable. I have found some serious chunkers and some fragile ones. I would advise that you almost never see coils larger than 15 inches for a reason. That could be our data.

[@stephendoughty9969]

@MetalDetectingNYC thank you Merrill, that makes good sense!

[@jesselee3621]

Finding a car at 16 feet.., that would be like a Super Wendy's unlock!!

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

lol!!!! Yes! 👍

[@DONTTREADONMEMETALDETECT-ye1lq]

Great videos... I caught the last half of the live stream with XP last night... do we have any idea of price of the new coil? Hoping under 600.00......

[@alumahomeinspections7009]

Hello, I starting to watch these metal detector videos looking to buy some and make mu own experience. Obviously, I have a lot of questions to start and of them is: Why the Minelab Gold Monster 1000 appears to be more simple to use than the Manticore with a lot of settings and values?

[@VersaiOnline]

What about depth through rock? like in a metallic mine

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

The rock would affect depth. Think of the beach and similar uniform particles. Rocks can be conglomerates of a lot of different things from metals to sulphides (especially in gold bearing areas). In a gold mine there would almost definitely be iron present and the rock could be host to that. Then again, a lot of gold machines are pulse induction and those have slightly different rules.

[@bobkirk942]

The the video length is 15:52 so I say maybe 16" I've found stuff 16" down with the garrett at pro!!!

[@KernowekTim]

Depends on soil, quality of machine, experience of the hunter using All Metal mode. For maximum depth: all metal with perfect threshold setting and swing-speed. Period. Other than that you are using disc which compromises depth. Depth is not of importance hunting where humans have frequented regularly. A single frequency machine with excellent vco is key, imx. However, I am talking tiny silver sceatta, cut silver hammereds, I A quarter staters, silver minims. These are coins I do not want to miss: if poss. I do not beach hunt here in UK.

[@OrrinKahn]

Hi, love your posts. Quick question: Are you in any way related to Josh Brown? The resemblance is remarkable.

[@ceeceeintexas3253]

you keep referring to circumference, do you mean diameter?? (circumference is equal to pi times diameter) so 13" coil times 3.14 (pi) would equal almost 41")

[@deograciouskalama5356]

Am doing gold mining in Uganda what's the most efficient and accurate detector u can recommend sir?

[@matprang4508]

So I just subscribed my wife and I moved here to the treasure Coast about 2 years ago and are interested in this hobby what would be the best detector to start out with that won't break the bank by the way I find your videos very interesting thank you for sharing them.

[@royallandscape6625]

hello friends…. I'm new to hunting and I have a question. Can anyone help me? which is better to treasure hunting gold. 1. xterra pro 2. equinox 800 3. vanquish 540

[@tomwilliams3089]

So if I equip a boat bow and stern I should be able to hunt sunken treasure?

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

With the sea the biggest challenge is always retrieving it. You’re thinking of sonar mapping. Any metal detector coil mounted from a boat would have to be huge and any metal in the boat would interfere. Could you hit the ocean from the boat? Sure but if it was a huge coil you would miss small objects

[@CZDigger]

Uhhhhhh, lets skip all this. "we already know, old hashed depth stuff"' ummmmm, just how deep is the new FMF little coil going to be?😁😁😁😁. Nice vid M. I have gotten to some crazy depth with the 11" coil on some targets. Don't know why, but when the MD stars align, it can get really deep on some targets

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

I can’t wait to get it in my hands !

[@goldringhunter2431]

I know how deep it can go, how deep are your pockets? that's how deep it will go.

[@goldringhunter2431]

I know I own a Deus2 with all the coils and I am just a cherry picker.

[@dukedenarie5858]

You’ll get 100 if you get on with gary and go through all the Xp groups and such.

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@mossig]

The size of the transmitter coil is irrelevant. It can be small like a pinpointer or the size of a bus. Because there are regulations on the power output for health reasons. The reason why a large coil goes deeper is that it collects more scattered energy from the target that radiates in all directions. Because of this you loose small targets. Again the pinpointer has a small reciving coil and therefor easily locates the target but not at depth. If you have a faint target at depth and would pour saltwater on the ground and wait for a while you would get a stronger response. The same thing happens if you have iron above a silver target. Then the detector will see the silver deeper than if the iron was not there(if the machine is good enough separating). This is why you always check the hole after removing the iron, especially if you had a good conductive signal to begin with. But if the coil will not fit because your plug is to small, you will loose the signal of the silver because you removed the lensing object and now the coil is to far away. The same happens when you remove dirt and signal is lost, so called ghost signals. The dirt was lensing a very deep target.

[@shillinator9432]

In the past month I have unlocked Sushi 5 times and Haagen-Dazs 11 times

[@COUNTTRUMPULA]

👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@acb381]

seen a meteorite hunting show guys made a giant coil and dragged it behind an atv

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

That wouldn’t get the small ones. Perhaps they should have pulled a magnet behind.

[@acb381]

@ well it was like 20’x20’

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

@ that’s reasonable then. And yes you could have it off the ground with less affect when you start getting to those sizes.

[@acb381]

@ ya was called Meteorite Men , back in the day ,

[@acb381]

@@MetalDetectingNYC did you ever see Cleggs Adventure channel, you might like, anywho, ✌🏻 happy new year man

[@Redspeciality]

Want to get rich with a metal detector? It’s not exactly legal, but in Vietnam, the largest denomination bill they have is equivalent to $20 USD. Consequentially, they use gold for large purchases. It is extremely common for them to keep their gold in a can and bury it in their backyards. So, in the nighttime, you could…..I think you get where I am going.

[@Larry-e3h9v]

I’m an “old “ semi newbie so I’m swinging a bounty Hunter 3300 at least until I get some hours under my belt . And can justify a better detector . My area is all red clay would you care to estimate how deep I can expect it to work well with the stock 8 inch coil

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

You can get a lot of great stuff at shallow depths. The key is ground balancing and understanding the conditions. Heavy red clay is very often a situation for pulse induction. I would visit a local detecting club and see what people swing there. My guess would be pulse induction.

[@Larry-e3h9v]

@ Thank ya ! Yeah I’m in the piedmont of NC , LOTS OF POTTERY GRADE RED CLAY .😜 if you would , define shallow ?

[@andreasschiffner1808]

Should you be afraid of metal detectors? Is nothing safe at home? Cover a jewelry box with lead as a shield? Does that make sense? How can you protect yourself from them at home? Thoughts about a break-in? 😅

[@aliabdihaj001]

please mention the name of machine that is good for deep hidden treasures

[@johnbernard17]

Did you ever find any half dollar coins on the beach before while metal detecting?

[@SummerYeti]

Earth core is solid, a shell around it is molten. This is why we have a magnetic field.

[@reyhanhan3684]

Hangi version daha iyi, 2,veya 1,10 lütfen 😊

[@digginggopher]

I already have 2 rings for 2025, both junkers though, but ones a Nike

[@MetalDetectingNYC]

Impressive! You are going to have a great year!

[@Ufopirate17Q-so5pb]

$1550-$2400 for the extreme Hunter detector.... Or you can buy a car..... Any who 😆😊

[@christina5588]

👍