Buying guide
Metal detectors for coins
For coins, pick a fine target ID and a preset for them. The Equinox 900 reads targets from -19 to 99 in 119 segments, and the Vanquish 540 lists a Coin mode next to Jewellery and Relic.
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The picks
Six detectors that sort targets before you dig, each with a target ID or discrimination published by its maker.
1. Minelab Equinox 900
The finest published ID scale here, -19 to 99 across 119 segments, with Park and Field modes, two settings each.
With the detector, the listing names an EQX 15 coil and a case.
2. Minelab Vanquish 540
Multi-IQ with a dedicated Coin setting, -19 to 40 (25 segments) and rechargeable NiMH cells with a USB charger in the box.
A Pro Pack: the listing names two waterproof coils and a carry bag.
3. Garrett ACE 400
The single-frequency pick: 10 kHz, five search modes plus pinpoint, an iron audio setting and headphones included.
The listing names a carry bag with the detector.
4. Minelab Vanquish 340
Multi-IQ like the Vanquish 540, in a lighter body, 2.6 lb, with a Coin mode and a coarser -19 to 40 (5 segments) scale.
This bundle adds a Pro-Find 15 pinpointer.
5. Teknetics Omega 8500
For sorting by category: discrimination in 8 categories plus a notch filter. It adds a numeric target ID with an iron (Fe) readout and 99 levels of sensitivity.
6. Teknetics Delta 4000
A simpler Teknetics: 3 modes, a numeric target ID with 3-tone audio and an 8-inch concentric coil.
02
Side by side
The same facts for every pick, read on each maker's page. Open a model for its full spec sheet.
| Model | Technology | Frequencies | Waterproofing | Weight | Coil | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minelab Equinox 900 | Multi-frequencyMulti-IQ | 4-40 kHz4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40 kHz | 16 ftDetector, IP68, 5 m | 2.8 lb1.27 kg | 11-inchEQX11, round, DD, plus 1 more | 3.7 V 5100 mAh internal lithium-ion |
| Minelab Vanquish 540 | Multi-frequencyMulti-IQ | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.8 lb1.3 kg | 12 x 9-inchV12, elliptical, DD | 4 x AA NiMH rechargeable (supplied, with USB charger) |
| Garrett ACE 400 | Single frequency | 10 kHz | Not published | 2.9 lb1.32 kg | 8.5 x 11-inchPROformance, elliptical, DD | 4 x AA (included) |
| Minelab Vanquish 340 | Multi-frequencyMulti-IQ | Not published | 3.3 ftCoil only, 1 m | 2.6 lb1.2 kg | 10 x 7-inchV10, elliptical, DD | 4 x AA alkaline (supplied) |
| Teknetics Omega 8500 | Single frequency | 7.69 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.5 lb1.1 kg | 10-inch round open concentric (spec sheet)Elliptical (product page)Teknetics publishes both. | 1 x 9 V (not included) |
| Teknetics Delta 4000 | Single frequency | 7.8 kHz | CoilWaterproof part | 2.6 lb1.17 kg | 8-inchround (open), concentric | 1 x 9 V (not included) |
Facts from the pages of Minelab, Garrett and First Texas Products, read Oct. 16, 2026.
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How to choose
A finer ID scale
More segments sort coins and trash into more separate groups. The Vanquish 540 cuts its -19 to 40 scale into 25 segments, the 340 into 5, as the frames above show.
A Coin mode, or notch
A Coin mode is a ready-made setting for coins. On the Omega 8500, you set it yourself with 8 categories plus a notch filter.
Iron you can hear
Parks are full of nails. The ACE 400 lists an iron audio setting, so iron need not stay silent.
04
What to know before you buy
No ID number proves a coin. Different metals can share a number, so dig signals you are unsure of.
On federal public lands and Indian lands, ARPA (16 U.S.C. 470ee) bars digging up archaeological resources without a permit or a listed exemption. Under 43 CFR 7.3(a)(4)(ii), coins and bullets are not archaeological resources unless found in a direct physical relationship with them. We read both texts on Oct. 16, 2026. That is a definition, not a permit: in national parks, possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited. Check local rules before you dig.
Four of the six listings are bundles, and each frame says what the listing names besides the detector. On Oct. 16, 2026, a third-party seller held the ACE 400 listing, so check the seller before you buy.
05
Questions
Answered from the makers' pages, read Oct. 16, 2026.
One with a fine target ID and a preset for your targets. Of these six, the Equinox 900 has the finest published scale, 119 segments from -19 to 99.
Yes, within range of the coil. Silver and gold are metals, and the Equinox 900, both Vanquish models and the Omega 8500 list an All Metal mode.
Not necessarily. The ACE 400 runs one frequency, 10 kHz, with an iron audio setting. The Equinox 900 adds Beach 1 and 2 modes for wet sand.
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