Metal detector stories run the gamut in terms of luck and size of the find – almost like fishing stories. Both hobbies require time and patience for success, sometimes a lot of it. However, the most extreme case of beginner’s luck we’ve ever heard of goes to amateur metal detectorist, David Booth.
Booth’s story happened back in September 2009 in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Excited to try out his metal detector for the first time, Booth parked his car in a field. From there, he picked a searching direction, took seven steps (a lucky number), and his metal detector went off.
Now – most people find junk, scraps, or bottle caps when they first use a metal detector. They often find those same things the second, third, or even one-hundredth time they use a metal detector. Booth, however, found four golden neck-torcs dating all the way back to the Iron Age. It was gold treasure that had been lost for thousands of years – found in just seven lucky steps.
The find went down as one of the most important rediscoveries in Scottish history. The torcs, valued at about £1 million at the time of the find, are now on display in the National Museum of Scotland.
