As a kid, the majority of my tenth and eleventh years were spent poring over treasure hunting magazines. I was a budding archeologist, coin collector, historian, and ghost-town adventurer wrapped into one junior-sized Indiana Jones. When I realized there was a device available that could turn any backyard into a potential dig site, I had to have one. I petitioned them for a metal detector like most other kids my age begged for a new bike or skateboard. Since my record of past requests was fairly modest and I tended to take very good care of my things, the folks indulged me. I was the proud owner of a brand new Garrett Groundhog detector by the time I was Metal detecting is often misunderstood by the general public. Relic hunters look for artifacts, not necessarily coins or jewelry think Civil War enthusiasts looking for Confederate belt buckles or musket balls. Beachcombers are looking for anything of value — modern coins, jewelry. Coin shooters focus on older, more valuable U.