Metal Detecting - Bullets

Metal detecting is an interesting hobby, because it can lead in so many directions. Learning about science and history while improving research skills are all covered.

The photo above shows four coins (middle row and bottom center and right), a bottle cap (bottom left), a button of some sort (top left) and several pieces of ammunition. The musket ball (upper right) is made of lead. Musket balls were used for hunting and war, but haven't been commonly used since the 1800's. While metal detecting, my son has now found three. To clean them he lets them sit in a bowl of vinegar. They are heavy and by holding them he learned a bit more about science and materials.

There are many educational benefits in encouraging kids in there interests. Passion often motivates children and adults to read, research and experiment.


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Real Family Fun
Kid Co-op

Metal Detecting - Coins - Pfennig

Metal detecting is teaching my son a little about history as well as developing his reading and research skills.

He recently found this 50 pfenning coin from 1921 in a farm field near our house in Germany.

After some research he found that the coin is made of aluminum and was constructed during the hyperinflation period between World War I and World War II. This was a period of time when money was more valuable as fuel for fires than as currency.

This coin is relatively easy to find through dealers and worth around $1-$5 today depending on the condition.

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Saturday Show and Tell

Metal Detecting - Cleaning Old Coins

When kids are let alone to pursue their interests amazing things can happen. My husband brought my son on one metal detecting outing with co-workers and he was hooked. This new interest is already combining reading, history and science. He talks about it non-stop, read an entire adult book on metal detecting from cover-to-cover and has done plenty of internet research on great finds.

I was so excited for him when he brought home this coin after his second outing. His next challenge was figuring out how to clean it. Coins are made out of a variety of different metals. Some cleaners and methods work well with certain types of coins, but can ruin others.

So he did some more research on cleaning coins.

First he tried a toothbrush, soap, water and hydrogen peroxide. The coin looked much better than when it came out of the ground.

Next he tried glue.

He covered the coin with glue and wrapped it in wax paper.

When the glue dried he opened it and peeled off the glue.

This process was repeated several times and the coin did look better.

Then he tried to freeze it with a little water. Some of the gunk was supposed to come off when the ice was knocked off. It also worked to improve the coin.

Some more experienced metal detectors took a look at the coin and said it probably wasn't very old and likely not a valuable coin. Maybe he will be luckier next time.


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Relentlessly Fun