Churchyards and Cemeteries are good places to find coins, jewelry and other items that people have lost over the years. But do you have permission to search in them? be sure to ask before you take your Metal detector out of its carrying case and start hunting in those locations.
Who owns the land where you will be searching?
This is the most important question to ask.
You should never use your Metal Detector on graves themselves because it is likely that that land is owned by the families of the individuals who are buried there. It might be tempting to think that if you find something on a very old gravesite, nobody will question you. But that is still risky, and you could get into trouble.
It is even riskier to think that it is permissible to use your detector on old Native American burial mounds. These sites are almost certainly owned by the descendants of the tribes who once built them, so respect them and stay away.
But there are other places in graveyards and churchyards where you might be able to look for lost items. One of the best of them is near the walls that surround those properties. Over the years, chances are good that people sat on those walls and dropped items there. And if there are benches or other seating areas, be sure to search around them.
Getting Permission to Search
If the cemetery or churchyard is owned by a church, you can inquire in its office and ask for permission to use your detector. If so, it would be good etiquette to offer to share any items you find.
But the question of using your detector in graveyards can be complicated. It might surprise you to know that cemeteries – even those that are located adjacent to churches – are not always owned by those churches. Sometimes those cemeteries are owned by independent companies that own a number of cemeteries. If that is the case, you will need to get permission from those companies before you search. Those companies could deny you permission to go prospecting on their property. You can, however, ask for permission and ask whether you can share the value of any items you find.
You can find out who owns cemeteries you are considering simply by asking questions in church offices or town planning offices. You can also research ownership by searching online for “Who owns the cemeteries in [name of your state].”
But again, the bottom line is to avoid walking onto someone else’s land to go prospecting. If you do, you could be breaking the law – and be accused of trespassing or stealing.
Better Places to Go Prospecting for Precious Metals
You might still need to ask permission to go hunting in the following places. But metal detector users report that they are the places they are most likely to find lost items.
Around abandoned industrial buildings and houses
At campgrounds and picnic areas
In fishing areas
Near old mines
On battlefields
On beaches and swimming holes
On fairgrounds
Under the bleachers and elsewhere on athletic fields
These are the places where you are most likely to find coins, jewelry, and other items that people lost.
And When You Find Old Gold, Silver, Platinum, and Other Items . . .
Take some pictures of your discoveries and call our precious metal recycling experts at 800-426-2344. We can test your items for you, issue you a report on what you have, and pay you promptly at current trading prices if you decide to have us reclaim the precious metals they contain. Let us help you turn your finds into cash.
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